Comments on: The Social Media Numbers Game And Why It Is Best Not To Participate http://www.simplyzesty.com/social-media/social-media-numbers-game-participate/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=social-media-numbers-game-participate Building your brand through social media Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Palak http://www.simplyzesty.com/social-media/social-media-numbers-game-participate/#comment-11760 Palak Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:43:16 +0000 http://www.simplyzesty.com/?p=10444#comment-11760 Very intriguing talk with Seth Godin.I felt like each word he spoke was so true and I have also been feeling the same.I am still a learner in the field of social media,but recently my supervisor gave the this task.He asked me that are you familiar with social media platforms,I said yes.Then he said,Ok then can you help increase our number of friends or followers.I said I can start networking and communicating with them on FB and other platforms,exchange useful information and increase in the number of friends would follow by itself. But he said,no I dont want you to just network there on FB,I just want an increase in number of friends. At this time,I asked myself,not him,what would happen if few numbers increased,who are those people,do we even know them,if asked for business or any suggestion-would they give their view. Very intriguing talk with Seth Godin.I felt like each word he spoke was so true and I have also been feeling the same.I am still a learner in the field of social media,but recently my supervisor gave the this task.He asked me that are you familiar with social media platforms,I said yes.Then he said,Ok then can you help increase our number of friends or followers.I said I can start networking and communicating with them on FB and other platforms,exchange useful information and increase in the number of friends would follow by itself.
But he said,no I dont want you to just network there on FB,I just want an increase in number of friends.
At this time,I asked myself,not him,what would happen if few numbers increased,who are those people,do we even know them,if asked for business or any suggestion-would they give their view.

]]> By: Paul Betts http://www.simplyzesty.com/social-media/social-media-numbers-game-participate/#comment-11758 Paul Betts Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:32:09 +0000 http://www.simplyzesty.com/?p=10444#comment-11758 The numbers game has another vital place in my experience. I work mainly with small companies who are often new to Social Media. I have found that (assuming all the other good stuff about engaging content, meaningful conversations etc.) a Facebook Page acquires something of its own momentum when it passes as small a number as 300 "Likers". Beyond this "magic" number people start to find the Page rather than the Page having to go looking for them. Not only do the numbers then grow themselves but the quality and value of those Likers improves all the time. The people who come looking for us are (usually) genuinely interested in what we have to say. The numbers game has another vital place in my experience. I work mainly with small companies who are often new to Social Media. I have found that (assuming all the other good stuff about engaging content, meaningful conversations etc.) a Facebook Page acquires something of its own momentum when it passes as small a number as 300 “Likers”. Beyond this “magic” number people start to find the Page rather than the Page having to go looking for them.
Not only do the numbers then grow themselves but the quality and value of those Likers improves all the time. The people who come looking for us are (usually) genuinely interested in what we have to say.

]]> By: Ken Herron http://www.simplyzesty.com/social-media/social-media-numbers-game-participate/#comment-11716 Ken Herron Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:11:17 +0000 http://www.simplyzesty.com/?p=10444#comment-11716 Great topic Niall, I do confess to being an evangelist for social engagement *and* numbers. I authored a post for the July "Social Media Marketing Magazine" I'd like to share: http://www.smmmagazine.com/blog/2010/07/17/size-matters-how-a-large-online-network-can-transform-you-your-marketing-and-your-business/. I look forward to the continued discussion. Cheers, -K Ken Herron Chief Marketing Officer | Co-Founder SocialGrow Inc. +1 888 SOC GROW, x2 Voice/Fax ken.herron@socialgrow.com http://socialgrow.com http://twitter.com/socialgrow Great topic Niall,

I do confess to being an evangelist for social engagement *and* numbers.

I authored a post for the July “Social Media Marketing Magazine” I’d like to share: http://www.smmmagazine.com/blog/2010/07/17/size-matters-how-a-large-online-network-can-transform-you-your-marketing-and-your-business/.

I look forward to the continued discussion.

Cheers,

-K

Ken Herron
Chief Marketing Officer | Co-Founder
SocialGrow Inc.
+1 888 SOC GROW, x2 Voice/Fax
ken.herron@socialgrow.com
http://socialgrow.com
http://twitter.com/socialgrow

]]> By: Chris Paul Norton http://www.simplyzesty.com/social-media/social-media-numbers-game-participate/#comment-11687 Chris Paul Norton Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:36:55 +0000 http://www.simplyzesty.com/?p=10444#comment-11687 Nice post, I agree with the fact that you only actually engage with 10-20% of your fans or followers on a regular basis. However, I do think bigger numbers can help in some areas because you have more potential contacts. However, the best way forward is to engage with as many people as you can by adding value and giving your fans/followers something useful. If you continue to do that and try and strengthen your online relationships that's when you get real value from social media. Nice post, I agree with the fact that you only actually engage with 10-20% of your fans or followers on a regular basis. However, I do think bigger numbers can help in some areas because you have more potential contacts. However, the best way forward is to engage with as many people as you can by adding value and giving your fans/followers something useful. If you continue to do that and try and strengthen your online relationships that’s when you get real value from social media.

]]> By: Scot Wheeler http://www.simplyzesty.com/social-media/social-media-numbers-game-participate/#comment-11635 Scot Wheeler Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:17:48 +0000 http://www.simplyzesty.com/?p=10444#comment-11635 Just FYI, Simply Zesty is my new favorite blog. So glad I found you guys. Thanks for the great posts. Just FYI, Simply Zesty is my new favorite blog. So glad I found you guys. Thanks for the great posts.

