Does anyone actually use social media tools?

Question: Other than work stuff, do you actually read any other blogs? Do you use any social media programs like Myspace or Facebook or the like? Flickr profiles? YouTube profiles? More importantly, do you ever have time to use these things the way they were meant to be used, namely, to communicate with other people and share your videos and thoughts and life? Or are you just too busy for this kind of stuff? Here are the reactions from the staff here at Off Madison Ave and Mighty Interactive: Cori Marx Senior Art Director Not only am I too busy, but I have this fear that I’ll start a conversation and no one will want to talk to me, so I’m just sitting there checking my email every few hours just like all those men on match.com hoping someone will like me. Liam O’Mahony Senior Account Executive I don’t read as many news and industry blogs as I should due to time constraints. I will review PR-oriented blogs from the Daily Bulldog or PR News in the morning when I first check e-mails, but throughout the course of the day I find it hard to devote meaningful time to absorbing other blogs. I was off MySpace for a year but have re-activated my use. I also have an account on LinkedIn and have posted photos on Flickr, but I don’t use these sites very often. I’ll watch some amusing or sports-oriented highlights on YouTube but I don’t log more than a few minutes a week on that site.

More importantly, do you ever have time to use these things the way they were meant to be used, namely, to communicate with other people and share your videos and thoughts and life?

I will occasionally write a blog for MySpace but often lose interest as I don’t have a large readership on my account. I like posting photos and captions just to share my travels for anyone interested in checking them out. I think MySpace blogs have induced too many people into thinking they are bona fide writers. Sure, everyone can describe their quasi-interesting life on their MySpace page because it’s your magazine, your yearbook, your brag board, etc. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean the content is articulate, insightful or worth reading for someone who is not immersed in the esoteric digressions of small circle of friends.

Or are you just too busy for this kind of stuff?

It’s not so much a factor of being too busy, rather it’s just that I spend enough time staring at a laptop that I find it difficult to summon the energy and interest to devote significant time to fully utilizing the other social media features. Jessica Ostroff Public Relations Intern I use Facebook and Myspace, but not for blogs. I use Facebook to communicate with people and Myspace to learn about new music. I do subscribe to a blog on Myspace for one of my favorite bands, but they only update every couple of weeks so it's not overwhelming. I could never check any blog any day, and I don't look to blogs for information. I use Flickr when I am looking for photos to use for projects, but do not have my own profile. I only use Youtube when a friend sends me a link, or if I am looking for a music video or song. Jacqueline Hahey Senior Account Executive, Public Relations To be honest, I am not much of a blogger and do not use many social media tools when it is not work-related. I do occasionally enjoy lifestyle-focused blogs on certain media outlet sites, such as the Washington Post. I also am a member of LinkedIn, but rarely do I log on. I mostly monitor blogs and try to stay on top of industries and trends relevant to my clients.

More importantly, do you ever have time to use these things the way they were meant to be used, namely, to communicate with other people and share your videos and thoughts and life?

Again, very rarely do I use these tools on my personal time, but I recognize their significance in our world today and think it is important, let alone interesting to monitor these tools occasionally.

Or are you just too busy for this kind of stuff?

I wouldn’t say necessarily that I am too busy, but it is not my ideal way to share thoughts, etc. I am more of a private person I guess you could say!

About the Author: Eric Reid

I am the Social Media Services Manager for Off Madison Ave. I've been with the company since 2006, when I was hired to do SEO, and link building in particular. When social networking sites started cropping up, at first I started using them to create backlinks - but they weren't the best for that, given all of the "nofollow" attributes. However, I did see the potential for all of the direct referral traffic they represent. Since then I've been actively pursuing both tactics for clients: Links that can help them for search, and social postings that get them involved in the conversation. It's about the coolest job you could ever get. ;)

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