Facebook, We have to Talk, I've Fallen for Another Network

Facebook, We have to Talk, I've Fallen for Another Network

Back in November I did the unthinkable, to the horror of my social media guru's and mentors I turned off my Facebook account. I was told that the end of my social media career was imminent, I would soon be crawling back asking for forgiveness and my Facebook account back. Well here it is February and I am doing well, great in fact, stupendous even.

Frankly I believe I made a good decision, I am not the only one who saw the Facebook writing on the proverbial monitor. Since making my rash decision I have read reports that Facebook is beginning to lose it's social media giant status, it is on the way down, what is the next latest and greatest. It has gotten too large and is very top heavy, at least that's whats the talking heads are saying, me I just think it has lived out it's usefulness life span, definition, people are bored with it. I mean does anybody remember myspace. It is inevitable that things are going to change, we have no control over it.
   
So I left while the leaving was good, since that day I wandered a bit. I snuggled with StumbleUpon, flirted with Foursquare, necked with Ning, lavished over Linkedin, and even rubbed Youtube. So where have I landed? I have to say that I am currently in a hot and heavy affair with Twitter. Twitter will be celebrating it's fifth anniversary in March, and last year alone signed on over 100 million people who put out more that 25 billion tweets. Twitter is going to make some big gains this year, mark my words. In my personal opinion, the big change can be credited with the addition of Dick Costolo, who is a former comedian who joined Twitter in 2009 as chief operating officer. Costolo has been able to lure business giants to the Twitter world, and has been able to show that Twitter could be a money maker for big business. Virgin America experienced it's fifth highest sales day in the companies history when it used Twitter to promote it's new service to Toronto in April 2010. This is going to be a busy and productive year for Twitter, and I am putting my social media money on Twitter to be the next big deal.

During the current Egyptian crisis Twitter teamed up with Google to give the Egyptian people a voice after the government shut down the Internet. By using phone lines people could call a number and speak their minds and have that digital voice converted to a tweet on Twitter. Now if you don't think that that type of action isn't going to endear Twitter(and Google) to the hearts and minds of those in middle east, you aren't paying attention. Social media is alot about loyalty.

I actually use a mixture of networks, a heavy, heavy dose of Twitter, with a good portion of Linkedin and a dab of Youtube. Linkedin is going IPO this year and they are making moves to grab more of the social media pie and you will be hearing about Linkedin this year as well. On the outside I think Youtube is poised to make a huge rush to the top section of the social media ladder. With Google indexing video now, Youtube is becoming more and more important in your social media campaigns.

Which ever one of these players figures out how to combine social media with social marketing AND make a profit will be the one to run with the ball for the near future. Until of course tastes change and the world gets bored and awaits the latest greatest. Heck for the first time recently the Android was rated above the Iphone. Things change