When I became a Webmaster in 2001 the Web was so different than it is today. Becoming successful was much easier. I started making money fairly quickly. My rules were pretty simple as a Webmaster back then.
- Create a beautiful site,
- keep up with SEO and tweak my site often,
- create fresh content.
But, what wasn’t included in my rules for success back then was personal relationship. And, for me, that is what I found was the biggest change between the original World Wide Web and Web 2.0. Yes, the above is still true. Having a beautiful website that is constantly being optimized and fresh content added often is still extremely important, but it is not enough anymore. Personal Interaction with readers and other Webmasters and Bloggers in your Business Niche is a must.
Times have changed. If I had continued down that Anti-Social path I would have lost everything I had worked so hard to create. With the evolution of the World Wide Web into Web 2.0 came Social Media. Social Media is the way we converse with others over the internet. And, all Webmasters should be adding Social Media to their Business Plan immediately.
Here are some of the ways a Webmaster who is stuck in Web 1.0 can start using Social Media.
- Blogging
- Social Networking – (StumbleUpon, FaceBook, Twitter)
- Social Bookmarking – (del.icio.us, Diigo, blinklist)
- Message Boards and Forums – (Cre8asite)
- Answer Services – (Yahoo! Answers, Answers.com)
- Video Sharing – (YouTube, Jumpcut)
- Photo Sharing – (Flickr, PhotoBucket)
- Commenting (on other blogs and responding to comments on your blog)
Social Media brings back human Relationship to a standard Website. In order to be successful you need to add personal relationship to your business equation. Without adding Social Media I promise you that you will not see the true ability of your site.
Ruud Hein wrote an amazing post, “It’s
the participation economy, stupid!” In his post he points out that attention requires participation. Hein writes,
“If you’re not participating, you willingly give up mindshare and fail to influence.”
There is no room for Anti-Social on the Web today. So, if you are not a “people person” then you need to look inside yourself and figure out if this truly is what you want to do. If it is, move past it. The fact of the matter is that anyone can have a Website or be a Blogger. But, not every Webmaster or Blogger can be a Success.
There is only one Equation for success on the Web today. And, that equation includes Social Media. If you want Online Success there is no room for AntiSocial!!
very true. if you don’t like people then internet is really not your place. 🙂 people are everywhere in here! almost every site that was made to be is designed so that as many people as possible visit them. and the basic idea of internet? a way of communication. if you don’t want to communicate go to the mountains. just watch for the holiday mountain type. they’re dangerous. you might meet someone there. 😀
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pohojone – haha… Good point!! There are some days, however, that I would so much rather put up with the dangerous mountain folk. 🙂
Not trying to sound generic, but awesome blog here!
Looks like a nice mash up of talent all in one place:)
@Ryan – You are not sounding generic at all. Thank you so much for the compliments on the Blog. All 8 of us are thrilled about Collective-Thoughts. We all have different thoughts and opinions about Social Media that even I can’t wait to see from one day to the next what will be written about next. 🙂
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Good post. Social media has brought a whole new and interesting dynamic back to the web. It is an exciting change to how things are done.
@LGR – Exactly. I couldn’t have said that any better myself. 🙂
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So many ways to be social. With so much going on in our lives, everyone wants to get the maximum return on their time. It’s difficult to determine what works best; everyone has their own opinions. As for me, I’m old and set in my ways. I pick something (stumbleupon and blogging zoom) and focus on them.
Oh, terrific article BTW 🙂
@Desty – I hear ya. There are a ton of Social Media Platforms. You much choose which one is the best fit for you.
I’m glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂
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Thanks for the info. Just started my blog and am updating my business plan. This was extremely helpful
Lisa
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Hi Shana, this is a good post and a reminder what could happen if you are not willing to keep up with the times. Social media and relationships with your readers is vital for success.
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Hi Shana – good post. Very true really, as the web has advanced towards what is often termed ‘web 2.0’ – the importance of _literally_ engaging your audience (in a very personal fashion) has grown and grown.
Now it’s not enough to just have great content – people want to be able to comment, discuss and interact with the content – and the webmaster – as well!
Social Media is far becoming the life and breath for many sites, as you said when you compared to 5+ years ago, the web was in reality a lot different, more spam and people not really taking the social side as an important part of their life.
There was of course still lots of interaction but over the past few years this has just increased in leaps and bounds.
People are learning to communicate to each other on a personal level and we are only here once in a lifetime, be a person and interact with your community – it can only be a good thing.