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March 2010
Using Online Social Media to Access Resources:
Are We Tapping In?
Only a short time ago, the telephone and the postal system were the only means by which you could contact a relative or friend living outside your local area. Mailing a letter took a few days, and phoning a friend across the country could potentially rack up the monthly bill. Communicating across the world, by comparison, was often a rare luxury due to its extravagant expense.
Today’s expanding technology allows us to easily access social resources not only at the local level, but now at a regional, national and global one. Online social networking websites provide users with an opportunity to reach out to basically whomever they want. Individuals are jumping on the bandwagon at incredible rates.
While the number of users has exponentially increased over the last couple of years, the actual usage of such sites is actually on the decline. Why is this? With access to more social resources than we could have ever dreamed of, why is usage declining?
Most likely, it is the inability of users to actually tap into the resources that exists within these sites. To be clear, we’ll define ‘social’ resources as contacts, information, knowledge and experience. When you connect with someone online there is an opportunity to leverage his or her social resources. By going online, you have ultimately gained access to resources that would not have been possible years ago.
However, many of us have difficulty doing the very thing these sites were intended to do.
Having a strategic plan for using social media websites is the key to tapping into these resources, and many individuals simply don’t have one. Going to these websites to ‘get something’ is only part of the process. It also involves giving to the network as well. This means that there has to be a high level of self-awareness in order to ‘give back’ to the very community we’re trying to take from. Many individuals go to these sites only wishing to take from them, neglecting to consider how they can give back.
As a result, statistics suggest that although there is an increase in people signing up, the usage rates have actually declined. What has caused this drop in numbers?
The most likely answer is that individuals are not able to tap into the potential that exists within these websites and as a result don’t see the value. The inability to see potential is most likely rooted in the simplest of forms: purpose. If there is no real reason to go to these sites, the likelihood of getting something out of them is reduced. ‘Purpose’ provides us with structure and, in turn, an increased level of motivation to continue returning to these sites in the future. Users will have a reason to frequent these sites if they know what they need to help them accomplish their objectives.
Additionally, the need to be aware of what we bring to the network is critical if we’re to continue to get something out of them. Who we know, what we know and what experiences we have had all play an important part in ‘giving’ to other individuals we connect with.
If you’re not sure what you need from these sites, at least be aware of what you’re willing to share. Ask yourself, how can I help someone today? Asking yourself this simple question provides a ‘purpose’ for visiting these sites. As a result, the motivation to visit these sites and access the vast resources will likely increase.
Social media websites are part of the future whether we accept it or not. The advantages, if used properly, are tremendous not only for our careers and businesses, but our personal lives as well. New technology has provided access to unlimited resources, and there is great potential that exists within. All we have to do now is take advantage of it in a mutually beneficial way.