Confessions of a Social Media Virgin!

Written on March 12, 2010 by Ali Davies in Business Success Blog
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Confessions of a Social Media Virgin!I was a Social Media Virgin until recently. My first experience of Social Media didn’t blow me away. In fact, I must be totally honest and say I did wonder what all the fuss was about at first. For me, there was a lot of fumbling around, not sure if I was doing the right thing. Quite frankly, I wasn’t getting any satisfaction out of it at all!

The Social Media Pub – Pimps, Pushers and Shouters

I only started to experiment with the whole scene last summer. I know, I know – I am a late starter. At first, it felt like walking into a full pub and everyone shouting at me before we had even been introduced. It felt like the pub was full of:

  • Shouters – doing all the talking and no interest in what anyone else had to say.
  • Pushers – trying to get me to buy their “stuff” over and over
  • Pimps – telling me they could help me lose my Social Media virginity and make money at it!

Oh dear God, I felt like running a mile!

Getting past the Social Media Pimps, Pushers and Shouters

Despite all of this I persevered and I am glad I did. Having got past the “noise” at the entrance to the Social Media pub I made it to the bar. At the bar are the serious Social Media drinkers! Getting on with their business quietly but really know their stuff. They are interested in engaging in conversation, sharing information and useful resources. They are building community and genuine relationships. My kind of people!

You are probably wondering why I am sharing this with you. Well here is why:

I am amazed by how many Home Based and Small Business Owners I meet who are not yet into Social Media (I know, a bit rich coming from someone who only just lost their own Social Media Virginity!). Many are missing out on something that would really benefit them professionally and personally because they can’t see past the pimps, pushers and shouters at the entrance to the Social Media pub.

If this is you, then I encourage you to lose your Social Media virginity as soon as possible. Social Media is a great tool for Home Based and Small Business Owners on many levels. Get stuck in! I’ll meet you at the bar.

What are your experiences of Social Media? Please share your views in the comments below.

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  • Great post Ali... humorous, but with a very valid point.

    Looks like the blog is going well... hardly surprising with great content like this. Must stop by more often.

    All the best,

    Calvin!
  • Thanks Calvin. Glad you liked it. I appreciate your feedback and kind words.
  • Ali, Great take on the social media landscape. I'm delighted you got past the noise and stuck with it = you are now starting to see results. Thanks for sharing, Niall
  • Thanks Niall. Now that I know how to avoid and deal with the noise of the shouters, pushers and pimps I am loving it.
  • Hi there, Ali! I love this post! It parallels to some extent my experience. I came in and enjoyed Twitter for awhile and then left for a bit and felt like no one knew me anymore. Then I changed my strategy and started rebuilding my connections and deleting people that fell into the categories you mentioned.

    I always loved social media though -- but just needed to think about the conversation piece again more fully. Now it is so much fun again... I love people in general and connecting across an ocean just like over the back fence is delightful!
  • Hi Julie, I think you make a really important point - it is so important to know why you are on each social media site and who you want to mix with. Makes it so much easier.
  • rachaelgiaramita
    Found this blog post truly hilarious as I have only just recently lost my social media virginity, it was a pitiful attempt, but I hear it's quite common with your first time.
    Really glad it wasn't just me that felt this way initially, I do think your should start a theorising the analysis of shouters, pushers, and pimps!
    And just to add the pushers normally say " I'm not trying to sell you anything today" and then proceed to try and see you something, but yes I agree a really worthwhile experience.
  • Welcome to the "club" and glad you enjoyed the post. Keep with it, the folk at the bar are great people to hang out with.
  • brianp60
    Love your catergories of pimps, pushers and shouters.

    A great article.....
  • Thanks Brian. Glad you liked it. Those phrases just seemed to sum up how it felt at first.
  • OH sweet Mona Lisa this is a great post!! (Love the analogy as well with the Pub) Your message resonates with me for the fact I fell down many times, played with "software," mechanisms and other do-dahs that I thought I was supposed to use in order to gain followers. I was focused on amassing large #'s rather than reaching out and connecting with people.

    I still remember trying out some crazy WP plugin and ended up sending out like nearly 30 tweets in 2.3 seconds. Can someone say "spammer?"

    Anyway, we have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Practice that in social media and you'll start to get an idea of what your actions should be. Listen lots speak wisely.

    Welcome! (to the pub) lol
  • Tony, thank you so much for sharing your experience and your honesty about the route you initially took. Love your comment "listen lots, speak wisely" Glad you liked the post.
  • Great, great post Ali, you've hit the nail on the head with what happens when people first get into social media. The problem also becomes that many of the "big stars" or "big people" are the culprits of the silly behavior you've described... so those that are new, follow suit and end up hurting their relationships and presence from the start. Great advice :-)
  • Thank you so much for your comment Maria. What you say is so true - the newbie's can't see past the "noise" to start with and often get frightened away or head down the wrong path.
  • You make an excellent point about the serious social media drinkers. Although pushing through the throng of people who are interested in "one night stands" with you is daunting - some of them are very good looking and convincing!! - I definitely prefer hanging out with the people I know at the bar.

    Mine's a gin and tonic!
  • Thanks for your comment Chrstine. It made me smile and I can soooooo relate.
  • Ali,

    A great post with a clear view of Social Media; I particularly like your analogy of shouters, pushers and pimps.

    There are plenty of people to guide you thought the Social Media maze, however as you've quite rightly stated it's find the good from the not so good.

    Regards

    Paul
  • I think that is the same with any industry - you will always find a real range from fantastic good quality people down to those to be avoided! As you say, sorting the wheat from the chaff is the challenge.
  • stuartramsay
    Good post Ali. The people who are pushers, shouters and pimps online tend to be exactly the same in face to face networking situations.

    Once you learn who they are and ignore them, online networking can be really reawarding - and of course you get to drink your favourite brand of coffee and eat biscuits whilst doing it!!
  • Very true - important to learn how to ignore or get past the "noise" because there is something very valuable behind it.
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