What! Are you insane?!

I haven't completely bought into the social networking for your business yet.

In the today's world wide of world of business it seems that everyone has a Facebook or a Twitter account. ( I do have a Twitter - more on that later). I guess the question on my lips is why? Would I really befriend the local grocery store, department store and my dog groomer?



To quote the Romans "To what end?"  - so let's explore some of my personal observations:

• It's a distraction - You go on to update something and suddenly you're  posting a chili recipe on a virtual cook book. And through a strange disconnect this  reminds you that you forgot to tend to your crops and soon you realize the alarm is going off and the real roster in the neighbors yard is crowing and work starts in three hours.
  
  
• Because it's cool - So are silly bands, but I don't wear them. (maybe if there were computer shaped ones)
  
  
• Everyone is doing it - really? Why? It does appear to be everywhere and I think that folks feel that they are missing something if they don't have that letter F or the little bluebird somewhere on their web site. Peer pressure is a such a powerful tool.
  
  
• I can catch up with all my friends - funny thing - I actually talk to or email my friends - strange huh?
  
  Okay it might seem my observations are a little to extreme. I do think that the social media for your business needs to be based on a few things.
  
  
• Your audience  - is the demographics there? - If the target age group falls into the wired generation or a bunch of people who are out there trying to "catch up" with each other, then this is where you want reach them - so farm away!!
  
  
• Your time - do you have the time?  - I think that there is a reasonable expectation that you should be keeping things up to date - from a business perspective that is - we don't need to mix the two - we truely don't need to know that little Jimmy just completed his first number two in the potty.
  
  
• Does it apply to my business model? - just a common sense thing here. If I ran a raw sewerage disposal business would I truly NEED a Facebook page?
  
  As I mentionied earlier I do have a Twitter account. Personally I use it more as a resource of information - a pull of information I like, rather than a push of what I'm currently doing.  I follow a few folks in the same field of business and interests and a few follow me. (No,  I have not reached the Ashton Kutchner record yet!)
  
  Have I received any business as a result of it?
  No.
  
  Do I expect to?
  No.
  
  Is it a resourceful tool?
  Absolutely.
  
  I do try to pepper my posts with some business related dry humor here and there, so if you are interested take a look at it.
  
  I also use Twitter as a landing point for some quick updates for the biz and to share information and observations. I also do like the 140 character limit, it forces you to choose wisely and say what you need to say; at least in most cases.
  
  I guess I'm just a little old fashioned In regards to social media and privacy. I like a good old HTML web page for information delivery and feel like I don't need to let the world know that I just brushed my teeth...