We've all seen them. They're as numerous and frequent as deer flies in high summer (and just as annoying): the constant stream of articles telling us how best to use social media, or worse, how to become a social media MAVEN. Well dear Violets, into that cacophony comes the voice of reason. Jenn Reese's voice, to be exact. When I read this over on her blog, I just had to beg her to let me share it here, and she graciously agreed. It is truly the sanest, smartest social media advice I've read yet.
What this post is: my guidelines for navigating the social media waters.
What this post isn’t: a set of instructions or guidelines for anyone beside me. We all use social media differently, use it for different reasons, and expect different results. I would never presume to tell anyone else how to achieve their specific goals.
Social media I use: Blog, Twitter, Google+, Facebook, Pinterest
Social media goals: Enjoy myself. Connect with existing friends. Make new friends. Laugh. Learn. Share opinions and links to things that inspire, tickle, intrigue, or outrage me. Goof off.
We’re all different, want different things, have different lives and different tolerances for technology and being social. Don’t expect other people to share your goals and priorities. (This should be the Golden Rule of social media, in my opinion. Maybe this plus the next one…)
2. Be yourself.
Life’s in the details, and that’s what you get. Quirky passions, interests, foibles, and bad jokes. What I ate for breakfast, what I should have had for lunch, what my cats are doing RIGHT AT THIS MINUTE. These are the things that make us unique, even in the vast ocean of people who, on paper, look exactly like us.
3. Never track friends/followers/subscribers.
This isn’t a videogame or a race and I’m not judging success by numbers. Friends and acquaintances aren’t commodities and the only metric for success is if I’m having fun (see goals, above). Some corollaries:
This goes back to respecting other people’s Survival Guides. People who care about you will try to please you even if it causes them stress. Just don’t put them in that position in the first place.
What this post isn’t: a set of instructions or guidelines for anyone beside me. We all use social media differently, use it for different reasons, and expect different results. I would never presume to tell anyone else how to achieve their specific goals.
Social media I use: Blog, Twitter, Google+, Facebook, Pinterest
Social media goals: Enjoy myself. Connect with existing friends. Make new friends. Laugh. Learn. Share opinions and links to things that inspire, tickle, intrigue, or outrage me. Goof off.
MY SOCIAL MEDIA SURVIVAL GUIDE
1. Respect that everyone’s Social Media Survival Guide is different.We’re all different, want different things, have different lives and different tolerances for technology and being social. Don’t expect other people to share your goals and priorities. (This should be the Golden Rule of social media, in my opinion. Maybe this plus the next one…)
2. Be yourself.
Life’s in the details, and that’s what you get. Quirky passions, interests, foibles, and bad jokes. What I ate for breakfast, what I should have had for lunch, what my cats are doing RIGHT AT THIS MINUTE. These are the things that make us unique, even in the vast ocean of people who, on paper, look exactly like us.
3. Never track friends/followers/subscribers.
This isn’t a videogame or a race and I’m not judging success by numbers. Friends and acquaintances aren’t commodities and the only metric for success is if I’m having fun (see goals, above). Some corollaries:
- Never use any service that tells you when someone stops following/subscribing/friending you. That way lies madness, heartache, and unnecessary hurt. Don’t do it to yourself.
- Never get upset if someone stops following you. They’ve got their own Social Media Survival Guide and you should let them do what they need to do, guilt-free.
- Never beg for followers. This makes the people who follow you already feel like livestock.
- Don’t expect people you follow to follow you back. If you’re following them because they’re interesting, then it shouldn’t matter if they don’t follow you back. Again, they’ve got their own Guide.
- You don’t need to follow everyone who follows you. Do whatever works for your life and lifestyle.
This goes back to respecting other people’s Survival Guides. People who care about you will try to please you even if it causes them stress. Just don’t put them in that position in the first place.
- Don’t ask people to retweet, blog,
13 Comments on A Social Media Survival Guide by Jenn Reese, last added: 11/24/2011Display Comments Add a Comment
this was a great post. thanks for sharing.
I loved the voice of wisdom so much that I thought, gee, I'd like to read her blog. No links, really? So then I thought, well, I'll take a look at her book, it won't be for me (since I am not a middle-grade reader), but maybe I can find her blog that way. And the book image is just a graphic? Not even a teeny-tiny link?
Glad you liked it Michelle!
Wyndes, I thought I had linked to her blog! Thanks for the head's up! However, the art of putting a link on an image within a post on blogspot escapes me. I can do it in the sidebar, but not the body of the post. Instead, I've linked the title of the book. Hopefully, that will help.
When my kids ask me why someone didn't do something or other I'd hoped they'd do, (like post a review on amazon, or something - my 9-year-olds are very loyal followers of my work!) I always tell them, "It's not important in their life like it is in mine... I'm not the center of their world!"
Have fun with this stuff, Leave others to enjoy themselves, and Don't take it personally - Thanks for the great reminder of the way to think about social media to retain maximum sanity.
Best social media post ever!!
I've wanted to say this so many times, but could never find he words!
Shelley
So sensible! Thanks.
I saw this first on Jenn's blog and am glad you shared it here!
I love this. Thank you for giving me permission to just enjoy facebook and my blog. Ha!
Great post! Thanks for sharing that. Words we all need to read . . . and remember.
Jenn, so sensible and doable. Thank you. I feel kind of used when asked to do something in order to participate in something like a giveaway, but as you say, we each have our own approach, and that's okay.
So nice to see May B. here! Thanks.
At last - the voice of common sense! What a refreshing post, and so true. Thanks for sharing!
Awesome post, Jenn.
Perfect.