Does Social Networking Improve Your Business & Your Brain?
December 7, 2009
Some experts claim that social networking can turn your business into the best thing since the curved barrel machine gun. And others say that using social media can even improve your brain function.
So can social networking really make you smarter than George W Bush? And is it worth paying a Social Media Expert $700 an hour to get you a gazillion Twitter followers?
Well, according to Amy Derby, celebrated author of Chronic Bullshit Syndrome; if you’ve already got your wallet out, or, you’re one of those gurus charging astronomical amounts to Twits; you’re probably suffering from CBS – a syndrome that affects 4.7 out of 5 Internet users.
Some of those social networking gurus, may appear popular and influential because they follow 50 people on Twitter and have 15,000 Twits following them. But chances are, most of them have the skills of a low paid factory worker. They know how to press two buttons – “Follow” and “Remove”.
On the bright side, they are real fast at pressing lots of buttons, so they could probably get you thousands of irrelevant social networking followers for your business in a few days.
So Is Social Networking Worth It?
If you’re doing it wrong, social networking is a load of time wasting twaddle. Your business doesn’t need a massive mob of mute followers. What you do need is a careful selection of networking partners who are interested enough in you and your business that they would consider using your products or services, or recommend them to a friend.
But You’re Not Looking For A Fanclub Either
Too many social networking geniuses are looking for massive audiences. And every Tweet, blog post, or Facebook announcement, is designed to make you – their networking whore, part with your hard earned cash. But they’re forgetting one thing – networking is a two way process:
Business.com Defines Networking As:
Creating a group of acquaintances and associates and keeping it active through regular communication for mutual benefit. Networking is based on the question “How can I help?” and not with “What can I get?”
If you remember that golden two way rule, then social networking may still be right for your business. But some people choose to ignore the rule completely, or bend it to suit themselves and the effects can be worse than doing no social networking at all.
For example, recently, one of my social networking “buddies” on Facebook, messaged all his networking friends, asking them to add his new “fan page” to their profiles. He said he wanted to remove them as friends, so he could keep his business contacts seperate.
This is kind of a “bullingo” way of saying, I want to advertise my business to you but I’m not interested in yours. So I ignored him and I’m betting a lot of other people did too. That’s “cathlingo” for, “I’m not interested in your spam and I wouldn’t recommend your business to the dog next door.”
So How Much Time Should You Dedicate To Social Networking & Do You Need A Guru?
For a start, it depends how much time you have. If you’re just starting out and you’re cash poor, you might want to take the time to learn the ropes yourself. Just remember that it’s quality of relationships you’re looking to build, not quantity. And consider choosing just one social networking site to begin with, so you don’t become overwhelmed and waste a heap of time.
And if you don’t have much time, but you have the cash to invest, don’t give it to some shady, self-proclaimed guru. What you really need to do is find someone who specializes in your field, who is willing to take the time to understand what you want and help you attract visitors to your business through, SEO, social media and pay per click.
For example, experienced writers like Vered DeLeeuw offer a wide range of services to small business. But before you consider employing someone to do the work for you, ask to see a portfolio of their work and some client testimonials, to avoid disappointment.
So How Do You Measure Your Social Networking Success?
Unlike many other forms of marketing, it’s difficult to measure the success of a social networking campaign over a short period of time. Networking relationships take a long time to build but remember, many successful businesses have a competitive advantage because of relationships they have been building for years.
And What About Your Brain?
Most people would agree that two heads are better than one, so long as one of those heads isn’t sitting on the shoulders of George, the village idiot. But Dr Robyn McMaster claims that social networking can have an even greater impact on your brain and it can even change the way your brain is wired.
So if you’ve done lots of social networking and it hasn’t benefited your business yet, chances are it might have made you smarter.
What’s your opinion of social networking, as a business activity? Do you think it’s different to “real life” networking? Have you been building business relationships that might be mutually beneficial now, or in the future? And do you feel that social networking has even improved your brain power. Or have you been put off by all the bullshit and hype?
