This weekend turned out to be a weekend full of big social media changes.
Social media event #1 for the weekend:
The first and most fun piece of my weekend was attending BarCampMemphis. I had never heard of “BarCamp” before, but a quick Google search immediately pulled up sites for BarCamps in cities like LA, D.C., Orlando and Boston.
In a nutshell, BarCamps are designed to be web 2.0 unconferences focused on learning and discussions about social media, design, development and all things geek. The agenda isn’t created until the morning of, when attendees vote on what sessions they want to hear, which gives this type of conference a totally different and casual vibe.
For me, attending BarCampMemphis was all about having the opportunity to connect with other Memphians. As I told many of the attendees on Saturday, I “know” so many people that are everywhere in the world except in Memphis, TN. Saturday was my chance to finally connect with the great group of social media folks who live right here in my town.
Social media event #2 of the weekend:
I broke up with Klout.
I know many of you awesome people read my post about why the “new and improved” Klout algorithm was extremely inaccurate. In fact, this was one of my most tweeted posts ever, with 93 tweets at last check. Not only do I not place value in a metric that has been proven illogical, I read a couple posts by Danny Brown that absolutely finalized my decision. The first one discussed how it’s easy to game Klout’s system (which many of us already knew, but I appreciate the humorous take on it). The second, and much more distressing one, discussed how the son of a social media user ended up with a Klout score simply because he commented on his mom’s Facebook post.
I can make my own decision about what I share online and where I share it, but I do not want to be held responsible for someone else’s online presence.
I highly encourage you to read his posts.
Here’s how to delete your Klout account.
Social media event #3 of the weekend:
I swapped out my Twitter handles.
Many of you know (especially if you read my “Open Letter to Klout” post) that I created a @LizJostes handle a few months ago. I originally claimed it because I figured I wasn’t going to be “BelleBeanDog” forever. I have been debating ever since about when it made the most sense for me to focus more on my own name and less on my blog’s brand.
The case for going with my real name as my main Twitter handle has been growing as Eli | Rose Social Media has continued to grow, and the final push that swung the pendulum in favor of that came this weekend during BarCampMemphis. The majority of people who use social media are either completely unfamiliar with the mom blogosphere or have never been a part of it, and it didn’t take that many quizzical looks after saying “My Twitter handle is @BelleBeanDog” to know it was time to make the Big Switch.
@BelleBeanDog is still out there, though; I’m not ready to fully say goodbye to that name. I simply swapped my handles so you may still catch the random @BelleBeanDog sighting from time to time.
Have you thought about using your real name instead of your blog name on Twitter? Are you one of the increasing number of people to break up with Klout? Have you ever been to a BarCamp?
I remember Erin (Margolin) telling me how smart I was to have my actual name as my twitter handle, while were at Blissdom.
Glad you broke up with Klout. I need to do the same.
It was hard to “see” the benefit of doing so, but as time went by, I knew I needed to swap ‘em up!
I don’t even know what Klout is. It sounds silly.
After seeing several people change their handles over the last couple of weeks, I went on Twitter to reserve my name. Someone has it, though they haven’t tweeted since 2009, so I had to do a slight variation. Right now I’m just a mom blogger, but in the upcoming months I plan on doing a lot more in the online world outside of my blog. I’ve thought about switching but I’m just not sure it’s too soon.
It can be hard to decide when is the “right” time. If you feel like that’s where you ultimately want to go, though, it’s not going to hurt you to do it sooner rather than later. Good luck with your decision!
My enormous Klout has provided many benefits- appearances on the Today show, movie roles, jewels not to mention repeated requests by Scarlett Johansson to date her.
With all that going on I am just not ready to break up with it yet.
Wow, you are a Klout rock star!
You crack me up, Jack.
I find this very interesting that people have begun to do this. Not sure what I think about it yet.
I never got on Klout in the first place. I was finally really considering it when all the craziness went down- so now I am sitting here looking all smart because I never did it
My blogging name invludes part of my real name so I am good with it.
I JUST had this conversation with Lizz this weekend in Napa. Why I love my “brand” Mommy Needs a Vacation, I am tired of having mommy in my twitter handle, especially since I write elsewhere now and about wine.
I guess the first thing I need to do is grab my name! Off to check out your 2 twitter pages…
PS- How did you do the swap? If I grab my name then I can’t change current account with followers to name.
What I did was change LizJostes to LizJostes2, then went to BelleBeanDog and changed to LizJostes. Then went (back) to LizJostes2 and changed to BelleBeanDog.
Wow! Congrats!
Yes, I have considered it but only for my business account. Glamamom is a brand and the name recognition is important for me for that account.
After your Klout post before I went to try to delete my account but couldn’t figure it out – shocker. Thanks for the link. I’m doing it now. The Twitter handle is making me think. I still feel so far away from anything “serious” in the blog world (ie money making) so I don’t know what I want to do there.
New name?
I do not like change.
I will adamantly resist until in a few months I’ve forgotten the old name. But until then, I don’t like change.
I don’t really care to stay on Klout, so I’m glad you provided info on how to delete the account. As for Twitter, it makes sense to use your real name. I probably won’t because Amy Johnson is a really common name!
I had been thinking about changing my handle to something about my blog, but I never did. People seem to like gfunkified. Ha!
I’ve tried sending @s to bellebeandog and didn’t get a response. Now I know why!
I know Klout is messed up, but they just sent me a brand new, super cool phone so I’m having trouble caring about that right now.
Interesting info about klout. I’ve had my suspicions for awhile now. Good for you, I need to do the same.
i came back to send someone else to your klout post!!