The Social Media Grinch
Sometimes that’s what I feel like people think I am: the social media grinch. It couldn’t be further from the truth though.
Here are a few things I’ve had people accuse me of or imply over the last few months at various times:
- That I hate all things social media
- That I hate all things PR 2.0
- That I have some sort of secret agenda in writing controversial blog posts
- That I’m new to blogging
- That I’m anti-conversation or anti-”joining”
Now, for shits and giggles, let’s get the facts straight. If nothing else, maybe it will put future rants into better perspective (although I hope the speculation doesn’t stop completely… it really is funny at times):
On Hating Social Media
I don’t hate social media. I use social media tools actively. Here’s what I am against:
- I’m against jumping on every new fad that comes along just for the sake of not appearing “slow.”
- I’m against using tools that aren’t directly relevant to a large portion of your target audiences (and frankly, despite the buzz, most people aren’t using most of these tools yet).
- I’m against losing sight of core PR principles while being sucked in by hype that we, as PR professionals, should be hyper-sensitive to and not suckers for.
- I’m against people making ridiculous claims that social media is replacing PR as we know it, when in fact it’s just a supplement (precisely because most people aren’t using all of these new tools yet - even after years with some).
If people actually read what I say carefully, they’d notice that I generally don’t say any social media tool is “bad” in all situations, but that it depends on the audience. People just tend to ignore that part. Cute the way that works, isn’t it? So no, I don’t hate social media… I just hate seeing a hell of a lot of people trying to play a “game” (how they sometimes treat it) without bothering to learn the rules.
On Hating PR 2.0
I don’t hate all things PR 2.0 either. What I hate is the use of moronic buzzwords from an industry so desperate to catch up and sound “with it” that they can’t think of something unique. PR 2.0 is traditional PR with shiny new tools and more crap to keep your eye on. Even “conversations” are far from new in PR… they just take place on a larger scale and often in a different medium.
On Having an Agenda
If there’s any site I own where I don’t have some big agenda, it’s this one. This accusation came up recently regarding one of my controversial posts and me not feeling that it was appropriate to name names. The only possible agendas I can think of would be driving up traffic, driving up comments, or trying to get my name out there like some cheap publicity stunt.
I don’t post to Naked PR for attention. I post here because I have something to say. The attention is something I put up with as opposed to something I desire. I actually almost turned down a podcast interview recently because I really didn’t know if I should make time for something that would lead to exposure I really don’t want or need. I don’t want to build a name for myself with the PR crowd. I don’t even intend to be that heavily involved with PR work (if at all) within the next few years. I only agreed, because frankly a few interesting topic points were brought up, and I think it may make for an interesting discussion.
Whether people visit this site, read my posts, comment on them, agree or disagree with me, talk about me, etc. is completely irrelevant. This blog isn’t much more than my “playground” that just happens to make a few bucks periodically (that’s not to say I haven’t considered turning this one into another decent income source… I just ultimately decided that it wasn’t worth it, and I wouldn’t enjoy it as much). This is where I come when I feel like offering my 2 cents on an issue. When I simply agree with someone’s point, I’m more likely to tell them privately or leave a comment on their own blog. There’s not much that I want to discuss about it if it’s already been tackled and I’ve already seen both sides and addressed it in some way. I post here more when something agitates me or when someone really does deserve some credit for some reason instead, because I consider those posts worth my time.
Posts like “Oh, so-and-so wrote this great post about…,” or “Isn’t this a super idea?” just amount to back-patting in my eyes. I can’t say I’ve never done it, but I try to make it a point not to, especially here. That’s why even when I do post links to recent blog rumblings, I post both posts I agree with and posts I thought were moronic - and I don’t tell you which is which. I’d rather let people make up their own minds.
That’s what I try to do here… give a different perspective, point out potential issues I feel people are turning a blind eye to, etc. If it makes even one person just think about the issue more (no matter what opinion they ultimately form), then that’s what I want to accomplish. So if I have an agenda, there you go… that’s it… trying to get people out of their comfort zones to think more for themselves.
