chrisbrogan.com - Latest Comments in Do What Works for You

Re: Do What Works for You

youtube downloader — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 10:32:09 -0000

But don’t let people tell you that you’re wrong for not liking something. Not into blogging? Swell. Don’t like Twitter? Fine. Hate podcasts? Perfect. It’s okay not to need/want/love the whole landscape. There are lots of services that people love that don’t fit my personal needs. I appreciate the services, but I’m not using them much.

Re: Do What Works for You

Scam — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:34:52 -0000

I empathise with you completely Chris - I've tried many a social site and always give them some time to see if they will 'gel' into my routines.

However, Plurk just didn't 'do it' for me either, for much the same reasons that you quoted.

Re: Do What Works for You

Keli Whidden — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 09:08:04 -0000

Amen.

Re: Do What Works for You

Do-Follow Blog - Use your Kewo — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:59:44 -0000

I totally agree with you, I have not tried out Plurk yet, however there are other platforms that really are not for me, Facebook for example, I hate it!

Re: Do What Works for You

Amanda — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:43:16 -0000

This a great post. I agree, too. I just can't hop on board with Twitter or RSS feeds yet. I feel like my life is already on information overload with news, blogs, e-mails, etc., that just adding a few more things that are so "instant" will drive me insane and I won't get anything done!

Re: Do What Works for You

Mary Anne Davis — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:05:43 -0000

Thanks for saying it so well. :-)

Re: Do What Works for You

Tish Grier — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:02:11 -0000

I'm another of those who totally agrees, Chris! And it's one thing for those of us who work in social media to try everything...and weed it out. It's another for small business people to be trying everything and finding they're spending more time on social media than they are on their businesses. In my consulting, I've found this to be common, and also for many to just throw up their hands and walk away from *everything.* So, one of the best, and most important thing for some of us is to try things, weed them out, and then have the knowledge of the community to recommend various apps to clients. It's good for us to know both the pros and cons of a service as well as its community. Only then can we do the right thing for ourselves and our harried clients!

Re: Do What Works for You

Desiree Colonna — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:09:50 -0000

I'm with on you Plurk. I like the interface, pretty neat with the timeline and images, but its just not effective. I gave it a week and that was all I needed to make my decision. My time is better spent on Triiibes, Twitter, LinkedIn and sometimes Facebook.

Re: Do What Works for You

Michelle / chelpixie — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 07:55:18 -0000

I don't like Plurk or Friendfeed. I don't want to read every single thing that someone decides to send through their social sites and Plurk's layout turns me off. I felt guilty about this until I realized I have plenty of conversation and information where it really works for me. I try new things, but in the end, it's about what fits into my life.

I have a business to run and need to focus on what works for my productivity (etc) versus what works for others.

Oh and there are plenty of other places to play (and connect with Chris). :)

Re: Do What Works for You

Naomi Dunford — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:30:53 -0000

Oh, good Lord, yes. I feel like I'm the only person in the business world that doesn't think the sun shines out of LinkedIn's ass. Facebook was kind of OK for me until the whole send-me-a-plant thing started. But I really dig Twitter.

It seems like there's a popular opinion that if you don't absolutely HEART the biggest and newest social media site, you lose your Web 2.0 card. Well, you may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb -- I'll take the opportunity to publicly admit that the iPhone has been in Canada for three whole weeks now and I don't have one of those either. :)

Re: Do What Works for You

David Murray — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:46:55 -0000

Good point Chris and I enjoy reading everyone's input on this.

I was resitant to Plurk myself but it has grown on me and I have made connections through conversations I wouldn't have had on Twitter.

The social media crowd can be a fickle one... and there is an evangelistic approach to supporting specific tools. Its interesting to see how people can get defensive.

Re: Do What Works for You

Amie Gillingham — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:01:26 -0000

Snort. I am one of those people who re-tried to sell you on plurk since I was one of those who hated it first, but it seriously grew on me once my network was in place and we found our rhythm. I doubt I would have stuck with it had Twitter been up and running at any point in June (or July). But yup, I hear you. Do what works for you.

Re: Do What Works for You

Corey Freeman — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:33:53 -0000

Nice! I know what you mean. I'm not a giant plurk fan. Do I use it, yeah? but hey, it's not a great place for research.

I actually had an argument with a friend once about getting a life. Essentially, all I particularly do with my 'life' (during the school year) is band functions and schoolwork. That's not good enough for the super jock, though. I also need to join clubs, go to parties, make new friends, etc etc.

I like the friends I have. Do I go out every night? No. On the flip side, do I have constant rumors and talking behind my back? Nope. I love music and I work hard to keep my grades up, so I don't see anything wrong with the life I've got. I have fun going to movies with my Dad, he gets my jokes.

You should always go with what's easiest for you and what makes you happy if it's something like just living your day to day life and managing things. As long as it doesn't effect them, who cares?

Re: Do What Works for You

TimWalker — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:14:09 -0000

@Mack Collier - I have a follow-up question. You wrote:

"So now you’ve used Plurk, and you DON’T love it. So that’s kinda like a slap in the face to the people that wanted you there. And of course you didn’t intend it that way at all, but still."

But still . . . what?

Not trying to be facetious / tendentious / etc. - I just don't know what comes next in that line of thought.

