stop using social media because everyone tells you to

I’m a big Twitter advocate, as you should assume. When I first started Twitter, back in, oh, mid 2007 (yes, I’ve been on the service since then!), I was not even a big fan at all. People told me I had to be on it, that I could do all these different things with it, but I kept forgetting I even had Twitter. I was getting “nudged” by the Twitter bot every other day, because I wasn’t updating. So, I ignored it. I pretended Twitter wasn’t there, even though all my friends insisted it was the most fun thing on the planet.

Then, there was Facebook. (I know, I’m not in chronological order, it’s okay, move on.) I signed up out of what seemed like obligation as people drilled into me that it needed to be utilized, immediately. I was still reaping the benefits of MySpace and had built a community there. I signed up for Facebook and found no use for it, so I deleted my account within six months.

Social media isn’t something you consume because people tell you to. There are thousands of networks out there and only the very prominent get talked about. You don’t need to join Twitter if you want to network. You don’t need to join LinkedIn if you want to get a job. You don’t need a blog.

Pushing yourself to use social media because other people have found value in it is the opposite of what makes networking so robust. We each find a niche or two and feel understood, validated, free to explore who we are in relation to others. And, there’s enough room for the big networks and the small ones, but when people tell us we need to be on certain ones to achieve certain goals, I know they are wrong.

The reason Twitter is so huge is because people have found ways to passionately leverage it. These people are mostly innovators and early adopters. But, you don’t need to passionately leverage it if you don’t want to. You can find a job without using Twitter and, possibly, you will find a new network to leverage to stand out from others who are reading how to leverage Twitter to get a job. All things buzzy fade eventually.

Find the network or outlet that can make you come alive. Your use of networking tools that work for other people, but you’re not passionate about, is a waste. Ignore the people that say if you don’t have LinkedIn, you’ll be behind. Ignore everyone that tells you that you need a blog to establish yourself as a specialist.

If you hate blogging, it will show. If you aren’t passionate about LinkedIn or Twitter, you’ll get nothing out of it. There’s too much out there on social media that says what we NEED to use, instead of allowing people to use what will work for them best. In this age of networking, where most people you need to meet are online, you are more likely to meet someone for a potential job when you are using a product that you are passionate about. I say, ignore the buzz. Do whatever the hell you think will bring out your passions and see where that leads you.

Too many times I see people consume social media out of obligation, instead of out of passion. Nothing great comes from that line of thinking.

(All pictures by k masback)