How do you turn down the social marketing volume?

So obviously when I was in Florida with my dad, I was forced to take a break from the intravenous-like connection I’ve had in recent months to all things social marketing.  I didn’t blog as much, cut back on my Tweets, I didn’t even immediately respond to emails, voice mails and texts.  How could I survive?  The horror?

The truth is a survived just fine.  I even felt slightly better which leads me to believe that after throwing myself into this world full force over the last six month, that it was time for a slight break.  During that time, I thought a great deal about how I communicate through these platforms, what I say, how I say it, etc.

As usually happens, some of these thoughts are being mirrored on the business side.  Rather than convincing people and businesses that they should be involving themselves in all things social networking, we are spending a good deal of time giving advice on how best to start and engage. 

Like all things that hit the general media in a big way, social marketing is now becoming the things that EVERYONE wants to do.  And like all things marketing, it is the things that EVERYONE thinks they are qualified to do. 

The truth is I’d like a dime for everyone who isn’t a marketer or communicator by trade, who thinks they are qualified to be one.

Those are the people who are saying to those in their business or organization, “Let’s start a blog” or “Let’s start a Facebook Fan page” without thinking about the strategy or business case that needs to go along with that.

Have we spent too much time trying to convince people to be social networkers when we really should be spending time convincing them to slow down, listen and take a breath?   If we let them run uncontrolled are we really being responsible communicators?

What are your thoughts?  I’d love to hear them.