Reality of Social Networking – Seth Godin

Well said. I’ve been playing with Twitter lately to see what all the buzz is about and it can be such a time waster for getting very little results!

I happen to agree with you, Jim. I also agree with the gentleman who says you have to give to get. by the way,
for you info, if you and your wife come to my area and want a place to stay free let me know. You can stay here because of knowing you and your work–NOT cause I met you on some ‘social networking’ place. I live in Pa.

Hi Jim,

I’ve just been watching another video from someone who makes a lot of money from social networking but he says quote “98% of the people who follow me on Twitter and Facebook will never buy from me.”

Now, do I want to spend hours of my day chit chatting to get 100,000 people knowing that only 2% of them will buy from me? No I don’t. I use both Twitter and Facebook, but like Seth, I’m interested in real relationships, not fake ones.

This video is timely Jim and I’m oh so grateful to you!!

Trish

Hi Jim

I’m so glad that someone as respected as Seth Godin has finally come out and exposed social media for what it really is.

I’m a member of Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, etc, etc and I can honestly say that none of these sites has improved my bottom line in any way. It’s just a lot of incoherent noise and a huge distraction of my time. Many guru’s extol the virtues of social media claiming it to be the holy grail.

Perhaps I’m stupid or something but I just don’t get it.

As Seth Godin says…what really matters is taking the time to get to know people on a much more personal level.

I couldn’t agree more, it’s back to basics stuff!

Best Wishes

John O’Hara
United Kingdom

Perry Belcher just launched his new social media product and his lead up videos and webinars did a great job of explaining the value of using social media.

Basically, his system as I understand it, is to provide social media followers on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube with valuable content. Then he funnels these followers to his blog, where they get even more content. Under his posts, he places a message saying, “if you’d like more information about (whatever the post was about) give me your email here and I’ll send it to you.” The submit button goes to his autoresponder and they’re now on his list.

From there, he has managed to sell an impressive amount of product. He also slips in the occasional link to a product page (that goes on to sell the visitor something)into his twitter or facebook pages and those bring in terrific sales as well.

It sounds as though if you have a real system for using social media, it will work as a revenue stream.

I try sometimes, like you Jim, to not add to something that is so completely addressed by another, but since you’re welcoming commentary, I will say this:

I have a poetry house that I promote on Facebook, and our mission was to fill our bar, and eventually, we did. But not before we “went out of our way for them”. We review each and every show, we post pictures from each show, we post our stories that make it to the newspapers, back to the website, we invite commentary, and respond to it, and we post interesting chat exchanges between us and the poets, who talk about their craft and how it relates to their audience.

All of the above are the reasons for any success that we are having with this group on Facebook. Nothing about it is fake, and nothing about it is flash in the pan.

P.S. I actually think that I COULD sleep at a few of the members’ houses too.

Media is media – email, social, search engine, etc.

If you can get peoples attention you can capitalize on it.

Same basic rules apply – targeted traffic, relative offer, conversion.

Hey Jim,

It’s been a while, but I hope you’re doing well.

As for the video, Seth sums it up perfectly!

I post an occasional something on Twitter, but don’t rely on it too much, and I certainly don’t spend more than 5-10 minutes a day on it – if that!

I have a successful, long-standing philosophy in life of always choosing QUALITY over QUANTITY, and social marketing seems to be largely about quantity (the numbers and stats) and little to do with building quality relationships.

And before someone says it, having regular people you shoot out 140 character messages to every once in a while does NOT constitute a quality relationship!

Thanks for the video, Jim.

With all the hype, I was beginning to wonder if I had it wrong. But Seth is an authority figure in marketing, so I highly respect his opinion, especially when it matches mine.

Derek

You need to see the hottest opportunity onthe net to date and without competiton. My two best friends is a social network that pays you for themembership in real time and instantly. it is by invitation only. No more waiting for next week to get paid As soon as someone becomesa member that falls in your team you get paid. l
listen to 616 597 1060 for a breif overview. then get back to me andtellme yur at your computer and ready to receive an invite. You can keep doing other things while youmake money at this. what we do, is invite 2 friends and help 2 invite 2 that’s it.
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Ps. I started 6/15 and to date have received $1260. not bad for a $79 investment and you can do this to.
successfully yours,
marge

Seth Godin says what I’ve been thinking, and thank you for sharing the video with us.

You might want to take a look at this:
Identity Thieves Gather Data From Social Networks
http://www.NewsReleaseWire.com/27926

Hi Jim,

You mentioned twitter in one of your previous emails or videos and said you didn’t ‘get it’. I checked it out (twitter) that is and I still don’t ‘get it’.

The only time I have found it useful so far is getting someone to send out tweets to website owners in NC to ask them to help block the nexus tax in NC. (That lawmakers are threatening to pass with the budget.) Its a fight for our Amazon accounts (and other affiliates) which have already been terminated, which translates to real money being lost because of the tax. Now that’s worthwhile.

That said, I’m not a member of Facebook either because of the bad reviews it’s had for stolen identities etc. I am a member of Myspace but spend very little time posting.

What matters most to me are my readers who contact me from my site, my newsletters, webpages, and my youtube subscribers, who are real people, and ask me real questions. I just don’t have anytime to waste on crap that doesn’t matter.

Kudo’s to you Jim!

What it comes down to no matter what communication channel someone is using is Are you offering content that is relevant and valuable to the people who are receiving that channel. If not you are spamming and diverting your time into something that is less productive than if you used that time offering something valuable to the marketplace.

Hello Jim,

Thanks for that Seth Godin video. I agree absolutely with him. After spending the last 7 years developing and selling specific niche-related products I understand that the only way I make sales is when my product(s) is presented to a highly targeted prospect AT THE SPECIFIC TIME that they need that product. Twitter, Facebook, etc. do not provide me with those types of visitors.

Twitter shmitter, I say!

Shaun

But Jim, there are people selling multi-thousand dollar courses on this stuff. Doesn’t the high price they sell it for make their process more legitimate?

Thanks for the vid Jim!

I was always wondering how the heck you were supposed to connect with people when your tweet is off the page in 30 seconds. I don’t see that anyone will be hanging on your last word. If you happen to be on the first page when they arrive, you’re lucky and they might actually click on the link if you’ve included one. The odds aren’t good enough for me to want to spend much time on it – but you have all these people who say they’re making big bucks from it? Makes no sense to me.

Yay!!! Totally true. I agree fully. Of course I did the twitter thing. I just read an advertising for a way to get thousands of followers, so I asked them, yes, but how many true readers? Probably none. Yes! to relationships! I just checked your name on twitter this morning as a matter of fact, and noticed that there is still no tweets … I’m always checking to see what you are doing.

I couldn’t agree more. Why in the world ANYONE would care about what I am doing at any given moment in the day is beyond me. Even more importantly, why would they buy from me?

There is one stat and one stat only that matters and that is my bottom line. Is my traffic converting? I don’t care if I only have 100 visitors in a week if 75% of them buy from me. What good is 1000 a week if only 1% of those buy?

Same thing with Social Media – I have nothing of value to say to these “friends” and the time I would waste doing so takes time away from those things that DO contribute to my bottom line.

I do not have a facebook account and haven’t done anything on Twitter, but boy if I lost my SKype contacts I’d be in deep doodoo!

I completely agree with him. The internet is awesome in that it allows you to connect with people on a broader scale, whom you may otherwise never have had the chance to meet, and with greatly reduced transaction costs.

Social networking sites can be valuable tools if used strategically and to foster real relationships with your customers. The key is developing a real connection and providing value (including social value) to others.

During my early years of practicing law, my firm used to send me to these expensive cocktail parties and charity dinners where I would make awkward conversation with complete strangers. I quickly realized that this was the most inefficient, time-wasting way to develop business. Social networking sites tempt exactly the same behavior.

