The “web elite snobbery” is really a loose term. When I mean web elite, I mean the following:
1. Those who have high standards when viewing websites and eagerly badmouth those who do not meet them
2. Those who have no idea that the Internet exists beyond their circle and this limits their topics
3. Those who profess to connect successfully in the social network crowds, yet fail to connect with those who they might learn more from as well as share their own knowledge.
Social Media is the ability to push your content out to the masses successfully. Successfully? – You might ask. Well, it means being able to influence others in an understandable way and allow those you connect with to learn and share with others. There are no secrets. You can read any book out there that has not been said already online – THIS IS A FACT! There are people pouring their passion out on their sites right now like Liz Strauss and Chris Brogan, who I consider new school in blogging and awesome blog rockstars and social media rockstars (and just in case – for those who skimmed – are NOT web elite snobs… far from it in fact), but there are people out there that have been blogging for a long time. You do not have to sell ANYTHING THAT COSTS YOUR VISITORS MONEY if you have a blog. You are selling your words and your time. Of course, there are people who make a living doing this besides professional marketers and social media consultants, but a lot of them write it down. Some people just want to connect with others in their same predicament while getting feedback in return. I have seen quite a few people become good friends through effectively connecting using social media techniques.
The problem is that there are people with what I call web elite snobbery are people who might realize what they are doing might hurt them, but they do it anyway due to trends/ fads, or it is the cool thing to do. It is NOT cool. It is a breakdown in communication and can hinder your ability to connect to a wider audience. Web elite snobbery is not for webmasters or social network users who have a blog or an account they stick to their own tight circle. Eventually, you will run into a wall and lose followers/ visitors because they get bored. You never learn anything new, because it seems all your visitors are like you. Your ability to be accepting of people who are outside your normal reaches will be the people that might surprise you.
The Internet is not high school. It is a whole other world itself with people looking for information while also sharing information too. Have you been guilty of web elite snobbery? How do you connect with others? What places do you recommend bloggers and social network users to learn the best in effectively influencing others?
I hate it when I try to reach out to another person and get ignored. A perfectly good one too, yet since I’m a small fry in this world, its a shame cuz they lost my business. And these experts types aren’t experts or they’d have answered and been happy to quote me for a consult.
It happens when you have a larger following than others too. Some really have no inkling on how to connect on the social networks other to use it as another chat room. What they fail to do is create more interest and draw in possible new visitors to their site. It only takes a little bit of time.
I'm curious to hear more about this "chat room" thing – it sounds like your criticism is pretty specific, that some people are just chatting up a storm with their followers on Twitter or the like, and don't take the time to say hi to anyone new?
I'm wondering whether I have some bad "web elite" tendencies. I can't say I've been terribly successful networking (although that isn't true at all of late).
This topic pertains to anyone closed minded about not expanding their website properly through social media. A lot of people who have felt they are “popular” because of their follower numbers sometimes lose that humbleness that attracted people to them.
I would not worry in your case. It does not pertain to you.
I dislike it on twitter … when people judge you by how many people you follow/following you. And now the latest is with the lists.
Personally I don’t care how many lists I’m on or anyone else is on.. It should be judged by how many people do you interact with.
I think the lists were more to try to interest people who might look at an individual’s twitter profile and check their lists to see if there is interesting within certain groups. It might actually be a way to recommend certain people you follow as well.
However, there are people who might choose to make it a popularity contest who fail to recognize the real use of Twitter Lists.
Hi Nile,
This is Jeffrey Baril of Source Blogger. How are you?
I think we all have come across some element of "elite snobbery" on the net. I am very careful not to come off as a "stalker" or "groupie" so there are no misunderstandings.
You are right, they do lose out on a lot of positive interaction…which is why the rest of us who value each visit/each comment/each tweet stay more connected to our audience.
We are the new generation.
Jeffrey Baril – Source Blogger
"Determined to make you a better blogger!"
My recent post Ask Yourself- Are You Networking Or Really Just Socializing