What makes Buzz ROCK

Date de publication : 11 janv. 2011 02:01:15

And Work For ME, I Was Asked

By Linda Lawrey

I was asked what made Buzz work for me in another post I did, and we were discussing why Buzz wasn't working for one or some (?) of the "bigger" social media names, which in turn spurned another post here by someone else as well (cool!) This one though is about why MY Buzz experience is so enriched, both from a Posting point of view as well as a participator in others' Buzz posts. If engagement here is a problem for you, consider the following. So to make a short story long...

1. Titling A Post WELL.

The first few lines of a Buzz post ALSO become part of the PERMALINK (url of the post). You want the title in that, and not a random comment. Whether you share from Google Reader, a blog posted elsewhere (yours or someone elses), or any link - or you write a Buzz post from scratch, title it to get attention while keeping it cohesive with the topic. You can even title it different than what the autogenerated link comes up with. People scan titles first. It's what they see first. Bold the title followed by a dash sometimes. Use italics as well for what you quote sometimes. Take the time to add a line of your own in the post (about a link) instead of just posting a link. No harm though in posting a link only sometimes. We are all busy busy and not just online either.

2. Pictures.

A link doesn't always generate a picture to choose from. In that case, and for most of your written posts, upload one you find to Picasa (all Buzz users have a Picasa account) and then add it here to accompany your post. Pictures enlarge the size of your post and enrich your post so people can see it and notice it.. Why? Because it will slide down the Buzz stream buried amongst the ones that do have pictures if you don't. It's easily overlooked, and even when seen, harder to chase in a busy Buzz stream. You don't have to bother to do it all of the time, but sometimes you should. It can be a related image or a contrary funny one. It's up to you with each post.

3. Variety.

If you're a techhead, an artist, a photographer, or anything else, then the majority of your posts are going to lean in that direction, but vary from that often when you can. Show you are well rounded in your interests which means we know you will be interested in a variety of topics other people post. And honestly we all do have a variety of interests. We just tend to gravitate towards posting what we know the most about. (Guilty as charged)

4. COMMENT on your own posts.

If a post sits too long and no one has commented or liked it, chances are no one saw it. It was lost in your followers' Buzz stream. Not for all of your posts but if it's one you want people to see because you need help, feedback or want discussion, comment on your own posts to bump it up in the Buzz stream. For instance, when I requested and linked to someone needing help, those that could help weren't here at the time so I bumped it up a few times during the day til someone "arrived". If it still goes without comments, don't SWEAT it. Not everything you post needs to generate a conversation. Sometimes it's read and appreciated anyway.

5. COMMENT again.

But this time in a LOT of other people's posts, and with the same variety I mentioned, addressing other comments, and commentors @linking where you can, as well as the post itself.

6. LIKING.

When you don't have a comment, decide your criteria for liking a post. If you do have a comment you can still like it. Likes are very important to people. My generalized "liking" criteria is the following but you decide your own:

a. I like that they took the time to post that buzz even though the topic isn't likeable because I'm glad to have had the chance to see it here and most times see it here first.

b. I like the comments and the discussion.

c. I like it to show that I READ it whether I have a comment or not.

My not liking criteria involves several things.

a. I just forgot to do it but I did comment or I did read it. (Sorry - I'll try to remember)

b. The post is potentially inflammatory. (I already know there's no need to like it because the comments are going to make it unlikeable)

c. I haven't seen the post yet. If I see it and read it, I like it. So I probably missed that one.

d. I liked something but then the comments derailed with content that I don't WANT to be seen liking. Inflammatory, argumentative, sexually graphic, etc. You get the idea. I monitor posts I have commented in for that very reason. I will PULL my like if need be. Haven't had to do it but a couple of times but I've actually bowed out of a post by pulling all of my comments, and my "like". Not because of the post or the person posting it but because of the comments. MODERATE your comments and you have my devotion.

e. I won't like a post just because of WHO posted it. I'm not here to stroke egos. Give me something to like and I'll like it but there's no one here that's "all that". lol

7. MODERATE! (I'll say it again)

You are the HOST of your Buzz posts. Everyone that reads and comments on your posts are your guests. You and your other guests deserve respect. It's not a Buzz sin to remove inflammatory comments. I looked it up in the Buzz Bible and it's not a sin. You can disagree without being inflammatory to the Host or others in a post. You don't have to take abuse online no more than you do in your personal life. It's not about freedom of speech. For those that feel they must post inflammatory content, they have their own Buzz posts to do that in. (See how far THAT gets you because many will drop you for doing so).

