Earlier today I spoke to a small gathering of artists, speakers and managers about social media. Social media is all that stuff on the internet that allows us to interact with each other: We focussed our short time together on blogs, Twitter and Facebook – though there are literally hundreds of social media tools out there.
The main point we kept coming back to was that using social media properly allows us to engage in a dialogue, not just a monologue.
A dialogue takes more work than a monologue. A website like mine that’s updated daily is more work than a traditional artist website that never changes, for instance. And that work takes time.
For the last five years I’ve spent an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon on-line.
If I can only do two things in those two hours each day I choose these two:
Listen
- Blog: Google Analytics and built-in WordPress stats allow me to see who is sending traffic to my blog. I read every post (or comment) sending traffic my way.
- Twitter: Tweetdeck allows me to set up searches for my name (and misspellings of it) and my Twitter handle (@shaungroves) so that I “hear” when I’m being talked about in the Twitterverse.
- Facebook:Every time someone comments on my page (or profile) Facebook sends me an e-mail. Same with every time I’m tagged in a note or photo.
- The entire web: Thanks to Google Alerts, when my name is written anywhere on the internet I’m told about it. I read them all.
Respond
- Blog: If a blogger is talking about me 1)I can add them to my Linkage page 2)blog about them 3)say “thanks” in the comments of their blog 4)send an e-mail thanks.
- Twitter: If a tweet mentions me I can 1)direct message thank the author 2)reply publicly 3)follow them 4)add their blog (if they’ve linked to it on their profile page) to my Linkage page. Note: I never “retweet” kind words someone says about me. Public back patting is generally considered tacky to obnoxious.
- Facebook: If I’m tagged in a Facebook note, photo or someone comments on my wall I can, again, say thanks in a number of ways: 1)comment on their comment 2)send a message to their inbox 3)post on their wall.
- Beyond Thanks: “Thank you” is the very least I can do. Sometimes, honestly, it’s all I have time for, but ideally I stick around and engage in an actual conversation. That’s easiest on blogs where the ability to leave a comment let’s me go beyond mere gratitude to actually contributing to the conversation already in progress.
SOCIAL Media
The examples I’ve shown here are all about me. But that’s not all I’m listening and responding too. I’m listening to what all my Twitter followers are saying, to what anyone on the web says about Compassion International and a number of other subjects, and I’m reading the status updates of my Facebook friends as well. And responding when there’s something to say.
I’ve read e-books, blog posts and listened to speakers doling out all kinds of “secrets” to making the most of social media. But it’s no great secret that at the heart of social media is “social.” It’s about people, dummy!
Listen and respond. Every day.
If you’re short on time, these are the two most important things you can do to make the most of social media.
What’s the greatest social media lesson you’ve learned?
Lindsay says:
How in the world do you do all of that in only two hours per day? I’m incredibly impressed with your time management. ( I mean that most sincerely. ) The stuff about Compassion alone is overwhelming some days.
I appreciate social media because of how effectively and incredibly it broadens my horizon. I am exposed to viewpoints, articles, opinions, and resources that I wouldn’t ever find on my own. (The education video you shared is one very good example.)
I think I might do an experiment over the next couple of days (or weeks, if I can last that long) and limit my online time to two hours/day. I have a feeling it would make the time I spend online more efficient. I could get the important things done (listening and responding) without all the fluff in the middle.
Interesting perspective on social media. Thanks for sharing (with them and with us!)
Erika says:
Love this. Although to be perfectly honest, I don’t know how you get all of that done in two hours! But maybe your two hours are “quiet hours” without the pulls, pleas, and pouts of little people all around! ๐
ps…what’s a Linkage page?
Shaun Groves says:
My “Linkage” page is a “blog roll” on steroids. Check it out here:
shaungroves.com/linkage
Erika says:
and how about THAT for timing! ๐
Erika says:
ok, so scratch that about the linkage question … figured that one out all by myself! ๐ One of THOSE days. hehehe
Janice (5 Minutes for Mom) says:
Wow I am impressed!!! I can’t keep up!
How do you keep up with only TWO hours???
So often I feel like I am failing because I can no longer keep up with commenters.
I do reply to tweets, DMs and FB messages – but even that is hard!
Shaun Groves says:
I confessed to someone at the gathering today that I don’t often keep up. I can’t respond to everything. But I can listen. And I can turn on that danged ol’ autoreply message that basically says “I’m trying to catch up! Thanks for understanding.”
And most people do.
JessicaB says:
Mostly that you get out of something what you put into it, I reckon.
So I try to respond to any comments on the blog, etc.
And believe it or not, I try not to over status or tweet. Cause, ya know, maybe not everyone cares if I’m eating a chimichanga. I’m not always successful at this one.