Related Reading On This Site
Should You Talk Dirty To Your Customers?
How Not To Promote Your Business On The Internet
Twitter & Stupid Internet Marketing Gurus
Are These 4 Social Network Sites A Waste Of Time?
Comments
27 Responses to “Does Social Networking Improve Your Business & Your Brain?”
-
Successful And Outstanding Blogger
For example, recently, one of my social networking “buddies” on Facebook, messaged all his networking friends, asking them to add his new “fan page” to their profiles. He said he wanted to remove them as friends, so he could keep his business contacts seperate.
“This is kind of a “bullingo” way of saying, I want to advertise my business to you but I’m not interested in yours. So I ignored him and I betting a lot of other people did too. That’s “cathlingo” for, “I’m not interested in your spam and I wouldn’t recommend your business to the dog next door.”
Hi Cath – Yep, I got that message, too, ignored it, didn’t fan the person’s page and was removed as warned.
I interpreted the message almost the same way you did. I can understand people thinking that they should keep their business and personal lives separate. There are folks who continue to say, “I’m promoting my business/brand, but I’m above selling myself.” They’re stuck in sales mode, not relationship mode. Just like the 3 main things about real estate are location, location and location, the 3 main things about business are relationships, relationships, relationships.
Social media makes the world a very small town. I think that’s a good thing, because you are accountable to your neighbors. And you live and die by their perception – sometimes not a good thing, but more often makes you think twice about something questionable.
So, in essence, the message you cited (and similar ones that tend to appear regularly in this little portion of our ‘sphere from ‘experts’ who should really know better) really says, “I’m not interested in you as a person, let alone your business.” And while that’s perfectly fine, it might not be the best way to grow, professionally or personally.
Betsy Wuebker’s last blog post..Soothing Scrubs – A Great Gift to Make or Keep for Yourself
Hi Cath .. great information .. and I like Betsy’s comment re relationships x 3 …
It’s trying to make sense of all the alternatives .. I’m on FB and Twitter, though don’t do much .. and I occasional Stumble .. but to tie all the bits together .. all the other parts and work out the first step to take, then the next and deal with the outfall on the way and ensure we keep everyone happy can be quite tricky .. so I’m on go slow mode, til I can get my head round it all.
The most important thing to me is to add value to the people I’m connecting with, or “conglomerate” I’ve joined .. be it a group, or something I participate in, and not waste their time, nor mine.
Probably – we all react too quickly sometimes .. because the pressure of “Do Now” .. or it’ll go syndrome .. let alone anything else .. now is a time of consolidation for me. Learn each rope as I go!
I’ll be interested to see the rest of the comments ..
All the best – Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
LOL Betsy – I had a feeling you’d be on that list too. As you say – he was also saying, I’m not interested in you as a person either.
To most of us, it would be common sense to try to get to know folk we’re networking with. But some folk just don’t get it.
I’ve written a few posts on the networking subject but I’m betting the folk who really need to read them don’t bother, cos they’re too busy scouting for a fan club.
BTW I’m so hungry – every time I “see” you online, all I can think about is the yummy cakes you’ve been baking.
Hi Hilary – I hear you. I struggle to use more than one network at a time. I seem to be using Facebook most recently as it seems easier to keep up with what folk are doing. Not so many people seem to use Twitter at the same time of day as I do. I will try to find you on those tho.
Not being a very social person, it took me a long time to get Facebook, and I only use it to get to know people better that I’ve already met elsewhere, so perhaps I didn’t get it after all. I don’t really know how to search for like-minded people, but occasionally do find one among the suggestied “friends.”
The kind of people who friend me, for the most part, are people who then go on to post about how wonderful life is and how happy I could be if I only did whatever. Not a relationship, obviously.
I also don’t get tthe business part. Why would I want to be like the proverbial life insurance salesman and irritate my friends with constant sales pitches?
I have yet to get Twitter at all. Who’s going to listen to me say I just had a bagel and then decide to buy my product?
