No One Listens at Social Media Conferences
It’s funny to me that the phrase that goes around social media circles is about how you need to LISTEN before you start participating in social media. Grow bigger ears. In that context it means to do some research and see what people are saying about you, your company, your industry, your competitors, products, etc. on social networking sites and online.
Many brands are still oblivious and are missing opportunities to get feedback and insights into what people really think. Most of all they are missing opportunities to create goodwill with others – and be likeable. People who like you are much more willing to forgive mistakes, stand up for you and buy from you.
However, if you go to a social media conference listening has a different meaning. People are rarely listenting at all – they are tweeting, foursquaring, updating Facebook, etc. I decided that when I pay to be there I’m going to listen. I’ll take notes and write about it later. I want to be there to meet and talk to people and to learn. I lost the desire to multitask. I used to be both the reporter and the attendee now I just want to attend. I would rather than talk than type on the breaks. Of course if it were breaking or really big I would tweet about it. So sporadic tweeting it is.
Is it just me? Does it bother you as a speaker or at a conference when no one is looking up? When everyone is typing away? Can you really listen if you’re “talking.”
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4 Responses to “No One Listens at Social Media Conferences”
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May 12th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
I’ve learned to unplug as well. I don’t retain much of anything if I’m tweeting away while someone is speaking. I love just sitting there, taking notes and taking it all in. There’s something to be said for that old art form. I’m with you!
May 12th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
[...] No One Listens at Social Media Conferences (newspapergrl.com) [...]
May 12th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
As one who was not able to attend the social media, I loved getting the live twitter feed and peoples’ thoughts on the event. I felt like I got the sound bytes. It was valuable for me, but I can see your point for those who actually attend.
May 13th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Great post. I have been thinking a lot along these same lines lately. I was at the same Social Media Conference, and I also didn’t tweet or type at all during the event. I listened and took notes with a pen and paper–old school style
. I think the challenge with live tweeting or blogging is that while you are tweeting and focusing on one comment, you may miss the next 4-5. I think this can make it difficult to capture the full picture. Also, I think there is tremendous value in allowing your brain to take “deep breaths’ while focusing on a single subject/task rather than forcing it to compartmentalize several simultaneously.