On Being New to Blogging
I suppose this one depends on what you classify as “new.” While this blog is only around a year old, I’ve been blogging for about three years. That may not be as long as some of you, but it is longer than many others. In that time I’ve run close to two dozen blogs, some of my own, some for clients. Now I run eleven that come to mind in various niches I’m involved with and for various reasons (after condensing some a few months back).
In other words, I’m not a stranger to blogging. As a matter of fact, blogs are a big part of my overall business model, and I’ve stated very publicly elsewhere that I’m cutting back on the service-oriented side of my business over the next 2 - 3 years and moving more into Web publishing. I wouldn’t be doing that if I were still a blog “newbie.”
The comment implying I must be new came in reference to the blog party post here recently, where the individual essentially said they felt similarly when they were new too. I happily admit I’m no mind reader, but the comment came across as though they were saying it was an opinion I’d “get over” when I’m more “experienced.”
So to set that straight, I’m not new to blogging, and I’ve been aware of blog cliques for quite some time. I ranted here because frankly PR bloggers are some of the worst I’ve seen in that regard, and a group that really should know better (and a group that should know the difference between blog orgies and real communities).
On Being an Anti-Joiner
As for me not being a “joiner,” that’s also not true. I join communities, private networking groups, etc. when it’s relevant to what I’m doing. I’ve even started several. Assuming that someone doesn’t join conversations or communities just because they didn’t, or won’t, join yours is flat out ignorant. As a matter of fact, I spend a huge chunk of every day (literally 4+ hours) in Web-based communities that are highly relevant to my target clients and others necessary for me to network with in my business. The only time I’ll admit to being an “anti-joiner” is when it’s only for the sake of joining in.
So no, I’m not some anti-social media, anti-PR 2.0, newbie blogger, hermit that doesn’t like to talk to anyone on the Web or elsewhere (although that sometimes sounds appealing - then I’d get more work done!). I’m just someone who speaks her mind and doesn’t give a damn if you like it or not, and if that encourages some worthwhile discussions once in a while, then I hope it doesn’t change.
If you enjoyed this post, please leave a comment or subscribe to the feed to stay on top of future rants, interviews, or PR and social media tid bits.
Comments
The PR blog party post was something I’d been wanting to write for several weeks now actually. Your post may have been a part of the timing, but the bulk of the influence actually came from one particular blogger (formerly one of my favorites) who gave into the blogger mob mentality a little while back, to the point where their blog is practically un-readable now in my book.
Thanks for clarifying that you weren’t implying something in your comment as it came across when I read it (why I mentioned in the post that I’m not a mind-reader - tried to be reasonably fair while mentioning it). It was actually the second time a comment was made along those lines (the second not from you) in the past week - the other much more blatantly lumping me into a group of “newer” bloggers as opposed to “older” bloggers. I do have to admit I’m curious as to how long the average PR blogger has been at it… perhaps that’s a post for another day.
If I had to guess, the average PR blogger has been at it for about 7-8 months. I actually have the growth of the group from when I started in late 2005 (note: well after you) to today somewhere and could actually figure it out mathematically if I wanted to, which I don’t. :-) Thanks for clarifying your motivation of the PR Party post.
More people get in trouble for calling someone new when they are simply “new to them” so I am particularly horrified that I came off that way. Goes to show the real limitations of online communication.
Hi Jenn,
I think this is the first time that I’ve stumbled on your blog, but this post was cool. You probably don’t need the validation, but props for speaking your mind in an honest manner.
I am of the same mindset as you. If people don’t like what I have to say, they don’t have to listen.
- Christian
[…] use every tool that gets hyped up. (I talked more about my thoughts on this issue in my past post, The Social Media Grinch.) Where do you fit in? Do you try every new tool? Do you tend to desert the old for the new […]
And to set the record straight, the “new” comment wasn’t aimed at you, though I can see why you might think it was. I was saying that I felt that way when I was new. Not to imply that YOU were new. I can see from your archives that you aren’t new to blogging. Nor do I suspect that you will “get over” anything.
I realize you took offense to my post, and think that your PR Party post was partly in reaction to it. I pointed people here BECAUSE you have a point of view, one with which I mostly agree. You delivery isn’t my favorite, but you do say, “Truth, Not Charm.”