So, in my humble opinion, don’t give them up entirely; make a marketing plan and have clear goals and strategies on why and how you are using these sites… then stick to it!

Cheers!

Social media has been converted to a massive advertising and marketing arena, and perhaps a data collection and monitoring system for the owners behind it. On Twitter the question is not “What are you doing?” It’s “What are you marketing?” And everyone is hoping for sales as a result of the “free advertising.” Seth is right on regarding the wisdom of cultivating real networking.

Your timing is perfect, Jim!

With all the NOISE today about the big social media product being launched, I’m so glad you are sending out the voice of reason amid the hype.

I’ve stayed away from most of the social media (who has time?), with the exception of a couple professionally focused networks (LinkedIn, FindVirtual and WomenOwnedBusinesses) where I have found the same value that any other specific niche networking arena provides.

I only joined Twitter reluctantly after I saw that YOU had broken down (at Mike Stewart’s urgings) and agreed to give it a shot.

My conclusion with Twitter has been exactly as Seth Godin expressed. From a marketing standpoint, it is a questionalbe source of mostly untargeted traffic. From a relationship standpoint, I do enjoy following people that I already know, but as stated by others, that is only a good thing when it doesn’t suck too much time and serve as a distraction, which it certainly can.

Bottom line: I think there is very limited value for most businesses with general social marketing sites if the goal is just to build up a big pile of “friends” / followers, etc. It’s not targeted enough.

The vast majority of your followers/”friends” are not paying attention to you because there is no real relationship.

Jim I agree 100%. If you have a life or a business where do you have time to document every move of your day to a bunch of people who don’t have lives. Ok once in a while to close friends or associates. But who really has the time.

I thought this is an interesting position. Perry Belcher is launching his Social Networking program today. As a JV partner/student of his, I thought you would have joined in his promotion.

Twitter, Facebook etc. acts as a barometer of what people are interested in talking about at the moment, and speaks to their need for “social proof”, showing off, and just being plain nosey.

It also allows us to build someone’s reputation up super quick, but equally reputations can be destroyed just as fast – look what Tweets about the film “Bruno” did to its 2nd day of box office takings. So to this extent it can be very harmful to ones bottom line.

But clearly as a long term commercial proposition Social Media should be viewed as a (sometimes immediate) source of traffic to your blog, which is where you then build on the relationship.

With the volume of so called “information” in the world accelerating to the point were it now doubles in less than a year, people will increasingly look for trustworthy “info havens” where the onerous task of sifting through all the repetition, noise and garbage, to bring them the salient facts, will have been done for them.
And this is why I believe specialist blogs will be the real dominant force in the future, with Social Media as the “subscriber generation funnel”.

Thanks for sharing the video Jim…

I wonder, why people think that social networking is “all that”?

I’ve found it to be a a gross waste of time and a very high risk for idenity thief and extortion…

Thanks for sharing….

Durante

I do a little promoting on my SN accounts, but I haven’t really benefited. I have had success with video sharing sites and have used social bookmarking to add backlinks. However, I feel that most SN sites are not conducive to internet marketers and the traffic isn’t very targeted either. Just my opinion.

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the Seth video. I think its right on. I’ve been using Twitter for the last several months with really nothing to show for it. Everyone is focused on themselves therefore they are not interested in your posts.

As far as Facebook goes I love it. However, I use it ONLY to reconnect with long lost friends from high school and college. I do use it as a networking tool but one for social activities and not business. Maybe I’m missing the boat but if someone wants to create a business relationship I point them towards my Linkedin.com site. Facebook for friends and Linkedin for business.

Finally, I do get some decent use out of YouTube. I create short, high quality, problem solving content videos for my target audience. So far it works well.

Rock on Jim!

I’m glad to have listened to this video as I’ve been trying to determine how much effort to put into social networking websites and this has helped me to decide to put my efforts elsewhere. Thanks for sharing. What Seth says makes sense.

Jim,
Thanks for posting this video. Social networking is just that if you don’t have a value to contribute to others, it’s just a lot of time wasting typing. I nearly choked when ABC news reported the congressmen twitering during the State of the Union Address. Maybe they’ll pass a law that twitering is an unsafe distraction! Successful people are busy accomplishing things – not talking about it!
Billie

There are either a whole lot of people on this post that are completely ignorant as to how to build relationships… or love to be a follower and raise their hand and say,

‘ooo ooo ooo yeah I tried twitter too and it sucks -blah, blah, blah’ (hey now this guru is going to love me cuz I just agreed with him/her)

Here’s my experience:

- have built up amazing business contacts throughout the world (already had a lot, but now the network is larger)
- have been introduced to a book publisher, and a book deal is in the works,
- have been hired by the Philadelphia Phillies, because a friend on Twitter mentioned me to their pitching staff at a party in Philadelphia,
- have created life-long friendships, because it’s been a great place to connect with some like-minded people.

Folks, you get out what you put in… if you’re looking for a ‘monetization’ strategy – you’re chasing the wrong goal.

You wouldn’t attend a cocktail party with the same mindset… so why would you do it on a social networking site.

I subscribe to Twitter, Ecademy, Facebook and LinkedIn. The only one that is of any use business-wise to me is LinkedIn. Because you start off by only linking with people you know well and then build your network through referrals, you don’t end up with a whole bunch of ‘friend-collectors’. The group forums are great as research tools and for building on relationships.

Ecademy used to be good but now it’s swamped with ‘business consultants’ based in far-flung places who I will never ever meet,and life coaches.It does however have the advantage of encouraging local groups that actually meet up in the flesh for some old-fashioned style networking.

Facebook I keep for friends and family only and, like so many others have already said, I still don’t ‘get’ Twitter.

Thanks Jim.

Great video and I agree with Seth’s assessment 100%. You have to put forth effort and be seen to build relationships. Most everything with social media is fake relationships.

My guess is that most of these social media sites will lose their flavor and the trend will die a slow death. At least when it comes to “making money with social media”. I do think there is value with something like Facebook to reach out to friends, family and colleagues you’ve lost touch with. But then again, after the first inital rush of Facebook fun most people check it less than a couple times per month.

Hi Jim:

I’m so glad to hear Seth Godin say this. To me Twitter is the biggest waste of time. We have consistently put out great info on Twitter, engaged in Twitter conversations about our topic and nothing.

I choose to spend my precious time and energy in actually helping people rather than sitting in the back of the room and raising my hand saying “PICK ME!!! PICK ME!” which is what it feels like on Twitter

Dear Jim,
I use Twitter to post things I cannot include in my newsletter because I am not the author, but that may be useful for my students. I post for people I already know, but there are followers whom I know nothing about. Why should I bother? They may be interested in learning French and come to my site one day.

Hey Todd,

I wouldn’t say social networking is COMPLETELY worthless (there is an occasional success from it), it’s just not worthy of the massive hype it’s getting.

People were making quality business connections like the ones you mention LONG before Facebook and Twitter, so I have a hard time saying that without them you couldn’t have similar successes.

I think what most of us have trouble with is the investment in time involved with trying to make social networking actually work.

Personally, I’d rather spend an hour putting together a quality, valuable video to share on my blog than taking that same time putting together 20 tweets for all my supposed followers.

I think the results from the video would FAR outweigh the results from the tweets, despite taking the same time to do. So, what’s a better way to spend your time?

Now, when it comes to connecting with old school mates and friends in order to share some memories, Facebook is hard to beat.

Derek

Since I spent the time reading ALL the comments, I thought I had better leave one too.

I have only “played” with social networking a little and my intention has never been to use it as a marketing or business tool. I got involved with Twitter as a time-waster when my father was at the Mayo Clinic…To me it is more of a stress-reliever or “fun” thing.

Business and life is all about forming real relationships and you just can not do that in 140 characters…some of us can not even explain what we are doing at the time, in 140 characters.

