I read a great article at PC World about the 10 most overrated products. Some I agreed with (XP vs Vista), some I did not (Google Apps vs OpenOffice)–but the one that really hit home for me was Facebook. As the editors at PC World wrote: "Everyone seems to be on Facebook at this point. But to what end? Countless free applications of dubious value, plus scores of plug-ins and games that draw you deeper into the Facebook rabbit hole until you’re spending hours a day befriending complete strangers with whom you have nothing in common beyond a shared love of Raisin Bran." Amen. I know I’m swimming against the Facebook for Marketing tide – - but really, is Facebook where YOUR target audience hangs out? Not mine. Find the social network where your own crowd hangs out – - THEN market the heck out of it — by building relationships with people who actually COULD become your customer.
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Nancy,
I got here via ProBlogger’s announcement that you are the first he’s seen that reviewed his workbook. Great article. If I weren’t already inclined to get the workbook, your article would have convinced me. At that price who wouldn’t?
As for Facebook, I tend to agree. If you’d have said Twitter I’d agree more. I got onboard Twitter early (though not an early adopter) and did ‘work’ it as advised. However, I’ve reached the conclusion that I can spend my marketing/socialization time much more efficiently in the ‘old fashioned way’ : getting to know people I’m interested in either through searches for solutions and/or from friends’ recommendations.
Don’t get me wrong, Facebook is not only fun, but useful. So is Twitter. I just don’t think they’re the genius marketing tools they’re being promoted as. Nothing comes w/o hard work, whether is a social network’s marketing potential or taking time to use other, less ‘in the now’ methods to accomplish the same thing. In my opinion the latter is a better fit for me. For one thing I’m long winded (as you can see) so Twitter/Facebook’s restrictions grate on my psyche every time I post/respond. I like to think I’m a deep thinker and appreciate those who also appreciate a longer, more thought out post.
I subscribed by email to your feed (another of my favorite methods of learning) and look forward to listening and enacting your sound advice.
Molly,
Thanks for your comments. One of my friends called herself a dinosaur because she avoided Twitter and Facebook – - but to be honest, neither service is where her potential clients hang out. I’m really on the fence over Facebook – - maybe I’m a T Rex too – - but right now I’m working to make a business case for being there as much as I’m “told” I should be. However, I’m open, if statistics prove me wrong! Thanks for subscribing to my RSS – and for your thoughtful post. Nancy
It is true that most social networking sites steal time out of my schedule and make me a loser! – Mike
Have you noticed an increase in the number of comments since installed KeywordLuv? I’ve been considering using it on a blog I own and need some honest feedback.