Comments on: Friend or Follow: Why Not Both?

By: Amish Zaver

Amish Zaver — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 10:31:26 +0000

I myself have wayy more “acquaintances” on Facebook than i do friends, even less friends/acquaintances on twitter, mainly “connections”, BUT all serve their purpose to “network”. However, the ability to delete/repost just means communication can be heavily manipulated to get the wording just right, to prompt a desired response, im guilty of it and im sure im not alone.

This isnt necessarily altogether bad, whether you know the individual, only met them once or speak to them everyday. Ive found that these mediums have helped me brake the ice, keep a connection alive or relay a message, so that when i do eventually see the individual, theres far less animosity and awkwardness, get straight to the business since we've already flirted, ha.

By: charlieshelden

charlieshelden — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:37:06 +0000

Dan I think you are spot on. You can be covered quickly with all the various networks and contacts. Especially considering your commitment to always respond, of course you do not need to respond to this . I think it would be good to allow someone who “gets it” handle the corporate side. I think that would help a lot. Enjoy the blog, as well I enjoy the comments.

By: Dan Gordon

Dan Gordon — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:51:51 +0000

Thanks, Carl. It's very interesting to me that you have about the same amount of connections on both sites. I was looking to hear from someone that did. Also, That's really what this blog topic started out as, but now much of the discussion has gone even deeper. Had no idea the depth. It really sounds like you and I have an almost identical experience with Facebook friends not being into Twitter as much, and also if the following connections on Twitter eventually become more meaningful, then a friend connection is made in some cases over on Facebook which I like because I feel that I have really made a new friend in “real” life. Really interesting subject to me, on the spouse using Twitter. I also have tried to get, my wife, @aimeegordon to tweet more. She resisted at first, and still Facebook is definitely her thing. But, I think it's mainly due to her real life friends not being interested in, or using Twitter much at all. If they were all using it, I am pretty positive she would be on there more. Since Facebook is easier for them to share pictures, I assume, would be a huge reason too. Anyway, Thanks Carl very much for taking the time to post and share your thoughts and experience. Some great thought provoking comments going on here. Hope we get even more. Fun Stuff!

By: Carl

Carl — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:38:09 +0000

I have close to the same number of friends/followers, however, I keep the same tone on both. I clown around, share links, give shout outs to people and businesses I connect with, etc. I can see this changing if I continue my current level of Twitter activity. The more you tweet, the more followers you get. I tend to only friend people on facebook that I actually know or have met face to face. There are a few exceptions. If I find that I tweet back and forth with someone and we have common interests, I extend or have been extended a friend request. I love when I get the chance to meet Tweeps face to face and shake their hand though.

Not many of my facebook friends tweet much. I kind of like the difference in audiences. I have more focused connections on twitter. There is something that person is saying that catches my eye. I've been explaining that dynamic to my wife @beladonah. She is getting more active on twitter, to my delight!

Love the question Dan! We gotta meet sometime.

By: Dan Gordon

Dan Gordon — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:12:27 +0000

Thanks, Jim. Seems like a great plan of action to stay organized and efficient. I am getting way more into using LinkedIN and really starting to see the enormous value in it. It was something I wasn't giving muh attention. I suppose it reminded me of Plaxo back in the day, but when I saw the activity of friends and colleagues heighten in its' usage, I focused on understanding it much more intensely. I really like how you describe Facebook. I agree very much so. I have described Twitter as a conversation that moves quickly. Just like in real life conversations. There is less of a timeline, if any with Twitter. Just keeps on moving. On Facebook, I'm right there with you… view it as more of a diary, a log that tells a story which one can go back into and have more options to tap content from the past. Anyway, I really appreciate you taking the time to post. It's really interesting how most of us have some definitive parallels on how we use one site/service versus the other. Hope to talk again soon. Thanks! DG

By: jrr2ok

jrr2ok — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:22:03 +0000

I tend to break my social activity into three buckets that may intersect from time to time. I use Twitter for quick info blasts of either a personal or business nature (I don't care which). Because I spend a lot of time with my phone, I tend to manage most of my Twitter activity from there, too. I use Facebook as a bulletin board or long-term relationship management tool. I manage my friend requests, but I'm judicious about it. Finally, I use LinkedIn for business purposes, and I'm VERY strict about connecting on LinkedIn. With a couple of exceptions, I only connect with LinkedIn connection whom I've met face to face. We don't have to be close, but I trust my instincts on someone's “vibe” better after a physical encounter.

By: DanGordon

DanGordon — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:28:58 +0000

TRULY GREAT point on conversation being an artform. I couldn't agree more. I enjoy great conversation almost more than anything activity-wise in life. It's just amazing to me to get, hear from others, share, learn, evolve and also, most importantly I feel give back and share what you've learned with someone else. As far as the replying goes. I try my dead level best to answer everything I can on either/or any of the site I use to communicate. It is out of respect and I have always had this theory that if someone take the time to post, tweet or “say” something to me, I should return the courtesy every single time. Now, I also know alot of people think I'm absolutely nutso for doing this. And, I must admit it's getting much more difficult as I have formed so many wonderful friendships over a long period of time. But I want it to come from me and I want it to be authentic. The only thing I could possibly see as a solution that I would be OK with and bring myself to consider, is letting someone I know who would do a great job taking over the Samuel Gordon Twitter and Facebook that works in the store and gets Social Web stuff. The list of social sites I use has grown so to such a high volume, I guess I'm saying that I might, at some point need to consider letting in some air, so I don't suffocate. Does that make any sense at all? I sure hope so

By: charlieshelden

charlieshelden — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:16:34 +0000

Conversation Dan is a long lost art, I think we try to do it, but we fail. We seem to be always thinking of our responses. Silence is an amazingly powerful tool in conversation, it gives us room to exchange an idea for example…let thoughts sit and be absorbed. Perhaps with Twitter we create these spaces (silence) through the time it takes to respond or even if we choose to respond. Would you say you reply more to others tweets or facebook updates? I would say I'm 70/30 facebook/twitter.

By: DanGordon

DanGordon — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:58:51 +0000

Totally agreed, Twitter is much more relationship forming although not quite as personable, at least in the beginning, due to having more long time friends on Facebook. Interesting aspect to it, as well. The relationships we form, how we connect, and as a result how our behavior follows on each site differently…just like in real life circumstance. Meeting and networking versus going out with old longtime friends from all the way back. I Really Appreciate your thoughts on this, and taking the time to take it even a step further. Had no idea this topic had so much depth.

By: charlieshelden

charlieshelden — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:49:14 +0000

Good question and great observation. For myself, I find that my facebook and twitter connections are different while some do crossover it is seldom at best. I find I use facebook to maintain and connect with those I know or have known. While for me, I find it easier to connect with someone new through twitter, whether that be a commercial product or just a like minded group or such. Some of these friendships have migrated to my facebook as well…but we seem to mostly engage via twitter still.

I find facebook to be more personal, I don't know why that is. Where Twitter I find I can connect with people outside my social circle much easier. I think maybe with twitter you are limited to what you can say so you get right to the point (unlike this post). Who knows….oh so much to ponder.