Comments on: Social Media: A Reader’s Manifesto

By: Steve Dodd

Steve Dodd — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:01:21 +0000

So very, very true! But remember, sensless data to us may be highly valuable to others depending on what they are looking for. Each of us has the ability to manage who we follow and if people you are following are posting things you’re not interested in, “unfollow”. If we keep beating on quality (being an individually relative term) of tweets like this, is it possible we’ll destroy the very power of the system?

By: Brad Majors

Brad Majors — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:07:55 +0000

Jonathan,
Some well-needed comments! I am awaiting the next phase of social media — what we have now tends to trivialize our lives — and what we need much more of are BIG thoughts, not the trivialities of peoples’ existence.
Thanks.
bpm

By: Shopping_SF

Shopping_SF — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:33:59 +0000

Great blog. I do think some Tweets over Tweeter (are these really words? LOL), I think the most important thing to remember is quality over quantity. If you have something of value to say, say it.
And also important. Companies that use Twitter need to offer their followers something of value. Simply giving them the “honor” of following you is not enough to keep or sustain your followers.
To cross promote my show, I started a blog about freebies. It receives over 400 visitors a day and exposes people to our show while providing a service. Check it here:
http://shoppingthemusical.blogspot.com/
Social media is fine if it has a value to others.

By: IncreaseSalesCoach

IncreaseSalesCoach — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:42:33 +0000

Excellent post Jonathan. What you’ve said here applies to all of our marketing communications. It seems especially relevant to email too.

By: Jonathan Kranz

Jonathan Kranz — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:57:00 +0000

Sarah,
Thank you for the supportive words! Now I wish I updated my blog more frequently!

By: Dianna

Dianna — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:57:27 +0000

Thank you for this article. As a fairly new tweeter, I appreciate the info.
My only addt’l comment is that if you have maybe one personal/mundane thing a day or every few days. I don’t necessarily mind, especially if it is stated in a humorous manner (as someone else stated). It makes the tweeter seem more human, rather than a marketing/info machine. However, there is definitely a limit. Just telling me you are “waiting in line” does nothing for me.

By: Matthew T. Grant

Matthew T. Grant — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:50:39 +0000

Just wanted to add my voice to those who found this post useful, timely, and insightful.
Of course, the hard part is figuring out what will actually be interesting/noteworthy to your audience when it consists, as mine does of people with very varied interests.

By: Elaine Fogel

Elaine Fogel — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:46:07 +0000

Good points, Jonathan. It’s getting more challenging to keep up with the multitudes of social media. There are still many newbies who just aren’t familiar with unwritten social media protocol. Perhaps, we can find a MarketingProfs article or post that reiterates what the unofficial rules are and keep retweeting that?

By: Jonathan Kranz

Jonathan Kranz — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:02:20 +0000

Ann,
That was indeed a funny video. But where are these guys when we need them?

By: Ann Handley

Ann Handley — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:57:46 +0000

Speaking of food for thought, I’m eating a burrito in a window seat right now…
This post reminds me of a video I saw today for the Twitter Police:
http://www.urlesque.com/2009/03/24/twitter-police-armed-and-ready/
(And yes, I tweeted the URL.)
; )

By: Jonathan Kranz

Jonathan Kranz — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:37:53 +0000

Vicky: If you figure it out a way to get Tweeters to separate the wheat from the chaff, please let us know! We may have to get drastic and simply cut people off. If enough followers do it, the TMTers may get the message…

By: Vicky

Vicky — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:45:03 +0000

A quick follow up to a prior comment I made. I have “unfollowed” one or two folks for TMT (too much tweeting). If these folks are well-known for their expertise, you can still take advantage of that via RSS feeds from their blogs.
It’s sort of a last resort tactic to make sure that at least you still have access to their expertise.
I wonder if TMT happens because people with big followings have audiences that are too blended — like family, friends, as well as people that follow for other reasons.
Question: Is there a polite way to tell someone that Tweeting about personal minutiae is clogging your Twitterstream?
Maybe the big guns of Social Media should separate their audiences…

By: Jonathan Kranz

Jonathan Kranz — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:01:31 +0000

I like Jason’s retweet rule! Let’s make it easy to remember: if you add something, then you’re cool; if you don’t, you’re just a tool!

By: Jason Dojc

Jason Dojc — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:53:46 +0000

To fine tune you’re rule for retweets: Retweets are fine if you add something else to the original tweet.

By: John McTigue

John McTigue — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:28:45 +0000

Well timed rant! I too find it frustrating to find useful information amongst the twitterhea. I try to tweet when I find any interesting article or blog or just have either a useful or funny response to someone’s question.

By: Michelle Tripp

Michelle Tripp — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:30:07 +0000

Great post! You’re right, less is definitely more.
Although I do like the daily mundane tweets when the Twitterer adds a unique or humourous perspective… but if I see one more “sitting at LAX waiting for plane” I’ll be pulling out hair.
@michelletripp

By: Allen Mireles

Allen Mireles — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:39:25 +0000

Excellent post. Thanks for the other perspective. I’m one of those overly active Tweeters, I suspect.
Food for thought. Appreciated.
Warmly,
Allen

By: Jonathan Kranz

Jonathan Kranz — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:27:05 +0000

Thanks, Jay and Vicky! About overload: as a reader, I’m in a very awkward position; there are a number of talented people I wish to hear from, but their overwhelming volume of posts is overwhelming me. Do I “unfriend” or “unfollow” them altogether? Scroll patiently through their posts/tweets? Or hope they read our comments, take our advice, and just cut back a little?

By: Jay Philips

Jay Philips — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:21:36 +0000

Great blog and so true. These were the exact reasons why at first I stayed away from Twitter and FaceBook. I thought it was all just way too much TMI going on. I’ve since learned to just focus on the tweets/updates from certain people that I know always join in on the conversation and make it interesting.
thanks.

By: vicky

vicky — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:15:09 +0000

Jonathan,
Thank you for saying what many of us are thinking. I know I don’t care if someone has an aisle seat or a window seat.
Even the best minds in social media out there could pull back on the throttle everyone once in a while. Otherwise, I am normally glad for the idea-sharing.