When do folks like me get a fair chance?
You know that scene in Broadcast News Network (thanks Rich & Marianne) where everyone starts yelling out their windows, “I’m mad as hell and I just can’t take it anymore?”
Well, after watching all of the goings-on on Google+ this week, and after doing my best to give it a reasonably fair shot, that’s kind of what I want to yell out to the online world.
Here’s the thing. When news first came out about Google+, I thought, “Hmm, ok, so another platform that may go away as quickly as Wave and Buzz did.” Then I saw all of the action Google+ was getting from the males in the online world, and what some of those males were saying, and I thought, “Hmm, sounds like maybe women will have a rough time making it over there.”
When I finally got in to Google Plus, I thought, “Well, at least I’m coming into this with a fair amount of Social Media experience under my belt. I’ve established myself as a credible blogger and a credible tweeter. I have a chance of getting to do some neat things early on in this new Google+ world.”
“It’ll be just like starting over”
One of the last songs John Lennon wrote (for the album Double Fantasy) was a song called (It’ll be) Just like Starting Over.” The song is particularly poignant because, of course, he passed away before he and Yoko could really start over like he wanted, but the song starts off with these two line:
Our life together is so precious together
We have grown, we have grown
Not to demean the song or get too mushy, but this is kind of how I felt about Google+. I was excited at the prospect of getting to talk to people who maybe I’ve only tweeted with. The idea of getting to converse in unlimited characters was rather interesting .
What I have found though, and what I think others are finding as well, is that Google+ is simply recreating the world of Twitter. People who had already made it big on Twitter or on Facebook already have thousands of contacts. People are gravitating towards the big names because the word got out that those folks were “accessible.” Meanwhile, folks like me, well, we’re chopped liver. It’s like starting over, but it’s not a pleasant kind of starting over. I’m finding instead that I’m in a position of proving on yet another social platform that I’m worth talking to.
That’s kind of frustrating.
I’m not asking for fame or celebrity or even equal treatment. I just want a chance.
To me, it feels like Google+ really should have been left to people who are so inundated with people on other platforms that they need a place where they can talk to each other and sort people out. There seems to be very little interest in really getting to know new people. The masses of people entering are looking for the big names, forgetting everything that engagement on other Social Media platforms has taught them (namely, chasing after big names will not really get you anywhere in the end). People who have thousands of contacts are getting so many responses to everything they post that it is already impossible for them to engage with people in any kind of new way.
I already know I can’t compete with those folks. I don’t really want to start all over again proving that I’m a nice third or fourth or tenth-place prize though.
My concern for you
If Google+ is your first dabble into social media, I worry that you are going to feel a little dazed and confused and discouraged, just like I did when I started out on Twitter. Folks with a lot of contacts on the platform are talking about how it’s a great place for conversation, how it’s increasing their blog traffic exponentially…and I don’t doubt that for an instant. But that isn’t happening for everyone. If it doesn’t happen for you, I don’t want you to quit or think, “Gosh, what am I doing wrong?”
You’re not doing anything wrong. It’s not about you. It’s about the way the platform was started and the way the masses are using it. Just like on Twitter, folks who want to stick around will have to find a way to get a voice in there, a new voice right for a new crowd.
What can you do about it?
Sharing posts by the big names, commenting on every one of their posts, and getting in their literal circle won’t be the best way to get where you will probably want to end up, but I know that the temptation is huge right now. Engaging with folks who are starting out just like you – that’s where the long-term gold is. Promoting others more than yourself – that’s still super important. Helping people out who are newer than you is how you can begin to differentiate yourself.
That’s all the stuff I’m going to try to do, at any rate. But I am a little surprised at how little credibility carries over from platform to platform when you’re a little guy. I wasn’t expecting that. Were you?
Or has your experience been totally different?
Image by pop catalin. http://www.sxc.hu/profile/catalin82
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Google+ seems to me like buying a new laptop. It’s shiny and new and will do all these wonderful things…. but all my crap is over there. Ugh. Slowly migrate over, split myself between the two.. why am I doing this again?
I bought a MacBook Air in December. I STILL have not migrated my stuff over from my over-stuffed, very heavy, pain-in-the-butt-at-travel MacBook Pro 17. Google+ is my MacBook Air….