Product launches or not, I will stick to following your lead, as I have done for the past several years.

Thanks as always, for being the voice of reason in this crazy internet marketing world!

The only people on Facebook/Twitter/MySpace who buy from me are those who are ALREADY on my mailing list.

I enjoy them to catch up with old high school buddies and college guys I played ball with but lost track with. And, none of them have pitched me, or have I pitched them to buy anything.

Hey Jim,

Totally agree with you on this one BIG TIME!

I had a play with twitter to see the score – but got bored within a few hours!

Facebook… ya I like – you can connect with some amazing people and so long as you don’t act like a teenage girl at a Tom Jones concert… when you mail them or IM them when they have accepted friendship – you can strike up a pretty neat conversation!

My honest 2 cents… spend your time wisely on something that will AID your online business growth… NOT at an on ‘online party’ trying to create ‘false’ friendships kidding yourself that you will make 6 figures a year by building some ‘hyped up persona’ and then emailing them using a ‘super secret special formula’ that some guru swears works and charges you thousands to learn!

BOTTOM LINE… it’s ‘active’ procrastination!

I have been online 3 years now… and in that time gone from a newbie that couldn’t write email – to a professional speaker – coach and mentor where I hold private workshops and frequently get invited to speak at events alongside many TOP players online.

This DIDN’T happen from spending 10 hours a day ‘micro blogging’ – but in following PROVEN online business makers… guys such as yourself (shameless ass kiss there – lol)

Never the less… this and time spent building a relationship with my EMAIL list was the key to my online success… and not with some ‘hair-brained’ social bookmarking site!

Like I said… just my 2 cents!

Keep up the great work!

Sharpie ;-D

What if you don’t use these social media outlets the same way all these people do… going for a ton of useless followers or “friends”… what if you use it to build those “meaningful” relationships?

Jim,
Good video. I hope I don’t offend anyone here, but I think Twitter is the closest thing to mental masturbation there is on the internet! It may feel good to build lists of followers, but as the man said…unless you can really interact with them, what good are they? Ashton Kutcher was so proud of his million followers, but how many of them do you think could call on him for a personal favor, or support on a project? ’nuff said.
Jimm

My opinion, I find it to be a complete WASTE OF TIME. All these sites are for is to PEDDLE YOUR POTIONS. If you are a serious marketer then you will see the uselessness in this way to grow your business.

Unless you are a millionaire guru or actor that when people see you there, they want to follow you, well then kudos to you. As far as the wantabe’s that are just wanting to sell there next best thing. Whatever

A true marketer knows (NO ONE LIKES A SALES PERSON) Yet for some reason as soon as you sign up for the next Social Network, guess what (check out my… Look never been done before… Your missing out… Yada, yada, yada.

If you really want to make it in this business then you need to communicate like a real person and build real relationships. Not sell people. Help people to succeed then and only then will you succeed.

While were on the subject as far as a waste of time.
Calling and chasing your leads is not good either.
The way I see it, these people are grown adults that if they do see your site, their old enough to make a decision on there own.

They are old enough to pick up the phone and CALL YOU. You are the business owner. Start investing in Technology to do the work for you. Why in the world would you want someone that doesn’t take the initiative in the first place, working for you.

You would not hire this person in your company. Bottom line, scratch all this Social Networking, calling leads, chasing people yada, yada, yada. Form your MASTER MIND GROUP. Like good ole Jim here

I think he has some valid points but is a bit short sighted on the possibilities of driving some of those not-so-useless followers to your primary list. The key is NOT using social net working as most people do, but to target those that are potential customers or clients. You Tube was the same in the beginning…everyone thought it was a waste of time until someone figured out how to monetize their video post.

This last month I have been investing time energy and money into the social media arena thinking that i am missing out on something so big. EG I hired a traffic assistant for a month that produced me followeres etc. but to date none of this has made me any sales which is the only thing I am interested in. I have operated an off line/online mail order company for 8 years and i think I am going to go back and focus on what i know works.

WRONG!

But don’t get me wrong! I’m not saying Seth is wrong. He answers a specific question with a generalisation which is not normally his style, and what he says maybe correct but it’s a long way from being helpful.

He was replying emotionally rather than factually and indeed the one aspect he criticises is so true.

Social sites have a natural focus on entertainment so if you use them with the wrong attitude you will end up wasting your time just like you do when you sit in front of the TV.

If you are prone to procrastination then you are likely to waste more time on social sites than an ordinary business people.

On the other hand if you PLAN and set GOALS you can make money from them.

And of course the value of SEO is incalculable, currently the popularity of twitter is such that it can put your brand at the top of google in less than 24 hours – how valuable would that be to you?

I HATE facebook with a passion, it is the worst site it has been my displeasure to be involved in ever since I first surfed the web.

On the other hand twitter makes my company an extra $2,000 to $3,000 a month and we have been using it for less than three.

It depends what your business. But my guess is most Jim Edwards readers will ignore them at their peril. And Jim, YOU have a responsibility because of your position. Use it wisely for everyone’s sake.

Correction the key here is to stop wasting time on pretending to be someones friend, when in reality all you want to do is make money from them. I have plenty of followers. I do not chase, call, or hound anyone.

That’s what makes them useful to me. I treat them like real people, if there interested then they know where to go. I do not sell, I do not buy leads. I let my mastermind group do this for me. Social Networking is all about getting people to join your business. Nothing else, it’s not about creating lifelong friends, or about cheering people up when their down, or about finding out what they need personally to help them.

It’s about what’s in it for you. How much money can you make getting the next sign up. Oh I got another contact, I’d better email them my business profile. Oh yeah and I better not forget to tell them on the way as I introduce myself, that I’m their PAL, THEIR BEST FRIEND, TRUST ME.

Pleaseeeeeeeeee

Seth Godin hit it right on the screws.

I have a ton of friends, and I don’t know anyone who uses Twitter in any real way.

On the other hand, EVERYONE uses email. Lots of people are tethered to email addictively.

Email marketing is still the most underrated, highly lucrative, nearly autopilot, cash-generating tool we have, in my mind. And people seem to be forgetting that fact because of all these fun new tools!

Um, how did everyone get to this page, by the way? EMAIL. (At least that’s how I did.)

I’ve been very skeptical about Twitter, but lately there’s been a lot of hoopla about it, so I’m trying it out right now.

Frankly, I’m very busy with my business and don’t have a lot of time to waste on things that are unproductive. The results I’ve gotten from 3 pretty full days on Twitter have been less than gratifying. Here are some actual examples of mindless posts that I just copied that have absolutely no value, either personally or professionally:

And in case you’re wondering, these are actual posts as they appeared in their entirety – nothing cut, nothing edited, nothing left out.

The answer is 42. But not on Twitter. Here it is 140
Just filmed for another movie here in Bermuda. Also for TV show. And book.
Need to send emails out to partners. Working on something big
I’m at the National Cartoonists Society booth at Comic-Con tweeting
just doing some keyword research & then on to link building – two of the most important aspects to SEO
Going home today need to pack the car.
Yes, I just listened to Chris Brown while running on the treadmill. But I pretended I was stepping on his head.
I’d fit in better wearing my Star Trek suit. Seeing high school teacher fans here.
Is back..was kidnapped by my daughters for a very nice lunch How awesome!

Now, how about these brilliant quotes?

My Social Media mantra: Give more than you receive…
Rich People Read
The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding. ~Leonardo da Vinci
Do you love me because I’m beautiful, or am I beautiful because you love me? ~Oscar Hammerstein
“Determination is the wake-up call to the human-will.” Tony Robbins
Success Leaves Clues

How about these great posts from the same girl with a sexy picture of her in lingerie standing next to a bed?

