Real People Don't Have Time for Social Media

[kgun]

I found this thought provoking article today. I have mentioned it before:

1. Social networking can lobby a site to the top.
2. It takes time.

The concept of optimality and the 20/80 rule is well known to economists.

"Let's be honest here: we're all a bunch of social media addicts. We're junkies. Whether it's a new Twitter app, a new Facebook feature, or a new social anything service, we're all over it. But we may not be the norm. The truth is, being involved in social media takes time, something that most people don't have a lot of. So how can regular folk get involved with social media? And how much time does it really take?"
Source: The first link above.

So what is your thought. Are social media and social networking an Internet flop that will soon die a natural death like my former favorite Norwegian Lycos / Spray chat?

Related Links:
Brooks Andrus » Blog Archive » Lowering the Barrier to Social Media Participation

SiteProNews: Webmaster News & Resources » Blog Archive » Digg, Social News, and Social Authority Building

[bluemi]

I don't think they will die as there are enough 17 olds who have got enough time at their hands. However, it is true - social networking costs an awful lot of time. The question is, who will in the end have the biggest profit from it? Being a webmaster of a relatively small site you already don't know what to take care of first with all the new things that keep coming. You can't neglect all the "traditional" means of keeping your site(s) at reasonable search engine positions, and now you have to take care of all this social stuff, too. The only ones who can really afford it are the big companies, and those in the end will be the ones with the gain from social networking. As a "normal" webmaster you'll lose...

[justicewhite]

kgun, thanks for the post, I have been saying this for a long time. I sometimes even find it hard to contribute to the forums I am a member of such as this wonderful forum.

[Big Juice]

Social stuff won't die anytime soon but the way social media sites affect SERPS will have a limited shelf life due to guys like me who can manipulate the serps at will using the social sites.

When Universal search was first announced I quickly stated that this was a mistake that would allow someone like myself to take over entire pages of SERPS. I suppose some people were paying attention as others who shall remain nameless soon started using similar techniques to capture the top 30 listings for competitive keywords.

How long do you really think Google will allow the social media darling to game their results? If you think you don't have time for social media stuff then you need to rethink your schedule. The current state of social sites and the relationships they share with search engines can only last so long and you had better find the time to take advantage of this before it is too late... ya digg?

[chrisJumbo]

The time is huge. I would think for "real" success we are looking at hours a day. Considering, I barely have hours a week, I do what I can. Which is mostly blogging and participating in others blogs. I have not had time for Myspace, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

Of course, I am comfortable with the revenues the site produces and have non-web related revenue, so I'm not in a position where I have to spend hours a day.

If the site were my only revenue source, I would probably have too. Large companies can do it because they have the extra manpower and resources.

cd :O)

[blogdawg1]

KGUN - glad I saw this. My first thought was kudos!! I admit I am no where near 17 years old, but I think many of the people over 30 yrs old who are messing with social sites are just SEOs trying to find a way to game the system.

I know social can mean a lot of things. And I do hit some good forums, blogs and sites like YouTube or Digg once in a while. But it is literally "once in a while". We participate as a business, but personally, I don't have any time or interest in Twitter, Myspace, etc. Why does anyone want to send me a Tweet that they are heading to Taco Bell? Besides, they probably just did it from their car traveling 55mph in a 35

[mcolling]

Does "real people" mean mass generation #1 who started working the web with hand-coded html sites and those newsgroups and grew seamlessly into Dreamweaver and coldfusion and forums?

It ALL takes time and we spend it without thinking about time. I'm glad I jumped in when I did - I can't imagine having to learn twenty years' of user skills just to participate.

I think what real people have time for depends on the date they first logged on to the web - or whatever the equivalent is with those hand-held things.

I think what we're calling the social media approach will probably stick with them and, like us, they'll be dinosaurs in five years, shaking their heads at the way the newbies have started doing things.

[bj]

I know I'm probably not using them enough. I also know I have NO TIME to do so more than I do now. And what I'm doing is working, so why fix something that isn't broken?

I will say this. I've gotten more response, work, referrals, and good vibes from participating in this forum than I do from the only social media site I use regularly (meetup.com, which uses an online social networking to create in person meetups based on shared interests. I organize three groups. And it is WORK. Fun, but a real time sink.)

[magic_majax]

I use social networking sites for fun, on an irregular basis, I don't give a damn about their effect on my rankings, I just do it for fun. I might get a few hits to my sites from profile links, on topic links but the main point for me is to interact without having to leave the house.

I can be working on code in one window and chatting rubbish on some forum in another, for me it's the perfect way of relaxing while I work. The serps don't enter the equation.

I wouldn't be seen dead on google or yahoo groups anyhow.

