Some of the A-List has been talking about social media overload, and I for one have to join in the same complaint. As part of what we offer as social media consultants, we provide information about the latest and greatest technology available for a company to use in their marketing, advertising and PR campaigns. I have been wanting to write this post for quite some time, but it wasn’t until a post by Digital Alex entitled “My Friends Hate Pownce”, that I realized he was channeling my frustration.
Like Alex, I grow tired of the same but different applications, like Twitter, Jaiku and Pownce. The next company that thinks they have the next big thing in this type of application, please ask yourself will anyone say to you that this application we are making is going to be compared to any of the three above, scrap the project. If you are changing the colors and making the same application better, chances are it won’t be adopted unless it really knocks the socks off users. I have all three, but because Twitter was first, I have the largest number of users there. Why? because I started building my network there first. If I have to rebuild my network of friends for each application, it causes me to reinvent my social media wheel.
I like Alex’s solutions to the problem. I think Facebook is coming close to what Alex describes as a social aggregator, but it still has a way to go before it completes what he intends in his mind. My reinvention of the social media wheel also follows what he tells us is his solution to the networking. Migrate all of my friends for me from one application to another.
At this point there is really no need for a money back guarantee, as all of these applications are free, unless of course you have a pro account with Pownce, but I would be willing to pay for a service if it was the be all and end all application that did it all.
Hey Jim,
Thanks for the mention and link. The funny thing about My friends and Pownce is that I think they would actually like it if they tried it, but they were totally unwilling to give it a shot.
In addition to having first mover advantage, Twitter has a big community advantage. They have their API out there, so there’s a good bit of middleware. Plus, people are very enthusiastic about the service and have been embracing ways to extend it.
Frankly, I am shocked that AIM, Trellian, or Yahoo Messenger haven’t completely co-opted this service. There’s so much overlap and they already have a built in community. Essentially, these tools are just like persistent away messages. AIM is toying with the idea if you download their new beta, which lets you put in text for “moods”.
-Alex
Yeah Jim you’re right. Since I’ve been playing musical computers since WordCamp, I’ve really noticed how I haven’t really missed Pownce. I often forget Twitter … but I do get there more often.
As for Facebook … well time will tell. In fact tomorrow should be interesting as Plaxo is due to announce something interesting.
Thanks for the comment Alex. I too liked Pownce when it forst came out, but I had no way to import my friends on Twitter to it. I too am amazed that even people like Linkedin and other social networks have added the Twitter type communication with friends. Thanks for inspiring this post of me today, I think your wish list is on everyone’s mind.
I must be getting old, but I find most of these websites (Twitter, Pownce, etc) to be totally useless.
I don’t understand what the fuss is all about, but one thing is for sure, they’re onto something since so many people go crazy about them!
Carl,
It will be real telling after a year or two to see which ones had staying power. Like most things American, they like newer, shinier, faster, cooler. The real tell will be in the longevity.