Three Tips to Becoming an Early Adopter

Jane | Problogging Success excellent point Jane. I've actually read several posts like that in the past couple of years. I like that we can go back and see people's track record. Over time some people distinguish themselves with their ability to assess the new services quite well while others seem to fall in love with everything :)

LynxToTweet your point about the overload is well taken. I have not been able to blog as much as I'd like to for example, but I have people depending on me at work and home and they (especially home!) are my priority. I have been largely absent on Google Plus sans a few minutes every few days since the burst the first few weeks. I barely check Email or social networks on the weekends anymore. I am really trying to be pro-active about this issue. Thanks for your excellent comment. What Outposts are most important for you?

hackmanj Interestingly enough, I really jumped into Facebook, Twitter and blogging when I decided to get a good grasp on social media. I work with small businesses and so I am always looking for a way to give them an edge.

I saw great power in making connections through Twitter and through commenting on other's blogs...rather than being as faithful to my own. Facebook actually remained somewhat personal for me, but I did try to get clients interested in my Page.

What I found is that my clients wanted to know about social media, but they were too busy to manage it themselves...and I knew I didn't want to turn social media into an advertising platform. So I decided to continue working on my core business and kind of let social media set for a while.

The interesting thing I found is that, just like regular human relationships, if you really do make good connections, those people are still there for you down the road. The connection is the important start, no matter the network, to me. Being there when needed and not fearing that you'll be forgotten is a great place to be. Twitter has helped me with that the most...and I still prize it as the best connector.

So, I love that there is variety in networks and several ways to get in touch. I think each can deliver a different experience. And I haven't experimented as much as I should, or been as consistent as I should (and I'm actually jumping from one personality @hannush to @LynxToTweet to get a new venture going - most likely considered a social media mistake)...but I am a journey guy, rather than an end result guy...I'm enjoying that way, and its a lot of fun building connections and taking strong relationships with you as you grow...even from network to network.

LynxToTweet I am living proof that you made a good move making the jump to your new venture. By including your @ handle on Twitter I was able to identify (and follow) the account because we already have an established connection.

I wish I had "gotten" Twitter earlier, better late than never but that is one network that I feel I largely missed the boat on (as a self professed early adopter anyway!). I started in late 2009 and certainly have benefited but I felt Facebook was more important at the time.

One thing I do need to make more time for is commenting on blogs, I went from daily to weekly to whenever I can squeeze a few minutes in. All that changes of course when I have a post, I feel it is my responsibility to respond as timely as possible to blog comments otherwise why bother?

It is always a pleasure Hanush. I need to check out LynxToTweet more. Where should I start?

hackmanj Joe, we are about the same on Twitter, I started a little late too...but better late than never. And you do an excellent job on responding. Its something I learned from Danny Brown...even if its just a "like" it shows you've been there and are listening.

The pleasure is all mine Joe. Thanks for giving me the chance to give a shout of for my new LynxTo web app. We had such a clamor for it when the word got out that we had to release the product before our branding was completely done...a good problem to have. If you go to the "Learn More" button on the home page of our new site ( http://www.lynxto.com/ ), I have a video from our Facebook Launch Party (another great use of Facebook) explaining the product.

Rather than another network, its a way to deliver people to your networks, which is what I feel the small business owner has been missing...a way to build a following so they are more passionate about investing time in them...we are excited about it.

Keep up the good work and posts. The quality is always high, so I'm not worried about the volume.

LynxToTweet what a great idea Drew, I really like what you did with this App. The landing pages look very professional and most people don't have the time to build out pages like them on their own.

Thanks for your kind words, it's good to know I wasn't the only one late to the Twitter party :)

hackmanj Its all about helping small businesses and people in a tough economy. If our government can't seem to do it, maybe we can with some creativity.

And better late than never!

CliffordBrownIII innovative thinking there CBIII. They do say that social media narrowed the "digital divide" are you referring to the under-privileged or the un-interested? Either way I can't disagree with what you're saying. The adoption rates among older generations of Facebook are pretty interesting. Thanks for your kind words and comment.

For anyone reading this CBIII and his Jazz band are featured in my start-up track for my Podcast. He's on the trumpet, it's in his genes, they have a great sound. Look up "The Brewing Company" if you're a Jazz fan.

hackmanj Well neither. I was talking about the engineer crowd who thinks of themselves as current and smart for not becoming and early adopter. Let the sheep test it. It's uncomfortable sometimes but both Facebook and Google have forced change upon the audience they have built over time and grown for it. For instance... I wanted an app that would sync the play start time of multiple iTunes instances over a network.

