So Chris Brogan asked a question on his blog today about “Why Are You Investigating Social Media?” and I thought that was a very interesting question. Below is what I left in the comment portion of his post.
In addition to the personal reasons, I am also vested in this from a business point of view as well. I am an owner of an online dating community that has just launched. I see the understanding of all things social media related as crucial to everything that I am trying to do. I am most interested in looking to see the mix between both online social media tools, and how they also help people connect in the offline world. In addition I have been involved with the internet since it inception, and have a thirst to know as much as I can about how to reach people, and create a compeling user experience in everything that I do.
Chris love the question, and it really made me think about what are the real reasons. I think for me I have both a business and a personal reason for why I am Investigating social media.
From a personal point of view, I am doing it to re-connect with old friends, and stay connected with new friends. I think a lot of time is spend on career and family these days and the social media channels allow me to stay connect with friends, in a convenient off hours way. I was able to finally connect with an old roommate from high school that I was unable to find for years through the use of a Ning site based on the school we attended. It had been 15 years, and the internet allowed me to finally re-connect.