Social Media Misconceptions

I was recently discussing Social Media with some coworkers after hearing a presentation aboutthat topic at a conference earlier this week.  The universal comment was, why would I want to update everyone with the fact I’m drinking coffee or going to the bathroom?  Who cares what I’m up to, or why do I care to let them know?  The misconceptions surrounding Twitter or Facebook’s value are widespread, and keeping knowledgeable people with great information and thoughts to share from taking advantage of this amazing tools that we have at our disposal during this amazing period in time.

The whole point of social media isn’t to update the world with our lunch selection that day, or what TV show we’re watching, but rather to build a network and share.  Sure, there are three million or so people who care what Ashton Kutcher is up to, but for the rest of us who are trying to make our lives better, our companies better and the world better, that misses the point altogether.

It’s the network that makes this powerful.  I was headed out to lunch when a colleague asked me how to delete his Facebook account.  I asked him why he would want to do such a thing.  It’s too much work, and I don’t know what people are going to write on my wall, I don’t want people to see something distasteful.  I explained that it takes work to build a network of responsible professionals, and to control that network, but the value you gain is tremendous.  This isn’t a fad, evidenced by this video on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIFYPQjYhv8, but a new way of doing things.  Take for instance the statistics surrounding the way companies are hiring in my blog Recruitment Trends using Social Media, http://matthewschmitt.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/part-ii/.  Clearly the way we approach learning from, and about people is changing.

There are three different ways to look at this amazing change in our world.  First, falling victim to the misconception that it’s a no value add time waster, updating the world with dribble about what I’m doing right now.  There’s a place for that, and a component that shouldn’t be ignored for sure, but that’s not the focus.  Second, using it limited only to having some friends and sharing pictures with family.  OK, that’s better than nothing.  Thirdly, building a strong social media strategy that connects you with others in your interest group to grow, build credibility and authenticity and share.  I know which one I’ll be doing, I hope you’ll do the same.

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