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50 Reasons Why People Use Social Media

Bob Cargill — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 23:34:30 +0000

Since I included a list of 50 reasons why people don’t use social media in my most recent post, I thought it only made sense to follow up with a similar list, only this time focusing on the opposing point of view, the reasons why people do use social media.

Sure, as I wrote in that last post about those who are reluctant to jump on the social media bandwagon, “there are still plenty of skeptics, detractors and naysayers among us, especially in the corporate world, where cautiousness and conservatism abound.”

But as I also pointed out, there are more than 800 million users of Facebook, over 120 people on LinkedIn and more than 200 million accounts on Twitter. There’s certainly a critical mass of people using social media today, enough practitioners and proponents of these online communication platforms for those of us who are immersed in this space to be able to confidently draw the conclusion that this is no passing fad.

Why so many aficionados and devotees? Why all the fanfare? What’s the big deal? Ask pretty much anyone who uses social media on a regular basis what they like about it and they could go on forever. These are just some of the reasons you’d be likely to hear…

50 Reasons Why People Use Social Media

1. It’s my job.

2. I enjoy making new friends.

3. It’s a great way to keep up with the news.

4. I don’t want to be left behind.

5. I like sharing pictures and videos.

6. It’s how I stay in touch with friends, relatives, colleagues and clients.

7. It’s how everyone communicates nowadays.

8. It’s easy.

9. It helps my search engine rankings.

10. I like talking to celebrities.

11. It’s where I go for customer service.

13. I like to express my opinions.

14. My favorite stores and brands are using it.

15. I use it to screen job candidates.

16. It’s free.

17. It’s where I turn for help and support.

18. I’m an extrovert.

19. People expect me to be using it.

20. I’m a writer.

21. People answer my questions — about practically anything — there.

22. I use it when I’m looking for a new job.

23. I enjoy being a member of the global community.

24. I use it to promote my work.

25. I like listening to others.

26. I’m lonely.

27. I’m not shy.

28. I need to keep up with the younger generation.

29. My employer encourages it.

30. It’s my responsibility.

31. I use it for networking.

32. I like technology.

33. I like anything to do with the Internet.

34. I’m a people person.

35. I have to keep up with the competition.

36. It’s how customers and prospects find me.

37. I want to be known as a thought leader.

38. I care about my brand.

39. I can use it anywhere (thanks to my smartphone, laptop, iPad and WiFi).

40. My online reputation is important to me.

41. It leads to sales.

42. I enoy a good argument.

43. I hate talking on the phone.

44. I’m tired of email.

45. I like influencing others.

46. I’m in front of a computer all day anyway.

47. It’s fun.

48. I like the camaraderie.

49. I enjoy getting feedback.

50. I’d be bored without it.

There you have it – 50 reasons why people use social media. What other reasons have you heard people give for publishing a blog, establishing a presence on Facebook, using LinkedIn for networking and tweeting up a storm? Please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts on what I’ve written about in this post by leaving a comment below.

But as I also pointed out, there are more than 800 million users of Facebook, over 120 million people on LinkedIn and more than 200 million accounts on Twitter. There’s certainly a critical mass of people using social media today, enough practitioners and proponents of these online communication platforms for those of us who are immersed in this space to be able to confidently draw the conclusion that this is no passing fad.

Why so many aficionados and devotees? Why all the fanfare? What’s the big deal? Ask anyone who uses social media on a regular basis what they like about it and they could probably go on forever. These are just some of the reasons you’d likely hear…

50 Reasons Why People Use Social Media

1. It’s my job.
2. I enjoy making new friends.
3. It’s a great way to keep up with the news.
4. I don’t want to be left behind.
5. I like sharing pictures and videos.
6. It’s how I stay in touch with friends, relatives, colleagues and clients.
7. It’s how everyone communicates nowadays.
8. It’s easy.
9. It helps my search engine rankings.
10. I like talking to celebrities.
11. It’s where I go for customer service.
12. It saves me time.
13. I like to express my opinions.
14. My favorite stores and brands are using it.
15. I use it to screen job candidates.
16. It’s free.
17. It’s where I turn for help and support.
18. I like the immediacy of it.
19. People expect me to be using it.
20. I’m a writer.
21. People answer questions about practically anything there.
22. I like to influence others.
23. I enjoy a good argument.
24. I use it to promote my work.
25. I like “listening” to others.
26. I’m lonely.
27. I’m not shy.
28. I need to keep up with the younger generation.
29. My employer encourages it.
30. I like being a “publisher” of my own content.
31. I use it for networking.
32. I like technology.
33. I like anything to do with the Internet.
34. I’m a people person.
35. I have to keep up with the competition.
36. It’s how customers and prospects find me.
37. I want to be known as a thought leader.
38. I care about my brand.
39. I like checking in from restaurants, concerts and other special events.
40. My online reputation is important to me.
41. It leads to sales.
42. It leads to donations.
43. I hate talking on the phone.
44. I’m tired of email.
45. I’m looking for a new job.
46. I’m in front of a computer all day anyway.
47. It’s fun.
48. I like the camaraderie.
49. I enjoy getting feedback.
50. I’d be bored without it.

