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Anyone Else Tired of Social Media?
At a recent conference, a group was standing around and someone (who shall remain anonymous) bravely spoke up and stated a fact many of us have been feeling, thinking, and trying to figure out. "I really am tired of this whole social media thing." There was a bit of silence, but the nodding heads proved that many of us were in agreement.
I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that most of us in this space, RBC frequenters, unConference or Social Recruiting Conference attendees have been tackling Social Media - going at it - for quite a while now. Many for three years or longer. And the surprise is always there when a session is filled with many that have never even logged onto a social media site, let alone dig the Twitter scene.
It hasn't been easy, as a matter of fact, almost weekly the rules change. LinkedIn has started to look an awful lot like Facebook and the home page of Facebook looks like a Twitter stream and Plaxo lurks in the corner like some creepy cross breed of Facebook and LinkedIn. And the "keep up" is exhausting, a concerted effort to stay active and keep up with the changes is a must or is it?
I used to spend a couple hours a day cruising through Twitter and other sites, worried I might miss the next big announcement or an opportunity to respond to something hi-larious or off-the-charts. But something amazing started to happen about six months ago. Work got busy, then it got busier. And one might theorize that because I was keeping up, because I was aware of what was going on, surely this is why I became so busy. Perhaps, but the busy began to limit my social media time spend. And it was a good thing, I have learned how to quickly skim the sites for anything of interest or that might affect me or my job / company.
Effective time spend must be budgeted, just like effective money spend. If you don't measure the give / loss, how can you possibly understand the gain? Measuring the ROI of social media time spend is next to impossible for its reach is really unknowable. The only thing you can really measure is the time spent engaging, thus the time NOT spent doing something else, perhaps something more effective like talking to potential clients / customers face-to-face. Novel concept.
Social media is a great icebreaker, but it isn't the party. That's not always so easy to remember.
by rayannethorn
Tags: @Ray_anne, Bonus Track, Rayanne Thorn, RecruitingBlogs.com, conference, new meida, party, recruiting, social media, social recruiting, More…
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Charles Van Heerden on -
Hi Rayanne, great post and I think your comment about being prudent about the time you spend on social media is most insightful. If you have only one hour, the question is then how to make the most of your time, which means having a strategy in place, otherwise it is just dabbling. Not everyone is at the same level, and some people are only now catching the wave.
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Permalink Reply by Frank Zupan on -
Interesting dialogue. You said: "It sometimes feels like, because we are saying it so often and so loud, that no one is listening and that may be the frustrating part." I suggest that in this situation you have two options: change the message or change the messenger.
Unfortunately, it's unlikely that the conversation (or results) will be moved forward until the self-appointed "experts" and "gurus" that have so quickly entrenchenched themselves into positions of supposed wisdom find a new shiny object to chase after.
FZ
Rayanne said:Yes, Jessica, you were part of the actual conversation. ;-)
And we did discuss saying the same thing over and over again... It sometimes feels like, because we are saying it so often and so loud, that no one is listening and that may be the frustrating part. Especially when you look back and realize how much effort, you - yourself - have had to put into learning the SM space. The finesse required, the flexibility that is requisite, the necessary attention that NO ONE wants to pay to their online reputation or the multiple ways to drive SEO, not just paying someone else to do it...
I guess the conversation feels old because it is. Refining - redefining is good though, shortening the schpeel and increasing comprehension are the good results of us old fogeys having been here and done that, already.
A conversation worth having.
Jessica Miller-Merrell said:Rayanne,
I believe I was part of this live actual conversation, and I'm glad you choose to post about it. Looks like it was worthwhile to go out on the ledge and write about it. Sometimes I feel like I am having the same conversation with those new to social media at a conference or consultation. Given that this exactly what I do every day, I don't know if I am tired of it but it seems like GroundHog Day in a way. I have the same exact conversation multiple times.
I'm happy to help people dive in and discuss the ins and outs with the right way in mind. Those of us have learned a lot both good and bad along the way. The good news is that since I have the same discussion I am able to really refine and polish my conversation just as a professional speaker would giving the same keynote over and over again.
Good stuff!!
Jessica
@blogging4jobs
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Permalink Reply by Adrienne Graham on -
Frank, exactly (well partly).
Frank Zupan said:Unfortunately, it's unlikely that the conversation (or results) will be moved forward until the self-appointed "experts" and "gurus" that have so quickly entrenchenched themselves into positions of supposed wisdom find a new shiny object to chase after. FZ
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Permalink Reply by Rayanne on -
Frank-
It isn't the message or the messenger... it's the fact that so many still haven't heard the message. The audience is always different, so they are new and need to be taught, it is just surprising.
I usually run as fast as I can from anyone claiming to be an expert or a guru. I firmly believe there is no such thing for the landscape changes daily. There are only those a little more familiar with the landscape, those that are flexible and unafraid to dig in and try something new.
Shiny and new will always distract those easily distracted. I think it is just a lot of work and the message I was trying to convey is that sometimes the work is tiring and all the places you have to check in is tiring and all the profiles I need to update are tiring and there are just days that I am weary... That's all.
Frank Zupan said:Interesting dialogue. You said: "It sometimes feels like, because we are saying it so often and so loud, that no one is listening and that may be the frustrating part." I suggest that in this situation you have two options: change the message or change the messenger.
Unfortunately, it's unlikely that the conversation (or results) will be moved forward until the self-appointed "experts" and "gurus" that have so quickly entrenchenched themselves into positions of supposed wisdom find a new shiny object to chase after. FZ
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Permalink Reply by Jessica Miller-Merrell on -
Rayanne,
So I wrote about this topic kinda without referencing our conversation yesterday. For me it isn't always about the money or the fame. It's about getting someone to make that leap into the world of social media and test the waters.
