Even a Chatterbox like Me Listens…
November 22, 2008
Okay, you’re probably reading that headline and thinking: ‘Chatterbox? GeekMommy, you hardly post regularly let alone frequently!’ and if we’re talking about this blog, well, guilty as charged. I’m trying to remedy that. But that last post of mine hit such a nerve that I was a little afraid about what to follow it up with. So I’ve been sort of, well hiding procrastinating. Waiting for the right escape route motivation.
But back to that chatterbox thing. Yeah, I was checking my stats over on Twitter tonight using Tweetstats and realized that even though I’ve toned it down a notch, I’m still one of the noisiest birds on the block over there.
Then one of the people I read and heed the most when it comes to anything on Social Media, Chris Brogan [@chrisbrogan] posted this brilliant piece on where to start if you are just getting in to the whole Social Mediasphere - If I Started Today.
How I wish that piece had been around when I first started trying to figure it out! It’s kind of like a shortcut on bypassing the early, awkward stages and getting right up to on-ramp speed.
But at the end of the, as he usually does, Chris asked for input from his community. Since I happened to be up right as he twittered it (who me? insomnia? nahhh) I noticed that he had left out the thing that I consider the most important part of learning how Social Media works - Listening.
It doesn’t surprise me that Chris forgot to add it initially - I think he does it so naturally it’s like breathing with him. Surprisingly, a lot of people jumping on the Social Media bandwagon these days think it’s more about being heard and don’t understand the power of listening. But Chris and pretty much everyone else I’ve learned from* over the past 18 months sure gets it. Listening is key.
Sometimes, because I’m so chatty (or noisy as some would say) people make the mistake of thinking I’m not listening. Then I end up repeating something back to them they said a few hours or weeks earlier and they seem stunned. You see, as much as I love to talk, share and inform, well… I love learning even more. You learn from listening, observing, and paying attention.
Granted, sometimes when I get excited about something you pretty much have to use a crowbar to get a word in edgewise - but rest assured, when you do get that word in? I’m actually listening to you, not just planning out what I will say next.
And that’s the most important advice I would give anyone wanting to know how to start in Social Media. Listen. Read. Get the rhythm of the conversation going on around you. That way when you start talking? You’ll have something really worth hearing.
Speaking of what you have to say? I’m listening!
*I’d list all of those folks I learn from but we’d be here forever - however, that is totally fodder for another post… hm. ~GM
Tweet like a Nightingale, Not like a Magpie
November 19, 2008
I spend a lot of time on Twitter. More than I spend just about anywhere else on the Internet. Over the past year and a half, Twitter has become more of a home to me on the web than any place before it ever has. Last January, Laura Fitton (@Pistachio) posted a blog called Twitter is my Village that sums it up beautifully. Twitter has a vibrant community - and a vocal one.
If something happens in the offline world, odds are good I can find more information about it, faster, on Twitter than I can by searching other sources or turning on the television. Whether it’s natural disasters or breaking news, somone on Twitter is posting about it. The same goes for online events too. No one who uses it regularly would dispute that.
So when something comes along to impact my Twitter village, be it positive or negative - or even as yet undetermined - I check it out as quickly as I can.
About a month ago, someone mentioned Magpie. So I did what you probably did if you haven’t checked it out already and followed the link to see what it was.
The short story is that Magpie is a 3rd party service, unaffiliated with Twitter, that pays people to allow them to insert advertising tweets into their twitterstream. The user gets to determine frequency. The default is 1 magpie ad for every 5 normal tweets. This can be adjusted up as high as 1 for every 20, or as frequently as every other tweet. The user gets paid based on 2 things - desirable keyword frequency and number of followers. Because of that second one, Magpie cautions potential tweeters “So keep your followers happy and don’t risk annoying them with too many magpie-tweets.”
In today’s pressing economy, that probably sounds really appealing. I mean, earn money just by doing what you do anyways? Cool!
But if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
One of the things that sounds really appealing is the amount of money that Magpie promises if you sign up. You go to the signup page and it says to put in your Twitter ID to see how much you can earn. I put in GeekMommy and wow!! For those of you not used to thinking in Euros - I did the conversion. It says I can make up to $9,539.45 a month!! That’s up to $114,473 a year! I should quit my day job and just be a magpie!
Yeah. Right.
Still… even if I made a fraction of that, it might seem tempting. I mean, I’m not independently wealthy and my 401k is just as unhealthy as everyone else’s.
The thing is, what I realized as soon as I saw it was the part of it where the user controls how frequently s/he lets Magpie put tweets in their timestream - but that there’s no way for me to turn the volume down as someone who follows these people. I have only two settings - on or off. I can follow or unfollow. Those are my choices.
If hundreds of the Twitterpals I’m following are using Magpie, even if they only set it to one every 20, that doesn’t keep me from seeing hundreds in a row. Potentially, thousands, since I currently follow 4,000+ people.
I find a picture is worth a thousand words in this case.
If logging in to twitter to see page after page of this in hopes of coming across a non-Magpie tweet were my fate, this would leave me with 2 options: quit following those people, or quit using Twitter and go to another microblogging platform.
I was trying to explain to someone else that it’s the metaphorical equivalent of being told that I might have to watch an hour’s worth of commercials on TV before I’m allowed to watch part of the show I want to see and even then, there’s nothing that says I won’t get 5 minutes into the show and be subjected to another 30 minutes worth of commercials. I’d either switch networks or quit watching television.
