Just to get the conversation started, I'll give you a few of my opinions.
My favorite network is Twitter. For me it's a no-brainer. I can interact with people in short bursts, connecting without losing large chunks of time. Also, I tend to like short, pithy statements, and Twitter is the perfect medium for that.
I also like Google Plus because I like the way it's set up. It works like my mind, grouping people into circles like friends, family and work associates. I also like that I have a lot of control over who I get updates from.
Facebook is still frustrating for me, less than it used to be, but still a fairly significant irritant. I don't like the way professional pages are set up to only have large updates from the owner of the page. If someone goes on a page and posts something it shows up in a smaller feed on the right of the screen. To me, it makes a page look like, ME, ME, ME. And I really hate that!
I also don't like how I can't get everyone's updates in my Facebook feed on my profile page. I have to designate each person I want to get every post from. That's just not practical for me with the number of friends I have.
Okay, enough about me. Hopefully I've given you some things to jump start the conversation. Now it's your turn to chime in. Feel free to comment about any network, and ask questions, too.
Don't forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie
Edie,
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on Facebook and having to subscribe to friends' feeds. I end up checking various friends' walls every now and then to see what's happening, since I don't "see" them often on my home page.
I am learning to love Twitter. And I love HootSuite, although I'm going to have to start paying to use it. I have myself, my husband's and my ministry, and my website now, which makes over 5 streams I need to run each day. But you can't beat the ability to post to more than one media at a time. Such a saver of the day!
You didn't mention Pinterest. I love using Pinterest, as well. It's a lot of fun to see what people are reading, watching, listening to, and doing. I might not know someone is homeschooling just from their Facebook page, but all the educational stuff they have on their homeschool board lets me in on that. And gives me great ideas for my newest endeavor.
Alycia, thanks for chiming in! I have a Pinterest account, and a few boards. But the one I add to the most is Pictures of Patriotism. I have two new interns starting with me this month and one of their first assignments is going to be using Pinterest to build my military blog visibility.
ReplyDeleteI'm considering the lowest paid version of Hootsuite right now. I'm maxed out on social media profiles - for those who don't remember, the free version allows 5 profiles. But it's only $5 a month and has other perks as well.
Blessings, E
I love Twitter too, and I'm with Alycia - Hootsuite makes social-networking life SO much easier.
ReplyDeleteI don't have as much as an issue with Facebook, because I assign friends to a list: writer friends, Bible study, life group, high school friends, etc. Some I check every day, others once a week or so. I actually like that feature.
I share your frustration with Google+.
A social media outlet I don't care for is Tumblr. I'm going to start using it more because "they" say it's gaining popularity, but it's cumbersome and requires too much duplication (IMO). I'm rethinking some things to make it easier.
Susan, a list is a great way to handle the frustration with Facebook. I also agree about Tumblr. I have an account, but it is just too clunky to use. Thanks so much for dropping by!
DeleteI guess I need to take a class at the community college! I facebook, have the same frustrations, but that is what I use. I don't understand twitter yet, but am trying. Absolutely love Pinterest, but can spend all day on there, creating to do lists that fill up the next year! And I have no idea what Hootsuite, Google +, and Tumblr is and my anxiety level is shooting through the roof. Wowzers. I will have to check back and see what other people have to say. Then I will know what to spend my time learning next.
ReplyDeleteJust read Rob Eager's blog. It's worth taking a look at, funny, it's goes with your topic today. But takes it in another direction.
Michelle, thanks for chiming in and for the tip about Rob's blog. Don't let your blood pressure skyrocket, take things slowly, no one has to do it all at once. Hootsuite is good because it helps you manage social media. It's not something else to do. Here's my post on it: http://thewriteconversation.blogspot.com/2012/02/social-media-updatewhy-ive-switched.html This isn't a clickable link, but you can copy and paste it into your browser. Feel free to email me with questions, ediegmelson (at) gmail (dot) com.
DeleteBlessings, E
Edie, I'm getting to where I love Twitter. I'd like hootsuite if I could figure it out and how to use it! I've got an account there, but that's the most I've been able to do! Love you!
ReplyDeleteJamie, thanks so much for stopping by. I don't think Hootsuite plays well with your program. Blessings, E
DeleteOh dear, this is the worse topic for me to address! I tried to resist and stubbornly hold out on ALL social media. I had some crazy idea I could make it as a writer without all the social "hub-bub."
ReplyDeleteAfter much encouragement from friends, I began a blog. I've discovered it does force me to improve my writing skills and it allows my words to reach more readers.
I'm still struggling with Twitter...I'm sure I'll get the hang of it eventually. I like it but I'm not consistantly using it.
Facebook....I held out as long as I could on this one and still have lots of reservations. So far, I've seen more positives than negatives. Readership of my blogs has grown immensely.
I think somewhere inside me the social media thing got lumped in the pile of "Things I Want to Rebel Against!" I don't know why it got lumped there, but it did. I consider Edie Melson and "The Write Conversation" my therapy to overcome these issues. Progress is slow but I'm slowly overcoming my social media phobias.
Sally, you're doing great. Please don't be discouraged. You're doing a great job. Thanks for stopping by! Blessings, E
DeleteFun, Edie! :) I like Facebook. I've been on board since its inception, pretty much, back when it was still a college thing and I was actually in college. So there's a certain comfort level and loyalty there...haha...I'm used to it changing sporadically and that doesn't really bother me. (Although Timeline was a huge visual adjustment.)
