As mentioned on our last social media update, I’ve been posting more on social media. First, it was because I was encouraged to post more by an industry friend, but then I started getting a little more into it.
I once had in mind to use the ToolGuyd forum as a catchall for little tool observations, notes, and comments that typically don’t make it into regular ToolGuyd post content, but I never got around to it. I’ve been finding Instagram to be convenient for these things. It doesn’t cause much of a distraction, and I’ve been finding it to be a somewhat natural outlet.
I don’t quite know how to describe it. ToolGuyd Lite? ToolGuyd behind the scenes? Misc. day to day interjections? Asides? “Bits and Pieces?”
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It doesn’t take away from my regular ToolGuyd testing, review, write-up, commenting, or coverage activities or efforts. Social media more gives me a place for little things that I feel are worth sharing and that would otherwise vaporize. I’m liking it.
A lot of times, and I’m talking about behavior and a habit going back years, I’d take a quick photo of something tool-related, but then I’d end up not being able budget the time for a full ToolGuyd.com post, or I’d lose interest. Social media lets me put those photos and quick thoughts or opinions out there. That’s why in a way I consider it “ToolGuyd Lite.”
What I’m saying is that as long as there’s interest, I’ll keep on with all efforts. I know that some of you aren’t too keen on Instagram and social media, and that’s okay. Part of the reason I am willing to put a little more effort into it than previously is because I know I could share those same posts here, such as in occasional summary posts like this one.
The idea is that, assuming you’re interested in the content, you can avoid social media if you’d like without having to miss out.
Feedback is of course always appreciated.
If you want to follow along with this week’s posts, here are some links in you case you want to subscribe/follow:
Instagram: ToolGuyd
Facebook: ToolGuyd
Twitter: ToolGuyd
You can also sign up for our newsletter here.
Here’s what we posted about last week:
(Sometimes I’ll share something from a ToolGuyd post too, but I’ll omit those. If you missed something from last week, you can always look for it on the ToolGuyd.com front page.)
Altan
If I were you I would do some changes on Toolguyd, I would add a rating system for any post about any tool or accessory and the guys here could be able to rate them, and in a panel these ratings would be monitored so everybody checking these ratings would be able to analyse the tool better to have an understanding about how professional the tool is and for that price. It is a bit difficult to explain what I mean, but I would expect to see a table showing Festool Circular saw on top of DeWALT, Makita and Milwaukee or others, because it has more attachments and accessories, the same with multi tool and jigsaw, this would give a quick understanding about what should be expected from the tool not considering the price, I don’t know if I was able to say what I wanted…
Also I would like you to keep your main focus on your own blog and forum, I am sure after a few years/ months we will have some sort of fees for social media and that would reduce the readers maybe, also brings a dependency for you also as you need their service, but your own website is always yours. The reason we don’t pay for social media is that our dependency to it is not in that stage that they would do a risk like this! But it is clear that they have designed the system in a way that this dependency is increasing, that already shows the future…
I don’t think ten years ago we were thinking of paying for youtube to watch without advertisement.
Stuart
How would an anonymous rating system be any different than ratings on brand websites or Amazon? Ratings lack context, and wouldn’t carry much weight. Readers and visitors chime in with their own experiences via comments, which I feel is more helpful than any added systems I could/would encourage.
There already are fees. If I respond to a comment on Facebook, Facebook will soon pop up a “boost this post” ad that asks for payment. They only show content to a fraction of current followers.
I know some reviewers have bought followers, likes, and what-not. When you create on a platform like Facebook or Instagram, there are constraints as to what you can do. They make the rules, and then rules can change at any time.
Part of why ToolGuyd exists is because I was tired of political digressions resulting on external forum threads, reviews, and discussions being deleted. I’d contribute, and someone would throw things off topic with political commentary, others would argue, and the admin would delete the whole post.
But, there’s no reason social media can’t be complementary. It took me a while, but I found an angle that makes sense for me.
Altan
Everything has a start, You start and give it a time, let’s say two years and then decide it did work or not. Trust on Amazon reviews is much less than the trust here. The same with the brands’ websites. I personally treat them like that and I see a lot of complain from others also.
I know what you mean, but if this system was going to provide a chart (I hope it is the right word) looking thing that would be quicker for anyone who wants to make a quick decision, other than that all is fine. My mind works a bit differently. I like to make everything short. In this system a lot of us can have the same or similar comments, but in the system I meant all the same comments would be collected in one.
I know about fees, even some Hotmail services since ages ago had fees, I heard in US they will introduce some sort of social media or google thingi taxes, I am not sure how correct I am about this, as I know any moment there will be any fee on any of these I use currently I will just delete my account, including email addresses. I am sure I can live without them.
RK Hughey
I don’t use facebook or twitter. I do enjoy your website and helpful discussions of new products and user experience. Thanks for your time and consideration.
Nathan
Couple of comments
Festool driver drill thing – I’ve used one previously at a woodworking store and I wasn’t that impressed other than it’s balances well and light. I would argue the slide on pack 12V dewalt drill driver is also compact, balances well and light. I’d be curious to see that review and comparison.
On the mini square – does anyone else make one that small – key thing I liked was that 1/4 vs 3/8 offset on the faces would be good for reveal markings. Does anyone else make a trim square?
Love my silicone glue brush – I got that kit they had on sale 2 christmas’s ago. brush, tray – squeegee – and plastic scrapper. best 5 dollars I think I’ve spent at rockler.
Craftsman screwdriver – if there are any more still on sale after christmas rush I might pick one up. would be a good in the junk drawer device I think.
blow molded case issue – I’ve found a number of times that when shipping in a blow mold case we will put a thin foam core board in there and zip tie the case or use that nifty plastic binder. SOmetimes they are wrapped. but we do occasionally ship tools in cases like that and that’s how the tool room does it. Seems to work well. (special tools for aircraft repairs – like changning engines)
Nathan
OH the porter cable pocket holer. Is it better than the kreg jig? Is it better than the triton tools jig?
I have a kreg it works pretty well but I’m open to improvements. I don’t even use it that much.
Chris
Personally I think it is great getting the daily emails that have your reviews on the site. So far I can still access your sight throughout the day while at work. Our lovely filters block us from accessing any content though that is on any of the social media platforms.
Thomas A Kivler
Wow I’ve been reading your blog forever and yet never knew you were on Instagram…more content is always good.
Stuart
That’s part of the intent behind these posts too. =)
Jared
I was interested in that Leatherman Free knife – without seeing it in person though, I was put off by the reviews on Amazon saying it is bulky and hard to open. Have you formed an opinion on those aspects?
Frank D
Technical issue on iOS … all the above shows up as blank and view this on instagram :/
Frank D
Had to fiddle with website settings and disabling content blocker.
TonyT
I’d highly recommend keeping up your social media. I follow your IG feed, and it has a different (but good) vibe than toolguyd.com – it seems to attract a different crowd than the commentators here.
Matt J
On the Festool CSX, and really on other “installation-focused” drill/drivers, have you noticed any real difference in use or a specific application that could not be achieved by changing clutch settings on a traditional light duty drill/driver?
Seems like a really overpriced Flexiclick, but maybe I’m missing something.
I’m not a Festool guy but most of the time their tools bring a little something extra to the table — a unique feature that makes everyday use easier. I just don’t really see what it is with that tool.