And to your point as well. I am not DogWalkBlog over on Google+ They don’t let dogs in and that’s ok. I can manage all my stuff on my Twitter client and there is no need to rush. No A-lister is knocking on my door any way… But I suspect Danny Brown will cause that is how he rolls 🙂
Another great analogy. I would add to it and say that when I got my new and bright and shiny laptop, I migrated over to it quickly because it was far better than what I had been using (faster, etc). I don’t really feel yet like Google+ is offering me a particular advantage over what I’m doing now, so I’m dabbling, learning – but I’m certainly not anywhere near giving the rest of my homes the heave-ho!
Hi Margie,
I’ve never been a big fan of Facebook. I refused to join until my family members started using it for photo sharing about a year ago. I find the interface cumbersome. So when I first heard about Google+, I was hoping it would be a good alternative and I jumped on board straightaway.
You’re right about the duplication: most of the people in my circles (so far) are Twitter friends, but I have met a few new people through Google+. And I hope to meet more. I’m just using G+ to communicate in more than 140 characters. I’m a “little guy,” but I’m pretty patient, so I’ll wait to see how things develop.
Sounds like you have the right attitude about it. Of course, you always have the right attitude, so this isn’t surprising 🙂
The problem isn’t the platform, it’s the fact we’ll never be on an equal footing with those that made it big. No point moaning about it, this self-publication = everyone has an equal voice now is incorrect.
Look at media, we had 15 years of sites springing up, making a name for themselves and disappearing.
It took 15 years but traditional media eventually has bought or waited out its competition.
Welcome to the new guard, it’s the same as the old.
That’s a pretty big statement to make, Nic. Of course, I fear all “is dead” statements. What if they come back as zombies? 🙂
Anyway, I’d love to see you expand upon that in a post of your own. I think it would really get people thinking and talking.
Margie: I’m having mixed emotions about G+ too, but for different reasons. However, so far (subject to change when I feel like it), my approach has been to carefully treat it as the opportunity to blend my personal and professional contacts without scaring the hell out of one group and boring the hell out of another. I’m treading lightly I might add. The other challenge with G+ right now, if frankly, its like a WWF match in there, the testosterone is flying and there just aren’t enough women. Its not anywhere close to even 60/40.
However, I’m not feeling like chopped liver at all. I don’t care how many people follow me, and I’m not even bothering with identifying influencers. I’m finding smart interesting people with whom I wouldn’t necessarily had conversations with in other spaces..or maybe the conversations would have been shorter (esp. since I am addicted to Twitter). I’m intrigued b/c in this format we can truly get to know one another. I started a circle called “Smarter Than Me.” I mean, how cool is that?! Its not about 140 characters there, its not about sharing pictures (though you can) or checkins there. Its almost like a Quora/Twitter/Facebook blend, the conversations are longer, smarter and less noisy. Its kind’a nice.
Hi Tara,
Sounds like you are starting out in a much better place than I did with it. I think perhaps I was simply surprised that I was having an experience so similar to what it was like just getting started blogging or just getting started on Twitter. The thought of having to rebuild all of that engagement and all of that credibility just made me feel tired. But in the end, if you look at it as you are – a new cool thing where you can meet people, none of that matters. Lesson learned 🙂
Margie,
you read my mind. I never expected to hear you say what I was thinking. Don’t get me wrong I am a fan of Google+ . To an even greater extent then you I feel like nobody is hearing me on G+. With Twitter generally if you @ somebody you will hear back from that person, even if they don’t know you. I’m not finding that yet on G+. Probably will with time. I so see the A-listers are overun with followers and some of them are putting good content out there but it is overwhelming. Not sure if it’s a G+ problem or our obsession with everything celebrit (A Listers).
I’m full in with G+ because for me it’s better than Facebook and can do some things Twitter can’t. I am going to try to use it to make new connections and also do like you said, be a resource to those who need assistance. I love how humble and real you are and I know you will always remember where you came from and continue to engage w others who may not be as far up the food chain as you. Love your writing and can’t wait to see what you have coming up for us in Aug.
Such a sweet comment, Jim. Thank you very much.
I am sure that a lot of people are having that same kind of experience, which is sad. A lot of people quit Twitter after a month or so for the same reason I almost did. “Um, why is no one talking to me? I thought this was social media?!?”
