OH, how things have change out here in La-La-Land. A couple of years ago social networking use to be focused on..being as bizarre, weird and appear to be a loony as possible to draw attention to yourself. If you did not comply to the insanity you were deemed a loser. Yes, I and several hundred others were told that in a seminar I attending in 2000 on Internet Marketing . Along comes 2008 and where are those people calling me a loser?
Many people years ago, and a few out there today, told everyone entering the internet there are no rules to what you do online. In a few cases that will always be true even though a few people are still not clear on what ‘Freedom of Speech’ and ‘Defamation to Character’ really means with what is said online. The good news is, those individuals will be gone soon as well since nobody online today really cares about them.
I am asked frequently..are there rules for how you should act, appear, behave or be online? The answer a few years ago would have been NO, but that has now fortunately changed. What forced the changed to rules being established by more consumers came from the proliferation of those who don’t want to follow rules; could care less about how they look online; could care less about anything but getting attention to what they are doing which interest very few people viewing what they provide on the internet. These misguided souls, who number in the millions, caused those who sanely use the internet to say.. I’ve had enough. Thus, rules were developed on how they will use their time online.
What it boils down to is boredom has forced people to be selective to what they view online or what is important to them online. I have been fortunate to see the internet through the eyes of my clients who are literally worn out with attempting to build relationships online that lead to real business. The actions they take to establishing rules they will use to view the internet is now moving to become mainstream. Those who do not comply to their rule they click pass.
I also have been seeing the reports from the larger PR/Marketing firms who finally have moved out of the denial arena to see consumers now consist of businesses as well as individuals who are clicking OFF sites instead of ON sites where uninterested content is being forced upon them. The rules consumers have established on how they will use social networking are changing the way social media will be used.
Will Twitter Change?
It use to be you had to be on Twitter to be seen. Now, it is impossible to be seen or at least seen as a real person, with all the insidious businesses who feel Twitter’s value is based on the links they post. The millions of posts made by misguided businesses who are on Twitter for the wrong reason is seen by the small business person as the way they should be marketing. So they quickly mimicking the large businesses by posting link after link which added to the large businesses heavy volume of links tends to make the Twitter Feed become worthless.
In an ongoing straw poll I have with people I meet on the golf course and TweetUps over 80% have left or are in the process of leaving Twitter as their place to communicate with to their markets. Will Twitter have to Change to keep the value level up? What do you think?
Losing Face on Facebook
As I make my rounds through my online and offline networks I am asked..you’re still on Facebook?!? It seems Facebook is dealing with the ‘Logo People’ who set up camp, buy advertisement and hammer anything that moves on Facebook with a post about something completely off the scale of worthiness. Even the more liberal of the people I speak with say the things people are marketing on Facebook would be of remote interest if they knew who it was marketing it. Seems this need..now demand..to know who the person is marketing or posting stuff on Facebook (Or anywhere for that matter) is the reason why more and more real people are leaving Facebook.
I am even starting to hear from many of the Facebook Loyalist who have been with ‘Markie’ since High School and say they only use FB to communicate with family and close friends are also moving off Facebook. Seems the intrusions to what they thought was their privacy has even got them to rethinking why they are using Facebook.
Rules are Rules
None of the mega social networking sites are exempt from consumer withdrawal. Even LinkedIn, who has recently started addressing the issue of worthiness, is seeing some of their membership of loyal business people leaving. Even business people looking for other businesses are setting up rules to govern the way they use their time online.
The basic rules I have been provided that consumers are using are..
“If there is no face to be seen there is no business to be made.”
“If a post includes a Link there better be three posts without them and at least one of them a @reply to one of my post.”
“If its worth linking to it should be worth you telling me why and showing me who you are.”
“Being a celebrity, or someone who thinks they are, does not exempt you from being a real person who reaches out and communicates with their friends or followers”
There is no ignoring it. The damage to social networking from people who think mass volumes of posts for the soul purpose to get someone to check out their endeavor has been done. Warnings have been giving to the mega social networking sites for sometime now thru the multitudes of blogs, vlogs, TV programs and conferences that are out there exposing how ridiculous many people using their sites look to the real world.
Where Is Everyone Going?
It is good to see conferences like www.openca.mp being developed with a focus of learning and teaching people how to use the tools that allows them to set up their own blogs and social network. These multitudes of wondering interneters who have left Facebook and who are shutting down their Twitter accounts are moving to develop their own community or joining niche communities developed to keep the Linksters and Logo People out.
Personal social/business networks are developing everywhere. As social networking platforms are developing and making their development easier to understand, more consumers will be moving to or creating their own social network.
What is predicted to happen in a few years is these businesses on Twitter and Facebook will tire of pitching to each other since their is no consumer base left to market to and will come knocking on Niche social (and business) networks to beg ask make application to advertise on these sites.
Once the niche networks take hold advertisers will finally start seeing the ROI they have been attempting to achieve on Facebook and Twitter. What will the rules be by then? Well, I am sure since Trust has produced a profit for advertisers they will continue to stay where Trust is being built which will be in arenas where consumers feedback is listened to loyally.
The economy has to change and in order for it to change OLD ways of doing things have to stop. That includes Twitter and Facebook have to take control of their endeavors if they are going to keep a strangle hold on social networking. Rules are being established due to the old ways of internet marketing not meeting the consumer’s demand. Those business who abide by the rules will keep consumer loyalty.
Pretty simple isn’t it?
Then how come there are so many people giving me and others grief that consumers placing rules on how and who they view online will not work? Could it be because they invested TOO MUCH into Old methods of marketing? Could it be they are idiots? ..I could go on with the possibilities for why so many people are not caring about the rules consumers place on their time. Eventually, these souls will be left to post to each other if they don’t see the need to change.
Things are going to continue to become interesting throughout this upcoming year and I am so glad I have started my migration to my on space online. I hope my rules match to your interest. Let me know how I can help.
