Let me re-phrase the question this way:
Does a normal person need an account on each of the social platforms: Google+, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Flickr, Instagram, Pinterest, …?!
From blogging prospective, I need the following:
Announcements & updates
I might need to send a status update every now and then. Twitter does it perfectly. Honestly, Twitter is my preferred one. I use it to express my tech opinions too. But whenever a tweet isn’t enough, a blog post can do it. I might also tweet links to some of my blog posts.
G+1s for the links of my blog posts
Yet it’s a perfect tool that has the best of all other social platforms, Google+ couldn’t compete with Facebook and Twitter. I still need the +1s though. I’ve talked earlier about the importance of Google +1s for the blog posts. So, I’m having the links of all my blog posts being shared to my Google+ account in a hope they get more +1s.
FB Likes for the links of my blog posts
To avoid bothering friends and family with my business issues or hobbies, I created my Twitter account. I also had to create a Facebook page for the same purpose and to be a place where I share the links of all my blog posts hoping they get as much FB likes as possible. As I mentioned earlier in another post, the number of Facebook Likes might not be as important as the number of Google +1s.
Storage
I store my pictures on Flickr and use them directly from there on my blog to avoid storage limitation if any. I used OneDrive once – check my other post (HERE). I also considered Instagram before getting back to Flickr. However, I found Flickr is more organized. Instagram is photos social tool rather than a storage tool. As for videos, I use Dailymotion.
Driving Traffic
Unless you’re a very famous person that has a lot of (real) followers, social media are not good in this part without paying money. This point is very arguable though. Personally, I use Twitter ads as I explained in “How to drive traffic to your website” article…
Good idea to use another means for storing photos!
Thank you very much Sascha for your compliment. From my experience, Flickr is doing this perfectly in comparing to other related services such as Google Photos and OneDrive Photos.
Thanks for this. I think along the same lines when using social media.
Thank you very much, Roland. It might take time before one decides on how to work with them. I like your articles too in this field..
I’m also using these media sites just to share my blog and art website.
Well, Inese, you have a wonderful blog that deserves to be shared on all of these social media. Luckily, most of the work is done automatically.
I started putting more seriousness to my G+, and its good especially for ranking purposes.
Thank you John. Yes, sharing on Google+ is very rewarding in comparing to other social media. I like your Google+ account
I was exhausted reading this post… not your writing, but I feel the same way. It’s interesting that when a author publishes a book they need to have a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a Blog/website too. Seems to me they are posting the same information everywhere – it’s too tiring. I gave up Facebook and I feel very happy! GREAT post, I hope one day we realize we don’t need ALL of these social outlets.
Thank you very much for you comments. I was glad to know about your blog too. It’s wonderful. Yes, you won’t loose if you’re not using Facebook. However, if you want to communicate because of a book or something, it’s good to concentrate on one medium. If you have a little extra time, you can utilize the rest in favor of the main one. That’s, I concentrate on my blog and Twitter. The rest are serving my blog’s needs without much involvements…
I use Facebook mainly to keep in touch with family and friends as I live away. That’s, a place to know when someone has a baby, pass an exam, gets married, passed away, … Unfortunately, FB is turning into a bothering tool as everyone is sharing nonsense of jokes, links, or copy and paste from others, … Not to mention that no one is reading – they just record a like!
True, I have not used Twitter, but I like the idea of short, quick messages! Thanks for your thoughts on this topic.
Nice. How are you able to be a successful blogger maybe I can some tips from you. And please what do you think of my blog post.. http://wp.me/p7GnOC-5D
I like the advice offered by your blog. They were interesting to read. Thanks for sharing. I’m honored that you consider me a successful blogger. I hope I am. The core is engagement with other members. You may also join the FB group mentioned above and/or tell about your blog more on this link: https://mohamadkarbi.com/promote-your-blog/
Hmm, here’s an idea that will make someone millions. A single App that can update all of them at the same time.
I really do need to get a little more into this, not to live my life out there like so many od, but to promote books and so on.
Thank you very much, William. It’d be very good idea. There are few apps / services that do a similar process such as Hootsuite and Dlvr.it. However, no one is complete. All are missing something! WordPress is doing well here – not perfect though.
I totally agree. They are useful in promoting… We have to use social media but not allow them to use us! 🙂
Great advice Mohamad — I started making use of Google+ on your advice. I also gave up on Facebook.
Thank you, Michael. I’m very pleased to know those posts were of a help. I’m following you on Google+ 🙂
excellent, thank you. I reciprocated with a Google+ follow…. all the best
I’ve checked out Google+ and am disappointed. Google does not have the connection features of Facebook. It is a struggle to connect. The photography community is full of pornography and I discontinued…..
Hmm, unfortunately, some communities are not totally controlled/observed. That’s, I noticed the same in many communities. I’m sorry, Michael, that you had bad experience with Google+.
Google+ couldn’t and won’t be able to compete with Facebook for sure. However, sharing our posts’ links there is rewarding as I explained earlier. That’s how I mainly use G+; sharing links and +1 the links of my friends.
Thanks for the encouragement and follow…most appreciated.
I didn’t know there was a Facebook group dedicated to blog promotion. I will have to check it out. Honestly, if it wasn’t for being an author I wouldn’t have social media.
Thank you R. Michae. I hope you find the group useful. Yes, I understand your point. Not all social media are interesting to me too. However, we find ourselves sometimes using things because others are doing the same. After all, i can assure you that they are not a must and the results of using them aren’t always positive or as expected. I still prefer though to auto post to G+ for some SEO points as mentioned earlier