In the ever-growing world of social media platforms, it can become quite overwhelming to figure out which ones to be on. I run into a lot people that just put their hands up and say, “I give up! I can’t keep up!” I hear you!
Technology, by nature, is something that will make us feel as if we’re behind and out of touch. It is humanly impossible to keep up with all that is evolving in technology. Nevertheless, as overwhelming as it may be, it’s still beneficial for us to engage well. What helps me in this process is trying to figure what I hope to gain from each social media platform. Objectives guide my strategy and depth of interaction.
The following is a list (in particular order) of the top 5 social media platforms I choose to engage on a regular basis and the reasons why. I don’t expect you to follow my lead. I share it in hopes of modeling some level of intentionality behind social media usage.
1. Google+
Google+ is a new social platform that made a huge splash just a couple of weeks ago when it first came out. It is still on an invitation-basis only (in the spirit of Google), but it’s not that difficult to get an invite. Some initially just called it another Facebook, but it’s quite different. Given the robust nature of Google’s online search presence, mail client, and apps, their new platform offers an integrated web experience that is pushing all of our interaction to the cloud. The new +1 button (similar to Facebook’s like button) will impact search results and continue to customize the content that delivered your way based on your online experience.
I like Google+ usefulness, user-experience, and its potential as it builds integrated solutions for business (in the works!). Click here to view a helpful article by Mashable that provides a guide for users. Google+ is what Google Buzz should have been and then some.
Here’s a link to their new iPhone app: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google/id447119634?mt=8
My Google+ Link: http://gplus.to/charlestlee
2. Twitter+
Twitter, in my opinion, is still the quickest, succinct, real-time engagement platform out there. I use it regularly to connect with friends, research topics (go to www.search.twitter.com and click on advanced search), and connect with potential business leads. I use a couple of different Twitter clients to help me organize and engage. For personal use, I like TweetDeck for its simple interface. For client work, I use HootSuite (paid version) for its analytics and the ease of adding team members to a project.
My Twitter Link: http://twitter.com/charlestlee
3. Facebook
I like Facebook because the majority of my close friends are on it. Many of them are not tech savvy, but have figured out how to engage on FB. It’s very user-friendly to those unfamiliar with technology while allowing those more familiar to customize their presence. To me, Facebook still feels very personal and provides a great platform to stay engaged with my friends and family. It’s layout and high visibility of photos and videos keeps me engaged in the lives of those I want to share life with.
My Facebook Link: http://facebook.com/charlestlee
4. LinkedIn
I primarily use Linkedin to engage various professionals in the areas that I’m interested. More than anything, I enjoy the various groups you can join and the discussions that take place there. I have my account synced to several other online platforms like Twitter, SlideShare, etc. to provide a steady flow of information from my other activities. I also like the ability to recommend and be recommended by others in my network.
My Linkedin Link: http://www.linkedin.com/in/charlestlee
5. Tumblr
Tumblr is a micro-blog site that allows you to post text, pictures, quotes, links, chats, audio files, and videos on the go. I use it as a supplement to my blog. I don’t think blogging is going to go away anytime soon, but I do think platforms like Tumblr will help people like me communicate ideas and experiences in between blog posts.
I love how socially integrated Tumblr is with its ability to share, repost other links (with commentary), and follow others with one simple click. I also enjoy how visually driven it is compared to something like Twitter (yes, you can sync your Tumblr posts to automatically appear on Twitter).
One more thing, I really like the Tumblr iPhone app! So easy to use.
My Tumblr Link: http://charlestlee.tumblr.com/
As you can see, I have different reasons for being on these various platforms. I think they all carry unique opportunities and benefits for the user. In this sense, it’s moot to talk about which social media platform is better. You have to ultimately figure out what works best for you.
What are your top 5 favorite social media platforms to be on?
Also, please let me know if you have any questions about any of these platforms. Love to be of help.
