You can find me on Twitter and Google+. Hanging out and connecting with people and information in social media helps me keep in tune with what is going on and join the conversation out there. It also is a way I can give back. As I find information, I contribute. As I have thoughts, strategies and value to offer the world, I publish and post.
Of course there are always the marketers out there that want to turn something substantive into a channel. It muddies the waters and dehumanizes the process.
Social media means something different to everyone depending on your goals. Driving visitors, creating awareness or getting marketing feedback are popular and apparent goals. However, what would it look like if you were trying to build an asset instead? Your social media streams are valuable for what is current. A tweet from 2 weeks ago is irrelevant. Its context has little value today and so does the historic information, unless you wanted to get a sense of your activities and interest historically.
Instead, consider focusing on building assets. Bring value to the world by:
- Writing more. You are what you write. What is it you believe? Conviction is powerful for building a following. Dont’ water it down. Let the world have access to your writing.
- Think more. Getting sucked into the vortex of busy work every day is a wasted day. Henry Ford said, “Thinking is one of the hardest things to do. That’s why so few people do it.” To think you have to engage your mind with great conversations and books. If you need a start, check my bookshelf out. Books change you. They make you think and if you publish your thoughts, you clarify your thinking.
- Have real relationships. Use your personal systems to facilitate, not replace, real relationships. People change you as well as books. Manage and grow what is real. I love using Google+ in this way. It is a great platform for serving my friends, clients and mentors in one place and driving the conversation. Provide real thought and lead. Your networks can stimulate you to continued growth as you are strategic in your relationships.
Time is passing us all by. We can get caught up in the hoopla of neat technology and toys. Or you can create a strategy and process which helps you to grow and help others grow. In all the noise in the world, people still want what is real and valuable. Fill the gap. Stop from creating more noise and instead build something long-term and valuable for you and others.
What are your thoughts?
