The Problem with Social Media Fame

No one knew what Internet or social media fame was 10 years ago. I don’t even think anyone thought ahead far enough to see it was a possibility. It’s interesting, though, looking at some of the “famous” people and watching what they do with this fame. There are some stories of true success – but more often than not, there are stories of propaganda and scams.

Without naming names or getting too specific, I want to touch on a few of the situations that I’ve observed over the past couple years and how they’ve evolved. I’ll also try comparing them to “real-world” superstars — I think you’ll soon see where the problems are.

The Twitter Trainer

He was nobody before Twitter loved him. He found a way to get 10,000 followers by following 15,000 people over a 12-month period and setting up auto-replies, auto-tweets, and auto-direct messages. Now, he’ll teach you that secret in his new ebook for just $29.95.

Some people will say that Twitter is the new MySpace — primarily because of the eagerness people have to build-up their “Friend” numbers. What does this get you? It gets you 10,000 people who could care less about what you have to say, and a seat in Followholics Anonymous.

The Twitter Trainer is akin to the guy who figured out how to scam supermarkets and food manufacturers for coupons, effectively reducing your grocery costs to zero. In theory it might work once, but in practice it’s unsustainable.

The Social Media Mistress

She was a geek in high school, and now that geekery is cool, she’s cut back on clothing and upped the makeup budget to lure vulnerable social media men. Once in her trap, she can promote and blog about anything – all to rave reviews from her hypnotized drone-like followers.

She easily garners attention by her provocative profile photos and her videos of holding a vibrating game controller while making a lustful face. Men flock to her and women hold meetings about why people like this are hurting the reputation of all women in social media.

The Social Media Mistress is like, well, I don’t know if she’s like anyone in the real world except for maybe a Paris Hilton-type. Men don’t care that she’s useless and women can’t believe that men fall for it.

The Social Media “Consultant”

He’s 35 and has been on the internet since the inception. He’s had accounts on everything from bulletin boards to chat rooms and forums and has observed how businesses and individuals can use these tools to their benefit. Because he’s a witness, he’s an expert – just ask him. He’ll sell you an hour of consultation for $199.

I feel like this would be similar to a music critic who’s listened to every CD ever made, and now wants to sell you his book on how to make it in the music business.

Why It’s Bad

There are people and businesses who hear that they should be using Twitter and Facebook in their marketing. They may be business-minded people, but the internet is new to them. How are they supposed to know who’s real and who’s fake? Watching someone get suckered makes my stomach turn.

I can’t tell you how many email I get through this site with people asking opinions about certain aspects of social media (especially Twitter) – 9 times out of 10 it has to do with how to get more people to follow them and if so and so product would work. I can tell you for a fact that what works is being real, having something useful to give to others, and engaging conversations with like-minded people. That’s it.

In the end, the people who put up fake and worthless persona to achieve some sort of fame or wealth, will end up creating a debauchery of the whole social media system. Who can be taken seriously when it turns out “everyone” is a fraud?

Your Advantage

The advantage you have is in using social media as the GATEWAY to your true self. Whether that is a blog that helps people with a real problem (not an intangible problem like getting more followers – please), or a product, or your retail store.

The difference between you and them is that you’re not just setting up a lead capture page or a sales page and using Twitter to sell-out your next conference call or webinar — you’re using Twitter as a single piece of a larger puzzle. You’re on Facebook to network with long lost friends, as well as stay in touch with new business aquaintances – and while you’re there, you also manage a fan page for your website.

Maybe you’ve been tempted to become famous on on the web. Maybe you’ve even been tempted to put together a product or service based on nothing more than the knowledge that you could probably get thousands of people’s money.

But you didn’t.

You didn’t because you have the desire to build a business that relies on your character. If fame is a byproduct of that someday, fine. But you’re in this for the long run, to make people’s lives better, and to secure a future for yourself and your family.

Congratulations.

Posted on Jul 1, 2009
Filed under: Social Media and tagged with: attitude, facebook, Social Media, twitter.