]]> By: NIall Harbison http://www.simplyzesty.com/social-media/social-media-numbers-game-participate/#comment-11617 NIall Harbison Mon, 26 Jul 2010 07:42:59 +0000 http://www.simplyzesty.com/?p=10444#comment-11617 Dont get me wrong although the chasing of numbers is not what I think people should be obsessing about in social media there are times when it works. Just last week I wrote about growing the numbers to this blog and I explained who 18.5% of the traffic now comes from Facebook. The thing is with that, just like the web designer example above there is a clear goal and that is driving business leads through to us. The thing with the web designer above is that he is probably creating some useful content and engaging you rather than just trying to get 5000 followers on Twitter for the sake of it. The point that I am trying to make is that getting engaged fans, followers, blog readers etc is far more useful that having 10,000 automatically generated numbers who are going to do nothing for you! Dont get me wrong although the chasing of numbers is not what I think people should be obsessing about in social media there are times when it works. Just last week I wrote about growing the numbers to this blog and I explained who 18.5% of the traffic now comes from Facebook. The thing is with that, just like the web designer example above there is a clear goal and that is driving business leads through to us. The thing with the web designer above is that he is probably creating some useful content and engaging you rather than just trying to get 5000 followers on Twitter for the sake of it. The point that I am trying to make is that getting engaged fans, followers, blog readers etc is far more useful that having 10,000 automatically generated numbers who are going to do nothing for you!

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.simplyzesty.com/social-media/social-media-numbers-game-participate/#comment-11594 Jonathan Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:30:06 +0000 http://www.simplyzesty.com/?p=10444#comment-11594 I'd argue that if your content is engaging enough to te average joe, and your in the business of page views, then Facebook fans/friends can be a very worthwhile excercise. Also, in terms of a startup it can be very helpfull. If I get a random friend or fan request I will always click to see what it is. Its a good enough way at the very least to get your brand in people's minds and to get initial engagement. For example if I think of web design companies in Ireland, 3 immediatly pop into my head. 2 are major companies, but 1 is a one man operation that has befriended me on Facebook and keeps popping into my status updates with his content. Without Facebook, I would have no knowledge he existed and thats value enough for that guy. He has befriended 1000's of people, and whats the chances he will be the first person they turn to for any future web development? I'd say high enough given that web development is a niche and not something where an average Joe can name 3-4 companies providing the service. So for him these masses of friends or fans are usefull. Another example of where high numbers of friends would be usefull if the content is engaging enough: Sex Imagine I launch a website that relies on advertising called hotchick's.com. Now suppose I befriend thousands of men and consistantly post pictures of attractive scantily clad females into their status feed daily, with the promise of more upon clicking the link. I would imagine that would have a very high click through rate and would drive lots of traffic to my site, were they may of may not click on Ad's making me money.. If your whole purpose of being on Faceook is driving traffic to an external site, then the numbers game can be usefull. I dont need these people to offer me a place to stay for the weekend or loan me 100 quid, just go to my website because that content I post in your feed is engaging and interesting to you (and click on a few Ad's while your there). Its a better traffic driver than most other techniques and I'd argue that the brand association (given they have not already friended your competitor) is priceless. Now of course this really depends on your business. If you had a paper clip company with 5000 fans, I'd think that's pretty much useless because frankly, who cares about paperclips except 0.1% of the population and likely 0.1% of your fans. At the same time, when those fans think of paperclips, your paper clip company pops into their head. That must be worth something I suppose.... I’d argue that if your content is engaging enough to te average joe, and your in the business of page views, then Facebook fans/friends can be a very worthwhile excercise. Also, in terms of a startup it can be very helpfull. If I get a random friend or fan request I will always click to see what it is. Its a good enough way at the very least to get your brand in people’s minds and to get initial engagement.

For example if I think of web design companies in Ireland, 3 immediatly pop into my head. 2 are major companies, but 1 is a one man operation that has befriended me on Facebook and keeps popping into my status updates with his content. Without Facebook, I would have no knowledge he existed and thats value enough for that guy. He has befriended 1000′s of people, and whats the chances he will be the first person they turn to for any future web development? I’d say high enough given that web development is a niche and not something where an average Joe can name 3-4 companies providing the service. So for him these masses of friends or fans are usefull.

Another example of where high numbers of friends would be usefull if the content is engaging enough: Sex

Imagine I launch a website that relies on advertising called hotchick’s.com. Now suppose I befriend thousands of men and consistantly post pictures of attractive scantily clad females into their status feed daily, with the promise of more upon clicking the link. I would imagine that would have a very high click through rate and would drive lots of traffic to my site, were they may of may not click on Ad’s making me money..

If your whole purpose of being on Faceook is driving traffic to an external site, then the numbers game can be usefull. I dont need these people to offer me a place to stay for the weekend or loan me 100 quid, just go to my website because that content I post in your feed is engaging and interesting to you (and click on a few Ad’s while your there). Its a better traffic driver than most other techniques and I’d argue that the brand association (given they have not already friended your competitor) is priceless.

Now of course this really depends on your business. If you had a paper clip company with 5000 fans, I’d think that’s pretty much useless because frankly, who cares about paperclips except 0.1% of the population and likely 0.1% of your fans. At the same time, when those fans think of paperclips, your paper clip company pops into their head. That must be worth something I suppose….

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