I've been battling with the naming conventions here for almost a year. This post is my solution. Of course to get to the bottom of things, we have break things down to their simplest form, so here it goes…
Networking – This is the thing that you did at Chamber of Commerce meetings when you started your own business. You attended these events with hundreds of other people who were better dressed and who wore strong cologne. Basically, it sucked and nothing ever came from it.
Internet – aka – the web, the interwebs and the place where the devil lives (if you listen to my mom). It's a digital medium that connects people around the world blah-blah-blah. Everyone knows what the Internet is, the important word here is Digital.
Digital – It's not analog. Digital is electrical – computers, phones, etc. It's the only way to get on the Internet. Without digital, this blog goes away.
Social – People communicating – that's all it is. Yes, it can also be people dancing, people working, people arguing, people interacting within in a community, etc. But social is still social – no matter what the experts say.
Media – This is the car you drive. Yes, you're still the driver, and you control where you go, but your car is what delivers you from point A to point B. And there are different kinds of cars, as we all know.
Now let's try to put it all together so that we're all on the same page, ok?
Social Networking – This is really no different than normal networking (see above) except that you can jump around from conversation to conversation. Yes, being on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook is Social Networking – but so is going to a Chamber function.
Social Media – This is the term I use to describe what we do here. Just normal communicating via whatever kind of car you drive on the Internet and which garages you park in.
There you have it. The correct term to describe what it is we're all doing here is probably Digital Networking via Social Media, but I'm thinking DNVSM is too cumbersome to really catch on. So let's just go with what I call it, Social Media (SM.) After all, this is my blog. I get to say what's right. You only get to comment.
Sigh.
Jim is a father, husband, copywriter and founder of smashcommunications and really isn't a dick. You can find him on Twitter @smashadv
Kat
Oct 14, 2009
Well, there you go. This post alone should qualify you as a Social Media expert. And your last 2 lines are the best reasons for having a blog I’ve ever heard. Good job!
Kat
p.s. You may want to explain that you don’t really mean “cars”. You know, for the real newbies.
Mary
Oct 14, 2009
I’ve also heard it called SoMe. As in Soho and so on. Er, aslo sometimes, as in ‘it’s So Me! But I’ll go with Social Media too. That works. ;->
Jim Mitchem
Oct 14, 2009
That’s me – mr. SM expert!! 😉
And for the love of God, does no one get metaphor anymore?
Jim Mitchem
Oct 14, 2009
I like SoMe. But the whole BIGlittleBIGlittle thing is so overdone.
James
Oct 14, 2009
Amazing how simple it all really is. Why do people have such a hard time grasping this?
But of course, where does crowdsourcing/consumer generated content fit in? And can you tell me what the ROI is? =)
Jim Mitchem
Oct 14, 2009
Explain breathing oxygen. It’s simple, we all do it, but the concept itself is complex. That’s the only thing I can think of as to why people don’t grasp it.
in terms of the other things, I believe they’re just as simple – but we want so badly to control outcomes that we complicate it. Olivier Blanchard (@thebrandbuilder) has a great sharepoint deck on ROI which is so basic, that anyone who takes a business course is introduced to in the first semester. We just like to complicate things. It creates jobs for people. 😉
Apryl's Antics
Oct 15, 2009
Ah, the Chamber of Commerce meetings. The best place to meet people who are as desperate as you are to find success.
edward boches
Oct 15, 2009
Interestingly, social networking actually makes me want to do more real networking. In social I am meeting more people that I actually want to get to know. As for this being your own blog, it’s not that you get to say what’s right (cause half the time it’s probably wrong 😉 it’s that you get to write whatever you want to say. Carry on.
Jim Mitchem
Oct 15, 2009
You’re a beauty Edward. I completely get the social part – before this thing, I was a complete recluse and took some pride in being the mysterious writer guy who sat alone in the corner and penned brilliant headlines. I love SM. I truly feel like I was born at the right time – to get the old school stuff in me enough to apply the good from that to the new. Though, the ‘hothead creative’ cliche stuff still has a way of sneaking in there. And yes, I truly love the fact that I can get this crap out of my head and published without it being run through the Gauntlet.
Scott Hepburn
Oct 20, 2009
I drive cars on the Internet. But that’s just me…
What we need is one of those handy Random Word Generator Arranger thingies. You know, so we can try different combinations:
Social Networking via Digital Media
Networking via Digital Media in a Social Sorta Way
Social Notworking
Social Media Networking Business Get 10,000 Followers
Social Social Social Social Social
Begging Digitally via Social Media (BDSM?)
Canada
SoShallow
InterNetworkConnectivitude
Social Networ…ooh, look! A train!
Just some thoughts…
Jim Mitchem
Oct 20, 2009
I suppose you think that’s funny Hepburn? 😉 Ooh – it is a train. neato.
My novel – Minor King
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