And of course, to learn the personalities of the people in my social media circle of influence, so that I know when to, or when to not, respond in sarcasm. ๐
Megan Hawkes says:
Shaun, you model social media engagement (even though I post on your wall too much and you NEVER post on mine-which makes me feel a little creepy about myself at times!) Thanks for articulating this. The next steps for all of us are harnessing the masses for mobilization-mapping the pathways and engaging people to the next level.
I heard recently that the term “Each one reach one” was coined in the limestone caves on Robben Island by people teaching one another while imprisoned as political prisoners. Can you imagine the impact if every socially conscious individual and every Christian said “I will””? Thanks for doing what you do!
Megan @ Faith Like Mustard says:
The biggest lesson I’ve learned in social media is that different platforms serve different purposes. For me, Facebook is mostly for keeping up with friends, Twitter is a networking tool, and the blog is for all of the above.
Kat @ Inspired To Action says:
(I hesitated to post this, because it could be easily written off as “overly spiritual” but, well, I’m posting it anyway. ๐ )
I’ve found that my greatest “successes” in social media come when I listen and respond, but in a slightly different manner…
There are days I’ve spent hours just replying, retweeting and socializing online. And it’s been fun and generally effective.
But when I open my computer, put headphones on and spend some time listening to God and responding to Him … those are the days I feel I’ve used social media well.
Those are the days I am able to encourage and inspire in ways I never could have if I wasn’t being intentional about inviting God into my social media time and allow Him to use my meager words to say exactly what someone needs to hear. Words that plant seeds of healing and hope.
Those are the days I get emails, twitter replies and Facebook comments that bring more satisfaction than a million followers. Because I haven’t just invaded their lives, I’ve impacted them.
Of course there is a balance, we do need to do what you suggest, as time allows, but, for me, this kind of listening and responding in social media has been the most worthwile and rewarding.
Katie says:
I’ve always felt like I have to justify why this story from 15 years ago is being posted on my blog today. Once I stopped doing that I was better able to see God work. There were so many more “OH MY GOSH! I needed this today!” comments. I had nothing to do with it except post a random old story because I felt like it (or, more accurately, because God placed it on my heart).
Sometimes I get discouraged with people aren’t dialogue-ing on my blog. When the comments section is barren. But then I look at the stats section and realize that some of my most often hit posts are those without comments. While I love the feedback, I don’t need the feedback to realize that God is using me.
Katie
Kelli says:
I’ve learned several great social media lessons over the past year. First, I’ve learned that readers come to my site for a specific reason. Analytics has been helpful in showing me that readers don’t want to hear my political views (duly noted and refrained) and they don’t want a lot of mushy, over the top Mom gush.
I’ve pretty much fallen into a specific mom blog niche and I try not to deviate too much, unless I just really feel like I need to get something off my chest. There’s this prevailing idea amongst mom bloggers that we should only be writing for ourselves. While that’s true to a degree, I also really want to take into consideration the fact that people actually read my stuff. I don’t know why…but they do. So I try to respect that. I’m not going to change who I am, but I don’t want anyone to feel ashamed or judged by my words. I want my site to be happy and safe. I don’t always write deep, contemplative posts because I don’t think deep, contemplative thoughts all the time. Or…ever.
From there, I do try to respond and give time to those who gave their time to me. It seems courteous, plus I like making new “friends.”
Another lesson I’ve learned about social media…it can suck you in and make you stay up way to late, turning you into zombie mommy the next day.
Time for me to turn in…
Kelli says:
Oh and incidentally, I, like everyone else, am amazed and astounded that you can do all of that in two hours. That’s seriously impressive!
Tj says:
Many of my friends and family still see internet social networking as worldly, but I have found it a great tool used by the holy spirit to bring comfort to me and to use me to comfort and bring beauty and maybe even sometimes a little humor into others lives. I haven’t yet used any analytical tools because I feel that I may be swayed by the interests of others versus what I feel led to share. But I am tempted because it might help me serve others better.
JessicaB says:
I know a lot of Christians choose to refrain altogether from social networks. And maybe not everyone is meant to encourage others through that medium, and I’m okay with that. But I’ve never heard anyone use that reason. The reasons I’ve heard is because it “ruins marriages” or because “they have a bad feeling about it”.
Back years ago when I used to blog on myspace (cringe, I know), I had a pastor/teacher friend say he couldn’t read my blogs (about the bible) because he thought myspace was evil. He said he had a student who had written on myspace that he was going to commit suicide, and then he followed through with it.
And I just thought that was kind of backwardo reasoning. I think if you have children or students who are frequenting those sites, you should be there too, having a presence. Being that light in the dark, so to speak.
*shrugs* My two cents.
Janae says:
Thank you for sharing how you use your time on social media for His glory. We have to remember to invite the Holy Spirit to flow through us as we are using twitter or Facebook. I’m a fb junkie, use twitter some and often forget to update my blog. I know from experience if I can remember to invite Him in (even before powering on the computer), fill my Spirit with His word, then when I come online, I just never know how He will flow. Often times it’s is an encouraging word, or perhaps a new writing of some sort.
