Joel-Mark-Witt.com

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to give the keynote and facilitate several workshops at the Arkansas Festival and Events Association Annual conference in Fort Smith, Arkansas. I was also the invited workshop presenter for a day long workshop at the Arkansas Discovery Network in Little Rock. We spent the day talking about how to use social media in the non-profit organization.

I had a wonderful time helping people in both groups learn the fundamentals of social media and how to use online tools to market events and organizations.

I learned something new myself too. As I was flying into Little Rock, I noticed the Arkansas river winding its way through the countryside. It was traveling in a snake like pattern that most rivers follow. But then I noticed small half moon shaped lakes and swamps flanking the river on all sides. They looked to be remnants of a river long ago before it found an easier path with less resistance.

I came to find out these are called oxbow lakes and in fact they are exactly as I assumed. Here’s something interesting about rivers.

They are powerful and lazy.

Rivers are big powerful forces that bully their way to where they want to go. But rivers are also lazy and will always choose the path of least resistance – sometimes leaving behind small oxbow lakes of water and swampland.

I began to draw some parallels between the Arkansas river winding its way toward the Gulf Of Mexico and the stream of social media companies and people making their way to the future.

Both the river and social media will take the path of least resistance.

Both the river and social media leave oxbows in their wake. Some social media companies seemed great at one time when they had a “river” running through them. But now that river has moved onto an easy path.

I have this sneaking suspicion that more social media oxbows are coming. What do you think?

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This site, Joel-Mark-Witt.com, is where I ask questions while standing at the intersection of social media, podcasting, online video, marketing, PR, storytelling, life and leadership…. and what the heck this all means for my business and yours. If you like what you see – please subscribe to it for free. To join the discussion or to comment in real time follow me on Twitter.

Joel Mark Witt

Photo by Maitri

Tweet This Seinfeld

If Seinfeld was on the air today they would most likely write an episode in which the characters would bet each other on how long they can go without tweeting. Of course this would lead to hilarious dialogue and scenarios.

How long can you go without using Twitter? Are you an addict?

The five classes of Twitterland

As far as I can tell – Tweeters fall into one of five classes…

1) “I tweet therefore I am”

The issue: These folks identify so closely with their Twitter identity that they write only their @name on their name tags at conferences.

Key danger: You actually believe someone doesn’t exist if they don’t have a Twitter account.

2) “I am a compulsive tweeter”

The issue: These are the folks who just can’t stop Tweeting. Don’t have wifi or cell service on that long airline flight? Oh no – how are you going to tweet what you had to drink with your meal? Write 140 characters on the back of an airline napkin and then type it into Twitter when you land of course.

Key danger: Like any addiction – you tell yourself you don’t have a problem and this thing is manageable.

3) “I don’t have a #%@& clue what I’m doing on here. Someone said I should be using this so here I am.”

The issue: These people don’t know what they are doing and so begin to post without really understanding the toolset. They begin to post random complaints or thoughts that they think sound candid – but in reality – they sound very contrived.

Key danger: You look like a dork who doesn’t have a clue.

4) “I will post links to all my amazing and awesome offers and business opportunities and you will love them so much that you will visit my site and make me millions. Hehehehe.”

The issue: No one cares about you or your millionaire maker website. At least not until you engage us as humans and not masses of people who can make you rich.

Key danger: You give yourself false hope. You are building a reputation as “that guy.” What a sorry sap you are.

5) I am very manipulative with my tweeting by name dropping and hoping to be apart of the “in” crowd at conferences and events.

The issue: You are in need of friends and an ego boost. Instead of just developing relationships with people you come in contact with – you go after the big fish and expect them to reply to your @ messages every time. When they don’t – you are enraged.

Key danger: You are setting yourself up for disappointment.

My Advice For Serious Twitter Users

Get off Twitter.

Seriously.

What good is it?  What has it done for you?  How are you benefiting?

Actually – the best question to ask is…

How is anyone else benefiting from you on Twitter?
They probably aren’t – so just stop using this stupid and pointless service.

If you still are convinced that you need to be using this tool (like I am) then here are a few suggestions.

Be yourself. Be helpful. Be encouraging. Be interesting. A lot more can be gained by focusing on other people and their hopes, dreams, successes, and failures. It is rewarding and fun to help others succeed.

What are your thoughts on Twitter? Do you agree disagree?

Also check out my post over at Folk Media for thoughts on Twitter For Business.

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This site, Joel-Mark-Witt.com, is where I ask the questions while standing at the intersection of social media, podcasting, online video, marketing, PR, storytelling, life and leadership…. and what the heck this all means for my business and yours. If you like what you see – please subscribe to it for free. To join the discussion or to comment in real time follow me on Twitter.

Joel Mark Witt

* Photo by dailyclerks

Your mom is worried about your “anti-social” behavior. She hears rumors that you’ve been sucked into the devil’s domain of the computer.

Little does she know that this computer world is your “social life.” But she doesn’t get that. And you don’t get her.

Her problem?

Not sure she has one. She may be right.

Your problem?

You forget that no one knows what social media is.

Nobody has a clue about Twitter. Oh yeah – you and your “tweeps” do because you are on there all the time. But ask your mother – aunt – co-workers – and children. The don’t know. More importantly, they don’t care. Scary thought isn’t it… someone not caring about Twitter.

Gasp!

We seem to forget that these social media do-hickeys we love so much are merely tools. Tools that help us buy and sell things. Tools that help us build relationships. Tools that help us learn and teach.

That’s it really.

And people have been buying and selling, making friends, and learning and teaching since the beginning of time. There are principles and fundamentals to these things that have never changed and will never change. My advice (and I’ve taken this myself) is to pull your head out of the “social media sand” and look around at what you’re actually doing here.

Are you selling, learning, teaching, buying, and friending with this stuff? Or are you making noise, being a poser, and worrying your mother.

Because in a way your mom is right.

She probably sees social media (if she grasps it at all) as a tool. (Or a waste of time – but that’s for another post).

And she can’t seem to understand why you won’t sit down for a cup of coffee with your friend once a week rather than tweet him about what kind of coffee you had each time throughout the day.

Am I making sense?

Join the discussion by following me on Twitter. Or you can leave a comment here on this post. I want to hear your thoughts about this.

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This site, Joel-Mark-Witt.com, is where I ask the questions while standing at the intersection of social media, marketing, PR, storytelling, life and leadership…. and what the heck this all means for my business and yours. If you like what you see – please subscribe to it for free. To join the discussion or to comment follow me on Twitter.

Joel Mark Witt

* Photo by: dotbenjamin