Why I Do Social Media and Why You Should Too

The groundswell of cautionary tales about social media crested for me this week with 2 articles in the New York Times “Reclaiming our (Real) Lives for Social Media” and “Love People, Not Pleasure”. Add to this the fact that in the past 7 days I’ve had at least one conversation a day with someone telling me social media is a waste of time (thumbs down) or they’re just to busy to do it (thumbs up, but challenged).

So the time has come for me to write my social media advocacy blog – to tell you why I’m on allot of social sites, what I get out of it and why you should become more active. I’ll add advice on how to find the time. The links to all my social profiles are at the bottom of this blog, to give you the visuals that go with my story. Jump in!

Why I Do Social Media and Why You Should Too image shutterstock 127992746 300x300
Why I Do Social Media and Why You Should Too image shutterstock 127992746 300x300

The Fun Sites

Facebook: It’s my community photo album. I see the best moments from friends from all parts of my life – how else would I do that? From kindergarten friends to the people I’ve worked with in so many different places. People I care about but wouldn’t otherwise see given how we’ve all moved from city to city. Yes, it’s a noisy site. But its soooo worth bypassing the noise to get to the gems.

Instagram: Photos here are more artfully done, with filters, frames and cropping. Brings out the true photographer me. It’s what kid’s do these days – hipper than Facebook. My son (11) and I share what we are doing when we’re not together on Instagram!

Pinterest: Daydreamer’s scrapbook – when my mind wanders and I want to collect images of something I’m daydreaming about (that new dining room chair, shoes, even the word “happy”) I put up a board and grab pictures – like window shopping at my desk.

About.me: What’s your story?? Here you create your online persona – and the more artful the better. The canvas they provide is nice too.

You Tube: Where do I put that video so I can share it? You know, my son’s Spring Concert band video? Here’s where. Plus house (by favorite -ing) all those videos I want to bookmark to like Breaking Bad videos that blew me away the first time that I want to see again (…Crystal Blue Persuasion….)

Why I Do Social Media and Why You Should Too image shutterstock 190995953 300x234
Why I Do Social Media and Why You Should Too image shutterstock 190995953 300x234

More Fact Than Fantasy

Twitter: News you can use, Want to know what’s going on? Check the trending topics. From the Boston bombing to World Cup, to Scandal’s plot twist real-time – follow the conversation with millions of others who are “right there.”

Linked In: Building a reputation. What are the essential career facts I want known about me? Put it here. Plus I use this more than other sites to post stories that relate to my profession to demonstrate expertise.

And Then to Keep Score….

Klout: How influential am I among the people I talk to (mainly professionally)? Even though I am a skeptic about the validity of the algorithm that calculates this score, in some instances you can use it to establish your credibility with others and it even impacts hiring decisions for some jobs.

How do I make time?

Some sites are open the background all day and provide nice clean mental health breaks when I need one. It only takes seconds to check in to see what’s new. These are Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Others are destinations when I need them and exist to be updated only when there is news (e.g Linked In).

Each site has its own rhythm and you get to know it. This does not have to take allot of time and the more familiar you become the more efficient you are at getting in, finding what you need, and hopping off.

So Do It – And Take Care…

With this portfolio of social media sites I feel connected and aware of my world just a little bit more than I was before. The information comes real time – without delay. It makes my world bigger, broadening it beyond who I can physically touch. And that is reason enough to make time every day to tune in.

To the naysayers – YES, I do caution that you maintain balance and avoid letting this take over your day (can be a time sink), drive your self esteem (comparing your ordinary life to everyone else’s fabulous life) or serve as a replacement for human contact.

I hope you’re clearer now on why a really busy and perfectly sane person would “do social media regularly. Check out my profiles and follow me – I’ll follow you back!

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

About.me

Pinterest

YouTube

Klout

Image: Quka / Shutterstock.com

This article was syndicated from Business 2 Community: Why I Do Social Media and Why You Should Too

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