Let’s Connect for Social Media Week
This article was doing the rounds of social networking sites recently (just look how many likes and shares it got!) and so I bookmarked it to read when I had some time to give it more than a cursory glance.
One of the greatest pleasures I have found since starting blogging and getting involved in social networks has been watching how my network of friends and contacts have grown, and even more so, how I have been able to link up people who can help each other in some way.
Until I read this article, I didn’t know that there was a name for this – connectors.
Reading what Maryam Banikarim, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Gannett, publisher of USA Today had to say was a real a-ha moment of recognition for me:
I like people and am genuinely curious..I like stories and want to make connections. But I didn’t know the word for it until my husband read Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point and said, ‘I finally have a word for you — a connector.’
Ah she just described what I love so much about social networking – the people, the stories, the connections! Gladwell describes connectors as having an ability to span many different worlds, subcultures and niches. Traits such as energy, insatiable curiosity and a willingness to take chances seem to be the common thread among connectors.
It doesn’t take much for me to reflect on the power of social media (I’ve written many times about it on the blog) but I want to take another opportunity to celebrate its remarkable ability to empower and connect us globally this week.
This week is Social Media Week 13th – 17th February (check out the events that are happening across the world here) and so to celebrate the event, I have started a Pinterest Board for my wonderful #BCSM (breast cancer social media) friends – hopefully I will be able to connect you with someone new this week (just get in touch with me via e-mail if you are looking for a personal recommendation or introduction to anyone in my network).
If you would like to add content to this board to help others connect with you then just leave a comment and I will add you as a collaborator.
Not sure what Pinterest is?
Check out this explanation of the new social media platform sweeping the world. If you aren’t already on it, you will need an invite, so leave a comment below and I will sort one out for you.
Not interested in Pinterest but still interested in being a connector?
Then why not leave a comment below and introduce us to one new blogger this week 🙂
Happy Social Media Week, Happy Connecting and Happy Pinning everyone!
Related:
How social health networks will change medicine in 2012
How social media is an ally in fight against cancer
A tribute to cancernet friendship
Hi Marie, what a welcoming, warming post. My blog is especially for anyone with dairy and wheat intolerances where they’ll find lots of tips and recipes and a few musings of how I cope with those intolerances which may prove helpful to them. I also have a book on sale (details on the blog). Feel free to come over and chat anytime…https://speltforchoice.wordpress.com/ Please note I use spelt flour in place of standard wheat so a lot of my cakes would not be suitable for coeliacs.
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Thanks Marie, I’d love an invite to Pinterest if possible
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Sure 🙂 I need your email address, so either leave it here or send it to me in an email at beyondbreastcancer@live.com
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I would love an invite to Pinterest, please. Send to edpsychologist@hotmail.com
I live in a rural part of Canada, and for me, my breast cancer blogging friends are my support system. I don’t know how I would face this challenge without my social cyber network! I have “met” many facinating people….Marie; Jen (Jennifer’s blog); Shanna (Existing’s Tricky); Pink Underbelly; AnneMarie……and so many more, who let me know that I am not alone in my journey. Thank you cyber friends!
Florence (a.k.a. Cancer Warrior)
http://www.perksofcancer.com
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Done 🙂
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Love the idea! I’m already linked to new connectors, thanks to Pinterest and Marie. Being such a connector and spending so much free time on the computer caused my marriage to suffer, however, and I hope that doesn’t happen to anyone else. Just sayin…
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Marie, thanks for the invite and post. I actually designed the cover of my upcoming book in the fashion of Malcolm Gladwell’s book covers becuase I love his work and believe in connecting people with people and with information 😉
Be well!
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How wonderful Cara 🙂 I will be looking forward to seeing your book when it is published.
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ok… so I have no clue how to send this to the #bcsm pinterest board…. dimwit and dimpintwit, too… Heres the link to my board and perhaps you can provide me with some social media lessons… twitter…. Facebook (which I basically used to stalk my kids)…. and now pinterest (and autocorrect is killing me now too)…
love you marie… you are the SM QUEEN
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Ok hon..leave it with me x
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I love Pinterest – I had to “limit” myself to 30 minutes a day LOL. I think you may know I teach social media – I know our paths have crossed a lot in the past over breast cancer and of course BCW and the Cruise group, and my main cause is always breast cancer, but my career is teaching other social media. I have always loved your blogs…..and 2012/13 is when we cross the pond to be with friends and that includes meeting as many of my pink sisters as possible. ❤
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And indeed that is what I also do Carole -work as a social media trainer and consultant in my other life – though the two paths cross all the time 🙂
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Marie, I would like to have my picture, names of my thee books, and website on your Pinterest page. Is that possible? What do I need to do? I noticed the last two lines of one of my poems are on there. Thank you for that!
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You are a born connector Marie. I have met so many wonderful women through your blog 🙂
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Finally someone writing about Pinterest!
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