I think of this every Friday when I copy my followers that week from my Excel spreadsheet to my word document, that I spend a lot of time trying to be “social” with social media.  I know what you are thinking…Excel spreadsheet…Word document…she’s geek of the week.

I just don’t get this fully automated social media nonsense.  It really seems like an oxymoron to me – how do you automate something which is supposed to be about social interaction?  That doesn’t sound very social to me!

I had someone reach out to me on my www.MidMajorMom.WordPress.com blog yesterday asking me about what I thought about adding personal stuff on her “pro” Twitter account.  Please follow @ldelmonte – she is an interesting lady and learning about all of this social media etiquette.  I told her I really did not enjoy Twitter until I spent more time doing @mentions rather than just Tweeting my ideas.  I also began enjoying it more when I took the time to read other people’s blogs and visit their websites.  It helped me know whether I wanted them in my timeline and I always get great pleasure ReTweeting someone’s Tweet if I think my followers will enjoy it as much as I do.

You can also over-do ReTweeting, in my opinion.  It is a lot like forwarding e-mails.  I stopped using one of my e-mail accounts because I have a person who ONLY sends me forwarded e-mails (who hasn’t read the one about the dollar coins not having “In God We Trust” on it by now? It does, by the way, on the side).  How many in this room delete e-mails whose subject line starts with FWD:?  Take time to tell me why you like the Tweet and you engage in “social” media.

I vet my followers and use thought when I follow someone.  I take pride in the fact that I follow only 17 people/associations that do not follow me.  I take pride in the fact that I am on a lot of lists (one list for every 15 followers…not bad at all).  I take pride that I personally thank each follower who took the time to follow me that week. 

When you Tweet with me, you Tweet with me!

Life is good!

Jude

Twitter: MidMajorMom

Twitter: JudeCaserta

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