I did a quick look around and found many like individuals who have been in the PR biz for over 15+ years like yours truly have the same amount of "friends" and followers. My lists have gotten so out of control that on Facebook I created separate lists and only regularly check on those - and make comments - as those people I truly know.
So, why bring this up now? Yes, our digital Spring cleaning has come and gone. And, the summer is about to come to an end. However, with every end, there is a new beginning. With every death of an idea, a new one is born. By that I beg of you to delete me as your friend on any one of the social platforms, or choose to make conversation with me, or be deleted.
I also imagine that at some point this will become an emerging trend. People will begin de-friending one another, and brands. They'll have to. As the web widens, and we become more naturally social online, so too we will need to limit our interactions with people and brands, and only keep a simple few (or a little more) within our circle of trust.
With that said, I'm going to take a stab at what defines how a person and/or brand can build that trust in me.
1) We share a past connection - you and I went to a school together, and knew each other, dated, are family, worked together, shared common business interests, former competitors, were close or distant friends, or friends with my sister.
2) We're the same religion - not just that we're both the same religion, but have identified around it together, by attending the same religious school(s), camp(s), youth group(s), etc.
3) We both like the same things - not saying that everything has to be identical, but if you're a big Depeche Mode fan, I'm sure we'll find something to talk about. I also love Radio Shack, science fiction, Apple, Nordstrom, Build-A-Bear, Sprite, Red Vines, etc.
4) We behave in similar ways - I love to be creative, generate ideas, be playful, sing, share and tell, etc.
5) We're at the same point in our lives - you're married with two young kids, living in the San Francisco Bay Area, are an active Dad / parent, etc.
6) We share the same hobbies - you like to collect stuff, read business books and science fiction, watch independent movies, listen to music like Zero 7, play the guitar, walk the dog, etc.
...and the list can go on and on.
If someone said, "David Libby I dare you to sit down right now and delete a bunch of people (and brands)," it wouldn't be hard. And it won't be difficult for you either because you'll find that once you've shed those who are stalking you, and not talking with you, you will begin to recognize who is listening to you, and who you are listening to.
