Ping.fm - another social spamming utility

June 18, 2008 / Filed under: Social Networks, Services

There's more to social networks than simply spraying your content around the web.

Ping.fm was created with the sole purpose of being able to simultaneously update multiple networks with the same message without having to visit each network individually.

Now you don't have to fumble around the web in order to post anymore, you can just post once, and be done with it.

Services like this are bad for the social web. Content is no longer created for a specific community or network, and is instead sprayed out ambiguously from a central source. This cheapens the value of the networks to which the content is directed, because the content is not unique to that network.

Users should know better than to mass spam all their followers with the same message.

I've said this before - if you can't find the time or proper balance to update each network with a unique message that encapsulates what that network is about, you're probably involved with too many networks. It would be wise to review which networks are actually doing something for you.

You won't need a service like Ping.fm if you only join networks that differentiate your content offerings. For example, here are some networks I'm in, and what type of content I offer each:

  • Twitter: activity stream. What am I doing? Also can be used for micro-content on thoughts, ideas, or anything on my mind.
  • Brightkite: placestream. Where am I? Notes and photos about the specific place.
  • Utterz: voicestream. When text isn't enough.
  • Flickr: photostream. Photos.

As you can see, each network manages uniquely different types of content. No two services are identical in purpose. Therefore, I'll only duplicate content when the content relates to both networks. For example, if I'm at a place (Brightkite), and take an awesome photo (Flickr) - I'll post it both to Flickr and Brightkite.

This is not to say Ping.fm is completely useless. With caution, it can be effective in promoting your social network presence without annoying your followers.

Related

Comments/Mentions