Do you need a slap in the face?

Well, do ya? Punk?

Maybe you’re saying to yourself, “Man, my Google Analytics graph looks like it’s trying to dig a hole to China. Maybe I should give up.”

Maybe you’re saying to yourself, “I’m just tired of tweeting as if I’m alone in the universe. It’s so depressing. I don’t get it. This isn’t worth my time.”

Maybe you’re wondering if this whole Social Media experience is just a reflection of how dumb you are, or how inept you are, or how unattractive you are as a person. After all, look at all of those successful people. It all seems to be effortless for them.

Yep, you need a slap in the face. Are you ready for it? Lean in, a little closer. OK, here it comes.

We. Have. All. Been. There.

Here are a few things I can tell you.

The people for whom it all looks effortless – they’re like ducks. They might look nice and serene floating around on the pond, but their legs are paddling madly under the water. And guess what? This’ll really knock you silly. The more effortless it looks, the more effort it takes.

Social Media is maddening. It’s maddening because it’s all about people, and people are unpredictable, weird, silly, aggravating, and all kinds of other things. Nobody can really predict what an entire population will do about anything. Do you think you’re the only one who gets mad amounts of traffic for posts that you think are your worst? No way. Not by a long shot.

It all takes so much more time than you think it will. I know, you came into this thinking that it would be a matter of minutes a day. Maybe an hour. It’s not. It’s hours, and the hours pile up into days, the days into weeks, and so on. And sometimes, like maybe right now, you just aren’t sure if it’s all worth it.

It’s worth it. You’re worth it. So now what?

Let’s figure this out together.

We’re going to figure out this game. Over the next several months, we’re going to talk about Twitter and how you can defy the overwhelming chorus of crickets that greets you. We’re going to talk about your blog and why no one seems to care about what you’re saying. We’re going to analyze how you can build your blog into your Twitter account and how you can bring your Twitter crowd to your blog. We’re going to look at what you’re doing and see what’s working and what’s not.

This is not going to just be me babbling at you via my blog posts, so don’t think you’re going to get off easy. I need to learn a lot too. Maybe you have that darned corner piece of the puzzle that I’ve been looking for. Maybe you have that “Q” that will work really well with the “U” I’ve had since we started the game.

No more Debbie Downer or Dirk von Depressing

We’re going to work together as a team, and we’re going to strengthen each other as we go. But do you know what will be our kryptonite?

Those thoughts I threw out at the top of this post.

It’s entirely possible that you are not yet as successful as Darren Rouse. It could be, and I don’t want to shock you here, that you haven’t made a fortune on Facebook yet.

So what?

It ain’t over till it’s over, and we’re far from that point, now aren’t we?

I’m looking forward to embarking on this journey with you. I hope you are looking forward to embarking on this journey with me.

You are ready, aren’t ya? Punk?

15 comments

  1. Love the way you can mix humor and savvy.

    I knew from beginning social media was a lot of work and that was when there were a LOT less people to engage with. We now have to continue to transform ourselves which has direct reflection on what we bring to table.

    Thanks for putting a fun spin on things

    1. Thanks so much, Michele.

      I thought that there would be some time involved, but mostly for blogging – I didn’t really expect the Twitter facet to be as…interesting 🙂

  2. I find your blogs, recommendations of blogs to read, and your help network is truly a blessing to all that are new. I know you can’t do it for me but at least it paves a way or direction for me to learn less painfully.

  3. Margie–I must admit that your title took me by surprise when I saw @PushingSocial’s tweet but it got me to follow the link. It’s a great example of @JulienSmith’s post “How to Triple Your Twitter Traffic in 7 Days.”

    Your post goes beyond the hook to reel the reader in and show that we’re all in this together. Social media is a process not a few shots in the dark. Sometimes this is hard to remember when you’ve been pounding out blog posts and are seeing limited results.

    Lastly, your prose are great. I wouldn’t expect anything less from the Mother Goose of Twitter.

    I’m on board for the journey.

    Happy marketing,
    Heidi Cohen

    1. Well, I in part was playing with the title as a hook, but I also meant it. I needed a slap in the face not too long ago, so I know the sensation.

      I very much appreciate your kind words. I admire you a great deal, so it means a lot.

      Thank you!

  4. Margie: Though you are clearly someone with a wealth of experience & expertise, what is perhaps most impressive (to me, @ least) is your ability to share your insights in a way that *always* feels like you’re talking with us rather than at us.

    In the relatively brief time since I discovered your Twitter account & blog, you’ve become a must-read for me — & posts like this are why.

    Thanks so much for all you do to demystify the topics you write about, & inform/inspire your readers. Can’t tell you how much I (and, I’m sure, many many others) appreciate what you do & how you do it.

    1. Wow, thank you Hugh.

      It’s not hard for me to remember what this whole game was like when I first started. Sometimes it seems like a century ago, other times it seems like yesterday. I remember very well thinking, “Hmm, man, why am I having such a hard time with this?” It seemed like everybody knew the secret code and I hadn’t been given the memo. I’m trying to fill that gap as much as possible.

      I’m glad you find it helpful. That is certainly what I am striving for.

      Thank you again!

  5. Margie

    We all need a bit of a slap sometimes. We start to over think things and feel as if we are the only one who is having these feelings. Good news is that we are not the only one however, that does not solve the problem or make the feelings have any resolution.

    We all seek that popularity. We want readers to our blog as damit we are writing some really great stuff that people can benefit from but no one is coming. It is hard to say keep writing and trying as it will happen. We cannot guarantee that. The more popular, the more work they are doing despite it feeling the opposite.

    The truth is that there are more of us up and comers than there are the ones that are high atop and they are still learning. We are all learning and in this together.

    I have been slapped numerous times and welcome the opportunity to be slapped again as it shows I am doing something right in connecting with people – cuz if no-one lined up to slap me, then no-one was paying attention that I needed the slap.

    Luv ya and all your articles.

    1. That’s a very good point. Well, of course, out of your fingers to my eyes 🙂

      But it’s true. Knowing that people have taken note of your hard work and your presence on Social Media sites is extremely rewarding, which is what we all strive for. When it’s not happening for you, oh, man, it can be an awful feeling.

      Thanks, as always, for stopping by!

  6. Margie,
    Your writing is like a breath of fresh air. I am at the point of “looky loo” with all this social media stuff but your words are encouraging and supportive. You have a welcoming, witty and good-hearted approach – thank you! I enjoy reading your posts and you’ve got me with this one…

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