Tinu Hits The Social Bookmarking Nail On The Head
Tinu_Abayomi-Paul has been busy writing about Social bookmarking lately, and in particular the buying and selling of votes.
Tinu makes so much sense here (as she always does) that I had to add my own twenty cents worth.
I find that the growing demands to Digg, Stumble and Sphinn sites are growing more time consuming.
Tinu says: Feel free to send me anything, once you’ve friended me.
For me, this is the central issue – these are social networking sites that we are talking about, and networking means relationship!.
If I don’t know you, why should I bookmark something for you?
And if we are friends in the online sense of the word, a string of links via instant message isn’t a friendship, it’s a dictatorship!
Buying votes is a misuse of the system, and a violation of the terms of service.
Whether one agrees with the terms or not, they are set by the owners of the site, which is their right.
Social networking is a social activity, not a business activity. Business can come out of it, and is a great outcome if everyone is happy with it.
I find it a real bug bear though when someone befriends me on Facebook for instance, and then immediately sends me an invitation to check out their gaming/membership/whatever site as soon as I accept their invitation.
These are the shortest online relationships that I have, because I feel that I am simply being taken for granted!
If Tinu was offering something though I would definitely look, as because I know her, I feel that she can be trusted.
Of course, the same goes for my other friends on these sites as well.
I make a point of using Stumbleupon, Digg and Mixx fairly often, but I only vote if I like a site, and it has good content.
If I am checking a friend’s site and I like it, I will vote for it. Simple.
But please, don’t expect me to vote for poor or duplicate content, or any content that goes against my own values.
If you contact me via IM or by some other method, I will always respond.
If 99% of that contact is simply to ask me to Digg or Stumble something though, don’t bother.
That’s the quickest way to end up on my ignore list!
Points to Remember About Social Networking:
- Don’t try and buy or sell votes – it’s unethical and doesn’t work!
- Social networking is a social activity, not a business one!
- Dictating to people doesn’t work and causes ill feeling!
- Vote for good content, ignore the bad!
- Make good friends, good business follows!
- Upset people and bad business follows!
The way to success on social networking sites is to treat others with respect, just the way you’d want them to treat you!
And if you want people to bookmark your site, then for goodness sake get proactive and promote theirs as well!
I have so many people that ask me to Digg, Sphinn and Mixx their sites, yet rarely do the same for others that it leaves me wondering about the point of it all!
You’re an absolute doll for linking to me. And you’re so right about the friending – I often just type out the whole phrase “built a relationship with me” because some people think, oh, we’re linked on Facebook and that’s enough.
No, homie, it’s really not, LOL. I’m not saying take me to the Strip in Vegas, get me drunk win me some money, and a lap dance from — wait. What are we talking about?
Oh yeah, um you don’t have to be my best friend or my friend in real life but at least speak to me once and attempt to do something for me that enhances my life. This needs to be a whole blog post. 🙂 If you’ll excuse me.
Amen! 🙂
Teeg’s last blog post..Social Networking in 10 Minutes (or less)
G’day Tinu, Las Vegas eh? Hmm, wait until I win some money for me first, otherwise I’ll have to swim across the big lake to do it… 🙂
Thanks Teeg – I really enjoy your posts on similar topics.
I used to live in Vegas so let me know when you start your laps so I can coordinate a party. 😉
🙂 sounds like a plan…
LOL… too funny in the comments section. Let me know when the party’s happening… Vegas could be good 😉
It’s so true about the forming a relationship first and then perhaps sending links out. I am a little humble in that way. I think I have done it once and I continuously get pages sent to me to give the thumbs up or other bookmarking. I will thumb it up or bookmark it if I like it and if I don’t, I won’t!! Simple really.
Buzzing with Ange’s last blog post..Personal Development Can Turn Around An Idea Problem
G’day Ange,
Great! I can see the headlines now ‘Aussies invade Vegas to party…’
Relationship online doesn’t necessarily have to carry the same connotations as it does offline, though relationships can and do develop that way at times, but simple respect does go a long way.
I have a number of sites that I visit most days, and if I like the new content or blog post, I vote for it, and maybe comment. Simple!
Cheers!
Ohh I don’t want to be left out of the Vegas party. I learned to play poker last year…I’m just good enough to lose well. 🙂 So can I come, please? Not an Aussie, but I could be an honorary one for the trip. I promise not to swing on the light fixtures or act too much like a redneck (in any definition of the term). 😉
Teeg’s last blog post..Topics That I Want To Write About Soon
Hey why not? Southern girls from New York are always welcome!
I don’t play poker at all so I won’t be making money for the trip that way… 🙂
Note: Some swinging on the chandeliers may be considered to be mandatory behavior… please check party guidelines for details…
I guess since I’m a straggler I probably missed the party.
I know exactly what you mean Allan. Some of my “friends” only contact me to push pages or groups before even saying hi.
One was sort of amusing and had some wine drinking name. I didn’t join his wine drinking group and he must have realized I don’t drink. ha ha. I guess if you’re selling wine you don’t want a sober friend.
Sandra’s last blog post..Taking Time Out for Hobbies
Maybe not, but they’d sure handy when it came time to drive home.
Miss the party? Never – and if you did, we’d hold another one in your honor… 🙂
As for online friends, the fact is that they are a bit different to off line friends in that they can be thousands of miles away, but that doesn’t mean that people can get away with just using them either…