In social media, fame seems fleeting

November 2, 2009
Jozi SunsetTransitory Twitter Stardom

I've just learned the value of carpe diem - seize the day, or even the moment. It's a valuable lesson, particularly in this new world of social media, where attention spans are so very, very short.

For the past few months I’ve been watching my Twitter status at Twittergrader go up and down, heading towards and touching the 100 percent grade, along the way apparently making me not only a top Twitterer in Johannesburg and Gauteng, but in the whole of South Africa.

There I was, sharing the top spot with someone who sells stencils - or maybe it was the Fat Loss Lady. No matter. Twitter fame beckoned, and fortune was sure to follow.

I’m not sure how Twittergrader’s esoteric algorithms or “rules” work (or worked; they changed overnight; make that last night) – it’s not about number of followers, for example, or even the tweets you put out.

But then.... no sooner had I had my arm twisted to actually put out a release about my shot at fame, than the rules changed, and a tweet went out from @dharmesh: “Just released a *massive* update to the Twitter Grader algorithm. Ranks will be erratic for a bit.”

Talk about a “bit”. I’m no longer in pole position; or even number two or number three.

Sheesh. While I do go on about the value of personal brands, I tend to be a little publicity-shy myself. I can’t but help feeling I have some egg on my face, if not other condiments.

But then, I was part of the Twitter Elite when the release went out, and for a few fleeting seconds (well, all of October 2009, actually), I had my shot at fame.

Maybe Twittergrader’s algorithms will change tomorrow or the next day, and I’ll once again enjoy a place in Twitter’s sun. Until then, I’ll keep on tweeting. And learning.

Posted by Axel Buhrmann

 

In the "new" world of social media, companies must cover all bases

July 6, 2009
By Axel Bührmann

Do we really live in a Global Village?

The clichéd view of a village – in the “Westernised” mind, at least – is idyllic, rustic.

There’s something Tolkienesque about it; it’s bucolic, benign, and under the surface all is tranquility. But anyone who has lived in a real village will tell you this is far from the truth.

Even the look that popular culture takes at village life portrays it as something a little off kilter. There’s subtle slaying in the ITV's Mid...
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Posted by Axel Buhrmann

 

Protect your personal brand on-line

June 15, 2009
Employed and on-line? Who isn't (on-line, I mean. Not so sure about "employed")?

You have three brands to consider:
  • the first is your own, personal brand.
  • the second is the product or service you sell.
  • the third is your corporate brand.
It should be easy enough to be professional about your approach to your corporate or product brand, but how professional are you when it comes to your personal brand?

I still have a hard time telling people that their Facebook personal brand needs to be ...


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Posted by Axel Buhrmann

 

"Web 2.0" and social networking

June 13, 2009
Published December 2007

After so many years of a top-down approach in mass media – “they” communicating to “the masses”– 2007 seems to have marked a turning point.

The masses have started pushing back. And on the ‘Net, communities are often stronger than corporates and even governments.

Many of “them” (both corporates and governments) don’t seem to know how to counteract the sometimes aggressive stance of their very vocal on-line opponents.

In an off-line world, a single vo...
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Posted by Axel Buhrmann

 

I got me a name on Facebook

June 13, 2009
It’s a dark, freezing Saturday morning. Just before 6 a.m. Freezing? It’s winter in South Africa, but I’m nicely bundled up, thank you very much – ever since the Eskom debacle I have been loath to use heaters and air-conditioners. Call me crazy; I say it is preparing for the inevitable – the next Ice Age.

Forget about the Global Warming hype, we know the Ice Age is a gonna come; The Clash predicted it in the days of my youf, and way before that Nostradamus predicted the rise of the ...
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Posted by Axel Buhrmann

 

About Me


I have been researching, analysing, watching, writing about and practising Web 2.0 (or social media) for many years - in the past nine years through monthly issues of Charged Southern Africa magazine, and online using the likes of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr. Now's the time for me to preach it on this work in progress, with these examples of my writing, photographs and videos. For more information, e-mail me at axel@charged.co.za