22
2008
You’re Internet Famous!
Fame, (fame) makes a man take things over
Fame, (fame) lets him loose, hard to swallow
Fame, (fame) puts you there where things are hollow
Fame (fame)
- David Bowie, opening lyrics to Fame
You’re Internet famous! So what?
Seriously, so fricking what?
Does it really matter? Apparently so, or at least that’s what WIRED wants you to think based on the cover of this month’s issue.
But perhaps the catch comes early in this How-to celebration of Julia Allison’s rise to fame. It doesn’t raise money, it’s not part of her day job, and there is no financial reward. But, hey she gets invited to lots of parties with folks that most people read about in US or People.
I guess if that’s what you want, great, but I see no value in it. Too many of the daily business activities that occur in creating social media brands are really thinly veiled disguises to pursue personal Internet Fame (a.k.a. Personal Brand). And that’s a management error, as well as a youthful mistake on the part of the individual. Because quite frankly, if it doesn’t have a business objective, that junk belongs on the p.m. dial for the ambitious seeking to reclaim their high school popularity contests.
Nothing screams bubble to me more than social media activity for the sake of people getting to know you. That’s a waste. Have an objective, find the people that matter, build value for them and your organization, and make a real difference that will keep you in your seat for a long time.
Or you can have a lot of "friends." That can work if you want to be a parasocial type headed to the parties, and if I was younger that may still appeal to me. But it doesn’t. For me, branding and relationship building online in social media is the 21st century equivalent of networking and relationship building. And popularity doesn’t necessarily pay the bills.
Doug Haslam is a great example of a personal brand that matters. He is not Internet famous for sheer popularity. His brand means something in the social media marketing world because he brings value to the table. I respect what he brings to SHIFT (see his take on personal brands here).
Think about it. Is it business or personal? Does it make you valuable?
Tags: "Doug Haslam", "Julia Allson", SHIFT, WIRED
Meghan Whelan Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:13 pm
AMEN. Somebody needed to say this a long time ago. Cheers!
Qui Diaz Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Who the hell is Julia Allison?
Seriously. No idea who she is. None of us are famous and people outside this space think we’re crazy for spending so much time in it.
Lolagrrl Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Agreed… but you’re preaching to the choir while beating a dead horse. =)
Try telling that to a 16-year-old tweener or any non-professional in Wired’s demographic.
“Doug Haslam is a great example of a personal brand that matters.” Again, I couldn’t agree more! Not only does Doug rule, but he makes himself accessible. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked for his input… and got it.
He may not be as “famous” as Julia Allison but he definitely does matter.
Richie Escovedo Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I wonder what happens to those people who started out using SM tools for personal reasons then decided to switch gears for a business model or professional purpose. I think it depends on who you want to be valuable for: friends or professional. Getting noticed online takes some personality and authenticity so I can see where that line gets blurred from time to time — My 2 cents.
Doug Haslam Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I thought it was “June Allyson” on first read. That would have been cool, but alas she has passed on.
Thank you for the shout-out, Geoff. Indeed, I try to bring value. More importantly, I try to get value. Personal validation and numbers are great (and there is some of both in social media as I go about it), but relevance, and what I can do with it in my job, are most important.
Richie makes a great point– and my answer is you can do both at the same time, separately and entwined simultaneously. It’s a balancing act, but in the end we are each one person.
Lolagrrl– thanks for the kind words! Again, I get more than I give, believe me.
Alexander Simpson Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Yes yes yes!!(Imagine when harry met sallyand it works better)
Of course a post like this has me agreeing like a nodding dog on the dashboard - because i’m an internet nobody, and all bitter cos i want to be an internet somebody :)
but seriously - never a truer word has been spoken, not going to name names, but there’s quite a few individuals out there that are “weblebrities” purely based on the fact that they spent the time hyping themselves up, and better yet getting other people to buy the hype.
Doug -H- is indeed a good example of a valid personal brand. I follow his tweets, and other than the occasional rant about some overrated baseball team, he has a lot to say, and says it respectfully and (groan)”keeps it real” (groan again)
I see the wired cover you posted even mentions how to grab Dough - he’s everywhere, and nowhere.
This post alone has merited you another RSS subscriber - top hole old chum!
SocialButterfly Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Thank you for this post!! And I’m with Qui, who is Julia Allison?? I also had a back to reality check yesterday…my friend (a millenial no doubt) didn’t know what a list serv was…so let’s face it, we are a taaad bit crazed with the latest and greatest. But, your online cred shouldn’t make YOU valuable…it should add value to something else: an industry, a field, a mission…like the beginning of your post said.
Props =)
Geoff Livingston Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I love that Qui, Doug and Social are like, “Who is Julia Allison?” I saw the cover on Saturday and was look who is she, and why should I care? Too funny.
Alexander: Weblebrities are fun, but, again, why? What’s the motive? Is it really a good use of time? To me time is the most precious thing in my life, and personal brand equity. Although my new boss may feel differently ;)
Alanna Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
I think it’s very easy to get caught up in growing your networks and forget that there was (orginally) a reason you wanted those networks. They are not a goal in themselves.
Mr Business Golf Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I was told a couple of years ago that to be Someone I had to be on MySpace, then a few weeks later I was told that to be Someone I had to be on Facebook, and almost every week or so I would be told that in order for me to be Someone I had to do this or do that… When I say this Julia Allison on the cover of WIRED I said..OK, when is somebody going to tell me that to be Someone I have to be on the cover of WIRED? My question is..if I am not Someone WTF am I?
You're Internet Famous! So Fricking What? - Comments Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Miz Liz Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Amen Brother. This should be posted far and wide on twitter. Afterall, there seems to be a race among a few Twitter celebrities to reach the “most followed” list and then talk about it. Regardless, the reason I follow you is that you offer value without the bravado, which is frankly, starting to bore me and is unimpressive to boot.
Scott Monty Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Sounds like someone’s bitter he doesn’t get invited to parties…
@DougH: the best part about being June Allyson is that she used to be able to show up to parties wearing Depends. Sure beats having to wait in those long lines for the ladies’ room. :-)
In the end, it’s all relative. If people want to make a big hoo-ha over their own perceived fame, then that’s their business. But for the rest of us, who are more concerned with building real relationships and doing business, it’s a non-issue. Good call, Geoff.
I’m reminded of a favorite line from Mel Brooks’ remake of “To Be or Not To Be,” in which he said his theater company was “world famous - in Poland.”
Miz Liz Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Just want to add that your value wasn’t boring me, others’ bravado was.
And DougH - good for you. And thanks. Relevance lasts; popularity is fleeting…
Communicators Anonymous: #tweb2 Asks, Who Really Owns Your Brand? Says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:59 am
Hitchhiker’s Guide to Social Media: Internet Fame » The Buzz Bin Says:
August 11th, 2008 at 5:25 am
[...] may become Internet famous in social media. What does that mean, and why should a corporate marketer care? So you can become [...]
The Value of Events » The Buzz Bin Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 8:15 am
[...] of all — regardless of Internet fame — speaking can yield great business opportunity. Speakers often receive a halo of subject [...]
Doug Haslam » Blog Archive » Social Media Top 5: Watch Your Tweets, Unconference, & Personal Brand for #$@%@s Says:
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:50 pm
[...] Allison, the “famous for being famous” Paris Hilton of the Internet (and I again thank Geoff Livingston for comparing me favorably to her- I think). Is personal brand for personal brand’s sake really useful? I would love to hear [...]
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