50 Reasons Why People Don’t Use Social Media

Bob Cargill — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:37:24 +0000

With more than 800 million users of Facebook, over 120 million people on LinkedIn and more than 200 million accounts on Twitter, you might say the tipping point’s been reached as far as social media usage goes.

Yet despite such a large critical mass using these social media properties, there are still plenty of skeptics, detractors and naysayers among us, especially in the corporate world, where cautiousness and conservatism abound.

As someone who’s been talking to anyone and everyone within earshot about the benefits of using social media since I launched my own blog in 2004, I know this for a fact: Unless you’re preaching to the choir, the life of a social media practitioner and proponent is often a lonely, uphill battle.

At this stage of the game, those of us with significant social media experience — and enthusiasm — are less likely to be surrounded by like-minded converts than to be facing opposition and resistance to this revolutionary, new way of online communications.

Why would someone be so reluctant to jump on the social media bandwagon? Let me count the ways. Seriously, I’ve heard so many explanations why some people won’t even try social media, I thought I’d pull them all together in one long list. Ask one of these holdouts why he or she doesn’t use social media and you could get any one, or more, of the following 50 reasons for an answer…

50 Reasons Why People Don’t Use Social Media

1. I’m too busy.
2. It’s just a fad.
3. It’s only for young people.
4. It’s not my job.
5. What would I say?
6. I’m successful without it.
7. I’m not interesting enough.
8. It terrifies me.
9. I’ll get a lot of spam.
10. It’s a waste of time.
11. I’m afraid of getting negative comments and criticism.
12. I prefer to use the phone.
13. There’s no ROI.
14. I can’t write.
15. I know nothing about computers.
16. I don’t like to brag.
17. I have enough friends already.
18. It takes too much time.
19. I don’t want anyone to see my picture.
20. It’s impersonal.
21. I don’t want complete strangers following me.
22. I don’t care what someone else had for lunch.
23. I’d rather meet in person.
24. I’m too shy.
25. I don’t want the responsibility.
26. I’m in front of the computer enough already.
27. It’ll get you into trouble.
28. I don’t want to get hacked.
29. I don’t know how to use it.
30. I like my privacy.
31. I don’t want anyone at the office to know anything about my personal life.
32. It’s too complicated.
33. I guess I’m just old-fashioned.
34. I’ve got better things to do with myself.
35. I just don’t get it.
36. I don’t like change.
37. My computer will get a virus.
38. I’m too tired.
39. I’m too old.
40. It’s too personal.
41. I’m afraid I’ll be stalked.
42. My company doesn’t allow it.
43. I don’t have a smartphone.
44. I don’t want to embarrass myself.
45. I have too much to lose.
46. I prefer email.
47. I don’t want my friends from high school to find me.
48. There’s too much to learn.
49. It’s too much work.
50. I wouldn’t know where to begin.

There you have it – 50 reasons why people don’t use social media. What other reasons have you heard people give for not publishing a blog, establishing a presence on Facebook, keeping a LinkedIn profile up to date and showing up at least once in a while on Twitter? Please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts on what I’ve written about in this post by leaving a comment below.

Related Resources and Information

Facebook Now Has 800 Million Users (Mashable)
LinkedIn Now Adding Two New Members Every Second (TechCrunch)
Twitter Celebrates 5 Years and 200 Million Users (AOL News)

Ten Tips for Hosting a Successful Tweetup

Bob Cargill — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 20:52:14 +0000

This post was initially published on BostInnovation on September 14, 2011. To read the original post there, click here.

There’s a palpable camaraderie among most people who use social media, a strong sense that we’re all in this together and out for the same things — new friendships, opportunities and experiences.

Unfailingly, we jump onto Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and our own blogs to listen and learn, chat and connect, educate and entertain, inform and inspire, publicize and promote.

Sure, you see a fair share of debate and dissent in social media. It’s not always sunshine and roses. But more often than not, you see a rousing demonstration of mutual respect and quid pro quo, the golden rule being put into practice.

