Why I Dig Social Media

This is going to expose my full geek for all to see, but it seems like a good time for some more information about why I do what I do, and what it gives back to me. It has been said that if you aren’t doing what you love, then you won’t be happy. The more time I spend in this world of  social media, the more I love it.

I spend much of my time analyzing. I analyze my kitchen pantry, my children, friends, politics, and whatever else pops into my head. I try to figure out why people say and do what they say and do, and I generally befriend people in order to peer into their minds and gain some understanding of the world around me. I just like to see what people are made of… and social media has become an interesting tool in my brain quest. It gives me a brief glimpse into the words/text of a person, what they say, and sometimes, what they don’t say. I watch people struggle with life, agonize over politics and recommend a fantastic new brand of coffee, all within 10 seconds.

Social media also gives me the chance to wear up to 20 different hats, each day. I get to act in the best interests of different companies, businesses and organizations, each with a particular brand and voice, making me an expert in a multitude of subjects (which, I love!) as well as the jokester, hipster, advocate, coach or ooooh’er and ahhhh’er of fabulous shoes you may actually talk to on Twitter or Facebook.

In my neck of the woods, Loudoun County, Virginia, the social media world is exploding, and that has been an interesting study in itself. From the bloggers to social media strategists (cough, cough, @Brambleton), the web of Loudoun continues to grow with the force of a thousand Starbucks. That’s a compliment, I promise.

That’s all I’ve got! Be crazy out there, and join in the fun. Just remember (hint, hint), the best ways to tip your social media guide is to comment, like and follow them.

MojoWriting on Facebook

MojoWriting on Twitter

MojoWriting on Neptune (kidding!)

 

Why Online Forums are Not Dead

There is a strange whisper out in the land of social media that because of the ability of social networking sites like Facebook, Ning and MySpace to create groups, discussions and other multi-person avenues of communication, old bulletin boards, message boards and forums are rapidly becoming obsolete.

Well, okay, maybe that is true, to an extent. Most people are able communicate through these free platforms. People can connect with each other on these sites, sharing ideas and generally finding a way to circumvent the “old school” style of boards and forums. Facebook is more convenient than a forum, since it connects people with friends, co-workers, brands and favorite stores, all in one easy to use, familiar interface. Plus, search engines like Google are taking these sites into account when it comes to search engine results. Seems like the old boards and forums are dead, right?

Not so fast there, Skippy. There is still a whole lot of benefit for the business owner interested in self-hosted forums and message boards.