Is social media use worthwhile if you don't have a blog?

nikiblack: ->@GrantGriffiths -in wave convo u said soc med is tool 2 promote blog & blogs are not SM tool. Not sure I agree-that's 1 way to use SM & blogs

nikiblack: ->@GrantGriffiths Thought that was interesting issue & wanted 2 throw it out there 4 discussion. That's not how I discuss blogs in SM book.

GrantGriffiths: @nikiblack A blog should be at the center of your web presence. Social networking tools are just that, tools to grow your blog

nikiblack: @GrantGriffiths Blogs don't work for everyone. Some don't like to write. SOcial media can still work for them & be their online presence.

GrantGriffiths: @nikiblack Blogging doesn't mean you have to write a law review article every time you touch the keyboard. Blogging is as simple...

GrantGriffiths: @nikiblack You can not totally engage nor build trust with your target audience on social networking tools alone like twitter or facebook

nikiblack: @GrantGriffiths I'm all 4blogging, but don't think it works for everyone. Preferably, it's anchor of web presence, but not necessary

JayFleischman: @nikiblack @GrantGriffiths Not necessary? In a world of self-identified prospects seeking relevant, timely and reliable unique information?

JayFleischman: @nikiblack @GrantGriffiths An online presence without a content generation mentality is doomed to failure. Period.

GrantGriffiths: @nikiblack You can not get the amount of information needed with social networking tools alone. They guide and direct them to blog

DisabilityGuy: @GrantGriffiths @nikiblack Social Networking was gateway drug 2 a blog 4 me. Found I needed additional ways to expand conversation

DisabilityGuy: @nikiblack @GrantGriffiths I'm on Social Media 2 learn & interact, blog 2 educate. Social Media helps blog, but not only reason 2 use SM

DisabilityGuy: @GrantGriffiths @JayFleischman @nikiblack Facebook has more eyes than most blogs will ever C. Filled w/ calls 2 action (causes fan pages etc

uMCLE: Agree w/ @GrantGriffiths that blog as base for social networking optimal but like @DisabilityGuy can be effect & not cause of SN @nikiblack

nikiblack: @uMCLE @GrantGriffiths @DisabilityGuy I agree blogs shld be base, but don't have to be. Can get a lot out of SM w/out a blog as well.

DisabilityGuy: @GrantGriffiths @JayFleischman @nikiblack @uMCLE Every Facebook LinkedIn & Twitter friend doesn't read blog, but I can still influence on SM

JayFleischman: @DisabilityGuy @uMCLE @GrantGriffiths @nikiblack Only if they see you, Steven. Blog gets them in, SM keeps them in your sphere.

nikiblack: @GrantGriffiths @JayFleischman Not everyone enjoys writing-it's a chore for some. Can be detrimental if not good at it.

nikiblack: @DisabilityGuy @GrantGriffiths @JayFleischman SM serves many purposes--one of those goals is to get clients.

nikiblack: @DisabilityGuy @JayFleischman @uMCLE @GrantGriffiths I disagree that blog has to be center. Don't think center of my SM presence is my blogs

JayFleischman: @nikiblack @DisabilityGuy @GrantGriffiths Only tangentially. Goal of SM is to establish relationships IMO.

DisabilityGuy: @JayFleischman @uMCLE @GrantGriffiths @nikiblack Actually opposite 4 me, SM has driven 2 my blog. Still more eyes from SM than blog 4 me

DisabilityGuy: @JayFleischman @uMCLE @GrantGriffiths @nikiblack Most I interact w/ daily on SM, not interested in my specialty blog

JayFleischman: @DisabilityGuy @uMCLE @GrantGriffiths @nikiblack And how did they get to you on FB?

nikiblack: @DisabilityGuy @uMCLE @JayFleischman @GrantGriffiths The find u on FB via ur email contacts, not ur blog.

nikiblack: @DisabilityGuy @uMCLE @GrantGriffiths @JayFleischman Also, IMO, blogs= form of SM--interaction platform, user generated content via comments

GrantGriffiths: @nikiblack I have to say you are most likely in the minority with that position.

nikiblack: @GrantGriffiths Not so Grant--Wikipedia agrees with me--blogs are a form of social media: http://bit.ly/1xAtG4

uMCLE: @nikiblack Absolutely. Blogs def SM. More relevant as base for professionals, not personal @DisabilityGuy @GrantGriffiths @JayFleischman

uMCLE: Some of my most meaningful relationships on Facebook don't blog and don't have to @nikiblack @DisabilityGuy @GrantGriffiths @JayFleischman

JayFleischman: @uMCLE @nikiblack @DisabilityGuy @GrantGriffiths But aren't we speaking about professional development, not personal?

