Are you Twitterpated?

This week it's back to the topic of social networking (again) - this time Twitter in particular. A few times in the last week I saw posts (on facebook and twitter) that said something like this: "Busy un-following anyone who isn't following me back."

(Brief explanation for newbies: On Twitter you "follow" people, which mean their updates show on your home page. Anyone who "follows" you sees your updates. The point of course being that you are keeping up with what each other are doing.)

Why? I asked one person. "Because that's what you're supposed to do, that's how you get followers" came the answer. Again, I ask, why? It seems that there is this perception among some that it is only "polite" or that "it's one of the rules." I respectfully disagree.

This attitude seems to be all about numbers, and not about substance. I follow you, you follow me and we both get lots and lots of followers! Woo hoo! But here's the problem. I checked out one of the posters Twitter page. She's currently following well over 3,000 people. How do you do that? The average person I follow Tweets 2 -3 times a day. At an average of 2.5 tweets multiplied by 3,000, that means she is following 7,500 pots per day? I don't think so....

Which means, she can't really be following them. Might that mean they aren't really following her either? If this is the case, what is the point? I guess for some it is just a numbers game...

There is another aspect to it as well. I follow people for a specific reason - I believe that they are going to provide me with news or knowledge that I want. I might follow someone who posts about social media and technology. I usually post about food and/or drink - should the tech guy follow me back? Probably not... What if you follow your favorite restaurant so you know what the daily special is, should they follow you back? These "rules" that some lay claim to seem to lack the one thing that it takes to make sense of all this - common sense. Thinking through not only the who and the what, but the most important component: why.

A few interesting articles on Twitter:

Is 22 tweets per day the optimum?

Tweets on the menu is a sweet deal

Twitter follower vs raving fan

Kogi Korean BBQ: a taco truck brought to you by Twitter

To follow or unfollow - that is the question

What are your thoughts? Let me know!

Follow on

Last week I asked you for your thoughts on social media - and also if you had examples of how it was working for you. Your response was overwhelming - for this group social media is here to stay!

Here's some of your feedback:

First of all (as of this writing) a full 57.8% use social media for personal use at least on a daily basis. Your use on a professional basis is even higher - with 63.1% of you poking, posting or tweeting at least daily. Perhaps "social media" is really turning into "business media."

Here are the places you are getting your fix:

Here are just a few of the comments you made on how social media is working for you: (for the full report, take the survey - it only takes a moment - and you will instantly get the report upon completion).

"Through our Facebook pages we have established a steady fanbase and great conversation regarding our wines..."

"I have successfully moved my website up in organic searches, made sales, gotten press, and made professional connections."

"The Wine Whisperer, one of our regular guests on our GrapevineRadio.net radio show, began Twittering over a year ago. In the last month the number of his followers has exploded. There are now 10-14 people per day choosing to follow the purple caped wine crusader. Of course this allows him to "Whisper" updates to our blog, live appearances, etc."

"Successfully engage reporters/journalists covering issues important to our clients. Secure subsequent publicity for them."

"Make client connections from outside North America."

"Social media is perfect for marketing products, PR and build interest and a consumer base. It is effective and cheap. It is the newest form of "word of mouth" marketing."

"I use LinkedIn as a tool in my job search; I started using LinkedIn while living in Japan as a job tool for Executive Recruitment. I once met a client in a crowded hotel lobby in Tokyo; we recognized each other by our LinkedIn pictures. I ended up winning the contract."

"Facebook seems to be the most productive. Just this week I received a couple of bottle of wines from Parducci Wine Cellars who found me via Facebook and ask me to review their wine."

"Twitter seems to work well as a way to market what you are doing, constantly. Not sure it makes you more productive, but more people are paying attention. The more you use it, the more people will follow."

"We are constantly amazing by the effects of media like this as it opens a door to people that we may never meet, and also people that we may have lost contact with and also the people we already know."

"I joined the St. Supery group on Facebook. I thought I'd share the fact that I had just thrown out their 2006 Virtu (it was completely my fault, I had stored it badly for over a year and I said as much on my post). Twenty minutes later I received a message from their VP of Direct Marketing offering to send me a replacement bottle! That is truly fantastic customer service. St. Supery is at the top of my list for knowing how to use Social Networking."

"Has certainly helped me create a buzz and interest in my new product, as well as generated individual sales."

"I joined Twitter last Spring and within a WEEK, I had been invited to 3 wine events (I am Staff Blogger and West Coast Ambassador for WineLog.net) and my networking for wine-activities and info EXPLODED from there. Twitter is the most powerful, cross-platform networking tool that I've ever seen or used."

"We have found that some of our customers feel more connected to us via Facebook and comfortable asking questions, etc. We sell additional wine and merchandised due to FB correspondence."

"Great reviews on Yelp have driven an amazing number of guests to our winery. While we can't post on Yelp about our winery, I'm very impressed with the huge numbers of people who refer to the site for their winery visits. Every weekend I get multiple groups in our small winery who found us on Yelp."

One of the more innovative (and buzz generating) uses is Murphy Goode Winery's "A Really Goode Job" contest going on right now. Here's the deal (in their words):

"We at the Murphy-Goode Winery got to thinking about the new age of communications and we figured it was a pretty good thing. So to get going, we’re looking for someone (maybe you) who really knows how to use Web 2.0 and Facebook and blogs and social media and YouTube and all sorts of good stuff like that — to tell the world about our wines and the place where we live: the Sonoma County Wine Country.

In exchange, we’re offering you a “Really Goode Job” — a six-month job paying $10,000 a month plus accommodations!

We want to hire a social media whiz (your title will be “Murphy-Goode Wine Country Lifestyle Correspondent”) who will report on the cool lifestyle of Sonoma County Wine Country and, of course, tell people what you’re learning about winemaking.

Did we mention that the compensation was $10,000 per month Plus accommodations in a beautiful home in picturesque Healdsburg, a popular vacation destination in our neck of the woods. Working hours are flexible. And all you have to do is experience wine and good living, and then tell people about it. (Do you play Poker, or Liar’s Dice? Don’t worry; we’ll teach you.)

You (we hope) will become part of the Murphy-Goode crew — for six great months."

Applications close on June 19th...

Two WineAndHospitalityNetwork.com members have applied - please take a moment to watch their videos - and to vote for them!

Sue Bonzell and Chef John Hughes

Where is all this leading? Who knows? (There is an interesting forecast here). But regardless of the twists and turns, the start-ups and failures, social media is here to stay...

-Margie

Follow on