Checking my e-mail.
Getting ready for gym.
Going to the gym!!! See u.
Good morning everyone!
I’m back. Ready to take a shower.
Not many work today.
Going to prepare coffee.
Now I’m really awake.
Working…
Going out to have lunch.

Of course, there are some posts that give good tips or links to valuable information, but if you have to filter through all the crap to get it, you have to weigh what the cost of that information is. And, when you look at who is following you, you have to ask yourself if that person has any possible potential to do business with you or not.

For me, the 3-day Twitter trial that I just put myself through has confirmed my original thought that my time can be better spent on building relationships that have REAL value, and not on lists of people who have nothing better to do than tweet random and mindless thoughts, a diary of their personal lives, or worn out quotes they’ve gotten from some Quotation site.

Thanks, Jim, for the great video and your blog post.

Hi Jim,

When social media first appeared on the landscape … ok, on the screen … I just couldn’t see what the heck all the hullabaloo was about, I mean, who cares if I just had sausage and eggs for breakfast?

But I remember when the same sort of observations were being made about blogs when they first got started and look at where they are today.

I think it really is a case of understanding the phenomena and learning how to best apply it to your online business. Perry Belcher, arguably the most successful social media marketer out there, has just launched his social media course.

I met Perry, I heard him speak. Yes, its about numbers. Yes, its about relationships (and today everything seems to boil down to relationships). Yes, only a small percentage convert to anything that adds to the bottom line of your bank account. But here’s the thing – in the big numbers a small percentage is powerful, and done right with integrity, that small percentage will grow, just like a savings bank account, or in our parlance, the list will grow.

Social media is just another format of marketing and I believe that we should at least understand the beast, learn how to tame it, and wisely put it to work.

best………….valentina

Hi,

Thanks for the video.

My opinion is this. By delivering your information through social networks you are just giving your audience another way to be aware of new content, products, etc. I can see it as a tool to point people back to your blog, mini-site, opt-in newsletter, etc. But I think the relationship starts with your personal list and not the social network.

Also, you shouldn’t have to spend too much time if you integrate social media into your blog. When I make a blog post it automatically sends it to a dozen or so social media networks.

I think most of the people trying to come up with a reason why it works for them are missing one vital point. If you can target people and draw them to your site with an offer why the hell do you need social networking and the avalanche of useless links that you have to manually block or wade through to see one good lead. Why not just go where your leads or customers go to like the forums and get them anyway without wasting your time. Social networking without a purpose is what 99% of people do and it is a breeding ground for some of the most horrible stuff going on on the internet. I think it is just that age old problem of trying to get something for nothing and before social networking we also made valuable friends.

Hi Jim,

I understand how someone with the “name recognition” as Seth Godin possesses can make the statements he did and have an audience take them as gospel.

That does not make what he said a FACT!

A couple of comments up from here, Todd Herman’s comments tell it as I have been led to understand how Social Media was to work. He obviously understands! What is everybody else missing?

Social Media (SM) is a tool. If you use it to your benefit you can make some real friends and IF the situation warrants or the opportunity presents itself, business may be transacted or deals struck or joint ventures done.

Many groups exist in and on SM where people Direct Message each other many times during the business day about projects, business dels and occasionally about after work meet-ups! These are not seen by the average user of SM and as a result, many think it’s a waste of time and energy!

And the opposite is true also… when we simply use SM as a toy or a distraction and do not take advantage of real opportunities when they avail themselves.

I see it as a double edged sword. Fortunately… you can CHOOSE which side you want and then run with it!

Respectfully presented,

David Perkins
The CrazedCollector

I completely agree with Seth Godin and have a lot of respect to him.

That said, “social networking” is probably a misnomer. If you consider it your personal media outlet, that’s about what you get from Twitter or YouTube. You don’t become friends with people just because they saw your advertising on TV, but it does not mean it’s useless. Cost/value ratio — yes, that’s a big topic for sure.

I’m a website/Graphic designer, and I specialize in custom websites that include valid Search
Engine Optimization. I read 4 different SEO newsletters every week, and each one has ongoing
positive articles concerning the benefits of Social Networking websites.

What I’ve found is that if you use your space on a Social Networking website as a free
advertisement for your business, with links on the Social Network websites that go back to your
business website, then it is a very inexpensive way to market.

A few of the Social Networking websites even have live updates, meaning Google and some of the
larger Search Engines will pick up your business updates/blogs as valid news articles, and anyone
who is set up to get Google Alerts concerning your keywords will get news of what you are doing
with your business. Within 5 hours of setting up an account with DIGG, I had a Google Alert about
my business come to me concerning something I had posted on the DIGG website!

When you do updates for your business on these Social Networking websites, either by posting or
blogging, and you include your business website’s link in those updates, this is an excellent, and
free way, to get inbound linking to your website–which is very important for Search Engine
Optimization.

I also own a small publishing company, and since I’ve joined Social Networking websites for my
company, I’ve seen a nice increase in hits to my site, and I consistently sell more books. These
are the ones I belong to that seem to do the best:

http://www.delicious.com, http://www.linkedin.com, twitter.com, http://www.friendfeed.com, http://www.twellow.com,
http://www.stumbleupon.com, http://www.facebook.com, http://www.myspace.com, http://www.digg.com, http://www.youtube.com,
http://www.goodreads.com

I have them all set up as bookmarks, and when I do an update to my site or add a new feature, I
post a sentence or two to all of the Social Networking websites that I am a member of, and I
always include a link to my company website. Some of these websites, like friendfeed.com, will let
you update other Social Networking sites from one place.

I’ve found that Social Networking sites are an excellent FREE way to get the word out about my
business to a lot of different markets. After you’ve set up memberships with these sites, it’s
pretty easy to post a sentence or two every few weeks with links to your business to keep your
content fresh.

Tracey Stevens

Seems to me that I’d get more “social interest” waving a sign in my underwear next to a freeway.

Hey, did you hear about the new website that combines the benefits of YouTube, Twitter, and FaceBook? It’s called YouTwitFace-dot-com.

Social networking is a bunch of B… S…

Sorry about those line-breaks. I composed the original message in my email so I could spellcheck, and I couldn’t correct them after posting.

Tracey

Facebook helps me stay touch with my friends and family.

LinkedIn helps me stay in touch with my former coworkers..every once in a while sending me a message from a long lost friend.

You Tube is now the second largest search engine…bigger than Yahoo. My grandchildren watch You Tube more than they watch TV.

Twitter can disseminate, broadcast and receive news and emergency info faster than any other media: Iran, the plane landing on the Hudson…local communities and the Red Cross intend to use twitter to broadcast emergency bulletings…

Outside of the U.S…the cell phone is your PC…tweeting is just a way to send “emails” to your friends….or business customers….

Is Twitter (or other social media) effective in building a business? Some people say no. Some people say yes. The people saying “yes” appear to have found a way to provide value added content making it worhwhile for their “followers” to follow. It’s kind of like being a radio show host. I talk….if you like what I’m saying…tune in for the next episode.

Yes, I am testing the use of Twitter for my business. I tweet about information I hope provides value to the people reading the tweet. I follow individuals whose content adds value to my personal and business life.

I am not expecting Twitter to be the panacea for building my business..but I am not discounting its value either. The exponential power of a tweet can’t be replicated in any other media. If someone believes your content is valuable…and their followers believe it is valuable…and their followers believe it is valuable…it’s an addictive proposition..and worth testing. When someone signs on to be a follower who has 25,000 people following them…it’s impressive.

The only thing certain is that nothing is certain. Remember when people said no one would buy something on the Internet. Who have thought RSS feeds would replace email?

We are early in the social media game.our tags and hash tags will become our online profile…the ultimate direct mail list. A list that can’t be reached offline…but must be reached on line through some type of social media effort.

