4-margot-pandoneAs a social media manager and digital expert to those around me, I get asked questions that typically start with “Have you heard of…?”. These typically follow with the name of some obscure app, or website, or blog, or social media site, or made up language for all I know

Confession Time! I don’t know it all. I know, I know… It’s shocking to hear. However, I don’t know ALL of the social media sites out there. I don’t have every single app that’s ever been developed. I don’t know every single fabulous website and tool that is out on the Internet. There is no way I could ever know all of these things and here are a few stats as of January 2015 to help you understand why:

  • The internet is huge. So huge, in fact, that as I’m writing this Google says there are 861,379,152 websites (and that’s even a little old info). Let’s face it: there are only so many hours in a day to discover new sites.
  • There are between 1.2 and 1.3 million apps available on mobile devices! I don’t think my phone has enough space to download all million-something apps, let alone keep up with them.
  • Every 60 seconds on Facebook: 510 comments are posted, 293,000 statuses are updated, and 136,000 photos are uploaded. (Source: The Social Skinny) I don’t know about you, but I have a ton of other things I need to do that are more important than catching every single update by companies, magazines, and news websites.
  • It’s simply overwhelming! Our world is in digital overload and there is simply no way to know every new shiny thing in the digital world.

What I do know is that I do a darn good job of keeping on top of the trends. I don’t have to know everything that is new, just the important things that are new. As I’m thinking this through, I’ve realized a few ways I keep on top of the trends:

  1. I follow blogs – lots of them! I regularly follow blogs for personal hobbies, as well as some for business interests. When I find one that is meaningful, I email it to myself or share it on my social media. I personally use Feedly as my RSS feed, but I miss Google Reader terribly!
  2. I write down a ton! Notice the pen logo in my name? Yea, that’s because I write down everything. I have sticky notes and notebooks with lists, notes, and ideas all over my desk.
  3. I listen! Paying attention when people are talking about cool sites, apps, or other tools they use is key for me. And I don’t just take note of it. Sometimes, I will go straight to my RSS feed or my social media sites and follow the blog or company right away while it is fresh on my mind.
  4. I “Like”! If you are friends with me on Facebook, you’ll see that I’ve probably “liked” about a thousand companies, magazines, and brands on Facebook. Why? Because I want their posts to come to me on my news feed. I don’t have to go seek their content out; it comes to me. If you’re looking for a good company or brand to follow, just go to my Tintero Creative page and see what we have followed.
  5. I read! I love magazines! Getting a magazine in the mail is a true joy for me. I love the tactile nature of holding the paper and folding over a corner on a page that inspires me. I love books too – always have! (This year, my goal is to read one business development book a month.) I love learning and reading is one of the best ways I know how.

I don’t know every new tool out there. I never have and I never will. However, I will promise you this: I will always be looking out for the important new things to know about. There’s so much to learn and today’s digital technology makes it attainable to learn new things constantly!