While people may be trying to add as much as possible to make them the “social media consultant for Business X”, they’ll quickly be found out when it comes down to actually following up on that claim.

Having a Twitter account and Facebook profile does not a social media expert make – something many people are already being found out on…

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your insights.

@ Dominic. I agree, and I think it’s an extension of what Halyma mentions in her response. The thing with social media (and any online form of communication, I guess) is that it is just an extension of our offline personas – the personality we are in “real life” will naturally be carried over to our online equivalent. Which makes me wonder what some people are like offline. And I agree with your cynical PR statement – this is something that both myself and my contemporaries need to address and change. Hopefully the more sharing aspect of social media will enable this. And good shout about the theme – definitely ironic!

@ Halyma: I think the “issue” of online popularity contests probably stems from the similar pressure offline – you need to hang with the cool crowd t school, you need to dress a certain way or drive a certain car to be accepted. Hopefully as social media grows and matures, the real sharing aspect of it will come further to the fore, and the false “friends at all costs” aspect will dwindle. With regards sharing information about events you’re organizing, this is the ideal medium for that and is exactly what social media should be. As Susan mentions, actively participating in the community is what it’s all about.

Thanks for reading and sharing some excellent comments, guys, appreciate it.

I find I am enjoying the mental gymnastics of trying to self-promote without being a pain. I organize events, I perform, so I try to get that info out in as many diverse ways as I can, while still trying to be modest little community minded me!

I guess it is really an extension of our personalities – actual or created for our online presences. So maybe we need to think about what we are projecting in every facet o8f our lives.

Okay breakfast calls – but thanks for the thoughtful post!

Sorry I missed the Twitter party for your 5000 tweet!

Halyma´s last blog post..Ottawa’s A Belly Dance Smorgasbord – Did you know?

In its worst form social media land is essentially just a faster forming, deeper form of the offline phenonmenon of cliques, tribalism and self-promotion. Particularly as it has been turbo charged by some rather cynical PR types (not to say all people in PR are this way though, don’t get me wrong!).

(As an aside, the irony that your blog theme is “by: Elite Theme” did make me chuckle!)

Dominic Campbell´s last blog post..links for 2008-10-25

You have a very good point, though. There are people lurking about Twitter who are there to only serve their own purposes all the time. The ones who ONLY post links to their blog or their company’s web site yet don’t make any other contribution to the community. Sure, everyone is there to promote something and I see nothing wrong with that. But in addition to shilling their wares, people should make an effort promote others, say something genuine, and just interact. Isn’t that really what it’s all about?

Susan Murphy´s last blog post..Why I Blog

It’s what put me off traditional media such as the one you mentioned, as well as unsubscribing from a lot of Twitterers (many of whom I have a lot of respect for, but please – enough with the self-promotion!).

As businesses and other types of non-traditional users get to grips more with what social media can offer, I think there will be a definite division in the type of apps available. I’m hoping it’s for the better…

Thanks as always for reading and sharing your views.

The Lovable Rogue´s last blog post..The Future of Social Networking; What Future…?

@ Amber – I agree with your point about a shout out for personal pleasure – it’s more the ones who keep shouting out “follow me to become my 500th” or similar. Perhaps what’s needed is a different model for business-oriented Twitter users (as I mentioned in my response to Josh) – that way those that really want to interact will, and those that don’t won’t.

Thanks for reading and commenting, guys.

I use Tweetdeck to keep track of my followers.

I also don’t see the big deal in announcing your 500th follower, or you 500th tweet. It’s a milestone, a fun little blip to shout out. I have a problem with people who shout out everything they do business-wise and never interact, but what you’re talking about doesn’t bother me (even though I don’t do it).

I also don’t have followers/followees that do that. So it might be a different crowd thing. Most of my twitter friends are mid-20′s and up.