Come find me over there and I’ll talk to ya 🙂
Like many others, I see your point, Margie. Fortunately, I’m still the little guy on Twitter, so my momentum is not quite lost on trying to carve a place for myself in both platforms. I’ve also found that I’ve been using them in different ways. For instance, Facebook has always been and will always be my “personal space.” That’s where I keep up with friends and family and nothing there is about business. Twitter is good for networking, and I hope that G+ will allow me to expand that network and engage a little more deeply. I’ve followed a few of the big names from Twitter, but overall, I’m looking for people who are in the same position I am with getting started in this industry/finding work, or those who have been there recently. I want to talk to those people on G+ (actually, while I can think of a few ok reasons to use G+ with my already-friends only, I thought it was kind of boring with just them!). I’m still sort of riding the wave and seeing what happens and where it takes me.
Another great post, as always! 🙂
Looks like you have your strategy well in hand. You are going to find your online presence growing as people realize how engaging you are tag-teamed with what a great writer you are. Be ready for that!
Did you use “wave’ as a pun on purpose, by the way?
Margie, I can’t find you on Google Plus.
Anyway,
“People who had already made it big on Twitter or on Facebook already have thousands of contacts. People are gravitating towards the big names because the word got out that those folks were “accessible.” Meanwhile, folks like me, well, we’re chopped liver. It’s like starting over, but it’s not a pleasant kind of starting over. I’m finding instead that I’m in a position of proving on yet another social platform that I’m worth talking to.”
Anyone who hasn’t gotten to know Marjorie Clayman is a pumpkin!
Hah well, that’s nice of you to say, Danny, but I highly doubt that’s true. (Kind of a nice thought though!)
Scratch that, Google + doesn’t know margie from marjorie. Added you!
Dear Margie –
I can’t even get an invitation. They tell me I am waitlisted. Speaking about feeling left out.
A suggestion in the meantime.
Please put some icons on your site for FB, Stumble, Digg etc. People are lazy. Your stuff is too good not to be circulated. Or, am I missing something?
I can send you an invite, Corinne. It’s about getting invites from people you know. I think Google just sent invites to people with tons and tons of followers for PR reasons.
Thank you for your comment about Stumble. I realized that I had thought it was there this whole time, but actually it was behind the “share” button. You should be able to see it and Digg now. Facebook is up at the top – the “like” option.
Well – thank you very much, Margie. Then I can at least see what you are talking about.
Glad to see the buttons. Just stumbled, Dugg and put your article on FB.
Great post Margie. Funny, I thought similar things last week when there was a rush on with some of the “big guys” to add as many folks as they could. It’s a numbers game to them, IMO.
I have not added one “A-Lister” on G+ precisely because they don’t engage well with others. I may follow a few on Twitter, but I will not add them on G+. Why? They don’t engage with me on Twitter so why should I take up valuable circle space and add them there as well? They’re not going to talk to “little ole me” there either. Besides, if I want to see their content, it’s on Twitter.
To me, it is what it is and it seems regardless of the platform, those types of attitudes will never change. I truly wish it was different on G+.
Well, people with big followings are really in an untenable position. If they don’t add a person or follow a person back, they’re jerks. So the pressure is on to follow everyone, add everyone, etc.
If you do that, you of course can’t possibly engage with everybody there is.
Not saying it’s right, but I think a lot of times big names get charged with being dirt-bags when really their scale is just too big. Maybe a result of bad planning, but I’m not sure there’s a way for everyone to be happy in that scenario.
[…] most of us mere social mortals simply look for a few comments etc…I give you this post by Margie Clayman who was explaining how she is somewhat frustrated by the large gap between the influencers on […]
Margie, great post. I liked your advice about communicating with everyday people…so I blogged about you and your discussion here. Thanks for the post and inspiration to write…
http://www.fusedlogic.com/is-google-plus-just-for-influencers-4971/
Hey Margie,
Great post! Google+ is a strange beast. My experience has been very different… but somehow I’m reaching a similar (frustrated) conclusion about the service.
Strangely, I found it too easy to connect on G+: while getting the first thousand followers on Twitter took me months of searching, tweeting, engaging… I stand at 2,000 on G+ after only 2 weeks without ANY significant effort to either post or connect with anyone. I only added google-suggested profiles to my circles, and watched my own numbers grow in pure disbelief.
Now, what value do I get? none whatsover. People seem to be either talking about G+ or sharing pictures of cats. Meh. I think I’ll stick to Twitter as my main base of operations 😉
Cheers
Tom
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fuck…
When do folks like me get a fair chance?…