In the old days (and by old, I mean not even a decade ago), people used social networks in its simplest form, most often for one-on-one interaction. Then instant messaging grew to group chat and e-mail turned into groups, listservs and chains.
Today we have even more interactive tools and networks that allow us to build our business, find out information, create online communities, raise money for a cause or non-profits, connect with friends and loved ones, and make new connections based on common interests or mutual relationships.
The question is, now that we have all these uses and ideas for how to maximize interaction on social networks, what is the value you get when you have 500+ friends on Facebook and Twitter?
(Photo Credit: My Friend Wheel on Facebook)
Do people who have that many friends and/or followers have the time to develop true interpersonal relationships? Or does it become more of a marketing and branding tool, displaying your credibility through how many people are linking back and friending you?
I have found that since turning my personal Facebook page into a professional link, that I have less time to actually interact with my “real-life” friends. I use it as more of a tool – to promote events, share information and links, add contacts I meet at networking events, etc.; instead of a way to stay in touch or reconnect with old friends, it’s just another platform for promotion.
What have you found? Does the value of a social network increase or decrease with the number of friends and followers you have?
First off – I appreciate the linklove.
Secondly, It is true social networks began as a way to get in touch with old friends and Colleagues, but the internet also started as a place to gain information and share information.
There were some who saw in the beginning the marketing potential and went with it and built huge companies (Ebay, Yahoo, Google, MSN, etc…)
Now we are seeing the same thing with not only Social Networks, but also Social Media, today it is a lot easier for the average Joe via Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc to reach out and influence a large audience.
I read an article about how it could be the end of the Movie Star, stating that there have been a lot of movies with ‘allstar casts’, that just haven’t faired as much as they normally should. There have also been a lot of movies with new actors or not-so-famous actors that have taken off and gone big.
I think the same is to be spoken of the new media, and social networks. For instance it’s a lot easier for a garage band to take off thanks to Myspace, than the old method of going from gig to gig, and just hoping to get discovered.
Yes it’s a bit hard to manage sometimes all the people on twitter, but I love being able to ask a question – any question and getting about 10-15 immediate responses on that question.
That was long winded…lol. Bottom line: I believe the value of Social Networks Increase the more friends you have (From a marketing standpoint) of course everyone has their own motives for using the social networks and it differs for each person.
As you’re aware Geoff, I have a pretty hefty set of “friends” on both Pownce and Twitter, though I’m no Scoble.
The Twitterstream, to me, is primarily like a massive, always-on partyline that keeps me updated with the newest news and events, shaped and filtered by the people I choose to follow. No, I can’t intimately follow every detail of life of the 1200 people I’m following — nor would I want to, offhand.
Sure, some people use Twitter to keep in close touch with a small group of friends. Great for them. Others use it as an ego mouthpiece. While I don’t condone it, hey, to each their own.
Despite the number of people I follow, I’d like to say I do a decent job of staying in touch with a percentage of the people I’m connected with. But yes, a large majority I only have occasional, intermittent interaction with. I get value out of both of those types of relationships.
If there are people I want to follow more closely, I add their blog to Google Reader.
Andrew & Patrick – thanks for the response and insight into how you manage your accounts and friends. I do agree that for those of us who have the desire (and, time) to stay connected and build relationships, social networks can help with that. I do think that for some others though, the value can be lost in the noise.
I make an effort to nurture my networks (both professional and personal) via FB/twitter for a few minutes a day. (well, maybe more).
The purpose, IMHO, of staus updates/tweets is to start a covnersation (http://www.jer979.com/igniting-the-revolution/outlook-twitter-facebook-starting-a-conversation/)
the good ones do this and I respond. I think this “touch” even on occasion adds value and shows you are “listening” in the same way that you would want a corporate entity (e.g. Ameriprise: http://www.jer979.com/igniting-the-revolution/does-ameriprise-listen/ ) to show they are listening to you.
Your friends/network folks are your customers. They can de-friend/un-follow you and one of the ways to add value is to show you are involved in the conversations they are starting (like commenting on their blogs!)
Hi Larissa,
I’ve been using LinkedIn for a few years now and have always tried to keep that to people I know or have met in a professional capacity. It become extremely valuable and was the way I was first contact for my current employer (only one job change since college!). In Facebook, I have expanded that from people I have met to people who I have directly interacted with online or in some other capacity. Often times if I get a connection request for someone I don’t know or see some common platform for connecting, I may not accept the request. Twitter is a different story. The more you follow with similar interests, the more compelling and engaging the conversation. I have very few twitter ‘friends’ that I have met in real life – making it more fun to connect when we actually meet.
Twitter, to me, seems like the tool that has the least ‘barrier to entry’ for making connections and having conversations. (It can also be susceptible to spam, but you can always block/ignore). Same comment as
Andrew – when I find someone on Twitter I want to follow more closely I will add their feed to Google reader.
Thanks for the thoughtful post.
It’s an interesting debate that I don’t think we hear enough of. I remember at a Success in the City event a year ago people thought it was incredible to have over 1,000 or several hundred contacts in LinkedIn or another social network. Personally, I don’t see how anyone can communicate consistently with all those people to maintain a valuable / worthwhile connection. But I guess that also is part of the point. If a particular user CAN find value and manage those relationships, that is what it is all about.
From a corporate perspective, I am working on a plan to help coach everyone in the office on how to use social networks to expand their professional reach and grow their sales pipeline. This is especially beneficial to those who have developed an expertise in a specific area of their profession.