As a business owner, I feel I owe it to myself to test and test and test the use of social media in my business. Some of us will have great results. Others may not. But we won’t know if we don’t try.

Hi Jim,

While I believe that Seth Godin is right when he says that only meaningful networking is of value, his assumption that social media networking is not meaningful and therefore has no value is simply his point-of-view and not fact.

The value of your social media content/networking is what you make it. It can be fluff, or it can be meaningful—it’s up to you. It depends on how committed you are to going after your target market, giving meaningful content to your followers/target market, and, because it’s social media, to how social you’re willing to be when you connect with your followers/target market.

I know twitter better than facebook, so will speak about it. Like any networking scene, twitter has a particular culture, which a lot of marketers don’t take the time to learn. They’ve heard the statistics that twitter marketers have given, want a piece of the pie, and think they can jump onto twitter, do things their way ignoring twitter culture, and then get huge and immediate results. NOTHING works that way.

I’ve seen marketers enter twitter and sell, sell, sell. Or they hear advice that people on twitter like quotes and often retweet them, so they offer tons of quotes in-between their sales pitches. These marketers are likely to spend little to no time talking to people or being personal. These marketers will fail, and then will say that twitter is of no real value.

I’ve been active on twitter for over a year, and have made a concerted effort to connect with my target market: writers. I started out offering daily writing tips for 6 months, then created #writechat, a live 3 hour chat for writers every Sunday afternoon attended by 200-300 writers every week. I have 26,000 followers and at least half are self-proclaimed writers. (In many professions, like this one, it’s hard to know why someone is following you. A person in another business could be following me to try to get my business, or because they want to write better blog posts so that they can get other people’s business. There’s no way to tell.)

Have I monetized twitter? I’ve made some money, but not a lot. I haven’t tried much, since the early days. In the next couple of months I’ll be rolling out some products, and will check back in with you as to how I did. Although I haven’t made any serious money with twitter, yet, my platform has grown considerably. This is what I have done with twitter:

* An article I wrote was retweeted 83 times to a potential audience of 875,000. It was read by over 4,000 people in one day.

* People write about me (and/or #writechat) on their blogs, recommending people follow me.

* I’ve interviewed people I’ve met on twitter, including an author who was on Oprah–twice! (Every author’s dream.)

* I’ve been interviewed by people I met on twitter.

* I was featured in an article on Mashable.com (12 Inspiring Stories of Successful Social Networkers).

* I have people ask if they can put one of my articles on their blog or ezine, after I’ve posted it on twitter.

* People in my industry see what I’m doing on twitter, and want to meet me!

* I’ve met people high up in my industry that I probably wouldn’t have met any other way.

* When I ask a question on twitter I get dozens of immediate replies.

* I’ve also gained a lot of confidence, and value what I have to offer more, because so many people have told me how much I’ve helped them though our correspondence on twitter, the writing tips I’ve posted, or #writechat.

Twitter is amazing. The “average” person that you talk about can easily build a following on twitter. If Ms. or Mr. “average” focuses on building followers in their market and connecting with them, giving good content (both personal and professional), and learning from reputable marketers how to move their followers onto their email list or into their marketing funnel, they’ll do well with twitter. And I’m sure they would prosper with Facebook, as well.

The good news is that most marketers just jump into social media and start marketing. So someone who takes the time and effort to learn the culture and participate as “one of us” instead of “one of them” will stand out from the crowd and do well.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Julie Isaac
http://www.twitter.com/WritingSpirit

Hi Jim,

I agree 100% with you and Seth.

Social networking works well for those,(with a few exceptions), who are unwilling and/or unable to nurture “real” relationships….a temporary “fix” for an epidemic of low self esteem, and intrinsically useless as a monetizer.

By the way, Jim, I just tweeted about your post.

In the real world the only people that I have seen make money from social networking are people that spend way too much time at it. For example, Perry Belcher spent the last 9 months building a list of 58,000 people when he could have done a jv launch in one month and generated that same amount of subscribers. He also talks about his huge twitter list however you will notice that he follows MORE people than he actually has following him.

Tip for twitter users. Go follow 120,000+ people like Perry in twitter and watch how many follow you back. You will get followers in twitter but you have to spend countless hours pressing the follow button over and over.

WOW!

That was on the money, if you can be real with your network, if you go out of your way for your network you earn the privilege of their trust. This is valuable to your business.

My own twisted twitter experience has been a phenomenal roller-coaster-ride. I have made connections with real people who I now do business with.

I’ve learned a lot of great things by building social networks. I’ve gotten free ideas to test specially for my business, radio interviews, blog exposure, I’ve gotten great organic chocolate chip cookie recipes, vegetarian meal dishes, its beyond words how much value the right network experience can bring.

Like Seth said when you really connect it becomes valuable. Gary Vaynerchuk preaches a similar mantra, use social networks to build brand equity for your business by really caring and connecting with your customers.

WANT MORE PROOF OF SOCIAL MEDIA’S MIDAS TOUCH?

Google “United Throws Guitars” or type it into YouTube.
In less than 3 days 3.5 million people heard about how united destroyed a lead singers $3,500 Custom Taylor guitar.

You can use this same power if you are passionate about what you do, who you are and you care enough to build relationships with your customers through social media.

Social media is a live list of real contacts. Most marketers make it a monologue, when it’s really a dialogue.

MASSIVE LINK VALUE

When you are building a budgeted business linking to various networks gives you 2 benefits, 1) You get quality links coming back to your site 2) You get more people following your content.

Creating your own content is massively important as well. Another secret is having a blog connected to your social media where people can go learn more about who you are and what you offer.

THE SOCIAL MEDIA DARKSIDE

There is also a dark-side to social media and social networking. A lot of noise goes on, learning how to avoid the noise is important and how not to create noise of your own. Having the discipline to engage it with care and an open mind is also important.

There are also HYPE MONSTERS on social media. They mis-guide you be telling you how to get 90,000 followers in 90 days, they tell you they just want to be your friend but… try connecting with them… A lot of today’s “Social Media Experts” are really nothing more than glorified spammers.

Even guys who’ve gotten arrested for selling fake anti-depression and fertility pills to real sick people call themselves social media experts. They can post vague “coming clean” videos where the the fake anti-depressants sold are only described as dietary supplements.

The power of social media creates a platform, how you use it is your choice.

So, just like in all camps where there is good hunting to be had, you will have the honest merchants who care about their customers, the snake oils salesmen who pretend to care about their customers and those lost in the woods trying to figure out how to hunt.

I’m a huge fan of everything you do Jim! Your personality and real how-to-info for the average guy will do well on social networks, the knowledge you deliver from True Life Success Lessons alone will have people loving your stuff =)

Any fans of Jim please feel free to follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/carlosduranlive

ps. I’ve never seen as many negative opinions about social media marketing as right here. That doesn’t mean that social media marketing has no value, it just means that you’re arguing against it, you’ve posted a video that argues against it, and people that agree with you are responding.

Social Media isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. While it’s easy to get on social media, to make it really work for your business takes a lot of time and energy, which, in this quick-fix world, most people aren’t willing to do.

Conceivably, someone could put minor effort into building a small targeted list on twitter and facebook, and simply use it drive some free traffic to their blog. It doesn’t have to be the wonder cure, it could just be another tool in your marketing toolbag.

If you set things up so that your blog posts and YouTube videos are automatically posted to twitter and Facebook, why wouldn’t you do it. If you get a little extra traffic out of it, with very little effort and no money it’s worth a few minutes to set up and maintain at a minimal level.

Just a thought.

Julie Isaac

Jim,
I find my time is more useful writing articles for Ezine articles.com

I’m luck y if I get fifteen minutes now on te computer with my current schedule.

It appears that very few people have success with social marketing and then they charge so much to get their product and expect you to replicate the same results.

Any successful long time business takes time and hardwork.