I originally learnt to hand-code using social networking sites. I think blogger is a great way for people to publish their first website because it has a good xhtml parser and costs nothing to produce. Even a homeless guy can build a site using blogger and the local library, it's real democracy.

[Good Tidings Nautical]

I have a myspace account that I cannot keep up with, I am trying other avenues, but time is so limited, I wish search engines would just get relevant and we don't have to play so many games. I have a full time job and try to keep my website in the results, really time consuming. If you need some nautical decor or beach theme decor, give us a visit. Thanks, Jim Truckey

[alienpest]

I think social media should be just that, social that is. It is not user time friendly for biz stuff, because it is social not biz! The sad thing is, that since people determined that it could be used for business as well as social, now, everyone who wants to keep up, has to do it!

[Akashic]

I've had good success (conversion rates) with using Facebook social ads, their ppc system.

We have trouble with some social media sites due to the nature of one of our sites and the name of our business. It's been an interesting process working out how to utilise social media to promote our sites, a challenge to say the least Lucky I enjoy a challenge, and it can be fun, it's still often more like play than work.

[abctvads]

If we were not social addicts we probably would not be replying to this post... so agreed.
We have started a social selling site called spynbuy.com that uses free video uploads, radio ads and blogging to sell.
Works great and you can copy the html and post your video on ebay.
Rock on!
Pat C
FREE Spynbuy!

[brucet]

Social networking sites are for social networking, and that's how they should be used - not for SEO. They have the same potential business value as any other form of networking.

AFAICS, from a business POV the three sectors where they are becoming significant are:

1) Entertainment
2) Fashion
3) Health & Beauty

I know at least two small companies in the fashion sector that do get business through their presence on social networking sites. It's worthwhile business but not high-volume, so it's not something to invest hours in maintaining once it's set up. I also know a number of musicians who use Myspace very actively to share and promote their work. A number of charities are also using them quite effectively, mainly for raising awareness.

Currently most users are teenagers who obviously don't have a lot of disposable income. But if my own kids and their Facebook friends are anything to go by, once they have to go out and earn a living they won't abandon social sites - they just won't spend quite so much time on them.

It's definitely a medium to learn, understand and dip your toe into - but not to hang your shirt on. The initial excitement with the medium may fade, and usage may peak and then decline somewhat. But it's not going to go away.

[kgun]

Exellent comments.

Without having any scientific results I think that social media optimization (SMO) may give higher rankings on the SERP's.

Questions:

1. Are these higher SERP rankings relevant and desreved?
2. Is SMO a new form of spam?
3. The ability to pass pagerank. Can it be lost? by misusing SMO and social networking?

Thanks for good input and feedback.

Don't forget:
Google's inverted link matrix model was based on a classic model of (scientific) citation / referencing.

There is a never ending race to invent new models to manipulate this model.

Originally Posted by brucet

Social networking sites are for social networking, and that's how they should be used - not for SEO. They have the same potential business value as any other form of networking.

AFAICS, from a business POV the three sectors where they are becoming significant are:

1) Entertainment
2) Fashion
3) Health & Beauty

I know at least two small companies in the fashion sector that do get business through their presence on social networking sites. It's worthwhile business but not high-volume, so it's not something to invest hours in maintaining once it's set up. I also know a number of musicians who use Myspace very actively to share and promote their work. A number of charities are also using them quite effectively, mainly for raising awareness.

Currently most users are teenagers who obviously don't have a lot of disposable income. But if my own kids and their Facebook friends are anything to go by, once they have to go out and earn a living they won't abandon social sites - they just won't spend quite so much time on them.

It's definitely a medium to learn, understand and dip your toe into - but not to hang your shirt on. The initial excitement with the medium may fade, and usage may peak and then decline somewhat. But it's not going to go away.

Great summary.

[joncase]

I know I don't have time to spend on two or three social networks each day for myself or to promote the sites of my clients.

I have been telling my small business clients for sometime now that it will not be too long before each one of them will need a dedicated full time website employee. (I am referring to my clients who are realtors, vacation rental sites, etc., who only now have one, two, or three employees now.) To keep up with blogging, myspace, facebook, digg, YouTube, Vimeo, Revver, Flikr, Squidoo, Google Base, ongoing SEO, link building, directories, perhaps Ebay, Craigs List, adding new content, etc., etc. is a fulltime job for ONE site.

I don't have the time to do that for each client, let alone myself. I ask the "shoemakers" out there, how current is your own website? Can you even find time for that? I love this forum, but now back to work.

[jameshills]

Social media is designed for Teens and College kids so that is who uses it (except marketers trying to game the systems!) ...

But there are kids who do use social media effectively - Eons is one example for "mature" users ... but things like LinkedIn are great for those of us who are "real people" too.

Plus, FaceBook is a huge hit with real people as well.

