This post is my mini rant and stimulates from joining a particular blogging group on Facebook that shall remain nameless and me getting the feeling that it was pointless and a mistake for me to join in the first place! There may be one or two more that I have similar feelings about but, this one REALLY rubbed me the wrong way! I’m a social butterfly and networking diva so it’s my business to connect with EVERYONE! I’ll support (unless you give me a reason NOT to) and I know this virtual space that we share can sometimes be brutal, intimidating and just downright cliquish but, we’re all here sipping on the same virtual Moscato! So Relax!
After a few weeks of being a lurker (because I have to get a sense of my virtual surroundings and peoples online personas) I decided to become active on posting within the forum, group Facebook wall and participating in Twitter Chats among other online group activities AND… crickets! No real engagement, rare follow backs or even “likes†for that matter. So I said to myself… SELF, you must be really boring and not cool enough to follow or for your posts to be answered, shared, supported or “liked†on Facebook!
Well, funny enough I had the opportunity to meet one of the bloggers in the group personally at an event a few months ago and voiced my concerns to her and she said to stick with it and continue to post regardless. I’m just going to assume that she’s a veteran in the group and is a “cool kid†because she gets tons of engagement, shares and likes etc. I should also mention that she is supportive and shows social media and blog lovin’ to fellow group members!
I’m sure for most blogging and social media groups there is a team in place that consists of a manager and administrator(s) to maintain the group and its social media activities and pages. So after there were some posts made that required group participation and “support†I politely wrote a letter to one of the group administrators and told them how I really felt! If there’s one thing you EVER need to know about me, it’s that I’m going to get my feelings out! #NoFilter So… My letter went a little something like this! (Disclosure: Names have been changed to protect the privacy of all parties involved. Oh… I don’t do online Facebook, Twitter or blog spats and I won’t start now! #DramaFree)
Dear Karma,
(Getting on my soapbox for a minute, nothing personally towards you) *just certain things I’ve noticed within the Facebook group*
I love that you are doing the social media support activities in our group! I hope that people actually support and reciprocate because I’m on Twitter more than anything else and that’s where I want to grow my online audience the most, then FB, then Google Plus Etc. However in the past I find that certain people don’t follow back and I clean house quarterly so, if I don’t get a follow back I un-follow the person. I use Twitter as a means to communicate and build relationships as well as promote other peoples posts, brands etc.!
My pet peeve is seeing an account with thousands of followers but, they’re only following a few. (there are a few exceptions like… celebrities, “some†huge bloggers and big brands). Also, with the exception of you, most of the twitter chats for the group that I’ve participated in, I followed the hosts and the group account and haven’t been followed back. I un-follow accounts eventually for not reciprocating unless I REALLY want to hear what they have to say! The group owner doesn’t even follow me on Twitter! (But you want me to rock your community badge on my front page with pride?!?! Um… No!)
I feel like if a group is in place to support one another then we should truly embrace that and do it without being “selective”! If you want to do that outside of the group fine but to have a group for support with people being selective (mainly the admin and her clique) can be annoying. It’s also just WRONG!
I’ve slowed down on posting frequently in the group because I felt like I’d get the same treatment and no support. The social media documents that members fill out in the group are a great resource but, it’s not being implemented or made mandatory that we follow each other.
P.S. As a social media butterfly all I want to do is engage online. It goes both ways, I just don’t want to hear and promote other people and they benefit from my followers and influence. I want them to hear, engage and support me too! Communication is a two way street!
You are very involved in the group, how do you feel about what I’m saying? *Needless to say a phone call took place*
I’m NOT super sensitive and many other bloggers within the group felt the same way! At the end of the day, right is right and wrong is wrong!
So, am I wrong to expect that a Facebook group owner/manager follow all their group members on social media accounts if we follow all of the owners personal and group profiles? Also that they act a certain way… mainly FAIR to all of the group members so it doesn’t seem like they are playing favorites or are “using†members for whatever their personal reason(s)? This is a growing group there are less than 2000 members so I don’t think it’s too much to ask! What are your thoughts?
Mind you I’m am a part of a few HUGE blogging networks with thousands of bloggers. I’m followed by the networks adminstartors, brands they represent from multiple social media profiles and get supported as well! So what’s up with that? I’m over one thousand words so I’m going to stop writing now! Please weigh in… I want to know your thoughts!