The Secret to Staying on Top
Secretly, we all want to be on top. Luckily, there’s a secret to staying on top that works every time.
It’s your friends.
Friends don’t let friends drive drunk, but they do let friends stay on top.
Of course, we’re talking about staying on top of what’s going on in the world, and staying on top of the information glut that exists online. You got that right?
You’re in the middle, but so is everyone else
We all live in the center of our own universes. Our contacts exist all around us, from our closest friends and advisers, to those a few levels out.
One of the key values of social networking is the information flow that comes in. Maintaining a good quality network is the best way of ensuring critical information bubbles to the top and reaches you.
There’s certainly no shortage of content out there. After all, we can all be media outlets, whether we’re ready or not. And no amount of software or technology is going to save us from the information glut
People help people
What’s most fascinating about social networks and using people as filters of information is when your network interlinks with the networks of other people. And subsequently, those distant networks become your network.
All of our networks are interlinked. But we can choose to ignore that. We can stay close-minded and focused only on the closest circle around us.
But how much valuable information do we lose because of that?
Our network can be a great filter of information. We can validate bits of information we get from distant parts of our network with closer parts. We can use information gained from one part of our network to benefit another part.
Micro-Media Steps To The Fore
And this is where the value of micro-media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) comes to the forefront. Micro-media is the perfect tool for staying in tune with all of your network. It’s a great tool for information gathering and sharing quickly. It’s perfect for catching waves of conversations and trends, so you can see what comes to the top.
All of the information out there can be overwhelming. But through your network - from your best friend next door to a distant, online contact you’ve communicated with solely through Twitter - your network is the ultimate information filter. Enjoy the ride on top.
I love the concept of people helping people. I also believe in the value of social media. However, there are so many avenues of social media out there that it’s easy to get lost in it. I would recommend focusing on one or two and staying consistent. What do you think of that?
Laura - I completely agree. In fact, that’s probably worthy of another post on how to get into social media, focus on those avenues that will work, and maximize your value out of them…
Coming soon to a blog near you… (well, actually, this blog … so stay tuned!)
This is very true. Good insight!
-Terra
http://www.BetterForBusiness.com
I stumbled this post. I think that it’s interesting enough that it should gather a wider audience.
Laura - I certainly appreciate the support!
[…] to the top is hard. Staying on the top is twice as […]
Just like the famous quote:
“You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”
~ Zig Ziglar
If networking is about helping people, it is great. But sometimes, we network to increase our net-worth. Nothing wrong with that. But that is like marrying for money. Just a thought.
There are hidden forces within human, everything is possible to get. to stay on top calls for little attention and techniques described here.
Kun - Great quote, thanks for sharing it.
Staying on top of it all is the most difficult thing about doing SEO / marketing work.
Great post. I notice how much your graphics enhance the readability of your text. The mountain photo (Everest?) is gorgeous, and the graphics give an easy way to visualize networks. With all the text I read each day, part of me (eyes, probably) sighs with relief to find information which arrives so handsomely presented.
Thanks Len. Glad you like the article and images. I don’t use images enough, but I try to keep that top of mind when posting — finding images that do a good job of representing the story, add a visual catch, etc.
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