Re: Do What Works for You

AngelaConnor — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:14:07 -0000

Agreed, Chris. I wasn't into Twitter a year ago when others were raving about it and encouraging me to get involved but it did not fit with my life then. It's a much better fit now and I really "get it." I didn't "get it" back then so I waited and it was worth it.

Re: Do What Works for You

chrisbrogan — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:37:54 -0000

@Mack - I'm sure I love the people who use it. I don't love IT. Doesn't seem that it should matter, but a few of you have written back to say that it seems like a smack in the face.

I also don't use Yahoo mail, AOL, Netvibes Ginger, BlogTalkRadio, and 3,414,970 services. By choice. Not because I don't like the people there.

What's the solution?

Re: Do What Works for You

mack collier — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:27:58 -0000

Chris I think your particular situation is a bit different re: Plurk. As you know, I absolutely LOVE Plurk and the reason why I love Plurk is because it lets me more quickly and easily have conversations with, and connect with, other Plurk users. Far more easily than I can on Twitter.

Now of course, your mileage may (and apparently does) vary.

But something i've noticed over the past few weeks is that our lil Plurk community would wonder why certain people weren't using Plurk. And you were one of those people. More than once I have heard 'Gee I wish Chris Brogan was here, he'd really love it!'

So now you've used Plurk, and you DON'T love it. So that's kinda like a slap in the face to the people that wanted you there. And of course you didn't intend it that way at all, but still.

As you are well aware, evangelists are very passionate people. I completely understand the idea of using what works for you, and agree that's what you have to do.

Re: Do What Works for You

Marcus Hamaker — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:41:15 -0000

I tend to agree with you. The tool that your using has to work for you to benefit you. If you can not gain what it is you need from it then it's not the site/tool for you. I find myself in the same boat with Plurk. As of now all I do is allow my Wordpress plugin auto post that I have made a new blog entry.

Re: Do What Works for You

Amber Naslund — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:53:06 -0000

Hey Chris! I actually find some of the "either or" talk funny. It's like debating the merits of one car model over another. We all like what we like, they're all different, they all have their uses. And to your point, we all take to things differently for different reasons. I use Plurk, Twitter, LinkedIn. Not crazy about FriendFeed, even though I know it's gaining traction. I try 'em all, kinda like sampling bites on a buffet. But I'll settle into what's comfortable to me, and hope you do the same. In any case, I'm glad I can connect with you right here, wherever else you may be. It's sure a big pond, and our we're liable to swim into each other eventually! Cheers.

Re: Do What Works for You

Webconomist — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:40:15 -0000

Plurk = Unnecessary Karmatic Stress Manipulation.

I'd prefer Plurk without all the Karma Krap personally.

I like FriendFeed and RSS and Ping for monitoring and broadcasting. Twitter has become a place to engage and converse linearly.

As with any business tools/applications there will be those of the Early Adopters (some will die there too), innovators etc., and thus we'll always have choice. The beauty of Capitalism and a free market economy.

Change is Brilliant!

Re: Do What Works for You

kat brogan — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:31:32 -0000

you also hold more weight because you are known
when you say that X isn't so keen-o
some folks might not even bother trying it out

if i was part of X i'd maybe get a little defensive as well
knowing that i didn't lose just you
but all those other people who won't even bother now

Re: Do What Works for You

Dr Wright — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:26:45 -0000

Glad its not just me. There is so much on the social networking sites, people are forgetting to limit themselves.
They are so worried about being left out, they forget that there are only 25 hours in a day. If you are on for business, you have to limit yourself to the sites that work. I have dumped some sites that do not produce.

I track what is going on so I do not waste time. During the summer some sites are slower.

Do what work=do what makes money!

Dr. Wright
The Wright Place TV Show
www.wrightplacetv.com
www.twitter.com/drwright1

Re: Do What Works for You

Whitney — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:25:22 -0000

I think we are all searching for the perfect new tool. The fact is we are all wired a bit differently, and some tools work great for some people, and not others.

Yet, in social media, the power is in the adopters- the more people and friends that are there, the more fun it is, so if some of your friends don't join, you miss them and the interaction.

I honestly think there is no perfect social media tool, or social media space- it's all about the company you keep when you're there, just like going out to dinner with friends. The restaurant sets the atmosphere and occasion to get together, but you provide the fun and the conversation that makes the experience more meaningful than the food itself.

Re: Do What Works for You

Greg Rollett — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:56:58 -0000

This article is my exact sales pitch to clients. Find what works for you, what makes you the most efficient and get the best results.

With that said, you should always be open minded to new/different things, but really, only stick around if you like it and it makes sense.

I feel the same way about Plurk, but have friends in the Social Media world who feel they get better click throughs and better conversation on the service. Good for them. Didn't happen for me.

Talk to ya soon!

Re: Do What Works for You

KatFrench — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:50:28 -0000

I'll be the first to admit that I signed up for Identica, another microblogging platform, simply to claim my name/ID, with no intentions of ever actually using the site.

I have "plurk" moments, when I like to jump in there and peek at all the conversations (and the conversations ARE easier to follow there), but as you said, they would get impossible past a certain scale. But I think that's the intent.

It wasn't really designed for the "1000+ follower" crowd, I think. It was designed for the "couple hundred actual friends and acquaintances" crowd--and I think it actually works quite well for that. (Although I still despise the karma thing.)

I think that in addition to knowing what platforms just aren't for you, period, it's good to know what ones you're just going to be a casual, occasional participant in.