Obviously, I don’t have a sales mentality, nor do I want one. Perhaps Internet business can involve something besides selling thinsgs?
Dot’s last blog post..Full Disclosure
Still, social marketing is the the fastest and probably the best way to get visitors to your site, especially to the blog.
Post 20-30 relevant posts on forum, join a group on FaceBook or Myspace relevant to your site/blog and post a link there, and posting comments on other blogs is the easiest way to get visitors.
Of course, you will get just fractions, but while you doing that at the same time you are actually building links, which is the of-page part of SEO. That’s why it is important from very start to tray ad anchor text if possible, and if not, you know the saying – “link is a link”.
Internet marketing ebooks’s last blog post..Blog Profits Blueprint by Yaro Starak
I’ve been spending quite a lot of time on Twitter recently. (And my tweets feed to Facebook.)
The benefits of social media is the meaningful networking, as you say. For instance, I conversed with Deepak Chopra the other day about physical immortality. That was fun! I also found many new friends — who have websites, but don’t really blog, so I didn’t know them through my blogging. Some seem to be interested in guest blogging on Yes to Me.
So, no measurable results yet, but I think it’s good to socialize sometimes.
Akemi – Yes to Me’s last blog post..How Akashic Record Reading Changed One Woman’s Life
… and I meant to say, it’s important we respond to tweets that are directed to us with @. Even Deepak Chopra, who has 6 digit followers, do this (to some extent).
Think about a social networking “guru” who just shouts what he wants to say and never listen. Does that sound SOCIAL?
Cath,
I’m not certain that I like the theory that “social networking can turn your business into the best thing since the curved barrel machine gun.” Though I understand why that type of machine gun is “special” in its own idiotic way, it makes me uncomfortable to know that social media is being compared to a ANY firearm. That has a negative connotation to me – and says a lot about what social media can be used as: a weapon.
Likewise, MOST undertakings in life should be based on “how can I help?” as opposed to “what can I get?”
As someone who is not very concerned with social media as a means to an end, you’ve now got me thinking that my brain is at risk for non-participation! I guess I’ll have to live with the fact that I’m not as intelligent as George W. Bush.
You’ve done a great job of providing sources and insight into social media. For those who thrive on or wish to grow with SM, this is a terrific resource.
Rita’s last blog post..Turtling
Yea, lol, didn’t notice that. However, we are all warriors here on the internet, trying to establish a stable online business, so in that mean, all our marketing resources and means are kind of weapons
Internet marketing ebooks’s last blog post..Blog Profits Blueprint by Yaro Starak
I guess I am trying to differentiate myself from the crowd by insisting on quality rather than on quantity. It is my firm belief that in SEO and in social media, the only strategy that works long-term focuses on quality. But I can see how 21 year old “gurus” would be impatient with my approach and chase numbers. Which is a very good thing indeed, because the more obvious they are, the easier it is for me to differentiate myself.
I’ve been getting quite a lot of new clients who were burned with gurus who promised them quick results and are asking me to do damage control, clean out their social media accounts and go for quality.
Thank you for the links Cath!
vered | blogger for hire’s last blog post..Former Miss Argentina Dies After Cosmetic Surgery
Hi Cath. If I wasn’t enjoying the social aspect of Twitter I could easily be put off by all the hype. I started off cautiously and professionally, but felt awkward. I’d tweet and feel like no one was listening. Then things shifted and I stopped “trying” to be what I thought I “should” be and just enjoyed connecting. Then, people started to listen because it was just me. Now, when I do tweet something beyond what I ate for breakfast it is recognized because of the connections that are already in place.
I can see how social media can influence intelligence in the regard that it encourages us to see things differently and we learn new things, but I’d like to believe that we can use our brains to influence IT too — a two way street.
You said whore! And now… so have I.
Davina’s last blog post..Poem #5: Cushioned Pants
Social networking is something like building a family, so it’s not different than real life networking. You have to care all of your network member and think about their benefit in both cases. One must learn social network depend on word ‘We’ not ‘I’.
