Why so small?

The always excellent Community Marketing Blog asks the question, why are Twitter and LinkedIN so small, compared to the giant, Facebook?  And speaking of the giant, why isn't even Facebook more universal?

In a nutshell, Twitter and LinkedIN lag because we tend to pigeon hole our experiences with emerging, social media.  How many times have you heard, "LinkedIN is only for networking and finding your next job" or "I have no idea what use Twitter is.  Who cares what I ate for lunch?"  And my favorite, "I'm a private person; I don't want the world seeing me on Facebook."  (The last, from my own, dear wife!)

Guess what?  The naysayers are wrong!  These are the same people who might have asked 75 years ago, "Why do I need a telephone?  Those are only for grocers and doctors."

If you are reading this blog, the chances are good that you are an early adopter and comfortable with stretching to wrap your grasp around new technologies.  Admit it, you were the first one in your office to try Windows NT or crazy new thing, Linux, right?

Assuming I am correct, then listen up:  The problem is you and the problem is me.  We are not doing a good job being evangelists.  If we can't provide a reasonable value proposition to our colleagues, friends, and spouses, what are we doing wrong? 

Now is the time to accelerate the speed of social media.  Today is the day to get your brother on Twitter and to help him set up some useful feeds!  This is month that you need to sit down with marketing and help them grok why all your competitors are already two steps ahead of you regarding social media and then help them catch up.  This is the season that I get Claire on Facebook.