As I’m writing this, there’s a ton of snow coming down outside. There’s a really biting wind and the light is starting to fade, even though it’s just after 3.00pm – not a day for going anywhere. Winter is definitely on its way. So what better time to make social media plans to get you through the dark months ahead?
Make Meaningful Friends
As a way of meeting new friends that can offer help both personally and professionally, Twitter is one of social media’s greatest tools. What started out as a fun conversation can suddenly offer inspiration to change the world around you. So here’s a suggestion.
Between now and the end of the year, make 100 new friends on Twitter. But don’t just add friends for the sake of numbers – use the search option to meet people that would normally be outside your radar. And when you’ve befriended them, talk to them. Make conversation and listen at the same time. I guarantee you’ll enjoy it.
Explore the Sphere
As much as I love to write, I also love to read. Books, magazines, blogs – you name it, if it’s got some form of text I’m there. But I used to be guilty of staying in the same niche. Reading only blogs that were in my industry or hobby list. So I began to watch who was being recommended on Twitter. I looked at the blog links in my comments section – and I’m glad I did.
I’ve found some truly great writers that I would never have known had I remained in my bubble. I heartily encourage you to break out from your bubble and expand your reading circle. I’ve learned some great things – I’m sure you will too.
Housecleaning
I have way too many social media accounts. I can’t help myself – someone suggests something and I have to check it out. But I know I don’t need so many micro-blogging sites or social network memberships. So I’m cleaning my social media cupboard out. Narrowing the list to two at most in each field. Instead of being spread thin across many, I hope to be more effective across the few.
These are just three things I’m doing to keep myself busy and entertained in the months ahead. What will you be doing?
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I would agree it really is about starting a conversation…when I have met someone who is interesting to talk to and also interested in what I have to see it has become a great way to get content out there…
That’s the great thing about conversation – engage and show proper interest and everything else will follow.
People want their voices heard…enabling that has to be a powerful force..
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Danny, I think my plans for the social media Winter involve engaging more with other blogs. I have found my time being so incredibly restricted recently, and unfortunately my engagement on other blogs has been cut back somewhat. My intention is therefore to contribute more to the blogosphere by engaging more through the creation of more comments.
That’s something I will definitely be joining you in, Chris. I’ve already made plans to recommend a new blog a week on here in 2009, and just reading blogs outside my niche is definitely offering me some great new outlooks.
Starting a conversation — I recommend about a topic both parties are interested in — can turn out to be very great! When I travel and go to various tech conferences, just starting a conversation with someone often times proves to be helpful.
On Twitter, it’s nice to look through a person’s followers, but branching out and finding new people can be absolutely vital.
I’ve found that it greatly depends on how much time and motivation you’re willing to put into it.
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Twitter: ribeezie
I’ll be freshening up (redressing the blog and updating my profile across the many networks I’m apart of) for a clean start in 2009. But I’ll also be enjoying some great rides down the snowy slopes (I love the winter months…I snowboard).
Met a few Twitter pals who snowboard too…might see them up there (how’s that for making a connection eh?). The thing about connecting with people online, it’s always useless when it’s nothing more than link. Get to know people, send them an email, leave insightful comments…something that adds and strengthens the connection. Those are the connections that really matter (at least in my opinion).
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yeah …
the idea of meeting tweople as a new year resolution sounds gud to me .
n seriously even i have cluttered up my social media cupboard…
Need to clear that stuff..
btw Nice post .
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@ Ricardo. These sound like great ideas, Ricardo (I’m hoping to do some snowboarding in Calgary myself this winter). There also seem to be more TweetUps happening, which is great – like you say, what’s the point of social media without some form of actual social aspect?
@ Vivek. There’s a new Twitter app called Tweethood that shows you Twitter users in your city. At the moment it’s only for the US, unfortunately, but hopefully it might cover more countries soon.