Social media like Twitter not only blur the lines between public relations, marketing, and brand building, but they require a completely different approach than the traditional media. While brands and companies thought they could control the message and their image before, they must give up that illusion of control to maximize the use of social media.

People are talking about you (if you're lucky). You can engage them, or you can message them. Engaging wins you evangelists and instant feedback. Messaging (massaging) them yields frustration and a feeling that social media doesn't work.

Master Yoda said, "You must unlearn what you have learned." Be a person, not an artificial brand.

Learn how: www.linkedinsolutions.com

“How To Get *48,828* Followers On Twitter Automatically With Just A Simple Click Of Your Mouse?”

I've been taking a look at all these hypefilled Twitter follower-building offers, and I must admit, they all look pretty much the same. I'm not real clear on the mechanisms they use, so I decided to try one: Twitter List Builder. I'll blog in this space about what I find out, but I must say, I'm prepared to be underwhelmed. It sounds a lot like a daisy chain.

Nonetheless, I'm keeping a mostly open mind.

Here are links to several other very similar deals, some of which require a purchase:

Tweeter Getter
Twittering for Traffic
Viral Followers
Twitter followers
Twitter Unleash
Retweet4me

It all smacks of MLM to me, but I can't figure out the business model.

More as it develops . . .

I often get asked whether the number of Twitter followers or the quality of the followers is more important.

I can't say for you, without knowing your situation, but Twitter is a bit of a numbers game. More followers is often better if you want to get your message out.

But in reality, you want your message to go to those ready to receive it. This ain't no stinkin' direct mail, where you leaflet the universe and hope to pull in a few fish with your leaky net. As I always say, you can't enlighten (or sell) someone against their will.

So quality is important. A large number of quality followers is the best possible outcome. You really don't even need more than a few hundred followers if they a) pay attention b) have large followings and c) will ReTweet you.

In fact I have two followers who each have networks greater than 20,000 followers. And they'll retweet everything I send them. Want to know more? Attend one of our Webinars or take advantage of our initial consultation discount for some one-on-one advice. More info on the main page of this Website.

Meanwhile, I think I'll Tweet my followers and ask them what they think the answer is.

Tweet you later (@MikeEllsworth)

Not to get into a youth vs. age rut here, but I was recently featured on the cover of New Business Minnesota magazine, a monthly periodical targeted to startups and growing businesses and shared the cover with three other social media experts, two of whom were of a certain age. And by that I mean under 24.

The four of us took part in a round table discussion about social media featured in the cover story, and in general had a great time exchanging ideas and expressing our enthusiasm for our favorite sites, like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and on, and on.

Read the cover story.

Then, on July 21, the panel spoke at the New Business Startup meetup at the Bayview Event Center. More than 300 people attended the Social Media workshop which was so popular that there will be a repeat performance on Aug. 12th.

So, great. I went first, the two young fellers went after me, and another older gentleman went last. But the funny thing about his speech was that he constantly hammered at the two younger guys, pointing out, apropos of nothing, that they hadn't been born when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon or at other times he mentioned.

Now I understand what he was trying to do: to show that he had way more business experience than the young whippersnappers. Got it. When you take a look at the social media landscape, it does tend to be dominated by younger folks. But why turn it into a generation war? Sure both us older gentlemen have more business experience than the two very smart young guys, and, sure, we would use that to our advantage in any competitive situation. You know, age and guile beat youth and a bad haircut any day.

But there's no need to get personal. These guys can't help it if they're age-challenged! Why I was young once, meself!