How Do You Use Your Golf Social Networking Sites?

I recently asked this question on all of my social and business networking sites.  I found it interesting how many emails I got instead of direct replies to my questions. Guess that goes to show you how many people are not comfortable with going public with replying to open questions.  In some ways I don’t blame them.

None the less, it was concerning how many I received with…

aaaaaaa, what do you mean?

I again will have to assume from these questions not many people think about how they are using their golf social networking groups or sites.  What does that tell me or more importantly..what does it tell you?

A few years ago I posted the same question and got a few answers stating they were using the golf groups to connect with other golfers or to market their golf products.  From conversations I have had since then with hundreds of golfers online, what has taken place is most of these people gave up their efforts to reach out to other golfers since there were more marketers in the groups than golfers.  So the social part of the golf social group was overridden by the intrusiveness of businesses.

From the above remarks made recently I take it there are many golfers who don’t know why they are out here.  On the most part this lack of understanding has many people either taking action in the wrong direction in how they use social media in social networking groups or are taking some of the ill advise that many of the internet marketers are offering in their $39.95 seminars on how to use Social Networking Groups to make a $Million.

Social Media in social networking groups is an effective way of letting people know who you are first and what you do secondly.

WRONG WAYS

Brand Self

In online and offline discussion groups on related subjects on how social networking is used the term Branding comes up frequently. More specifically..Self Branding or Branding Self.

I am not sure why someone would want to brand themselves in a total social environment or anything commercial while socializing but that is what many of the so called experts of social media are saying all social networking groups are worth.  So more questions are generated…

Why are these groups called Social Networking if the sole purpose is to Brand one’s self for business purposes?  and more importantly…What is Self Branding?

Commercialize

Will someone tell me how a Company identity socializes in a social network..more importantly..how does a business identity fit in a world of people and how does an icon become a person?  I know everyone is out to make a buck..so am I, but I am not out taking every minute of my day hammering someone for that buck.

I can understand the company is run by people and the business is done by people but in the millions of cases I am seeing online these business identities who join the many social networking groups are faceless and want to stay that way.  What value does commercializing a social networking group have to a business?  It cannot possibly be working towards the bottomline.

Advertising on a Social Networking site by a company is understandable, especially if that company has all of its employees sign up in that social networking group, but to be a member of a social networking group as a company identity or a business just does not work as effectively as a person from that company socializing as a real person. 

Privatize

In some cases discussed in other non-golf groups the term privatize is used to describe how people use a social networking group to only socialize with family or close friends.  This means they form a public presences but private existence in the social group which is a contradiction of what most social networking groups are set up to do.  A true mystery.  Why even be in the public if socializing is not in the game plan.  = FAIL

Spam-a-Roma

Then of course, there are those who are so desperate they use social networking groups to reach out to everyone in the group to tell them about a product or service that is probably already available to everyone offline or from a retailer that has a better trust relationship built.  These unfortunate individuals are what makes so many people..mostly golfers..run from the internet by the thousands.  To say they are a fact of life on the internet would be a HUGE understatement. Getting Spam under control has to be an individual effort in Social Networking.

RIGHT WAYS

Naturally the right way of using Social Networking eludes many people.  Primarily, too many social network groups feel being open to everyone is the answer which creates the problems with Social Networking.  What these founders of these mega groups do not understand is not everyone knows how to be social, or should I say more specifically, the lure to an open social network is too lucrative for businesses to not meddle with the purpose of the group.  None the less, there is a right way of using Social Networking groups

Online Footprint

A more realistic reason for belonging to and being active in a social networking group is the online social footprint the member makes.  Many times skeptical golfers will check someone out before making connections and will Google the person’s name to see what kind of Online Footprint they have.  If they do not have one then more than likely they may not make the social connections they are out to make.  Joining online golf clubs (or any group) and then becoming active in the clubs will generate the online footprint needed to validate an online existence.

Substantiation

First of all, the primary goal for being online is to show everyone who you are and why you exist on the earth..or whatever planet you are from.  A complete profile is a must.  Nothing rules out being entertaining or being stiff collared.  How you write about yourself reflects purely on who you are.

This allows people to browse your profile and see if you maybe someone new to put into their social group.

Photos of a person provide absolute substantiation that there is a real person represented by the profile.

Purpose

Of course stating why you are on the internet makes the picture you are painting of yourself perfectly clear.  If you are out looking for work..tell us that.  There millions of people out here that could help. 

If you are out looking for a mate..then say that. 

If you out to make a buck off everyone that reads your profile..say that..I am sure there are people who would pay you a buck or two for your truthfulness and to keep you from spamming them. But don’t hold your breath that will work or make you popular.

Be Active

Failure of social networking begins with being inactive in the social environment.  This is not to say you have to be a social butterfly and post something every minute of the day.  The best way to be active is to tell people how active you are going to be in the group.  If being active in the group is a daily affair or if you only plan to stop by periodically, lets other members know your intentions.  This information helps them understand why you are not responsive to their inquires or messages.

Reach Out

Many people feel reaching out to socialize with people online is intrusive and it can be depending on how they are approached.  At some point socializing starts with some sort of contact and a cordial contact is acceptable.  However, if that cordial contact is also connected with a full page detail breakdown of the product you sell, then intrusive is the least of the descriptive words used for that form of Reaching Out.

Let socializing online become like talking on the phone.  Keep the formalities in mind but focus on learning about a person and what they are about.  There will be time for you to be you.

There are many ways of using a social networking..a lot of wrong ways and just as many right ways.  I would like to think the right way is the way you choose, but if not, OH Well..let me know how I can help.