Facebook Makes Big Moves to Keep Ahead of Google+, But Social Media is Still All About the Message
If you’ve been involved in social media at any level in recent weeks, you’re undoubtedly aware that there’s a lot going on. Facebook has made, and continues to make, radical changes to its platform, and we’re still waiting to see how these changes will be received by its users. Since social media is a major component of my job, I’m usually waiting rather anxiously to hear each change as it is announced, but I have to admit I’ve had some feelings of apathy this time around.
It’s not that my interest in social media has waned — quite the contrary. It’s just that I’ve been devoting more and more of my energies to figuring out ways to help our clients produce and collect more compelling content, and how to build better, more engaged communities and networks.
Sure, I’ve read and reread all the reports and interpretations of the first round of Facebook changes unveiled earlier this week — and as soon as I’m finished writing this column, I will begin reviewing the latest announcements. Some of the reports are that Facebook’s changes will completely change the way users feel about Facebook.
In a review that reads more like a Facebook ad, Mashable’s Ben Parr says of the changes expected to be announced today, “developers will be elated, users will be shellshocked and the competition will look ancient. On Thursday, Facebook will be reborn. Prepare yourselves for the evolution of social networking.”
Clearly reacting to the presence of Google+, the Facebook folks are doing everything in their power to remain the dominant social media platform, and who can blame them? My only thought is this — that’s their battle to fight, and we, as individuals, businesses and organizations can only evaluate, on an ongoing basis, what platforms we will use to communicate our messages and build our networks. Remember, there will always be a message — the medium will change, but there will always be a message.
WESTCHESTER SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS — We can always go to Mashable or TechCrunch to get the latest big-picture social media information and analysis, but where do you turn for the latest on the Westchester social media scene? The purpose of the Westchester Social Media Facebook page, which I have managed for the past year and a half, is to provide a forum for anything related to social media in the region. Feel free to post information right on the page, or if you’d like it posted by the page, e-mail it to me at Chris@WestchesterSocialMedia.com
WordPress Meetup, September 28 — If you have a blog, chances are you are familiar with WordPress, the extremely popular open-source blog tool and publishing platform that runs more than 25 million sites, including the one that hosts this column. Did you know that Westchester has its own WordPress group, where you can meet and exchange information with others in the area who have an interest in this platform?
The group, which is known as WordPress Westchester Meetup Group, is centered on developing web sites and blogs using WordPress as a content management system (CMS). Discussions will include WordPress theme development, plugins, security, hosting, and information about WordCamp sessions in NYC as they arise. The organizer of the group is Jeff Marx, a web developer for the Journal News,which uses the WordPress platform for its blogs.
On Wednesday, September 28, the WordPress group will host a meeting called WordPress Security: How to Keep Your Site From Getting Hacked. The session will be led by WordPress developer Stephen Britton. The meeting starts at 6:30, and will be held at the Journal News office at 1 Gannett Drive in White Plains. Admission is $5.00 and RSVP is required.
Free Social Media Breakfast Event — 914INC will sponsor a Social Media Panel Discussion and Business Breakfast Tuesday, September 27, 7:30am – 9:00am at Antun’s of Westchester in Elmsford, NY. Featured panelists include Tara Carraro, senior director of corporate communications at Heineken USA, Michael Perry, chief product officer of House Party Irvington, Kris Ruby, president of Ruby Media Group, and Nancy Shenker, Founder/CEO of theONswitch, and me. The panel discussion is expected to cover the newest technological advances, the most innovative ideas, and the best practices designed to optimize social media for business and brand building. RSVP deadline for this FREE event has been extended until Monday, September 26 for this event — you must call 914-345-0601, x146; or reply by e-mail: PR@westchestermagazine.com.
WSM Column of the Week — I love reading columns written by people who live and work in the local area, especially when they convey a message that is on par (or even better) than what I am used to reading in the industry’s leading publications. I’ll be looking to highlight my favorites in this column on an ongoing basis. Please feel free to send me links to anything you feel is worthy of consideration. This week’s pick, by Drive Action Digital Managing Partner Chris Dessi, really sums it up well in this column on what social media is all about.
“You must understand that Social Media has nothing to do with a specific company or technology,” Dessi writes. “Social Media will not die ifFacebook dissolves tomorrow. There will still be social media ifTwitter sends its last tweet. Human beings make social media powerful…”
Have a great week, everyone, and I’ll be back with more on Westchester Social Media in two weeks.
Chris S. Cornell is the Director of Social Media at Thompson & Bender — a Westchester-based PR, advertising and marketing firm. He manages several online communities, and consults, speaks and writes about social media. You can follow Chris on Twitter, or join the community he manages on theWestchester Social Media Facebook page.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.