DisabilityGuy: @JayFleischman @uMCLE @nikiblack @GrantGriffiths Hard 4 me 2 separate prof. development from personal. As attorney, personal leads to prof

uMCLE: If prof vs pers established earlier, apologize for missing when rudely jumped in :) @JayFleischman @nikiblack @DisabilityGuy @GrantGriffiths

nikiblack: @JayFleischman @uMCLE @GrantGriffiths Totally agree w/ @DisabilityGuy- prof-al & personal overlap greatly

JayFleischman: @nikiblack @uMCLE @DisabilityGuy @GrantGriffiths (E)very single SM expert I've ever seen says blog is the hub, SM is a spoke.

nikiblack: @JayFleischman @GrantGriffiths @uMCLE @DisabilityGuy SM is about connections, old & new--and maintaining them. Not just abt new ones

DisabilityGuy: @JayFleischman @nikiblack @uMCLE @GrantGriffiths Facebook Personal relationships have brought new people 2 my sphere by sharing about prof

nikiblack: @JayFleischman @uMCLE @GrantGriffiths @DisabilityGuy IMO, hub/spoke formula is most effective one, but not the only one, by any means

JayFleischman: @DisabilityGuy @uMCLE @GrantGriffiths @nikiblack OK, so how do you bring in new people who have zero prior exposure to you? Blog or SM?

nikiblack: @uMCLE @GrantGriffiths @JayFleischman @DisabilityGuy Either blog, Twitter, FB, LinkedIn, online forums, listserv or all of the above;)

DisabilityGuy: @JayFleischman @GrantGriffiths @uMCLE Ideally agree w/ @nikiblack should use SM & Blog, but not sure 1 more important than other. Both work

JayFleischman: @nikiblack @uMCLE @DisabilityGuy @GrantGriffiths True, but why engage in activities that are less effective? Tangentially, maybe.

nikiblack: @DisabilityGuy @GrantGriffiths @JayFleischman @uMCLE Bec different personalities are more suited 2 diff. SM mediums-No reason to force it

DisabilityGuy: @JayFleischman @uMCLE @GrantGriffiths @nikiblack All 4 of U R interacting w/ me solely from SM. U may've read blog, but discovered from SM

DisabilityGuy: @JayFleischman w/ ur reasoning, blog is least effective 4 me presently, so I should just use SM @nikiblack @uMCLE @GrantGriffiths

Comments

[Rex Gradeless]

Blogs can be the center of your social media strategy, or social networking strategy, but they are not necessarily. (EG: YouTube stars, Twitter stars - we only know these people form these mediums). Who watches the Shaytards on Youtube?!

That's a radical example, say a small business who only operates a Facebook page or a social network that allows for users to have their own blogs within the social network.

Pointing all your tools to one tool is a great strategy (depending on your goals) and pointing all tools to your blog makes sense in some situations. This may, in fact, be the norm within the legal profession.

However, I suspect this will change. I suspect strategies will differ in the future and people will be directed solely to Facebook pages or even Twitter-like feeds. Some law firms or lawyer may never have blogs and still have a successful social media presence. E.g. Me, I was known on Twitter before I started Social Media Law Student - did you even know I had a blog?! :)

Not to minimalize blogs. They do seem like more of your home when you can write in more than 140 characters. However, they are one of the many social media tools. Having the blog at the center of the wheel is a strategy but not the only one.

Just my opinion. (some may recognize it form somewhere!)

Also check out this - "Since When Are Blogs Not Social Media?" - http://www.copyblogger.com/blogs-social-media/