Thanks for the good stuff. I miss ya!
Jessica
Rayanne said:Yes, Jessica, you were part of the actual conversation. ;-)
And we did discuss saying the same thing over and over again... It sometimes feels like, because we are saying it so often and so loud, that no one is listening and that may be the frustrating part. Especially when you look back and realize how much effort, you - yourself - have had to put into learning the SM space. The finesse required, the flexibility that is requisite, the necessary attention that NO ONE wants to pay to their online reputation or the multiple ways to drive SEO, not just paying someone else to do it...
I guess the conversation feels old because it is. Refining - redefining is good though, shortening the schpeel and increasing comprehension are the good results of us old fogeys having been here and done that, already.
A conversation worth having.
Jessica Miller-Merrell said:Rayanne,
I believe I was part of this live actual conversation, and I'm glad you choose to post about it. Looks like it was worthwhile to go out on the ledge and write about it. Sometimes I feel like I am having the same conversation with those new to social media at a conference or consultation. Given that this exactly what I do every day, I don't know if I am tired of it but it seems like GroundHog Day in a way. I have the same exact conversation multiple times.
I'm happy to help people dive in and discuss the ins and outs with the right way in mind. Those of us have learned a lot both good and bad along the way. The good news is that since I have the same discussion I am able to really refine and polish my conversation just as a professional speaker would giving the same keynote over and over again.
Good stuff!!
Jessica
@blogging4jobs
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Permalink Reply by Rayanne on
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Jessica-
It has never been about the money or the fame - if so, we are definitely doing something wrong. ;-)
It is most assuredly about the giving which brings unexpected receiving...
I miss ya too. And looking forward to the next time.
-Rayanne
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Permalink Reply by Jerry Albright on -
Just what is this message we're all supposed to be getting, and passing along?
Is there some obligation on our part to encourage others to join? Does their joining then help us feel better about the time wasted there? If we're all doing it - it's OK, then. Right?
The message I've been sharing is what I have found in my own reality. The more time spent on SM - the less time you are spending making real presentations to your clients and candidates. SM not only does NOT produce an increase in one's ability to move people forward in a your day - it eats away at your ability to do so.
That's my message and I'm sticking with it.
I've been part of the conversation - and it's the same old thing. I much prefer conversations with interested clients and candidates.
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Permalink Reply by Brian Pho on -
Social Media and recruiting is a good tool but once again, it must be used as a tool in your toolbox. Face to face contact, picking up the phone and calling are all old, traditional methods in sales but they still work! I use social media to keep in contact with some of my past clients that I havent talked to in years.. At least, it brings my name up and whenever they want something, they can contact me....
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Permalink Reply by Alasdair Murray on -
I do sometimes get the impression that some people are trying to re-invent the wheel, but not necessarily a better wheel than the ones that are already out there. Social media is great for promoting my business, I cannot deny that, but would I use it as a recruitment tool? Right now, no. Why? Because there is too much doubt and risk attached to it.
Say I wanted to recruit someone, let's say a mid level administrative person for my offices in London. I know that if I put an ad out on social networks I would get bombarded with response from far and wide, most of it irrelevant and poor quality. I would probably even win a Nigerian lottery I never even bought a ticket for. And, because of the mammoth response i would end up being unable to reply in person to each and every applicant and would thus get a black mark against my name as a potential employer. Were I to go certain routes via social networks I may even get accused of spamming and being an unwelcome and unsolicited intrusion.
Too many people have been convinced (wrongly in my opinion) that social media is some kind of recruitment holy grail. That it makes the press and job boards superfluous. That there is no need to pick up a phone, just put your job out there and woo hoo! here come the candidates from that global pool. All perfect, all relevant and in manageable numbers. Heaven on earth in fact. And don't forget, because it can be done for free in some instances, there;s no ROI to worry about!
If only! Fact is I have worked with some of the best recruiters over the years. Some are still clients of mine some 15 years since we first did business together. Why? Business relationships, regular communication. No false promises. The best recruiters see their candidates not as one off transactions but as people they can maybe help throughout their career. They keep in regular contact. They get referred. They build up a network of contacts. In some instances those candidates eventually become clients. That's the old (and seemingly not good enough) school way which seems to have been superseded by the modern way which is a wham bam thank you ma'am one of transaction with very little proper communication or follow up. No wonder so many candidates are disillusioned and employers swamped with response they don't want or need.
In short, the whole social recruiting band wagon is moving at a pace, but the trouble is those reinvented wheels aren't yet solid or tried and tested enough to sustain. Candidates want communication, opportunity and hope. Employers want relevant, geographically convenient staff. Social recruiting is at it stands no guarantee of either.
That's all folks!
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Permalink Reply by Rayanne on
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@Alasdair
I believe Jerry Albright was trying to say what you just said, as was I. It's a great icebreaker, but not the party.
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Permalink Reply by Alasdair Murray on
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Someone at TRU Manchester here in the UK just tweeted "Social media is like a free gift we have been give to reach the masses" - What? Cheap, tacky, tends to break quite easily? :-)
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Permalink Reply by Rayanne on
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Brilliant observation, Robert. This is a great conversation.
Social media/new media = great marketing tool - branding opp.
Definitely can help in sourcing, building community. Helps to get jobs out - but to whom? If your audience isn't listening, isn't in the house, it is for naught.
Cheap and Tacky? So is a bullhorn, if used the wrong way... I love that, Alasdair...
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