The month of July…where did it go? On the one hand, it was an exciting mixed bag of activity for me.  On the other, I was juggling a packed schedule with lots of cool work stuff and the complication of a scheduled vacation that I had to stick to despite some very positive and big developments going on in my business.  Typically, “vacations” — which are always the working kind for me — don’t occur in the summer and tend to be moving targets on my calendar, but not this one.  It couldn’t be changed for a variety of reasons, but the biggest one being it was a trip that included extended family; my parents booked a place for us several months ago when July and the summer seemed like a year away. But the moment was here, and the kids were looking forward to spending a week at the beach with their grandparents. Couldn’t disappoint the kids or my parents!

As a result, I took a little break from blogging, and got some extra time on the margin to well, think and observe the social media noise from a different perspective.  This also gave me an opportunity to just be generally amused by what happens when you jump off the social media train for a few stops.  So here are a few observations (ramblings, perhaps?) from a PR girl who took a brief blogging hiatus, while taking stock of her digital footprint:

Observation #1. Social media is making everyone c r a z y.   First reaction: why are so many so-called “experts” and just random folk telling everyone else what to do and what not to do when it comes to social media?  Is it REALLY that hard or that scary to figure out? Second, the word “broadcast” is a term that has all these experts up in arms, as they try to call people out for “broadcasting” — a big social media no-no, apparently. Gives me the twitters.

The amusing part of this for me is you don’t find this type of dialogue from traditional media folks.  Anyone know of magazine people putting information out there like “This is a magazine. Here are 5 Ways to Get More Readers and Use It Effectively for Your Business.”  Or, how about “Top Tips for Using TV for Your Next Marketing Campaign” — see any of that kind of info being shared anywhere? Yet, Twitter is especially filled with all sorts of “Get Popular Fast” and “How To” messaging, and lots of dialogue from people taking themselves WAY too seriously with their forecasts and predictions that the only media that will matter or be around in the future is social media…digital media…the online experience will reign supreme. There’s even talk of the complete opposite: that the web is dying/dead.

IMO, I believe all that is false.  People of all ages and backgrounds will continue to share information and consume information in many ways via multiple channels.  Business models will have to change and adapt, but magazines, TV, web and radio aren’t going to die.  Content is going to continue to reign supreme, for sure, and distribution will continue to be segmented and targeted in a variety of ways.  Marketers need to understand this now, and stop listening to the “print (or insert any media channel here) is dying” naysayers for starters. If you are in marketing, do the homework, religiously and continuously, to learn and understand where your customers are and how to engage with them in all the channels they use whether for information consumption, or product consumption.

Last time I checked, social media was pretty easy to use.  Just sign up and use it. Part of the fun is to explore how it works, and what works for you.  If you trip up, just keep going.  No one has an attention anymore beyond 140 characters. So, don’t fret.

Observation #2. Tone.  Refreshingly, the general tone of people, especially on Twitter, is to be genuinely helpful and supportive.  And there are many people sharing remarkably interesting things. But the irony is if you come across someone that you feel is “broadcasting” or “selling” instead of sharing…guess what? Unfollow or unfriend them. You can even block annoying people from following you. You have the power.  Carry on. I for one don’t want my timeline clogged up with people who make me feel like they are the self-appointed arbiters of what should be shared and what shouldn’t…so I also did a little pruning this month. It felt great.

Observation #3. The social web offers great content for any interest or topic.  Whatever business you are in, or hobby or lifestyle you pursue, you will find a like-minded group and wonderful, relevant information on everything from Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. So explore, be curious, and don’t be afraid to tinker. Isn’t that the best way to learn: to be curious, make discoveries and figure out what works for you?

Best idle amusement of all during my little blogging hiatus? It happened when I was searching for a YouTube video.  It’s a line that we all take for granted but it’s always been there right next to the YouTube logo: Broadcast Yourself.

The rest is history. And let me be the first to say it, there’s nothing wrong with that. Just keep it interesting.

How about you? Could you use the last days of summer to evaluate who you follow or friend, and why? If your timelines or news feeds are filled with people who bore you, or you either aren’t learning from in meaningful ways, or they haven’t really engaged with you, might it be time to prune and refine your information superhighway? Go ahead, take the wheel…and drive.