That’s what I like about social media. More often than not, you can count on the crowd for inspiration and support. Like a big group hug, it’s reassuring, to say the least.

And that’s what I like about a Tweetup, too, where you’re surrounded by a small sea of kindred spirits, many of whom you’ve exchanged tweets with but have never met before in person.

If you haven’t been to one yet, a Tweetup is similar to any other networking event except that it’s promoted heavily via Twitter and the majority of those in attendance are social media zealots.

Many Tweetups have an agenda, of course — featuring guest speakers, entertainment, food, beverages, giveaways and more — but some are simply social gatherings of like-minded folks. What takes place there is left to the hosts’ discretion. They set the tone. They makes the rules.

The focus of the two Sudbury Social Tweetup events I co-hosted (with Phil Hollows, CEO of Feedblitz and author of “List Building for Bloggers“) at Bistro 20 in Sudbury this summer was mainly getting to know one another and talking about how each of us in the room uses social media. It felt good to see that there were so many others in the Sudbury area who share the same unbridled passion for these relatively new online communications platforms and principles. It was definitely a lot of fun.

Here’s what I’ve learned so far as co-host of the Sudbury Social Tweetup…

Ten Tips for Hosting a Tweetup

1. Choose the right date and location. Getting a critical mass of people to attend a Tweetup is more than half the battle, so you want to make it as convenient as possible for them to be there. Think of a cool hang-out, a place that’s easy to get to and popular with everyone. And take a good look at the calendar to make sure there are no major conflicts – holidays, competing events, etc. – with the date of your event.

2. Come up with a good hashtag. Because you’ll be relying so heavily on Twitter for promotion of your event, having a hashtag – a keyword or term, preceded by the # sign, used for search and categorization on Twitter – that stands out is important. Phil and I turned the name of our Tweetup into the hashtag, #SudburySocial, which we’ve encouraged others to include in their tweets about it.

3. Invite plenty of people. Once you know when and where your Tweetup is going to be held, and you’ve decided on a hashtag, you can start the invitation process. Obviously, there are a variety of ways to reach out to potential attendees en masse (email blasts, blog posts, etc.), but consider approaching some people individually, especially those who you know very well or whose presence is critical to the success of the event.

4. Leverage mainstream media. To help get the word out about the Sudbury Social Tweetup, I wrote a simple press release and submitted it to the Sudbury Town Crier and Sudbury Patch, both of which ran with it. This helped us reach folks who were interested in learning more about social media, but who might still rely on mainstream, more traditional media for their news and information.

5. Ask your friends for assistance. You’d be surprised how many people are glad to be asked to join your team of volunteers. Acting as your own brand ambassadors, your friends and colleagues can help you spread the word about the event, track down sponsors, book entertainment and so much more.

6. Use an online registration service such as Eventbrite. I’ve used Eventbrite, a free event registration service, to manage registrations for the two Sudbury Social Tweetups we’ve had so far, and I can’t tell you how impressed I’ve been with it. It’s incredibly easy to use. But at the same time, it’s also quite sophisticated, offering a multitude of ways to create and promote a fabulous event

7. Don’t forget Boston TweetUp. Run by Joselin Mane, Boston TweetUp not only keeps a handy calendar of Tweetups and other similar networking events, it helps promote these business-related get-togethers via Boston TweetUp TV and plenty of timely, pleasantly surprising tweets.

8. Bring name tags and felt-tip pens. You may know everyone there, but many people will be meeting others in attendance for the first time. As your guests arrive, kindly ask them to write their name and Twitter handle – legibly – on the name tags you’ve provided, which will make it much easier for them to approach complete strangers and introduce themselves with confidence.

9. Make sure to mingle. Whether your hosting the event or not, it’s important to make the rounds, to chat it up with as many people as possible. It’s not just about being polite. It’s about taking full advantage of the many great networking opportunities that may exist in the room.

10. Share what you know about social media. Besides having a good time and making new friends, pretty much everyone who attends a Tweetup is interested in learning more about social media. Invite a guest speaker. Or go out of your way to share your own knowledge about the subject, either through a formal presentation to the group or simply in impromptu, one-on-one conversations.

Did I miss anything? What has been your experience with Tweetups? Have you ever attended one? Have you ever hosted one? What do you think are the ingredients of some of the most successful Tweetups? Please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts by leaving a comment about this post below.