Thank you for an eye opening video.

“I gotta tell you” I love honesty!!

Mike

Could not agree more!! I think SM is something that is very generational. Probably for the generations coming up now it will play a larger part than it does for us “old fogeys”. I too see it as a tremendous time waster. For business reasons I totally agree with Godin. A well done website and a relevant blog are about as far as I’d go in the realm of SM….

I don’t do twitter and am really enjoying FACEBOOK. At first I was unsure and now I love it that I have connected with old friends and relatives. Maybe you are all about the business and that comes into much of your life if you are thinking you can use FACEBOOK for that. I am relaxed about it and do feel more connected to people because of FACEBOOK. There are a couple of people that got onto my list and didn’t seem interested in connecting unless it was to with bringing in more money and I kicked them off. I want to support people and when it comes from a genuine, heartful place I do, and that goes for them and me……Sorry you are down a great new way of linking on this planet. all the best, Nina

Hi Jim,

I agree with you that social networking takes a lot of time to grow, while someone could build a list of 58,000 with one major launch.

But how many newbies are likely to build a list of 58,000 on their first JV launch? No matter how you begin on the internet, it’s going to take time to build relationships and grow your list and business.

Because social media has gotten such hype over the last year, the correct question may not be “to use it or not use it,” but how to use it in a sane and reasonable way time-wise to get some value from it as one of your marketing tools.

The hype has made it seem like social media marketing is an all or nothing proposition, while the reality probably lies somewhere in-between.

Julie Isaac

Interesting timing, Jim. For the past week I have been besieged with emails from multiple sources (affiliates) promoting today’s launch of a “Social Moneymaking System” that two individuals have done. Cost is 3k, 2k, or 1k depending on what level you buy in at.
Seems like a lot of hype.. and that the only guys that will make money are the promoters and their affiliates.

Dan

I have always had this uneasy feeling about Twitter. I think it should have been called “Twitcher” since everything is about short, sound bite, twitches in response to the twitches or knee jerk reactions other people have to the shock treatment of everyday events. I think it comes from the idea of guilt where no matter what – LOOK BUSY. Especially in this economy/culture, if you “look” busy and “happening” and have “activity” or a “buzz” around you, you “appear” to be “successful” and if you “wear the clothes” you will “be” the “buzz”…. how egotistical is THAT???

The best way to use Twitter and FaceBook is to use it as a way of contacting your customer base. Encourage your customer base to follow you on Twitter because unlike email tweets don’t bounce and don’t get blocked.

Another advantage is that many people recieve their tweets on their mobile phone so whilst they may not check their email straight away a tweet about a new product can be received and action taken sooner than an email.

I view Twitter and FaceBook as another way to keep in contact with your existing customers.

Thanks for the video though Jim.

Mark Dicker

Jim,

First, let me say that I agree with you and Seth about the non-value of social networking sites, with these exceptions:

* If you are already a NAME, or a FACE, you will get some mileage from these sites.

* If you are selling a youth oriented product Twitter will get you some results from the thumb texters.

Other than that I have found my time is better spent writing articles that will attract visitors to my site for months, even years, or tweaking my squeeze pages.

I think Facebook, Myspace and the others are great sites if you are only trying to become a legend in your own mind and are not too concerned about making sales.

I agree wholeheartedly!
Here’s a title for your next product Jim.
“How to turn fake-ass relationships into real relationships
using social media”

Keep it comin Jim!

Kev Horne

I agree for 90% of the businesses these networks are the biggest waste of a persons time. Especially twitter. Time you can never ever get back. A news station here in Myrtle Beach was bragging to me how they are all set up on these networks. I blasted them they were wasting hours on twitter. For what????? He explained we had an affiliate station was notified that one of there viewer was in a bank robbery. I reply what are the odds of that happening again???????? But I have also seen a couple of so called self titled guru’s (dieting, self help, internet marketing ect.)build a following using these networks. So they built a list from nothing to ??? and a way too contact them without an aweber account. Has all that time translated into dollars? It’s a great way to rob someones mlm list. But again can you make money from it. Now 80% of the people that follow them on twitter have nothing to do with there niche??? But the hours and hours of time it takes to build a following on Facebook is it worth a dime. I’ve helped some local restaurants, bars and bands use it pretty effectively. My own site has generated traffic to my site which is money to me. But a dry cleaner or attorney??? Refer to know, like and trust??? If you feel you have a relationship with a myspace attorney or real estate agent would you use them or recommend them to a friend? This remains to be seen. My guess is it will be less then 10% of there business in 5 years. Your time divided by 10% = depends what your time is worth and how much you have?

Oops! My last post was actually a response to Joshua. I thought the post I was responding to was from Jim to Joshua, when it was really from Joshua to Jim.

Live and learn.

Great discussion you stirred up, Jim!

Julie Isaac

Hi Jim, thanks for raising the issue of social networking as a commercial marketing tool. I generally agree with you and Seth that random networking is not a high pay-off activity; however, as a new author, I have been able to reach some targeted folks using my own network on Linkdedin, and to a much lesser degree, on Facebook and Twitter. Mostly I have been successful in driving visitors to my website about my book: http://www.victoryprinciples.com which otherwise would get few visits, if any on any given day. I have not been able to monitize this in any measurable way, except for a few sales made a Amazon when people have linked there from my site. However, I have noticed an increase in traffic to my site when I have sent out messages on these networks. I plan to continue to use these as a supplement to other marketing activities, but do not intend to make them my primary focus.

I’m a little on the fence with Seth’s comments. It’s true that quantity doesn’t mean much in social networking. However, he is completely forgetting quality of your social networking. If you are providing solutions to others, then you are developing a quality network. This concept has been proven over and over again.

Another point that Seth forgets is the generation which he represents. Social networking for younger generations is main stream, while many in older generations have not fully embraced social media.

Thanks,
John

hmmm!

Don’t Be Luddites…or Be Luddites,
Up to you!

Listen to what Mr Godin said….networking is important when it is real and a useless distraction when it is fake… wisdom, that applies equally to cocktail parties with people in the flesh and to twitter and other networks with people in the digital realm.

So… just like in my days in London street markets when I would hear information from 1000′s of people weekly I can now hear stuff from 1000′s digitally.
In the same way as on the street, I decide to whom it is worth paying attention and giving credence, and to whom it is not.

I think I have said that here previously.

I choose whether or not to follow a person and then if I have no pleasure or greater knowledge from what they put forth I lose them….Especially the BuzzSaw Marketers , who by the way are equally BuzzSaw Marketers by email.

A cocktail party is a platform. Twitter is a platform. At both occasionally I have struck gold.
There are those on twitter who regularly point me to great links and resources…with whom I have DM’d and with whom perhaps one day I will do something. Or perhaps not.
And there are others who have become friends and whom I have met in person.

Read above, well thought out good sense from Julie Isaacs, Todd Herman and David Perkins, who by the way has a good take on DirectMessages on Twitter.

The whole @ and DM dynamic on twitter is very interesting indeed.

Perhaps 140 character concept is easier for non-US dwellers as we have used sms for a lot longer on our mobile phones and have learned how to add a lot into those characters. Add the fact that one can use a service like budurl for tracking links and you have a dynamite tool. If you choose to use it of course.

So play with it if you like. Don’t do it like a chore, and especially don’t do it at all, if you don’t enjoy it and certainly don’t try and put it all in your brain.

And No, I am not going to spend $3000 with Perry Belcher to get myself a massive list and Yes I have laughed when I got a lot of immediate unfollows from “serious internet marketers” when I tweeted about an iPhone app that can keep you up to date on all the public toilets in Australia
Loved those unfollows!

So to end, you can make it real if you choose to or keep it fake just as easily.

Gonna be great to see the rest of this thread.

