When I was asked what I thought about utilizing blogs, YouTube, Facebook, Linkedin, and other forms of social media that now exist, my first response was that it was an unnecessary waste of time. I really didn't see the business or personal value they could bring. I viewed them rather as vehicles that encouraged vague dialogues or touchpoints with strangers who may or may not have any knowledge that I really wanted or needed. Yes, I use to think that any form of social media was more of a nuisance to the public, another form of spamming, and more a hindrance to garnering intelligence than beneficial to any individual or organization.
That is, until I decided to dedicate some time to researching this topic. Since then, I have come to the conclusion that social media can be a very valuable form of information sharing. For example, did you know that, according to "Ten Ways to Use Linkedin" by Guy Kawaski "All 500 of the Fortune 500 are represented in LinkedIn. In fact, 499 of them are represented by director-level and above employees." I believe being actively involved in social media sites can be advantegeous, but it is up to the reader and organization involved in social media to filter out the value. It's also a responsibility of the writer or contributor of the information to streamline the message that they are trying to promote so that it is presented in a balanced and explicable manner. I believe that much can be learned from social media if it is used as a tool for knowledge sharing and as an open forum for the continuous development of both new ideas and the refinement of old concepts. It should be pointed out, however, that the information that is out here in cyberspace should not be taken as truth or fact just because someone who says they are an expert put it on the web.
If I have learned anything from studying this topic, it is that if you think you have found some good information or have discovered something new through social media, that you didn’t know before, do your homework. Once researched thoroughly, it may be that what you have read or learned is in fact, good information. Or it may be that someone is just expressing their opinion on a topic and presenting it as fact based when in reality it is unsubstantiated information.
A great deal can be gained from getting involved in social media and new information and ideas can be acquired each time you take the time to read and open yourself up to sharing your experiences. Value is a distinct possibility, if you use this type of interaction to your advantage and as a result, the collaboration and added intelligence can be the reward. You can also do research to gauge the health of a specific company or industry, enhance a business relationship or create a new partnership.
There are many different social media software applications, ones that focus on communication, collaboration, or entertainment and I will be delving into different examples on my blog in the future. I will examine such sites as Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and more, to provide an overview of each and to help you scrutinize their differences and learn how to gain the most out of each application. After all, why bother taking the time to visit and utilize these sites, if you’re not getting the most value out of them?
* * * * * * *
This Weeks' Thought: "Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you will help them become what they are capable of becoming." Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
* * * * * * *
great ideas!
ReplyDelete