So what am I seeing? My village is divided. Some are taking Magpie for a ride - thinking “hey, it’s only once every few tweets” and some (like me) are unfollowing those who are using Magpie. It reminds me of a small town council fighting over whether or not you should put advertising on your barn.
I’ve been rather a rather vocal opponent. But that’s because I can only see that in the long-term, this monetization scheme will change how I use Twitter. Because if I follow those using Magpie, I won’t be able to just sign on and find out more about those wildfires in California, or who Obama chose for Secretary of State - not without wading through the ads. If I unfollow those using it, the benefit of twitter definitely decreases for me.
And you? What do you think? Is it a good thing and I’m just over-reacting? Or is it something you see as a negative trend? Weigh in. I’m listening.
N.B. It has been pointed out to me more than once that I misspelled nightingale in the title - apparently, I tweet like Florence Nightengale, not a songbird! I’d change it, but that would break any links to it, so I’m afraid it stays a testament to mommy-brain! NEW: according to friends in my comments, the new WP plugin I added should fix that, so changing title to correct spelling.
Blogging Guilt
November 7, 2008
I have this blog post 1/2 written.
I have been meaning to write about this topic for weeks now. I told someone I would get it done. I told myself I couldn’t post anything else until I got it done.
It’s not done. Therefor I’m not posting.
Yeah, that’s healthy and productive.
I need to quit putting restrictions on myself and just write what I feel like writing and get the other stuff in around the corners. I’d say tomorrow is another day, but tomorrow I’m speaking at Thin Air Summit - and yeah, I really should be finishing up getting ready for that.
Life was easier when I wasn’t my own boss.
Obligation, Right, and Privilege
November 4, 2008
The three words in the title of this post often confuse people. You will see them consistently misused in conversation.
Let’s get the dictionary definitions right out of the way, shall we? I’m going to use Dictionary.com because I’ve always liked their service (and it compiles definitions from diverse sources.) I’m also not going to cite the ‘full’ definitions, because it would take up too much space and you are perfectly capable of clicking through if you’re so inclined.
ob·li·ga·tion noun
1. something by which a person is bound or obliged to do certain things, and which arises out of a sense of duty or results from custom, law, etc.
right noun
18. a just claim or title, whether legal, prescriptive, or moral: You have a right to say what you please.
19. Sometimes, rights. that which is due to anyone by just claim, legal guarantees, moral principles, etc. (women’s rights; Freedom of speech is a right of all Americans)
priv·i·lege noun
1. A peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity not enjoyed by others or by all; special enjoyment of a good, or exemption from an evil or burden; a prerogative; advantage; franchise.
Yes, I did pick specific definitions. Every dictionary comes close - but they try to differentiate themselves from each other by using more lines or varying wording. In the end, you have to choose a definition that works for you and go with it.
The emphasis on privilege? That’s mine. I want to make sure that it’s highlighted.
This post is what I consider to be an obligatory post. My moral compass tells me that on this day, of all days, I shouldn’t just be posting about random happenings, products, experiences or what-have-you. I should be posting about today’s election in the U.S.A. Because this is November 4th 2008 and the US presidential election will have an impact not just on Americans, but on everyone else worldwide.
I suppose you expect that this next paragraph will be about voting for a particular candidate. Most blogs I read have endorsed one or the other of the 2 main party candidates. A few have supported 3rd party candidates - and a couple even advocated writing in a candidate who didn’t make it past our semi-institutionalized primaries contest.
I’m not going to do that.
I can’t say that I don’t care who you vote for. That would be lying. But I’m not going to try and influence who you vote for. You’ve either decided long ago, or you are sick of reading all of the ‘vote for X!’ posts like I am. (Or given how late I’m posting this? You’ve already voted.)
But some people in the U.S. think that just because voting in our democracy is a right that it won’t go away. Those people need to scroll back up and read the bolded part of the definition of privilege.
The ability to vote in open elections in the United States is a privilege we enjoy in this country because many more people that you can ever count have fought and sometimes died to maintain it.
If you don’t think it can go away? You are mistaken. Rights aren’t guaranteed to be enforceable, they are just based on principles. In this country? You have the privilege to vote. But more than that? You have an obligation to.
So if you’re reading this and you’re thinking that maybe you’ll just skip it because your candidate is probably already going to win/lose and there will be long lines at the polls and you’d have to leave work early or get home late? Don’t.
Go. Vote.
It’s your right, your privilege, and your obligation. Because if you don’t use it? You could lose it.
A Quick Post - Because You Need Great Hair!
November 1, 2008
This is just a short post to point out that link/badge to the right -> in my side bar that looks like this:
What is that? Well… if you follow the link - you’ll find a site where you can get a free sample of the “Mystery Shampoo & Conditioner” that we 11moms got to try out in Bentonville. You can also see some videos of some of my gorgeous fellow 11moms getting makeovers with this Mystery shampoo & conditioner.
I will tell you that we ALL loved it.
And we’re waiting anxiously for the reveal ourselves so we can find out what it is and go buy it. (Yep, you heard me right, we don’t know what it is either!)
So go click - get a free sample - see what you think. And if you don’t love it, I’ll be surprised. But comment back here and tell me why if you don’t, okay?
Yay!! Free stuff!
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