I had a party. We had iTunes inside we had it outside people had it on their phones. The current protocols insisted on streaming the content to the device to sync play time. I was surrounded by engineers and just wanted someone to come up with something that i could use to sync the start time of a playlist to the system clock of the system running it. Since all the system clocks are pretty close to a second or two off it really seamed like an easy proposition. These are engineers who work at major companies and develop the stuff you use. They were so busy defending the current work arounds for what we have now that they missed the opportunity to be had. I find this allot within the fanboy based tech community. We have done a tremendous job of branding all this tech. We haven't done such a good job of closing those social divides. For instance the Mac vs PC commercials or android vs iOS. There is enough market share and pocket space for everyone to have whatever branding they like. seems to me we would do better to market to those outside of our target audience and develop products that would have a more centrist nature about them and their marketing.

CliffordBrownIII ok, now I get it. So you mean you wish they would focus more on usable tools that solve our problems and less on being the most profitable/defensible technology property so to speak? It would be awesome if that was the case. It's easy to get caught up with what you think you should be doing and lose sight of what you really should be doing.

ginidietrich hi Gini, I am looking forward to the podcast, I am looking forward to breaking down this concept a bit with you and dannybrown . :)

Where is the predictions post, can you share the link please? I'd like to read it.

hackmanj Sure, Joe! There were two: http://www.spinsucks.com/communication/communication-and-marketing-trends-for-2011/ and http://www.spinsucks.com/social-media/eight-social-media-trends-for-2011/

ginidietrich so how did you know those would be the most popular? You are a genius ;)

hackmanj You're just now figuring that out?

EricaAllison thank you Erica! Your willingness to dig in and try different things plays nicely into this subject.

You make a valid point about determining which services to try and invest time into. We all have to juggle what we feel we have the time for and what seems to "work" best. I like how you gauge it based on how much you miss it, that's not a bad way to go. I would suggest though engage a new service with a bit more exuberance and work a little harder, I am curious to see what would happen if you did. My guess is someone like you could easily gain benefit from almost ANY social tool/network. Want to try and see if I am right? :)

hackmanjEricaAllison and ironically, it's hard to be the first on a social network and really get to know it unless well, your network is there! So it is an interesting dynamic. You definitely have to be able to find and connect with new people in that situation. You have to be able to work that room at the party where you don't know a soul.

Lisa GerberEricaAllison it's surprising how easy it can be to do that when you're willing to put yourself out there. Think back to your time in social media Lisa. Was there ever a point where you got involved with an established community and really felt at home and welcomed?

I thought of another example after reading your comment. Back in the mid 1990's before I started my business I had a question about an Autodesk product, I found an IRC channel #autocad, the people were so cool and helpful I ended up spending a year or so idling in the # and occasionally joining the conversations.

Lisa GerberhackmanjEricaAllison You have to have that trailblazing spirit...and an evangelist, once you find something you like...that is for sure.

LynxToTweethackmanjEricaAllison yep, a bit of the trailblazing spirit, yes. but you're right, Joe. It's SUPER rewarding when people you don't even know are so welcoming and receptive to your arrival.

Lewis LaLanne aka Nerd #2 interesting perspective Lewis, I have not been able to observe that sort of thing personally but I have observed businesses that are successful in spite of themselves :)

alanbr82 I managed to survive most of those 15 years without the coffee, but once my son was born it became part of my needs and patience became even more so! Being able to research things via the Internet has been a great tool for sure, most of my help in the 1990's came from Internet Relay Chat though, not the internet/search. Thanks for your comment Alan, enjoy your coffee :)

hackmanj Funny I didn't start drinking coffee until my daughter was born 15 years ago. In the 90's I was a product manager for Turtle Beach everything was through IRC, Compuserve or just figure it out on your own. People take for granted how much of an early adopter you where if you had a CD drive.

alanbr82 we very well may have crossed paths then! Too funny Alan. I was on #windowsnt on Efnet (and a few other networks) also #netadmin/others. Turtle Beach had some great sound cards. Whatever happened to them?

hackmanj Where eventually sold to Voyetra, they then changed the name to Turtle Beach. I believe they are doing well, providing mics and headsets to gammers. I am still doing some work with the founder on a new project for html5 and mobile. I like to stay in front it's the best place to lead from.