Now take a look on another aspect, I personally dislike those self claimed Gurus. They actually eat your money without giving you anything except those numbers. It’s better to have 100 social friends who are relevant to your business than 1000 irrelevant.
Yes, online social media really change your brain and have some good effect on offline life. I myself an example. Now, I am more social and always get to involve on helping other whenever possible. It also make me more discipline person and more sharing social object.
Arafat Hossain Piyada’s last blog post..Get Full Version of Azada Puzzle Game Free from BigFishGames(limited time)
If you’re not already smarter than George W. then you might not be able to figure out how to use social marketing anyway, so that point might be moot.
I get emails everyday which tell me someone else has started following me on Twitter. Most of them follow far more than are following them back, so I assume they’re just hoping I’ll automatically return the favor. I don’t.
I do Twittter (and a little Facebook) to be social, not to sell. I guess I’m not really out to sell anything right now anyway, but it’s much more enjoyable to use social networking to be . . . social.
Terry Heath’s last blog post..Let’s All Share Some SPAM For The Holidays
Hi Cath: Whenever someone new follows me on twitter I always look at their profile. If they’re just sending out tweets without talking to others I don’t follow them back. I’ve found a lot of great information on twitter, and I’ve also “met” some great people. I work from home so sometimes it’s good just to have a place to socialize whenever I need a break. I guess Twitter is my water cooler.
Marelisa’s last blog post..How to Make Yourself Lucky
LOL Dot – I wouldn’t worry – that’s how I use Facebook too. I did add some people who said they were friends of friends but I deleted them all when I got hacked.
Twitter takes some getting used to. Half the time I just read what other people are saying, while I’m supposed to be working
Internet Marketing Ebook – Dude – I don’t usually reply to folks with keyword stuffed names. But seriously – you need to use your real name, or you’ll never build relationships with anyone.
Do yourself a favour and participate in discussions on the same blogs regularly – get to know people, link out to them and eventually, you’ll get plenty of inbound links to your blog.
Hi Akemi – You name dropper. Seriously, a lot of people seem really interested in physical mortality right now.
I hear what you’re saying about responding. Folk like Guy Kawasaki always take the time to respond – even though they get bombarded with questions from lots of people.
LOL Rita – The metaphor wasn’t deliberate. I just like the pictures in that page of ads.
And I don’t think you need to worry about not being as smart as George Bush.
Hi Vered – You’re welcome. You do a great job of differentiating yourself from the “gurus”. I think you offer a great service.
Hi Davina – Being yourself sounds like the best idea. And I like your idea of the two way street too.
I didn’t mean to say whore – but I’d said buddy twice in a row – so I had to find a different word.
Hi Arafat – I love how you describe building social media relationships as “like building a family”. And it’s great that it has actually helped you to be more social in the real world too – that’s a wonderful benefit.
Hi Terry – I agree – being social is fun. Like you I no longer do the automatic Twitter following. It’s time consuming to do the automatic checking and adding but it saves reading a lot of spam.
Hi Mare – I like how you say Twitter is your water cooler. It’s hard to remember to take a break when you’re working alone – so making that time is important. And it stops you feeling as lonely too.
Sorry – Dot – I missed your last question. And I just want to say – forget worrying about selling things for now – the most important thing you can sell is yourself. And there’s no special skill required – like Davina said, “just be you”.
Hi Cath — it’s interesting how Twitter and FB have evolved for me — I have a lot more Twitter friends (or, I guess, mutual follows) than FB friends, and the FB people are usually people I know personally or bloggers I’ve known for a while. I like it this way — I can use Twitter for business promotion and RTs to promote quotes/links that I resonate with, and FB to keep up with the more personal stuff from “in-person” friends.
Oke, I am that “Internet marketing ebooks” dude.
I read your comment and thought about it. Been on some forums and went to search for such issues.
