I’ve been receiving more invitations to join new business social networks recently – Plaxo, NotchUp, Spock, etc. And I’ve started to wonder just how much time to people spend tracking these sites, in addition to sites they’re already on, like Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. I mean, I’m all for networking, but all these profiles require upkeep – and I HATE housekeeping.
So hey, One Degree readers! You’re some of the most plugged-in and active social networkers I know. How do you manage your multiple social networks? Which ones do you belong to? How many are you active on (really)? Do you join new ones all the time or have you started to politely decline? Take our poll – then discuss!
The reuslts (so far) are about what I predicted.
I don’t thimk anybody has the time to actively monitor or contribute to all the netorking sites out there. I limit my profiles to two: Facebook for social, LinkedIn for professional. Limiting the networks I use allows me to focus my attention and I can ensure no content goes past its best-by date.
I’m so curious about the MySpace users! Do you really use it for online networking? Or do you use it as a good way to keep in touch with your audiences and customers?
I agree, there are more and more these days. I think that is a sign of things to come. Facebook and Twitter are two main social networking sites that I frequent. However I have begun to use LinkedIn. I think its really going to take off! Keep your eye on that one.
The beauty, for some of us who keep more than one profile, is that these networks are becoming more and more interconnected, i.e. Twitter and LinkedIn badges/feeds on Facebook, etc., thus making the upkeep that much easier and I expect for these networks to get more integrated in the near future.
I agree that there are a large number of networks popping up, but as the dust settle and the hype wears down, a few main players will remain.
Wow, having just joined LinkedIn, I’m suddenly reminded of the consistently high learning curve in most social networks. I remember this initial panic from hi5, Facebook and now LinkedIn. It never really gets easier does it, or am I simply a perpetual N00B?
@Ben .. Wait til you do Plaxo. I find it even more tricky than LinkedIn.
@Roger .. am keeping my fingers crossed that you’re right. Though in the short term, there is no rest for us geeks who like to try EACH one out 🙂
@Tom .. I am a big fan of LinkedIn – I want to be more excited about Plaxo, but am not yet. Maybe it’s just what you start with? Though I do like that Plaxo lets you differentiate between business contacts and friends/family contacts.
@James .. excellent strategy. Sometimes you just have to put a line in the sand and go with it.
Its amazing at the different perceptions of the various social media
I have been on LI for years and becoming increasingly disenfranchised because of its frustrating freemium business model.
for that reason – I look at plaxo as a possible successor
I also recognize that because of different needs – people gravitate to different social channels – but I again point to plaxo as being ahead of the curve (right now at least)
in giving people the opportunity to stitch togehter their various networks into one platform (at least from a reading perspective)
I personally never understood twitter – I really don’t want to be kept informed of everything little thing you do – I am not your mother.
And while I am on Facebook – I struggle with their perceived right to own a person’s social graph – seemingly in perpetuity based on this NY Times article
” How Sticky Is Membership on Facebook? Just Try Breaking Free”http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/technology/11facebook.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=+How+Sticky+Is+Membership+on+Facebook%3F+Just+Try+Breaking+Free&st=nyt
anyhow there’s more background in this CMA post I wrote last week
http://www.canadianmarketingblog.com/archives/2008/02/social_media_fatigue_open_soci_1.html