Additional Resources and Information Regarding Tweetups

HOW TO: Organize a Successful Tweetup (Mashable)
Boston Tweetup shares tips on how to host a successful Tweetup (Eventbrite Blog)
Bridging Offline/Online: Tweetups (Beth’s Blog)
Planning a Tweetup (TwiTip)
Twitter Tip Tuesday: Host a Tweetup (Sprout Social Insights)
How to Organize a Successful Tweetup (Social Media Today)
How to Throw a Great Tweet-Up (Social Media Explorer)

Talking about Social Media in Sudbury, Massachusetts

Bob Cargill — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 17:58:50 +0000

I’ve created a lot of lists on Twitter, including one for copywriters, another one for New England social media professionals and even one that I call All Star Bloggers. But out of all of these lists, the one that’s been on my mind lately is the list which includes the people and companies (38 and counting) I’ve found on Twitter from my hometown of Sudbury, Massachusetts.

You see, while I really only know personally a handful of these Sudbury-affiliated account-holders, my goal when I created this list was to get to know as many of them as possible. So little by little, I’ve retweeted them and reached out to them, thinking that you never know what might come of this small community within, well, a small community. But it wasn’t until I recently sat down for a cup of coffee with fellow Sudbury resident, Phil Hollows, that an idea I had been bandying about for a while with my neighbors and friends in town actually took root.

I knew Phil from Twitter, but this was actually the first time we had met in person. After chatting for a few minutes about our respective professional backgrounds and families, we quickly agreed to put on a Tweetup in Sudbury, which we hope will bring together business people in town who are interested in discussing — and learning more about – social media.

What follows is the official “announcement” of this Tweetup (which I can’t tell you how excited I am to be co-hosting)…

You’re Invited to the Sudbury Social Tweetup on Thursday, July 21

Two Sudbury residents, Bob Cargill and Phil Hollows, will be hosting a free Tweetup called “Sudbury Social” on Thursday, July 21, at Bistro 20 at 120 Boston Post Road in Sudbury from 6-8 P.M.

The purpose of this networking event is to bring together business people, marketers and professionals who live or work in the Sudbury area who want to meet others from the community and learn more about such social media communications tools as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and blogs.

“Both Phil and I thought a Tweetup – which gives people who may have already met one another online, the chance to meet face-to-face, in person – would be a fun way to introduce those in the community who are interested in social media to one another,” says Cargill, a copywriter, creative director and social media consultant.

“We’re looking forward to getting to know others in town who have the same passion for social media as we do,” says Hollows, the CEO of Feedblitz and author of “List Building for Bloggers.”

To register to attend the Sudbury Social Tweetup, go to http://sudburysocial.eventbrite.com. For more information on the event, please contact either Bob Cargill at Cargill123@gmail.com or Phil Hollows at phil@feedblitz.com. If you decide to write about the event online, the hosts ask you to use the hashtag, #SudburySocial.

The Importance of LinkedIn Recommendations

Bob Cargill — Sun, 01 May 2011 19:04:39 +0000

Given my outgoing personality, my obsession with the latest news and the fact that I’ve always been an early adopter of new communications tools, it’s no surprise that I’ve been enamored with social media from the get-go.

I can’t tell you how excited I was to launch my own blog in early 2004, where I’ve written nearly 100,000 words on almost anything and everything that has to do with marketing. I became a member of Facebook in late 2007. I joined Twitter on May 8, 2008. I’ve bookmarked over 4,800 blog posts and articles on Delicious. I use Google Reader on a regular basis. And I have my own YouTube channel, which I use to share my thoughts on what’s important to me – and, hopefully, others – in the industry in which I earn my livelihood.

But out of all the social media outposts where I’ve established a presence, the one that probably gets the most attention among traditional business folks is LinkedIn, which I joined on July 26, 2004, almost seven years ago. In fact, I’m proud to say I was among the first one million members – number 882,759, to be exact – of this professional networking site that recently eclipsed the 100 million-member mark.

On LinkedIn, I’m fortunate to have connected with over 800 others, people who, like me, are more than happy to help one another make the most of their professional lives. And that includes writing recommendations for those among your network who deserve to be singled out for their expertise and experience.

So far, I’ve written recommendations for 59 people in my LinkedIn network, each of whom I’ve worked with in some capacity during the course of my career. I’m grateful for the 44 recommendations that others have written for me.

LinkedIn recommendations should be short and to the point, speaking to the strengths and skills you’ve seen up close and personal in the recipients of your high praise. When you write one, try to be as specific as possible, providing your own unique perspective on why someone else should be interested in hiring or doing business in some capacity with this individual. If he or she is a star, say so, enthusiastically and effusively. Cite his or her attributes and actual accomplishments. Use colorful adjectives and descriptive prose. You want to sound like you mean every single one of your kind words, not like you wrote them just because you were asked.