My opinion is that social media is absolutely here to stay and that as the kids growup that there will be more and more "real people" applications that don't require quite as much time and energy to maintain.

James Hills
marketinghelpnet.com
Marketing Services for Small Businesses | Home | Marketing Services for Small and Medium Sized Businesses

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[ronchalice]

Originally Posted by jameshills

Social media is designed for Teens and College kids so that is who uses it (except marketers trying to game the systems!) ...

But there are kids who do use social media effectively - Eons is one example for "mature" users ... but things like LinkedIn are great for those of us who are "real people" too.

Plus, FaceBook is a huge hit with real people as well.

I agree, I think that anyone who doesn't pay attention to the fact that the 85 million threshold for baby boomers in the U.S. will be crossed this year. Eons and Linked in are already playing in that sandbox, with Facebook coming along quickly.

[RichAtVNS]

Originally Posted by Big Juice

Social stuff won't die anytime soon but the way social media sites affect SERPS will have a limited shelf life due to guys like me who can manipulate the serps at will using the social sites.

When Universal search was first announced I quickly stated that this was a mistake that would allow someone like myself to take over entire pages of SERPS. I suppose some people were paying attention as others who shall remain nameless soon started using similar techniques to capture the top 30 listings for competitive keywords.

Big I assume that means in a narrow niche markets your techniques must dominate. Can you show me some samples of your work.. I'm intriqued. 1 caveate though I want to see it working on a fixed good, not a service or marketing technique. Something like a mirror frame, metal knobs, 100lb bag of cement, or harley motorcycle engines. Please show me a sample....

Of course I'd like you to also show me how you did it on the given sample, not just point to results.... The proof is in the pudding.

[RichAtVNS]

I would like to say that the people I see most successful with social media sites, Are people in social event services. People running parties, own clubs, djs, models/singer/actresses making a name for themselves. Sites like NapkinNites, ClubPlanet, StripClubList, JoonBug, and groups on Myspace all fit this model.

They hook into the potential clientele and keep them in the loop.

There will always be a need for this form of social media because it addresses the base interests of many people with to much time on thier hands LOL.... So what am I going to do to night, what's the hot club, where can I check out the hot new songs... yadda yadda yadda

[jxw]

Well, here it is two days later and I am just getting around to reading this thread. Like several of the others who have posted, I have been a "member" for three or four years and have posted just over 40 times. In fact, it has been months since I last posted.

That said, time is such a valuable and limited commodity. When participating in social media started to be discussed here, I said, basically, "Oh no. I don't have enough time as it is." That hasn't changed but I have tried. As for kgun's second set of questions, search engines have long had a problem with relevancy. It happens often enough that the most relevant site to my inquiry is on page 2 or 3 of the search results. From my strictly empirical evidence, SMO has neither improved nor worsened the issue of relevancy. Are the rankings deserved? IMO, SMO is no less deserving than any other factor in a site's rankings.

Thanks for starting the conversation, kgun.

[cw1865]

The greatest thing about social media is the availability of very specialized information. I belong to about three forums, of which this is one. I engage in these forums because, quite literally, I have no other outlet to express my interest in these areas in my daily life. Most of the people that I am close to, acquainted with, etc. have absolutely no interest in these topics....

[kgun]

Here

Building Communities: Critical for Online Business?

is a recent fresh update.

[subhzash]

Originally Posted by kgun

Here

Building Communities: Critical for Online Business?

is a recent fresh update.

I don't think social media can bring targeted traffic. I have seen most of the social media sites are fun based. If you have technical site then no use of using social media.

Build your own link partners by mailing to your site related website. Sending continuous mails with good content is more than enough for any site to get good search engine rankings as well as for targeted traffic

If I am wrong. Please send me your comments or suggestions


Regards
Subhzash

[nickyoung]

wikipedia defn.

Social media are primarily Internet-based tools for sharing and discussing information among human beings.[1][2] The term most often refers to activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words, pictures, videos and audio. This interaction, and the manner in which information is presented, depends on the varied perspectives and "building" of shared meaning among communities, as people share their stories and experiences.

Social media and networking isn't a trend...it's an essential part of the Internet and has been around for over a decade. What part of the internet doesn't reflect human activities? It's just booming due to some advancements, but I don't see it as a trend. Forums, Networks, Blogs, are all more popular than ever thanks to some GUI updates.

[TheWebmasterNetwork.net]

Social networking is an example of the new breed of web applications. I believe this will only get bigger.

Facebook is the number one most searched keyword in google. And you say real people havent got time for social networking? Then there must be a lot of pretend people in this world!

[kgun]

IMO nothing is more open than a forum. Social networks can imply segregation and underground activity. The problem with forums are that they can be spammed and hacked. The software is getting better though.

Note: Forum spam is not a security problem, even if it is annoying and boring.