I’ve seen many negative things about that keyword stuffing in names, although it seemed to me like a good thing, because you get a link with anchor text
I am still new to all this blogging thing and link building so I made a mistake, sorry, now when I am aware of it, I will not do it again.
Actually I made mistake on several hundred other blog comment
, but now when I know I will not do it again.
Davor Gasparevic’s last blog post..Blog Profits Blueprint by Yaro Starak
Hi Chris – I like to use Twitter for those purposes too. A lot of people seem to use FB the way you describe. I know on Twitter I would add strangers who seem interesting. On FB – friends of friends seem to interact less and some use the private messaging function to spam.
I’m looking forward to reading your book after reading Jannie’s review by the way.
Hi Davor – good for you – you’ve made the right choice. Many of us ignore keyword stuffed commenters but because you made useful comments instead of straightforward spamming, I thought it only fair to let you know.
Anyway, as they say, if you don’t make mistakes, you’re not trying hard enough. I checked out your blog. It wouldn’t hurt to have a short about page on there, or something that would make it seem more personal.
Thanks for the tip, I really appreciate any advice, that is one of THE motives why I read and comment on some of the blogs, because I am new and still have a lot to learn.
I will put some description shortly, thanks once again.
Davor Gasparevic’s last blog post..Blog Profits Blueprint by Yaro Starak
No problem – I know how tough it is when you first start blogging. When I built my first website, I searched for my keyword in the aol community and spammed everyone who had it in their interests.
I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to do it. Lucky for me, fewer people were online then, so folk seemed to welcome any email.
Cath,
Interesting article and comments. I must confess I’m inept at social media. I’m on Facebook primarily because my church has an active group, and I connect with some other people occasionally. I resisted Twitter for eons, then decided I’d give it a try, only to change my mind again and decide it’s not for me.
I’m in the fortunate position of having more work than I can handle from regular clients and referrals. I have no desire to hire people or subcontract work. I spent a lot of years running a business with 18 employees, and I don’t want to do that again.
Blogging is fun for me, but that’s the extent of my social networking.
Off-topic: I’ve been trying to contact you by e-mail to tell you that you won the copy of Renae Brumbaugh’s book she gave away to one of the commenters on her interview on my blog. All my messages have bounced, so I’m leaving this note here with apologies for being off-topic. Please contact me with your address so Renae can send you the book.
Lillie Ammann’s last blog post..By: Reconnecting With Your Readers, Blogging Style
Yes it’s different because the scope is wider and the probability of stumbling on a meaningful connection is greater. I use it as an introduction and then I offer to talk offline with folks who I think I may have a greater connection with. It works as long as you don’t use it as a replacement for real action.
Tom Volkar / Delightful Work’s last blog post..Wounds + Authentic Makeup = True Calling
Hi Lillie – It sounds like social networking wouldn’t be a productive use of your time.
I’m delighted that I’ve won the book. I will email you with my address. Thank you.
Hi Tom – That’s a good point – it’s far easier to connect with more people on the Internet, so you’re more likely to meet like-minded people.
But it sounds like you prefer telephone communication. I guess it would take a lot of tweets on Twitter to converse as much as you would do in 15 minutes on the phone.
Cath — “thousands of irrelevant followers,” how can I even try to think about that now, when my head is still full of the flying platform, the baby cage, a portable sauna, the Japanese fake breast with heartbeat and the Goodyear illuminated tires???
Jannie Funster’s last blog post..Getting To Know Him… Getting To Know All About A Wonderful Blogger.
Cath,
Does this mean that you have your blog back? If so, welcome back!
Rita’s last blog post..Ode to Bianca
There is no doubt social networking is a tool that many people enjoy whether it is for business or pleasure.
But as mentioned above, there is a point where you have to pick up the phone to connect on a more real level.
How wonderful to have such tools that facilitate connecting with people from all over the world.
Marie Leonard’s last blog post..Ten Myths and Realities of Goal Setting For Baby Boomers