7 questions with Gerri Elder
Monday, April 13th, 2009
Interview with Gerri Elder
Gerri Elder is a one-woman force in social media. When she’s not busy with her nearly 5-year-old son, Gerri maintains a healthy and active following on Twitter as AbsolutelyTrue, which is also the name of her popular blog, and was briefly the number one Digger last month–one of the few women to have accomplished such a feat. Gerri’s active on Stumbleupon, Reddit, and Mixx. She is also professional writer for a wide array of legal, environmental and urban sites. A tornado of activity, Gerri seems to be everywhere. In fact, she is.
Gerri, what exactly are you doing with social media?
I’m having a blast, networking and feeding my need for current news and events, all at the same time.
How did you get started?
I left my career as a paralegal in 1997 to pursue Web design and development.? In the early days, it was the Wild West and those who caught on fast could go far.? Around mid-2002, after working 18 hour days for four years, I needed a break.? I retired from Web work, took it easy for a while, and then gave birth to my son. When I came back in 2006, the Web had gone 2.0 and I had to reacquaint myself with it.? I was surprised at how much better it became, and quickly became addicted to the fast pace that social media had to offer.
Some pockets of social media (like Digg) can be downright hostile to women. How do women conquer such sites?
When I worked in the legal field, it was a man’s world and the same was true during the early days of the Internet.? While there may be some areas of the Web that still refuse to see women as equal players, you only have to look around to see women like Amy Vernon, Rebecca Kelley or Tamar Weinberg kicking ass.? I think there’s only sexism where you allow it, and successful women just don’t.
You are also a blogger. How do blogging, micro-blogging, and social bookmarking coalesce?
Obviously, things on the Web move very quickly.? Any medium that is unable to mesh and evolve will not stay relevant.? Twitter and social bookmarking complement blogging, and blogs stay on the cutting edge by incorporating social media and Twitter plugins into the design.? So far, so good.? It doesn’t look like any of them are becoming obsolete just yet.
Why should companies tweet?
Twitter offers businesses the opportunity to interact with customers and clients in a unique way. Companies with sharp marketing and PR talent are able to utilize what Twitter offers without coming across as spammy. It’s a rare social platform that, when used properly, allows companies to reach a broader audience and grab larger marketshare.
For something to go viral, what should happen?
You know viral content when you see it.? It’s special.? It’s hilarious, shocking or offers information that has never been seen before.? If the content isn’t all that, nothing and no one can “make” it go viral.? When content does have viral quality, it’s about giving it the right introduction.? Social media takes it from there.
What do you think will be the next big thing in social media?
You can never tell what might be around the corner.? It’s always exciting to see what’s up and coming and watch it develop.? Twitter is already huge and growing at an alarming rate.? However, the fail whale is omnipresent, so it’s hard to say what may happen.? Other social media sites are busy behind the scenes adding user-friendly features, reinventing themselves and devising plans to eventually make them profitable.? The only thing that is certain on the Web is change, so we have to wait and see.
May 9th, 2009 at 7:13 am
What a spectacular woman. These were some of the most cogent yet informative thoughts on Social Media and Networking.
I especially liked Gerri’s take on Sexism and can be done about it. “There’s only sexism where you allow it, and successful women just don’t.”
Powerful.