And Jim I really love it that you have your particular view on all the Social stuff.
Truth be told in great part I do agree with you, however…

George

Dear Jim,

Thank you for bringing interesting info to us again.

I have Facebook, Twitter, LinkdIn, Plaxco, MySpace, etc. etc. etc. accounts because when I was a REAL newbie I signed up for everything I thought would help.

I haven’t been able to make any of those sites work for me to build a business, though I’m sure some people have been able to. They seem to take an inordinate amount of time and now I find out that all my content is now theirs.

I do have people I’ve developed relationships with over the internet but those had NOTHING to do with social networking sites.

Guess we all better learn to read the “fine print”.

I so agree with what Seth says. Along the lines of serving through these various venues, you can find really good web 2.0 info if you google Denise Wakeman – she’s a well-known blogger and teaches people to use social web stuff.

I have a friend who twitters every day, and has been invited to speak and teach all over the place – even on a cruise! – because she’s consistent and professional. It really does work, but you have to work it consistently and correctly.

aloha and I LOVE your work, Jim!
Angela Treat Lyon

Jim,

Isn’t the use of twitter, facebook, et al really more about branding yourself?

It’s just one part of the overall equation, not one you need to spend a lot of energy on, but let’s face it, Twitter is growing by leaps and bounds. It would be silly to overlook social media as a potential contributor to establishing your brand, your image and setting yourself apart from others within your niche. That doesn’t mean that you exclude real person contact with the Web; it simply means you leverage what’s available.

Hi Jim
Absolutely agree with Seth. I believe I’ve heard you mention the guy who wrote “All You Can Do Is All You Can Do and All You Can Do Is Enough”…when I read his book one of my take aways was his perspective on “if you have just 20 people” who are absolutes desciples, that is enough to make you rich. Kind of ties in with what Seth says about the quality of the relationships being more important than the number of casual contacts, doesn’t it?
One definition of “leader”that makes me smile is “a leader is someone who has followers”. On that measure if you are spending all your time “following” on Twitter then it does not leave much time for leading.
Cheers Rex

Twitter and Facebook are a huge waste of time if your time has a dollar value. Return on your time investment is very low unless you use black hat methods – in which case you will lose in the long run. I hate wasting the time to even write this.

Eyeballs x Need = Money

Initially, I was in total agreement with Seth, but after reading some of the comments, I think I just haven’t figured out how to use these social networking systems to best advantage which apparently some people have.

Hi Jim,
You certainly stimulated discussion on this one.

I am a travel writer from Perth Australia. My passion is writing and my new e-book http://www.traveltipsaustralia.com is designed for those who want to get off the beaten track and explore the real Australia.
My problem: I am totally new to social media marketing and I amm looking for sites with readers who are genuinely interested in my niche. I am not interested in time wasting social chit chat.
Can anyone out there help me with suggestions for the best sites to focus on and give suggestions on a marketing plan?

I also have lots of great photos of Australia.
Would flickr.com be a good site for this with links to my
URL?

Graeme Lanham.

PLEASE DON’T SPAM “MARGE”….!!!! It ruins everything!!! Thank you!

SPAM POLICE

Hi Jim,
Until two days ago I would have had to agree with you completely. I have voiced my opinion that was not unlike yours many times but I have seen the light, well maybe.

My conversion came about while I was looking for reinforcement of my (and your) opinion. But I have to say that today I am in part converted to the dark side.

If you have not heard Perry Belcher describe the value of social media, why it has become important today and for the future and how to use it to your advantage and to the benefit of your friends and followers, you are missing a big part of the picture.

I’m not advocating that we all become Twitter whores or major Facebook users but there are some important societal implications that we all need to be aware of. We have all changed in the post 9/11 years, communities are different, who we call friends has had a twenty first century makeover.

So don’t rush to abandon your opinion just yet but be open minded of those who have embraced this shiny new toy and give it a chance for it is filled with value both monetarily and socially.

Phil

Jim,

You are a person that can sleep in my living room after you arrive from New Zealand or whereever. Real relationships and the quality of giving and receiving is the only way. What the world needs is to develop the attitude of graditude. Thank you for making this a better world.
Please accept my salute from Singapore.

Jim

Jim, I side with you and Seth G. Social networking is not what you are being promised on the big promotion of the month…

3 quick thoughts…

1.) For most marketers that I know, Social Networking is the “Shiny New Toy” to play with that promises to turn their lackluster business around in a new and wonderful way. Though I know a few people who have made some really good money through Social sites, the majority of them are either advertising cpa / affiliate offers on those sites or already have some notoriety that can be exploited to their followers.

For those with notoriety, it turns out to be the new manifestation of using email marketing to promote themselves and their product.

For those without noteriety, the creation of a strong social networking front becomes a distraction from the proven formulas that create a strong and authentic moneymaking business foundation and model.

2. I think the social networking aspects of web 2.0 ( or whatever number we’re in now…) are largely over-rated for online business unless you are really trying to brand yourself as, or already are, a celeb. That brings in money for some that can milk it, but very few in the mix of millions. This honestly does not apply to most of us.

3. But, don’t overlook power of Social Marketing and Web 2.0 as a tool in the scheme of SEO and Traffic enhancement. Though I could care little about the “social” impact, I have used the networks that google loves to sniff out to create backlinks and SEO attention that adds to the power of an already stable foundation of article marketing, backlink creation and onsite SEO.

Thanks for the video, and for bringing this discussion to the table!

Jim Olsen

Social networking is an excellent and free source for inbound linking to your website. Quality links are important for Search Engine Optimization. It’s also great to give updates to fans of my websites. I have links going from my sites to each of the Social Networking sites, and visa/versa. I sign up to the social networking sites with my business name, and I keep it professional. I don’t bother making friends with these folks who sign up to follow our updates. It’s worked great for me as far as providing a free way to get word-of-mouth, and we’ve sold a lot more books because of these sites. Just what I’ve found…

Hi Jim,

Just got this email from John Carlton that thought may have some good insights as to how real business people are using Twitter. Love your stuff! Thanks.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/23/business/smallbusiness/23twitter.html

Hey Jim,

Here’s an article from the NY Times about Twitter:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/23/business/smallbusiness/23twitter.html?_r=1

My personal experience with Twitter/Facebook/MySpace/YouTube is definitely as you have stated above they are TOOLS..

Just like in the beginning of “Network Marketing/Affiliate Marketing” we had all those tools to use and they ended up being used WRONG by the majority of the population due to lack of understanding of the tools, these tools can be used WRONG.

It’s definitely NOT a numbers (Quantity) game in Social Networking.. it’s a QUALITY game.

Example John Reese just removed everyone he was following because he at first used the “auto follow” feature…

What you get there is a bunch of people yapping and no real quality information going through the loop.

In the past few months of me using it I have been able to network with some of the marketers that I’ve been following the success of since 1998. People like Yanik, Joe Vitale, John, etc and have been able to have REAL conversations with these guys.

I’ve learned a great deal from Carrie Wilkerson and Mari Smith about how to use Twitter and Facebook to create lasting impressionable relationships with others.

I consider twitter to be like a Coffee House where you can get together with your “mastermind” and have real conversations with people… but you also have that background “chatter” that goes through the loop as well.

I think people can really use these tools to expand their business. I know I have!

I have seen the same videos, and I have to say, as much fun as facebook is and twitter can be, I think the person who is now selling a social marketing coaching club and video series has benefited from email lists of about 30 of his big internet marketing friends. That, I am afraid, is the real chance of making it online – building relationships with people who are doing something similar to what you are doing, and using their social connections to sell your product.

There’s a reason Twitter contains the word “twit.” The rest speaks for itself.

