Smaller Indiana

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Kyle Lacy

Wouldn't You Rather Shoot At Fish In A Barrel?

Global Social Network Share

With the launch of the NING platform it has been becoming easier to create niche social networks. As a user, you can join any network whether it is location or interest based. The membership could range from 500 to 20,000 depending on the network and the participants. I have been talking randomly about the power of using networks that are geographically based (if you are using social media as a networking and marketing strategy).

Chris Brogan has a post that further enforces my idea that SMALL is the new BIG in Social Media. His post entitled Do You Have To Touch Every Conversation? talks about the importance of fishing where the FISH are located. As a fisherman you would not try to cover the ENTIRE ocean. What would you do? Try and find the right spot with the majority of the fish. It doesn't make sound business sense to cover the entire expanse of ocean.

The same applies to social media use. As a user you do not have the ability to cover every conversation online. You do not have to be on every social media platform. As a small business owner or marketeer it is extremely important that you focus on a set amount of networks and use them to the best of your ability.

You do not need to be on LinkedIN, Plaxo, Facebook, Myspace, Powne, Twitter, blah blah blah. Pick a niche geographic social network like Smaller Indiana (for the Hoosiers among us) and three global networks. Examples: LinkedIN, Plaxo, Twitter, and Facebook.

To quote Chris Brogan:

But is that really the goal? Or is the goal to fish where your fish are, to do what you plan to do, and to do it well?

Well said. I would much rather shoot fish in a barrell than cast a line in the entire ocean.

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Kyle Lacy Comment by Kyle Lacy on November 29, 2008 at 10:11am
I'm down with the boil the ocean concept! Good thoughts Matt! And thank you Al!
Matt Theobald Comment by Matt Theobald on November 28, 2008 at 2:11am
The quote "Boil the ocean" comes to mind. The map on Flickr is from August 2007. With FB so intrinsically tied to BarackObama.com and the explosion of use I've noticed there since Nov. 4th 2008 it looks like they (Zuckerberg and Hughes) are rolling on with the "campaign informatics" into the world of community organization. I have several small groups on FB that are modestly but richly populated. And you are right from my POV. SMIN, FB, LI, Plaxo and Twitter is all you need. for today...

So a multi-pronged approach. Boil the ocean + shoot 'em in the barrel.

m@
Al Barnett Comment by Al Barnett on November 26, 2008 at 3:48pm
Well put, Kyle! I have also found people who think it is better to cover the universe. Couldn't have said it better.

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