So you’ve found the most important online community out there…you’re an UrbanMoms member aren’t you? Do you follow us on Facebook…on Twitter? Do you tweet yourself?
Just how social media savvy are you? I had trouble getting started with this post because I couldn’t wrap my head around the beast that is social media, so it helps to start with a definition.
Social media are the tools that allow the sharing of information and creation of communities through online networks of people. (www.constantcontact.com)
Facebook’s great for keeping in touch with friends and family, near and far. It’s here that I’ll post pictures of my family vacation, shout out to friends celebrating milestones and update on what’s new in my life.
I missed MySpace, never quite figured out StumbleUpon, and flickr just seemed like too much work to me.
I was a little late to Twitter, but I really enjoy it now. I’ve made an entirely new group of friends, and I love to tweet (and use Instagram, what I consider a pictorial companion) to share tidbits of my daily life. It’s on Twitter that I get recommendations of movies to take my kids to, books to read, and tips on how to keep my daughter’s eczema under control.
I’ve been on LinkedIn for a while now, but in a very passive way. I can see how it could be a useful tool for job searchers and networkers, but I haven’t used it actively up until now.
Then along came Pinterest. I can wile away an afternoon looking at other people’s “virtual vision boards”. Pinterest claims to “let you be a tastemaker and follow those with amazing taste”. Lots of my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram friends have great taste and I can get sucked into a pinning wormhole for hours at a time, neglecting my real life friends and family. Not too social, huh?
And there lies the crux. In doing a little research for this piece, I tried googling for a short list of social media tools to share with you. There are lists of the top 5 new tools out this week, top 10 lists just for the entrepreneur, and a top 100 list of social media tools. 100 tools to monitor?? Just keeping track of them is becoming a full-time job!
The past month on Twitter I’ve noticed more and more “Klout” recommendations amongst my friends. How about you, do you have “Klout”? Klout thinks I’m influential about 10 topics, including tea, beer, soccer and eczema. I sound like a lot of fun to have at your next cocktail party, huh?
This past week’s been all about Google+. “Looking for an invitation?” “I’ve got an invitation to share, let me know if you need one.” Somehow this takes me right back to high school and the clique-y groups that formed, including some and excluding others. The bartering of social status has moved from high school walls to the internet. (This said by someone who has not yet scored an invitation to Google+).
Where’s it going? Where will it stop for you? Just how social are you? Share with me in comments, (or on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter at @JenTrend, or on Instagram as @JenHicks…well, you get the picture!)