I’m lucky enough to live in a very social community. Many in Burlington, Vermont love to check in, tweet ups are common and if you want to know what’s for lunch, you go to social media to see what’s cooking at your favorite restaurant. It’s no surprise that we social media types get all psyched for Social Media Day. This global “holiday,” created by Mashable, is kind of a big deal around here. This year’s event (#btvsmd) will be held later this week, and will feature social media classes, an instagram scavenger hunt, tweet-ups and the crowning of local social media royalty. That’s right. We have royalty in Vermont. Each year, the public nominates the people, businesses and organizations that are getting social media marketing and communication right. The winners are celebrated at a kick-ass awards party, where we can finally put the cell phones and iPads down for a few minutes and chat with people face-to-face. (Yes, we still enjoy that too. And no, we don’t really put our cell phones down. Ever.) Perhaps it sounds silly to crown a local king & queen of social media, call out the “best” local bloggers, celebrate a small business effectively using Pinterest or cheer for a politican with an active Twitter feed. Perhaps it sounds like a popularity contest and a place for big egos. And perhaps, to a degree, it absolutely is. But it is also so much more than that. When you nominate your social media favorites, it forces you to really think about the local people you communicate with online. I run three blogs, four Twitter accounts, half a dozen Facebook pages, a few Pinterest accounts, two LinkedIn groups and some Google+ accounts. I communicate with a ton of local people online every single day. But at nomination time, I need to think about the people and businesses that really ‘get it.’ – The ones I know I can count on for information or conversation or inspiration or laughs. It isn’t about who tweets the most or who has the most Facebook friends or which blog has the highest Page rank. At least for me it isn’t. I don’t care how popular my nominees are… I care about whether their work is valuable to me or someone else. I care about their ability to motivate me to DO something. I care about their passion for whatever it is they do and how they share that passion with others in Vermont and beyond. I don’t eat at Handy’s Lunch. It’s not that I wouldn’t (I actually really wish I could because the specials sound delicious), but the location is just not ever convenient for me. Nevertheless, I voted for Handy’s as the restaurant that really gets social media. I see Earl Handy tweeting specials every day and it makes me want to go. I see the way they thank customers online and it makes me want to recommend them. I listen because they are engaging, and they get it. They teach social amateurs like me how to “do” social media right, and I voted for them because I value and appreciate those lessons. Isn’t it still a popularity contest? Ok, so I’m sure some people have won these titles because they got their friends and family and everyone they know to vote. I’m sure it happens. But I also know that this community, the social media junkies and marketers in Burlington, is a smart and independent bunch. We believe in the power of social media, and I like to think that most of the nominations are well thought-out and honest. I’m sure it really is just social media geeks (and I really do use the term affectionately) voting for other social media geeks. But I don’t think that fact makes the recognition of hard work, innovation and commitment any less genuine. I nominate people and businesses as a way of recognizing that work – as a way of saying “thank you for the inspiration.” I vote because I want to see that work continued and I want more people to notice. And if a website badge with a little crown, a stream of congratulations tweets and a short story in the newspaper gets the award winner a few more followers, a few more customers, etc., that makes me smile. So yes, the party and the crowns and the titles and the prizes may be all for fun. But the “thank you’s” are all for real. And that’s why I vote. Nominations are being accepted through June 28th for Burlington Social Media Day Royalty. If you haven’t voted yet, please DO IT NOW! If you’re not in Vermont, you can still participate in Social Media Day festivities. Check out the Mashable site to see where things are happening around you!
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