Wild Ghese says:
Know your purpose, that’s what I’ve learned, and limit your time (still working on that). I live in a foreign country where I don’t know the language and I find social sights like FB are an escape from a life “locked in”.
Of course now, with an imminent new arrival and resident 2 year old, sometimes all I have the energy to do is stare at this stupid screen, but God’s way is to be free and accessible to His leadings. So, as I put off the excess time used in front of the computer, I know He will use me in the way He intended. Even if it means knowing more about my kids and enriching their lives a little more.
That’s another thing I’ve struggled with. Seeing what everyone else is doing in a country I’m familiar with and wishing I was taking part. I’ve had to deal with jealousy over something as simple as Mexican food or Starbucks…Why do that to myself? Why plant the seed of doubt concerning God’s goodness? He is not withholding from me, but I can start thinking that He is. If I limit my time, I find the temptation to do that decreases.
Sort of long winded, but that’s what I’ve been learning.
katie says:
Greatest Social Media Lesson?
How about this one? It is very basic…from a few years ago before all these new lessons were being learned…if you are going to leave a church and only tell one close friend honestly why (besides the pastor– who is the reason for leaving)…absolutely do not email the friend to tell her…even if you read the email over and over to make sure it is fair and leaves out unforgiving opinions or personal details that shouldn’t be shared…especially if you are simultaneously giving her the pastor’s wife’s email address that you figure out by typing her name into the send to box and forget to delete…thereby sending said email to friend AND pastor’s wife….
The lesson not being, be sneakier on the internet to share your true thoughts, but beware easy ways to spread unwise conversation in the first place…after being convicted that I would not have shared those true things about a pastor we liked ( the love part that covers over a multitude of sins part) , I not only had to apologize to my friend, but also the pastor’s wife. Lesson learned. only type (and say) encouraging things that build up the body of Christ…ugh. does anyone else find that God uses your own foolishness to teach you humility?
Erin says:
Decorum. That’s what I’ve learned.
You have to know boundaries. You have to know what’s ok to put out there and what isn’t. And if I’ve been following you and you can’t stay within (what I deem are appropriate) boundaries, I’m probably going to stop following you. I use social media to enhance my life, which means I don’t want to come away from my time there feeling WORSE than I did when I sat down.
Please don’t tell me exactly what your doctor did. Or how horrible your children are. Or how exhausted you are. Or what went on behind closed doors at your house. (obviously there are exceptions) Just because it’s social media doesn’t mean the world needs to know every piece of your life.
Find the balance. Behave in media circles like you would in face-to-face conversations.
Michelle ~ Blogging from the Boonies says:
I am working hard at limiting my online time to just 1 hour per day. While most of my time is spent blogging about Compassion, promoting Compassion or visiting blogs that mention Compassion, I still feel that I should be spending as much time in the Word as I do on the internet. A difficult balance, especially when I also need to tend the home, teach my kids, do administrative work for our homeschool co-op, plan Sunday school lessons, etc.
All that said, during my internet time, I keep up on reading blogs and posting to mine. I answer emails and try to get to any questions asked in the comment section of my blog. I do check Sitemeter and Google analytics, but just to see where my blog traffic comes from and what posts are most popular. My passion is spreading the word about Compassion and working on inspiring sponsors to put effort into regular correspondence. My blog traffic has grown SO much in the last couple of months and it warms my heart to hear from sponsors who have committed to writing more because of my blog! That keeps me going when I feel like unplugging.
I did want to thank you, Shaun, for your blog. I have “met” quite a few amazing people just by following links off of your comments section. I am thankful for these friendships and the opportunity to be inspired by these amazing people!
JessicaB says:
I <3 you too, Boonies Blogger! ๐
@PaulSteinbrueck says:
Awesome stuff, Shaun!
I agree completely that listening & responding are more important than “making yourself heard” which is what most people and organizations are view as their primary objective in social media.
I also think it’s awesome that you set aside a specific amount of time to do it. That way you make sure you listen & respond, but you don’t let social networking & blogging overwhelm you and your schedule. That’s what I try to do as well, though I’m not always as disciplined about it as I’d like to be.
Anissa says:
I think the thing I’ve learned is that people ARE listening. I want to engage people in dialogue. I don’t want to spend most of my social media time complaining or being discouraging (or bashing things). I’m a networker at heart so I love connecting with people–social media can be an extroverts dream! ๐
Barb says:
I read. I pray. I cry. And I pray some more.
comment? not often.
respond? often.
I am thankful for those who share.
I am thankful for Him and the power and love He generates.
There is much to do.
But only through the One who knows who and when and how.
Where He leads I will follow.
Glad to have found you Shaun.
Stephanie says:
I agree w/ Lindsay! I’m awed that you do so much in only 2 hours. Does that include writing your posts as well?
Wow.