I don’t get this question as often as I use to. I started with Twitter and Facebook back in February of 2009 I believe, and that question came up constantly…people didn’t understand why I would sit in front of this illuminated box and talk to people.
To put it simply, I use social media for two reasons: 1) I love to connect with people- for me, life is about the people on your journey. There are so many amazingly, awesome people out there…some brilliant, some funny, some are just so genuine and caring. I love listening, observing, and jumping in from time to time to give my thoughts. 2) I love to research and find interesting news on the world wide web…and social media sites allow me to share the stuff I find, as well as content from our own blogs.
These reasons are mine, they are genuine, they are me. I am not trying to sell anything to anyone…I do what I do because I enjoy it. Sure, I’ve received cool offers and gigs via the stuff I do online…but I would do it all without the offers and gigs. And like most people online, I would love to make my living from being on the web…why? Because I find the web, and the others on it, to be so fascinating, powerful, and unending.
One thing I have kept consistent is my reasons for being online…I have not sold out to the “gaming” of online statistics, scores, or metrics. Everything has been organic and natural, and this fact, WILL NOT change.
I fought tooth and nail to join Facebook. Family sucked me into that one. I couldn’t wait to join Twitter. That was something new and interesting for my job. Linkedin is pretty cool and was the basis for the people I first followed on Twitter. Now I love them all, but still not Facebook so much because my family are big game players. And although I love to see pictures, I’m not a big sharer of pictures. G+ I’m liking so far mostly because there are no games and no one is selling me anything. I get the ‘stare at the box’ comment too sometimes and you know what I say? Deal with it. I’m 52, work for a living, and if I want to stare at a box at least I bought the darn thing! Love you Matt!
All great reasons for doing what you’re doing Cheri!! And I couldn’t agree more, if we want to stare at these boxes so be it, we bought ’em!! lol.
I’m enjoying G+ too thus far. Not so spammy yet, but I am sure that will come too…time will tell!
Cheers!!