Day 30: Stop letting social media stress you out.

Throughout January, The Social Path is running daily tips on how to improve your social life — online, at least. Click here to learn more.

I wanted to close this month-long series with a simple message, one that's perhaps obvious but also worth keeping in mind:

You can't keep up with social media. And that's fine.

I spend just about every day immersed in social media, professionally and personally, and I still only scratch the surface of what's possible, what's effective and what's coming down the pike. The smartest digital pundits in the world aren't much better off. They spend so much time looking ahead, they grow blind to the here and now.

As a result, we all end up feeling left behind, like the last kid picked for a kickball team. But in truth, the distance between the technology leaders and the laggards is getting shorter by the month.

You'll never reach your potential in social media until you're able to get comfortable and find your voice, a process that inevitably takes time. That's time that should be spent focused on content and quality, not worrying about where the technology will drag you next.

So what if your blog doesn't have the hottest new widgets and plug-ins?

So what if you're still using Blogger instead of WordPress?

So what if you don't see the magical allure of FourSquare or FarmVille?

So what if you break some rules, write too little, write too much or use equipment that an AV club would have laughed out of the room in 1997?

"Perfect is the enemy of great."

Voltaire wrote that way back to 1772, and yet I find it more pertinent every day. The biggest problem in social media isn't a failure to adopt the right technology and tactics. It's a failure to make the most of what we have, a reluctance to focus on content over novelty.

So as we wrap up a 30-day series of tips, tricks and tactics, I want to leave you with one guideline that supersedes them all:

Social media isn't about adapting who you are to better suit the newest technology. It's about adapting the newest technology to better suit who you are.

Look at it that way, and you'll see the digital world as a place of unlimited options, not missed opportunities.

Photo credit: Sybren A. Stüvel on Flickr.

Comments

[Ike]

{{applause. while standing}}

[Arik Hanson]

Love the Voltaire quote. In fact, I may use that in a presentation later this month.

Thanks again, David, for this outstanding series. A tremendous series of tips and advice for *anyone* who participates in the digital space.

I sense an e-book in your near future ;)

@arikhanson

[Ross McCulloch]

Your 30-day social media makeover is inspirational!

"You can't keep up with social media. And that's fine."
- That line should be emailed to every social media sceptic immediately.

I've added David's Facebook for nonprofits Slideshare to my 10 must-read Facebook resources for non-profits: http://www.rossmcculloch.com/10-must-read-facebook-resources-for-non-profi

[Steve Kreis]

Thanks for a great series. I'm a social media novice and wanting to do more- you have inspired me and given me tools to make that happen. Thank you.

As a side note I'm 52 years old and at times feel like people "my age" are missing the social media boat. Maybe half of my friends are on LinkedIn, Twitter or facebook versus 100% of my childrens' cohorts. This makes my establishment of a Social Media Bulkhead for me just a tiny bit more difficult.

[Rosanne Gain, Gain-Stovall, Inc. (a PR firm)]

Thanks for the great series, which I have shared with friends, business associates and clients. This installment was particularly timely as I am coaching a friend who needs to explore social media but on her terms. I also liked the Voltaire quote, which I used when I shared it on Facebook. Thanks again for being there.

[social bookmarking]

Those joining sites like Twitter, Facebook & LinkedIn to “connect” to more people may in fact be doing themselves more harm than good. SoHo workers & Stay At Home Mom’s in particular often make statements like “Twitter is my window to the world”, ” I love the support I get from my Facebook friends”. However, in reality, seeing other build larger networks, and having more conversations with those people who are perceived as being “influential” may actually heighten feelings of loneliness.

[John R. Sedivy]

I heard a great analogy that was similar to your message here. It went something like social media may be likened to a party. There's no way you can attend every party - so don't even try. Just pick and choose the parties that you want to attend based on the crowds who frequent those networks.

I enjoyed your article and like the other commenters - liked the Voltaire quote!

[Mischa]

so true so true. I stressed out last month thinking to myself "how will I ever compete with all the expert voices out there?", and this month with trying to customize my wordpress site. I am not true techie and the amount of time spent on all the gadgets is taking away from time spent on my message and business. Thanks for some good insight and glad it isn't just me! :)

[Emma]

Social Media seems to be changing and advancing everyday. It is important to realize that you cannot keep up with it completely. But, for anyone interested in PR or communication fields, it is important to make an effort to know about various forms of social media, as they are becoming increasingly important in the business world.

I really liked your comment about not adapting who you are to new technologies, but adapting new technologies to your life and needs. I believe that is completely true. Forms of social media are there to be utilized by people and businesses if they please, they should not feel pressured to do so unless they want and feel it will be a positive addition to themselves or their business.