Social Media Edition
My quick takes on social media – the good, the bad, and the unexplained. You can find and follow me on any of the platforms below.
Facebook was my first foray into social media circa 2008. I joined it solely for my own pleasure without an inkling of what a social media platform was or why one would want one. It remains my favorite social medium. Without character limits and the flexibility of text, photo, video, and sharing, I connect more and better with people on Facebook than anywhere else. I could do without the number of memes and cat photos clogging my newsfeed – and the fact that it constantly reverts to “top stories,” but it’s still my go-to application.
I don’t think I’ll ever love Twitter. I tried it once and quit. I didn’t “get” it. Then I tried it again and stuck with it. It’s an interesting way to broadcast to a large, diverse audience but often feels like I’m just tossing thoughts and images into the ether. What I do love? The challenge of working with 144-characters, smart and funny trends (“Make a movie Jamaican”), and checking in after major, live events such as championship games or new episodes of “The Walking Dead.” (If you don’t “get” Twitter and want to, I recommend Katharine Grubb’s Conquering Twitter in 10 Minutes A Day for only 99 cents on Amazon Kindle.)
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I like Pinterest best for recipes and for organizing ideas, blog posts, and photos on a variety of topics. It’s perfect for craft, costume, and organization ideas. I don’t see much traction in getting my own posts pinned, but it’s a great visual medium.
–4–
I only recently joined Instagram when I upgraded from a flip phone to an iPhone. Like Pinterest, the image takes precedence here. While sharing is cumbersome, it also limits the number of times I have to see an inspirational quote repeated. I think I’ve just scratched the surface of this one.
–5–
I’ve been on LinkedIn almost as long as Pinterest. I don’t spend much time there, but that may be because I’ve been out of the workforce for so long. Useful in spurts, but not somewhere I can ever see myself hanging out.
–6–
Google+
Someone please tell me the value of Google+. Other than the fact that it’s a Google product and a presence there aids in search engine optimization (SEO), I’m not getting it. I like the clean layout, but while I know lots of people with accounts, I don’t know of anyone particularly active on there. If you love Google+, enlighten me, please.
–7–
YouTube
I’m growing to like YouTube more and more and am eager to master producing better quality videos. Having studied broadcast journalism, I feel like I at least have an inkling about video creation. Now, if only I could get used to watching myself on video . . . And while we’re on the topic of video, I want to give a nod to Periscope. Despite the fact that my first experience there was spotting a title about pooping, I think it’s an interesting format. Perfect for live events or getting an informal, man-on-the street perspective, I’m intrigued by it.
What is your favorite or least favorite social medium? Why?
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There are so many social media options. It’s overwhelming. I like Facebook best because I can keep in touch with distant friends and relatives who are on there. I don’t like promoting on it, though, because I don’t want to constantly “sell” to my family and friends. However, I assume they like to know what I’m up to, so I do post about my books now and then.
I feel the same way you do about Twitter, and I go through cycles, tweeting for a couple of days, forgetting Twitter exists for a week or so, and tweeting for a day or two again. Which reminds me…
And I also like making book trailers and posting them on YouTube. That there is fun! I need to make one for my next book. Can’t wait!
I’m excited about making my next book trailer, too!
There are so many social media options. It’s overwhelming. I like Facebook best because I can keep in touch with distant friends and relatives who are on there. I don’t like promoting on it, though, because I don’t want to constantly “sell” to my family and friends. However, I assume they like to know what I’m up to, so I do post about my books now and then.
I feel the same way you do about Twitter, and I go through cycles, tweeting for a couple of days, forgetting Twitter exists for a week or so, and tweeting for a day or two again. Which reminds me…
And I also like making book trailers and posting them on YouTube. That there is fun! I need to make one for my next book. Can’t wait!
I’m excited about making my next book trailer, too!
I can’t believe I’m on so many platforms! I just re-upped with LinkedIn and have yet to use it effectively. Google+? I joined years ago because a good friend left FB, but she’s never active on Google+. (And they’re an Android family!!)
If you’re looking to learn about video production or refresh your memory on it, Vimeo actually has a whole series of videos about how to make interesting, cool-looking videos. My husband loves to watch them, though we lack the equipment and computing power to do anything like that.
Thanks for the tip about the Vimeo videos! I’m going to be making some this year and need to get my lighting right, etc.
I can’t believe I’m on so many platforms! I just re-upped with LinkedIn and have yet to use it effectively. Google+? I joined years ago because a good friend left FB, but she’s never active on Google+. (And they’re an Android family!!)
If you’re looking to learn about video production or refresh your memory on it, Vimeo actually has a whole series of videos about how to make interesting, cool-looking videos. My husband loves to watch them, though we lack the equipment and computing power to do anything like that.
Thanks for the tip about the Vimeo videos! I’m going to be making some this year and need to get my lighting right, etc.
I love the cartoon at the top! I personally am only on Pinterest, and I find that useful just to get ideas for recipes or decorating or kids’ birthday parties. My blog is on FB and twitter but that’s it. I’ve been tempted to get a personal FB account but I think I will hold off for longer because I know I would spend too much time on it.
Yes, Facebook is a time-suck.
I love the cartoon at the top! I personally am only on Pinterest, and I find that useful just to get ideas for recipes or decorating or kids’ birthday parties. My blog is on FB and twitter but that’s it. I’ve been tempted to get a personal FB account but I think I will hold off for longer because I know I would spend too much time on it.
Yes, Facebook is a time-suck.
The only people who use Google+ are Google employees. Sad but tree. It’s in the social media of donuts (which, appropriately, I think I originally found on Pinterest): http://jeffhester.net/2013/03/19/social-media-explained-with-donuts/
The only people who use Google+ are Google employees. Sad but tree. It’s in the social media of donuts (which, appropriately, I think I originally found on Pinterest): http://jeffhester.net/2013/03/19/social-media-explained-with-donuts/
By far, Twitter is my favorite. I think it’s because it feels like a word game to me: can I make my thoughts fit the character limit? In high school I was headline editor for the school paper and Twitter brings it all right back (but the counting is easier).
That is one of the aspects I enjoy about Twitter – and for the same reason. I used to edit newsletters, and editing to fit became a game.
By far, Twitter is my favorite. I think it’s because it feels like a word game to me: can I make my thoughts fit the character limit? In high school I was headline editor for the school paper and Twitter brings it all right back (but the counting is easier).
That is one of the aspects I enjoy about Twitter – and for the same reason. I used to edit newsletters, and editing to fit became a game.
Someone told me about “tweetdeck”; it’s helped me get used to twitter a little more. You can see posts & schedule posts. You can put in a key word & only see those posts that pertain to that word. Best thing: it’s on your pc/laptop! 🙂
I LOVE instagram…it’s my #1 right now!
Visiting from my first SQT!
Thanks for stopping by! I haven’t used tweetdeck – may have tried it once – but I use Hootsuite, and I find that helpful, too. I can easily read posts from the custom lists I created. It gives it a slightly more intimate feel.
Someone told me about “tweetdeck”; it’s helped me get used to twitter a little more. You can see posts & schedule posts. You can put in a key word & only see those posts that pertain to that word. Best thing: it’s on your pc/laptop! 🙂
I LOVE instagram…it’s my #1 right now!
Visiting from my first SQT!
Thanks for stopping by! I haven’t used tweetdeck – may have tried it once – but I use Hootsuite, and I find that helpful, too. I can easily read posts from the custom lists I created. It gives it a slightly more intimate feel.