I totally agree with what Seth said… however, I don’t think what he said was “proof” that social networking is BS. In fact I think he reinforced the fact that Social Networking works – you just need to know HOW to use it to its best potential. As Godin says, you must be able to find those people who are “willing to go out of their way” to help you with a business or in life in general. How do you find them? You could be one of those people who constantly talks to people on the plane or on the bus; you could get dressed every week and attend a mixer in person; OR you can join a group on LinkedIn that shares your interests, join a discussion from your home, and find them there.

Social Networking is a fast, cheap, and easy way to get out there and find people who you can help and who can help you. There is tremendous power and opportunity in that. I got expert advice on my resume, found funding for my company, and managed to connect my friends to other professionals just by tweeting and using LinkedIn. There is no end to the potential of a big and “real” network of individuals online.

You wouldn’t enter a cocktail party, dump your business cards on the buffet table, leave and then say “that party was a waste of time because nobody called me the next day.” Every meaningful relationship – online, professional or otherwise – takes time and effort to cultivate. A little patience will probably get you a lot of reward in social networking.

Social Networks are an excellent source of advertising, if you utilize them the right way. Seth Godin is exactly right with his explanation of how the majority of people are using twitter and facebook the wrong way.

People who are in business need to understand how social networking can work for them. First of all, Social Media is nothing more than marketing. Those who are successful in business understand what marketing is, “Building Relationships”

I agree. The tools alone don’t generate useful contacts. I’ve experimented with using Twitter to promote my website, giving freebies away etc. Without established followers it’s a waste of time.

Hi Jim,

I think you’re right about the concept of “tools”, it all comes down to how we use the tools. Some people can do a lot with a hammer, others nothing at all.

And most good tradesmen don’t just use one tool, they have a whole toolbox, they use different tools for different jobs, and/or they use a combination of tools.

My guess is everyone has to find out for themselves what combination works best for them.

Hope you and Terri are well!

Paul

P.S. A note for Graeme Lanham in Perth: I sent an email to the address at your website but it bounced, mailbox quota exceeded, and Whois doesn’t offer an alternative. If you see this, please clear your inbox and I’ll try again in a day or too. (Or you could DM me at Twitter, @PaulChilversGri, I don’t go there that often but it gets forwarded…)

I have over 4000 twitter followers. I have never heared even one of them show up in any of my online classes.
On the other hand- I have MANY that say they found me and “loved” me on youtube- and show up to my online events. For me- I will spend my efforts on what works- self-help videos. people find you and love you (if you are lovable and genuine)It’s all about developing a relationship and really CARING about being a “help” to others.
With todays savy audiance- they smell the bloodsuckers a mile away. Offer REAL substance and people will love you…

In fact, I have attended the webinars on socialmediamoneysystem. My thoughts are yes, I believe if you already have big success online, because of your reputation, social media will accelerate your list tremendously.

And no, if you are a complete newbie., not when you are just starting out and worse if you have no product of your own, just to get enough good value contents to keep your list responsive when you are a total newbie its already tough.

To me, I do not really believe in super get rich formula where you are promise that everything can be on autopilot without you doing anything.

Futhermore, I currently have quite a few really good courses from jeff walker etc…

Lastly, I love this video. Very well said.

While its possible to make a fortune online, but how many guru will ever actually tell you how many times have they failed before they really get there today.

Most people have far too much time on their hands. That’s why social networking is important for them. However, if you have a facebook, twitter, my space, etc and you are in business on the web, they are all great tools to personally share who you are. I’m not saying indulge others with your personal information, but honesty and trust are built on getting to know who you are and how you do business. So, if you are sincere and share what you are truly doing at while working, or building your business, or the obstacles and successes you are encountering through the process of business online, then these tools can enhance your business and bring you sincere customers. But only if you make yourself into a real person online. Not some schmuck selling, selling, selling.

Businesses buy from people they trust.

The easiest way to gain trust is through pay it forward eye-to-eye networking and building up a brand within a community.

The next easiest way to gain trust and the fastest way to get exposure is through TV, Radio, and newspapers, in that order. Here views/readers, who trust the media they are using, extend media trust (qualification) to you – allowing you a brief opportunity to connect with a larger, perhaps national or global audience, for “15 seconds of fame”. This merely gives you an opportunity to get connections who want to know more or to buy your book one time with the one exposure.

The getting on TV, Radio, and newspapers is not easy or inexpensive. Producers usually have limiting agendas.

While I am relatively new to internet marketing, I believe that facebook and twitter are consumer gossip areas used by bored people AND by companies/media trying to get out their message quickly to their established network. Therefore, they are useful for using free popular sites for mass public information.

$100,000 deal business will always require a face to face meeting unless you are discussing a rare and certified item, such as a collector’s gold coin. Even here, I would never buy without examining the merchandise.

For Business to business internet marketing, most businesses are small businesses where the owner acts like a consumer – but does not have time for facebook and twitter. They will buy lower cost items (less risk), search for information, and be willing to consider more expensive educational or consultative solutions.

Here is where I am personally using Jim’s minisite program combined with a standard home site and in the process of preparing a umbrella new home for my new company, “Job Doctors International, LLC.” We will be selling my book (www.whackedagain.com), webinars, seminars, public speaking, and strategic coaching. These are designed to help job seekers, career employees, and new businesses how to become radically more successful using proven business techniques.

My recommendation for business people is 1) if selling product, imitate Jim’s Edwards model. I am. 2) if selling to more upscale (larger businesses), you need to include the polish and brand of a more traditional informational site as well. Both cases should focus on providing information and growing email list networks. 3) If trying to get a job, get promoted, or start a new business, LinkedIn is preferred with Plaxo, ecademy, and other sites being popular and highly useful.

Finally, a friend who is a very large business internet marketing guru pointed out to me that blogging with useful and high pain interest focus is the best long-term way of getting global relationships with a level trust derived virtually. Interesting, that is also what Jim Edwards is saying.

Jim Villwock
Chief Job Doctor
Job Doctors International, LLC
http://www.whackedagain.com (until http://www.jobdoctorsintl.com is up)

I have to agree that in order for social networking to work, you have to be willing to go out of your way for others. I think that works not only for businesses, but for writers (like me), as well. I’ve seen a lot of writers that have been willing to “go out of their way” to get an audience lately.

It does help, but it also has to be sincere. If the gesture is not sincere, then you won’t get any results. What I mean by that is, you can’t leave a blanket statement like “nice article” or “nice point” and expect to get a following to your website or articles. You also can’t expect people to take you sincerely if you only leave a comment like “great point, I was just saying this in my blog (website or article) and you can read it at…” These kind of statements have a motive behind them, and hence, are not sincere.

I believe that a comment should have some thought behind it and I also believe in adding friends that you have something in common with. Yes, after a while your contact list gets big, but you can still send a personal message to each person on your contact list every so often. You can either just say hi, or what I always try to do is birthday messages because it’s a personal holiday for your contacts and most of the time they won’t be offended by the gesture.

Hello Big Jim, Here is what i think the value of social networking is worth (DONT WASTE ANT TIME BY PREESING ANYTHING ON YOUR KEYBOARD AND – TWEET THIS $0000!). All i got out of social networking is a big fat headache and less revenue, oh’ let alone a bunch of bad targeted links to my site, and a drop in rank. I am sticking to what jim teaches on the net reporter and that would be the best way anyone could ever make any real money is just listen to what jim teaches!.

God answered my prayers, like He usually does. Some friends invited me to join Facebook, and I was thinking what was going to be the point, since I comunicate with them through e-mail, maybe to share some pictures or promote my web site . Now, I see that is only one tool more in a marketing campain and it will require a lot of time.
Thanks Jim.
Nieves

Seth hit it on the nail there. There is a lot of it that is just nonsense.

Finding good friends online takes time

thanks for sharing that Jim

I think back to a lesson years ago where where you spoke about creating a funnel, ive followed that model with my affiliate business and its worked like a gem