For a while now, SparkFun has had a presence on various social media sites - we have a Facebook page, a Twitter feed, and a Flickr page. We've had several requests from our customers to create a Google+ page - and now we have one! Check it out!
Like our other social media, we'll use Google+ as a way to keep in touch with our customers, get feedback, promote events and classes, and just interact with our great customer base in a new way. The page is a work in progress and right now, it's missing the most important part - you. So check it out and add us to your circle! Cheers!
What about us who are like Betty White that have no use for social media? I don't have time to visit hundred of sites on google, facebook, twiter, flicker everyday? I am not going to sign up for a facebook account. No way in hell am I going to sigh up for big brother's watching my g-mail account so they can send me adds so I can have a facebook account either. Lets put it this way: You go the way of social media, I will find something else to waist my time.
(edit)- Take a look at MaximumPC article on How To Permanently Turn Off G+ Personal Results In Google Search >> http://www.maximumpc.com/article/how-tos/how_permanently_turn_g_personal_results_google_search
Why would I want to open myself up to that?
Indeed.
I don't have any of those accounts, I have better things to do. Mostly, they involve designing open source robotics or improving my property... which increases my ability to design open source robotics.
But you have to look at it from Sparkfun's point of view, they have to position themselves on all of these platforms to have the maximum visibility. Of course, it's ludicrous to put DIFFERENT content on each venue... as they all target the same general audience.
So... just visit their main web site at least once a day to see the latest news. No need for the rest of that "Social Media" crap. It will be the same as on the main site.
The difference, of course, is that each "Social Media" venue has it's own comment system. This forces Sparkfun to divide it's attention amongst all of them. This is where the system will ultimately fail... You have a system with ONE primary outlet, but MANY comment paths. It will eventually result in a competition between the comment systems... A competition the primary outlet (The www.sparkfun.com website) will win.
There are two end games here. The first is if Sparkfun expends massive effort to spread itself amongst all the Social Media sites, that would determine which is "best", but that won't matter. The result is duplication of effort and a severe disconnect between the competing Social Networks comment systems. The second is to just focus on the main site.
Yeah, I agree with my friend Luke; he says "Facebook is just kind of an extra thing you look at when you're bored." :)
What about us MySpace user? When will we get some love ?!
MySpace? I'm waiting for the Sparkfun Geocities page.
Wow - after I asked, I thought that you forgot. Facebook is so 2004. Oh, and fiddle with the site while you're at it. Seems to be a good change!
Is there a way to get you guys to post your latest blog posts to each of your feeds. I use facebook as a makeshift RSS reader during the day. It seems like the world has gone to that.
You could consider Google reader which has improved a lot recently. If you, like me, consider yourself 'subscribed' to many sites like SparkFun, it really is the best way to go about things. Reposting on all of these social media sites seems a bit pointless to me. After all, that's what RSS is for, right?
Yeah.. But RSS doesnt bring my friends feeds in as well. The only way I can figure to have a portal into my life is through Facebook feeds.
Maybe open graph some day will give us the ability to fine tune our facebook feeds.
Portal, I LOVE portal. best game ever!
Absolutely. Consider it done!
When will it be up, and can you post a link?
Thanks. Trying to stay away from Google+ if I can.
It's so humorous how bent out of shape some people can become over SparkFun being pro-active regarding its availability and communication channels to its customers.
You don't like Google+, Facebook, or any other social medium? That's fine! No one is forcing you to use any of them! Be a hermit crab if you like, but at least be a grown-up hermit crab, and/or stop making idle, childish 'threats'.
Sparkfun is in my circles, like a BOSS!
I can't wait till people start saying "Social networking online is so 2004".
Honestly, I posted that ( ^ ) before reading this. XD