As social media evolves, and our use of it changes or improves, we find places like Myspace seemingly growing old and useless. What used to be hip and swarming with possibilities, is just another space for emo pops and tech-defunct masses, and perverts to splatter the interweb with their rediculous junk food content and whiny mumblings. It has become a conductor of noise and junk. Where is the value?
But I’m not saying there isn’t anyone left in Myspace worth connecting with. Myspace certainly isn’t dead yet. And it’s far from becoming a Ghost Town. But for us, it does feel like there is a mass abandonment occuring.
For some of us who’ve embraced Social media and conquered applications still unknown to the non-geek world, you can understand why I refer to Myspace as a Ghost Town. Many of us are beginning to abandon the network, vying for more sophisticated communities on LinkedIn or the ever evolving Facebook. Places where it seems more “mature” and valuable are where its at.
We want real connections now. Not just friends by the thousands. Not just to follow, but to interact.
I want to say there is no reason to give up yet on Myspace, and in no way should we leave it to the kids for a playground. We can definitely utilize the benefits of this network and tools to promote great content and make valuable connections as well, on a personal and professional scale. Myspace is perfect because there are millions of people on there to meet.
People are STILL on Myspace, using Myspace, and promoting Myspace.
What appears to be a ghost town full of random friend adds and mindless spamming can once again become something of value to us as community leaders, as social media users.
How does one try to brush through the celeb wannabees, defunct emo girls, and airheaded spam profiles in our friends list to create a community of value and make real connections?
The first goal is to understand this is going to take baby steps. Many of us have around a few hundred to thousands of Myspace friends.
How can we connect? weed? reuse? Here’s my idea on how to make Myspace work for you.
MISSION: Make it a goal to peruse 5 myspace friends each week.
1. If there are stragglers that don’t produce any value to your content, or who aren’t obviously interested in you and your content: REMOVE. Filler isn’t necessary to build popularity. If you have quality friends, you will gain MORE quality friends.
2. Read, comment on their blogs, photos, profile, message them and introduce yourself. Getting to know your *friend* is the point here.
3. Each week, set a new set of 5 to get to know. You may start to get comments and messages back from the first 5. Think of the growth of connection and interaction between you and the list of friends. Its becoming more than a link. It’s people!
4. Provide real content in your Myspace. Don’t let it remain static. When you are updating your blog, your social bookmarks, or photos on Flickr, post the update in your Myspace. Provide interesting content in the blog and bulletins section. You’ll be suprised how many STILL use myspace and probably always will.
5. Promote and refer other friends to the friends you have. Sharing other people of interest or who COULD be of interest not only creates value for them, but for you. You are paying it forward, so expect to see good karma coming back to you.
Dang you nailed it! I dont even mention MySpace as a social networking site to use when I am speaking. I think MySpace saw the writing on the wall and that is a reason they started targeting the music industry.
Yeah very true. I like to bring new ideas to applying tools that probably are no good to use anymore. Giving it one more try kinda thing.
Nice write up but I have been really tempted to lose all of my Myspace “friends” and just use it simply for tracking the bands that I enjoy listening to. It is after all really good for that purpose.
As far as social networking goes, I am fairly new to it but I really think Facebook has got going on.
so true. There really are so many ways to use all of these tools besides networking too.
[...] -Remember MySpace? Oh your still on MySpace? Sorry. Well it is becoming a Ghost Town of sorts according to Natasha Westcoast. Read her great post called MySpace:Creating Community In A Ghost Town [...]
While this was written with MySpace in mind, I think it’s really applicable to other space including Facebook and Twitter. It ’s not about collecting but CONNECTING that brings value to any social network.
Amie, Appreciate it’s about connecting not collecting. Kinda like real life. Not everybody at the mall is an instant friend. Does it matter the venue? At my age friendship is something built over decades.
Certainly, the demographics have changed over the years at MySpace. But almost 80% of my BUYING (that’s the operative word) customers have come directly from MySpace.
Honestly, I don’t do much to proactively connect because I can’t seem to find enough hours in the day (that’s advice I need to glean from you!)…however, it’s been a majorly productive marketing venue for me because my connections there seem to be loyal fans more than close friends.
Now, over on Facebook – that’s where I share my “real life” and it’s much more intimate. However, my close friends always want things for free. So, in truth – my focus is on building a buying customer base…my friends are a great support system, but don’t provide me a dependable revenue stream.
Facebook = closest friends.
MySpace = biggest fans.
Still deciding whether I will ever create a Fan Page on Facebook…
Do you have one?
Hi Chandra!
You are correct on the demo with Myspace and other places. I personally dont have enough hours in the day. Considering a SM community manager! lol But of course I’m not getting one anytime soon. I do actually have a fan page on facebook. I’d give you the link but Facebook makes linking so confusing. That, I still haven’t figured out. ;-/
oh yes! Chandra and I were talking about that before. It’s funny how it works. I think there are different audiences surrounding each of these networks. Myspace being very different from Facebook, and even Twitter being completely different than both. So interesting.