In fact, not every one of your LinkedIn recommendations needs to be solicited. Write one or two every once in a while for those who especially stand out. They’ll not only thank you for it, the likelihood is they’ll reciprocate and write a recommendation for you in return. That’s certainly good form.

And, yes, while it may be a little awkward, don’t worry about declining someone’s request to write a recommendation if for any reason you think it’s unwarranted. That’s business.

The bottom line is that whether you’re providing them for others or receiving them yourself, LinkedIn recommendations are extremely important. They’re a big part of your social currency that should reflect well on you as a corporate citizen and go a long way toward enhancing your online reputation.

To read all 59 of the LinkedIn recommendations I’ve written so far, please check out my LinkedIn profile by clicking here.

And…what about you? How many LinkedIn recommendations have you written and received? If you have anything to add to this post, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below.

Finally, if you’d like to get some additional thoughts about LinkedIn recommendations, here are a variety of posts written by other folks about this same topic…

LinkedIn Recommendation Tips by Chris Brogan
Elements of a Good LinkedIn Recommendation by Chris Brogan
Ask For and Give LinkedIn Recommendations by Dianna Huff
The Art of Getting LinkedIn Recommendations by Dan Klamm
10 Ways to Maximize LinkedIn for Personal Branding by Kyle Lacy
LinkedIn recommendations: love ‘em or leave ‘em? by Matthew Levy
How to Write a LinkedIn Recommendation by Lisa B. Marshall
How to Write Better LinkedIn Recommendations by Jennifer Mattern
Writing LinkedIn Recommendations You Actually Like by Cathy Miller
Recommendations and the Reputation Economy by Adam Nash
10 Tips: Asking for Recommendations on LinkedIn by Tim Tyrell-Smith
How to ask for LinkedIn recommendations by Meriam Salpeter
Are LinkedIn recommendations valuable? by Alexa Samuels

My 218th Blog Post

Bob Cargill — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 22:35:52 +0000

Since my first post on February 17, 2004, I’ve written more than 91,000 words on A New Marketing Commentator, but these are going to be some of my last words here for a while. Yes, it’s time to give this blog a rest – again. I’m sure I’ll be back soon, but I’ve decided it’s time for another break from the blogosphere, similar to the one I took earlier in this blog’s lifespan.

In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to check out my archives, especially the 2,700-word “10 Ways to Succeed in Social Media” and the 2,800-word “10 Ways to Succeed as a Copywriter,” two long series of blog posts I’ve bundled together and published as long, standalone articles.

Other relatively recent posts I’ve written that I’d like to single out include “The Importance of Character in Social Media,” “50 Reasons Why I Like Twitter” and “Retrospective: What I’ve Written about Social Media in the Last Year.”

Altogether, I’ve written over 200 posts here on this blog (218 to be exact) – on marketing, advertising, social media, fundraising, even the Boston Marathon – each of which I invite you to read at your convenience, if you haven’t read them already.

And while you’re at it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. I may not be blogging for a while, but I have every intention of remaining very active in social media.

Thank you, as always, for your friendship, support and interest in what I have to say.

Bob Cargill
December 26, 2010
Bio
Work History
Speaking History

Photo of Bob Cargill by Kevin Harkins of Harkins Photography

10 Ways to Succeed in Social Media, Parts 1-10

Bob Cargill — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:12:47 +0000

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you already know about the ”10 Ways to Succeed in Social Media” series of posts I started writing on January 13 of this year and recently concluded on April 5. But what you wouldn’t know is how much I’ve been looking forward to stringing these posts together into one exhaustive guide on how to communicate effectively via the blogosphere, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and other such Internet-based platforms.

In this 2,700-word series, I took a long view of social media, focusing on the principles that people in this space need to keep in mind, not necessarily the day-to-day tactics. After all, despite the widespread adoption of social media, it’s still very misunderstood. As I wrote in the introduction to this series…

…social media isn’t rocket science. But it’s definitely a BIG departure for those who have been dependent on traditional marketing, advertising, PR and communications methods up until now.

So if you’d like to read the entire series — “10 Ways to Succeed in Social Media” — in one fell swoop, click here. Or simply click on the fourth tab over at the top of this blog. That’s where I’ve archived this entire series. For your convenience, I’ve also listed each post in this series below with its corresponding link.

By the way, I’m always interested in hearing from you, so please don’t hesitate to leave a comment if you have any feedback for me – anytime. Thanks.

To read the entire “10 Ways to Succeed in Social Media” series, click here.