8. Follows.

Many think that the less they follow the more they will enjoy Buzz. I found that is not the case. I would miss SO much if I only followed a few, regardless of the number that follow me. I've seen people say their Buzz is so slow. Looking at the number they are following, I see they are following a big FIVE people. Of course it's slow. Do the math. What's the chances those five people are going to be on Buzz posting at the same time you are sitting here ready to read something. I don't follow everyone back for many reasons but I keep my follow numbers UP. I want to see that variety. As someone mentioned the term "snacking" on content in another thread (the person's name who did, eludes me but I think it was @DeWitt Clinton and if I'm wrong I'll correct this - Edit, now I'm thinking it might be @Josh Wills), but anyway... I'm not hear to snack. I'm here to EAT.

9. Questions?

Many say that posting a question generates comments. I don't subscribe to that belief. Nor do I subscribe to saying "let's discuss this". You aren't going to get a comment from me that way. If my post or link interests someone, then they will ask associated questions which will come naturally during the course of the conversation. I don't like (emphasis on DON'T) open ended questions posted to solicit comments and they are easily recognizable, and honestly makes me think the person posting thinks I'm stupid to fall for that. When I actually HAVE a question I will ask it but I don't believe in a perfunctory question. It generates obligatory comments of no value. And I'm a firm believer that all comments have value so you see where I'm going with this I think.

10. REMEMBER:

The last Buzz posts that you do, show on your profile page! When you aren't sure what to post about, look at your profile page. What might be missing there that you would like people to know about you via your posts? When I consider following someone or following them back, even before I do that, I will scan down a few of their posts and actually add some likes and comments. Why not show them that by following me, I'm worth it right off the bat. While in your profile, consider adding links to YOUR favorite Buzz posts that you've written to your profile links in the right rail area. It's a great place to showcase yourself and your interests besides just linking to where you can be found elsewhere.

11. LASTLY. (Whew)

Drop your preconceived perceptions of class distinctions and cliques at Buzz. They don't exist unless YOU create them in your own mind. Because it "ain't" happening here. We don't care who you are or what you do. Your opinion and your "likes" (or anyone elses) are no better or more valued than the next person here. They are all valued and appreciated equally.

The more you are seen "around Buzz" besides your own posts, the more you are recognized as an active person here and that will generate interest in you and your posts. And be GENEROUS with the time you do have here. If that means following someone who is new and has no followers yet, go for it. (I just did that). We ALL were new once. WE ALL had ONE Buzz post once.

What would turn me off from Buzz? NOT having what I've mentioned above or people that do the complete opposite (link and feed dumping). It's not about the features and the api's and the algorithms. It's not about what can @Google Buzz Team can do for me or else. It's about the people here AND the Buzz team. Because the majority of those I follow do exactly the things I've mentioned above. The features we want to make Buzz better WILL come for the people who are here. The people make it worth the wait.

Does this sound like too much investment for the big names as mentioned in one of the links above? Yeah it does. But they didn't get big by NOT doing these things, and they won't stay big unless they engage with others in whatever venues they choose to utilize. It explains why many of them are unfollowed or ignored at not only Buzz but other venues, except for those that are there for the "ego orgy". Personally, I don't like talking and posting to thin air. For some reason, some of them don't mind.

If you want to be enriched at Buzz, look at what others do that enrich you here and adopt some of the same criteria. That's how I figured out what works for me. You don't have to follow my criteria above. Create your own. And if someone suddenly doesn't like you or what you post or unfollows you, don't SWEAT that either. It's NORMAL and happens to everyone in every online social setting. Where one leaves, there's five ready to take their place.

QUESTIONS? I'M KIDDING! (You did read this whole thing right?) LOL

by

Linda Lawrey

in one of the most reshared and liked posts