What Is Your Social Type?
Doyle Slayton | Jan 25, 2009 | Comments 14
Are you still looking to find your place in the world of socialmedia? Let’s spend this week learning how you can use the social web to your advantage!
The following is a list of eight “social types”:
Contributors – We are in an age where people want to contribute. They want to share their experience and expertise with the world. Contributors believe they have a lot to offer. They look for places where they can make the biggest impact… places where the maximum number of people can read and benefit from their ideas.
Promoters – Promoters love people… especially those who impress them. They go out of their way to tell everyone about you. Promoters are givers. They don’t do it for money or personal fame. It is often more about building relationships with the people they like and promote. They get great pleasure from making other people look good!
Reporters – Reporters build a following as a credible source of information. Some are Publishers who write their own articles and stories, but many are focused on the being “The Source” of news. Reporters work hard on being the first to find and post links on social networking, micro-blogging, and bookmarking sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Digg.
Publishers – Reporters and publishers have a lot of similarities, but there are some clear differences. Most publishers have their own blogs and web sites and primarily focus on their own content. Many submit their articles to other sites as guest authors. It is a good strategy for getting noticed. Publishers who consistently produce great content build a strong readership very quickly. Their sites become communities buzzing with ideas from like minded people.
Connectors – There are three types of connectors… those who want to be connected to everyone, those who want to introduce you to others, and those who like to do both. Connectors are masters of networking. They feel great pride in being well known… and just as importantly… they love being the person who can put you in touch with the “right” people.
Initiators – Initiators are thought leaders who like to create buzz and discussion. They spend time in busy web communities posting questions, rants, thoughts and ideas that get everyone talking. Contributors often keep a close eye on Initiators. Those who share interests often fuel each others’ success.
Recruiters – Recruiters spend time looking for like minded people who will join their community or cause. Unlike Spammers, recruiters draw positive attention by using a combination of all the Social Types listed above.
Spammers – Yep… you knew we would get to these people. Spammers bounce around from site-to-site and group-to-group posting advertisements and links for the sole purpose of getting as many clicks and visitors as they can. Most of them have no value added content to contribute. Although some do try to mask their advertisements with a short blurb… when you visit other sites, you see the same post there… and there… and there it is again. Some of them are working under their real name and profile, while others are operating under an alias. (This does not include people who submit to aggregators who publish articles from guest authors. There is nothing wrong with submitting your articles to multiple publishers. Just make sure you are not spamming from forum-to-forum inviting everyone to come read your article. More on this later in the week…)
Did I miss any? What is your Social Type?
P.S. – Our next article will focus on using your social type to build web presence. Follow this link to get a head start! Begin by adding your profile to our Sales & Leadership Community. I have added features to help set-up your “My Page” where you can promote your web site(s), add your bio, share any special offers or advertisements that you are promoting… You can even describe the types of leads and opportunities that you would like to share and receive! Be sure to read the Welcome Message and get acquainted with all the tools and resources. Remember, it’s about building a “positive” web presence… oh… wait a minute… that’s our next article!”
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Filed Under: Blog • Fun-n-Stuff • Leadership • Reader Questions • Sales • SalesTaxi
I would like to see how you relate this to the Meyers-Briggs or Keirsey Temperament Sorter. Rather than re-invent terms, why not place your definitions among the 16 temperament types?
Harlan,
I’m not sure the temperament types really relate (in a 1 to 1 way) to social types. What Doyle has outlined is in effect what is outlined in the book Groundswell.
I think a person can in fact adopt a number of these roles depending on their level of interest. For example, I have a blog so I’m a contributor, yet on certain topics I’m a listener.
As a member of Vistage in Australia (where it’s called The Executive Connection), I have the role of Initiator within my group on topics such as technology, social media, and leadership innovation.
Mark
Enjoyed the descriptions and looking forward to the next article!!
I’m glad that Mark mentioned Listener. I’m new to this social media and an introvert as well, so until I feel as though I’ve got something to add, I just read what others have posted. I’m sure there are others that take this role at times also.
I’ve enjoyed your blog and the comments and I’m sure that I will become the other types from time to time.
Bob
Bob,
I’ve been researching this social media “thing” for a while and I still feel like a novice, though listening is a role I’m very/most comfortable with. I highly recommend Groundswell. This book and Gladwell’s The Tipping Point have meant the most to me as I’ve tried to get my head around this phenomenon.
The key thing that I’ve struggled with is that I look at social media through the eyes of a sales person – how can social media help me or my team be better, more professional sales people? How can I extend social media beyond the clutches of the marcom/PR crowd and get the whole business involved?
I hope through thought leaders like Doyle and Dave Stein (amongst others) we can get sales leadership back into a pre-eminent role in how social media is defined and used by the enterprise.
As a final comment, there is one PR-type that I feel understands the broad scope of social media and the role of sales in this – Chris Perkett from PerkettPR.
Cheers
Mark
Great, relevant topic Doyle. It will be helpful to step us through this process rather than just give the information (different learning styles). I am avidly finding my way through all this right now. And thanks for the book suggestions, Mark. Will order them now.
Does anyone know if “Groundswell” and “The Tipping Point” books are available in Australia? International postage is a bit crazy.
Thanks!
Liz,
try Dymocks. Their website shows they have them but not whether they are in store. http://www.dymocks.com.au.
Might pay to try one of their larger stores in your state (in Brisbane I ring the CBD store as it has a lot of Management books). If you ring the store and they don’t have it they should be able to check other stores or order it in.
cheers
Great discussion – I think most of us are a combination of at least two. It is hard to be a connector or contributor without becoming a publisher or reporter.
Those on the sidelines haven’t entered social media yet – This is true of a LOT of sales people – but beware – you are WAY behind the curve of top sales professionals!
I think a person can in fact adopt a number of these roles depending on their level of interest.
Enjoyed the descriptions and discussion
Thanks alot for sharing this.
Regards. Wesker cobro
Great, relevant topic Doyle.
Thanks for sharing this very good topic.
Great article. Where’s the quiz?
Hey there! Great thought, but might this really work?