A couple weeks ago I was at a small gathering of senior-level women, sharing professional experiences in a cozy living room over wine and snacks. I mentioned that I was teaching a two-hour workshop on Twitter for business. The response from one woman was not uncommon. “Two hours? On Twitter?”
The class was last week, and the questions, dialogue and strategic planning that went on in that room spilled well past the two hour mark. And we still hardly hit the tip of the Twitterberg.
I understand the confusion. As one friend advised me, “People think that Facebook is where you hear what your high school classmates had for breakfast, and Twitter is where you hear what people you’ve never met had for breakfast.”
This is the new digital divide. The space between those who see social media as it is, and those who see it as it can be, and someday will be.
On Saturday, I attended Brand Camp University, an all-day immersion in all things personal brand. It was a tech-savvy crowd. The best pieces of the conference were tweeted (search Twitter for #brandcampu to get the good stuff), and this tech-orientation eventually became a collaborative learning environment, with attendees sharing photos in real time, and sharing notes with the rest of the group in Google docs — all through social media.
This is yet another case study that I can place in my “why” file — the list of fantastic connections, experiences and opportunities that have come from social media, in my life and others’. But the fact is that most people haven’t seen what social media can be, because they’ve been reading about each other’s breakfasts.
Luckily, there are some fantastic trailblazers on the case.
I was thrilled to see one of the presenters for the event was Mitch Joel. I ran out to get Mitch’s new book, Six Pixels of Separation, as soon as it was available and have recommended it to numerous contacts and clients since then. Mitch’s presentation didn’t disappoint. The premise of Six Pixels was evident throughout his talk, the idea that because we are now a LinkedIn introduction, Facebook friend request, or Twitter feed away from a huge portion of the global population, that we’re no longer separated by six degrees. The world is shrinking, as we become electronically interconnected.
And while this premise has huge implications for each of our personal success, what was most meaningful from Mitch’s talk was his message about authenticity in brand.
A lot of chatter about personal brand online is about the “fake stuff.” Less of the conversation is focused on why we brand in the first place–that we have something to contribute. If we can focus on what our message is, and how that message can benefit those around us, that will speak more powerfully about us than a marketing message ever will.
But most people aren’t tapped into the online torchbearers. Most people are still reading about each others’ breakfasts–or the marketing messages. And so they lose the richness of possibility that social media offers, and the associated opportunities.
If you want to see social media’s possibility, check out these social media visionaries that inspire what I do in my corner of the webiverse. All of them exemplify what it means to build community online. I’d try to synopsize, but really, you should just go read their stuff:
And don’t miss Mitch’s post with his thoughts on personal branding after Saturday’s conference.
If you aren’t yet using social media for more than virtual menu-monitoring, you’re invited to the community. Bring your causes, your aspirations, and your generosity and hop on board. I believe you’ll begin to stock up your very own “why” file.
photo credit: Visentico / Sento
Related posts:
- Top Tweeps: 6 Career-Focused Twitter Users
- 5 reasons to friend your network on Facebook
- Facebook Friends and Business Networking: Friend is a Dirty Word
- How does your personal branding message cut through the noise?
- Olympic Dreams? Social media may be your shortest route (video)
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Kristi,
As a fellow fan of Mitch’s book, I’m thrilled you had a chance to see him present at Brand Camp University. His presentation was absolutely fantastic. He really did challenge everyone to think about how they can make their personal brand less about themselves, and more about those around them.
Thanks again for attending!
Brandon
@bchesnutt
Brand Camp University Co-Organizer