ReplyDeleteIt took me forever to jump on board with Twitter. In some respects, I love it. Like you, I like the how it encourages wit and brevity all at once. :) But I feel like it's less relational than facebook...maybe that's just me.
Still, those two are my faves. I'm on LinkedIn out of obligation, but rarely interact with it. I'm on Google+, but don't really care for it. Pinterest I'm avoiding because I know I'd get addicted. :)
Melissa, I agree about LinkedIn. I've tried, really I have. But I just can't get into it. I think Facebook is hard for me because I came to it through my teenagers. I can't shake the feeling that I'm an interloper. *grin*
DeleteThanks so much for chiming in! Blessings, E
I've got to take the time to get familiar with twitter. I tweet and retweet here and there, but that's it. I need play with it more. I started one list...at least I think did ;) I love facebook, but I seriously need help on the rest. There is just so much to learn and so little time! Thanks Edie for all you do to help me understand this social media stuff!
ReplyDeleteCeleste, it all takes time, don't be hard on yourself. You're doing a great job! Blessings, E
DeletePretty much everything Mel just said, I agree with! Ha! Although I will say that Twitter has opened up some interactivity with agents and editors that I wouldn't have had otherwise.
ReplyDeleteLindasy, I've had the same things through Twitter. I don't have it through Facebook and I think it's because Facebook can be invasive and Twitter isn't. Thanks for chiming in! Blessings, E
DeleteFirst a disclaimer. I'm not a good role model for good social networking, especially as a writer. But I'm much more a Facebook girl. I love the interaction, the pictures, the community/family feel. I like that the conversations are together, flowing from one person to another in order written and it's right there, easy to see.
ReplyDeleteI tolerate Twitter and the others I'm a part of. It takes me forever to write short little pithy quotes. I could have written a whole article in the time it takes me to write a Tweet! But I dabble in it...because I have to.
I hate all the beeps and twings and twangs of notification with Hootsuite and Tweetdeck. Tried it for about two hours and turned it off.
I admire all you Twitter fans who get it. I just don't. :-( I know I sound like "Bah...humbug!" and I promise I'm not trying to, but Facebook is just the more like me and my style of communicating, I guess. :-)
Vonda, you are not a bad model! I didn't know Hootsuite even had sounds. I keep mine muted and only check when I take a break (about once an hour).
DeleteYou've hit on a great point - we gravitate toward the social network that fits our personality. I think that's what is so great about social media, there truly is something for everyone. Sure there's a learning curve, but we can all find somewhere we fit. Thanks for stopping by! Blessings, E
Definitely prefer Twitter for just the reasons you mention. I probably won't get on FB till I have a new upcoming book; don't want to put the time in right now. I blog. Google+ kind of leaves me meh, and I don't see LinkedIn as beneficial to writers because extreme newbies are running and dominating most of the discussions.
ReplyDeleteMarcia, I think you nailed one of the problems with LinkedIn, I never had pinpointed it. Thanks so much for sharing! Blessings, E
DeleteMy primary social.net has to be Facebook, even though you can never tell whether something that worked last week but not today is because they changed something again or if it's just dysfunctional, moved somewhere else, or what. Hey, if nothing else, it can be used to exercise the plasticity of one's brain … who needs to pay Lumosity? :)
ReplyDeleteTwitter is a distant #2. Too busy, and 140 characters is too little for me.
LinkedIn comes in a distant third. Its interface has remained the most consistent over the years, but it's all business as far as I'm concerned. Nothing wrong with that, but it's not as much fun.
I really, really want Google+ to get cranking, because I like the overall interface … except that it more controls who can see my posts, not whose I see. (I know, there are ways around that, but it's hard to explain.) I also don't like the fact that the only way you can share something on there is through their little button; they have no API that AddThis or Shareaholic can utilize.
In the "neutral" realm would be the likes of Pinterest and other photo-related sites. I like seeing pictures, but I'm not one to find or make any. I'd also have to include social bookmarking sites like StumbleUpon, Digg, delicio.us, and the like. Nothing wrong with them, but it seems that I just don't have time to look at them.
The only negative social media experiences I can come up with right now are anything that's video-rich or Flash-based, mainly because I have an ancient computer that I cannot afford to upgrade, running an OS that is no longer supported but has features I still want (that aren't in newer versions).
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ReplyDeleteMy favorite is Twitter, because it is quick and easy. Also, applications like Hootsuite (thank YOU) and my new favorite, Buffer, make finding and sharing information on Twitter very easy. (You can "load" tweets into your Buffer, and it will send them out at a preset schedule during the day- I don't have to schedule each tweet!) I like the pictures on Facebook, but I'll have to talk to Susan about sorting feeds into lists. That sounds like it would make browsing more efficient.
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love Facebook because that's where I've made friends, and I get it. Plus, I'm wordy so don't limit me, Twitter. : ) I hang out for hours on FB talking, catching up and joking with friends. Only problem for me, I can lose big chunks of time. I have a timer on my desk and that helps to limit my time.
ReplyDeleteA goal was to tweet more, but not sure I'll ever get there.