5 Misconceptions About Social Media

Originally published at The Social Path

Yes, I know. We're all tired of lists. But studies have shown that they're still the most effective way to list things, and I can't argue with science.

Myth No. 1: This is all just a fad.

We could talk about how socializing goes back thousands of years, blah blah blah, but let's go ahead and skip to the modern era. Social networking online has actually been going on a lot longer than most people think.

I got started as a teen in the early 1990s, when I was running a BBS. If you're not a nerd, I should explain that a Bulletin Board System was like a prehistoric Web portal, except without the Web. You would dial in on your modem, then be able to e-mail or play games with other folks who used the same BBS. Some were even networked, letting you communicate across the whole nation. Yes, hard to believe there was a time when that was impressive.

So why does social media feel like such a new trend? Well, the technology has gotten a hell of a lot better in recent years, making it easier than ever to join or even start a new network. Faster Internet connections have also made it possible to share more than just words. High-res pictures, podcasts, movies -- you name it, it can finally be passed around without hours of wait.

Myth No. 1: This is all just a fad.

We could talk about how socializing goes back thousands of years, blah blah blah, but let's go ahead and skip to the modern era. Social networking online has actually been going on a lot longer than most people think.

I got started as a teen in the early 1990s, when I was running a BBS. If you're not a nerd, I should explain that a Bulletin Board System was like a prehistoric Web portal, except without the Web. You would dial in on your modem, then be able to e-mail or play games with other folks who used the same BBS. Some were even networked, letting you communicate across the whole nation. Yes, hard to believe there was a time when that was impressive.

So why does social media feel like such a new trend? Well, the technology has gotten a hell of a lot better in recent years, making it easier than ever to join or even start a new network. Faster Internet connections have also made it possible to share more than just words. High-res pictures, podcasts, movies -- you name it, it can finally be passed around without hours of wait.

Myth No. 2: It's for kids.

It's no myth that young people (especially young women) make up the lion's share of social-media users. But people in their teens and 20s simply have those two things that help keep the world moving forward: A lack of inhibitions, and an abundance of free time.

Really, it's all in where you go. There are social networks and user-generated sites specific to any age range, or spanning every demographic. Wander around Facebook, and you'll probably notice that the average age hovers near 23. Over at the model ship-building forum, I'm guessing the demo skews a bit more toward the Barcalounger.

Myth No. 3: There are rules.

There's no right or wrong way to write a blog, post on Twitter, use a social networking site or do anything else on the Web.

Sure, bad etiquette can get you dismissed as a spammer or a lowlife. But chances are, you're neither of those things, so don't sweat it.

Experiment, have fun, be creative. If you want to post one-sentence poems about zoo animals, so be it. Some people will hate it and tell you "you're doing it wrong," but if it's your thing, then who cares?

An obvious caveat: If you're doing social media for a company, government agency, etc., then you should learn the ins and outs of kosher behavior before you go traipsing into a community. But then again, no one wants to blend in so well that you don't stick out at all.

Myth No. 4: You have to be everywhere.

When you first embrace social media, it can feel empowering. Then, as you start setting up accounts all over creation, it quickly becomes overwhelming.

There's too much out there. And that's OK. Find the sites you like, and make them your own. Keep your feelers out for new sites that are even better suited to you, but don't obsess over it.

This is especially true for businesses. Gone are the days of having a corporate presence on every possible social site. Be strategic, and stay focused on the places you can really carve out a following.

It's always better to be great at one thing than to be mediocre at everything.

Myth No. 5: "I've already tried social media."

I've heard some variation of this more often than you might think. I've had friends and coworkers say they don't like social media because they didn't like Friendster. Or because they wrote a blog in 2003 that maxed out at 10 readers, all related by blood.

Businesses can be just as guilty, eschewing new sites and communities because "we tried that a few years back." Even if their early social-media outreach worked, some folks still say, "We already did that."

I find this whole outlook strange, like someone not wanting to ever talk again because they had a mediocre conversation a few years back.

Social media is a great big world, and you're bound to find that most of it doesn't suit your fancy. That's OK. But the nice thing is, every time you look around, you'll find plenty of new things to try.

And if you've "done it before," then try it again. Chances are, you'll do quite a bit better this time around. As someone writing for his seventh blog, I have to hope that's the case.

Editor's Pick by Kelby Carr of KelbyCarr.com. One reason I picked this is simply because I love reading most anything David Griner writes. This is one of the first posts on his relatively new blog about social media. I think these 5 misconceptions about this realm can prove helpful for both the blogger considering a dabble and the corporation who thinks it is, as David writes, a passing fad.

David Griner is a writer and social-media analyst for Luckie & Company, which is how I first met him (his agency represents the Asheville, NC tourism office, which is one of my web clients). He's also a contributor to Adweek's blog, AdFreak.com. He is also a fellow newspaper journalist turned web writer. This post on social media appeared in The Social Path, a blog written by David which is described as "a jargon-free journey through the world of social media."

Comments

[Steve Nimmons]

I love the assertion that there are no rules, especially in blogging. There is too much reliance on formulaic nonsense pedalled by Hollywood ‘screen-writers’ of Web2.0. Have your say, and treat the judgemental with disdain and pity.

[Andy Dunbar]

I think those misconceptions are right on target. Good post.

[Jennifer, Snapshot]

I'm so glad that number 4 is a myth. I just can't keep up (nor do I want to). I like to do it my way, and that's why it's great that there are so many ways to connect!