You know why badly thought out social media bothers me so much? Why I resent someone treating my community as though it were that bad, crackly PA system in a discount store?
Because when I join a community, when I become part of it, these people are my friends. No, I’m not claiming that I “know” them all at a deep level (though some I do), but they’re personal connections that I’ve worked hard to forge. I’ve built up trust. I’ve encouraged these people to connect to *each other*, too, and make friends within the circles we share.
And I would never invite a craptastic Ginsu knife salesman to my party to shill crap to my friends when what we really want to do is hang out, talk, get to know each other better. I’m protective of my friends on Twitter or Facebook or my professional connections on LinkedIn, and if some misguided individual or company shows up and wrecks the party and makes all my friends pick up their ball and go home, now they’ve ruined the experience for me, too, since I’ll be devoid of their company.
It’s also why I wish the people behind the brands would get involved in these communities at least a little bit on their own personal level. Because nothing can explain the diversity, fun, insight, camraderie and collective widsom of a community like wading in waist deep and having a look around. Nothing like opening your eyes to the business possibilities of this stuff by viewing things through an individual spyglass.
So I’m sorry if I get a little crabby and impatient sometimes about the ones who are so obviously missing the point. I embrace the idea of education and patience and leading by example, so that’s what I’m going to continue to strive for. I’ll head back to my office, thump my noggin against the bookcase a few times to clear my head, and come back refreshed and ready to start from the beginning.
WonderTwin powers, activate! Form of…a kind, understanding, endlessly patient sherpa guiding others up the moutain.
You said it! Thanks Amber. I’m easily irritated by those that are constantly and blantantly selling something. That is not what I’m looking for in my social media.
You said it! Thanks Amber. I’m easily irritated by those that are constantly and blantantly selling something. That is not what I’m looking for in my social media.
There is a reason it’s called community and it’s not because someone is yelling or interrupting to spew a one-way message. I’m fascinated by the potential for brands to really harness the power of social networks and I really hope that some of the inept attempts don’t ruin it for the rest of us.
Oh, and thank you Amber for being one of those sherpas helping those of us that are looking to take on this climb.
Eric Hoffmans last blog post..Back on the slopes!
There is a reason it’s called community and it’s not because someone is yelling or interrupting to spew a one-way message. I’m fascinated by the potential for brands to really harness the power of social networks and I really hope that some of the inept attempts don’t ruin it for the rest of us.
Oh, and thank you Amber for being one of those sherpas helping those of us that are looking to take on this climb.
Eric Hoffmans last blog post..Back on the slopes!
Damn, now what am I meant to do with this suitcase full of dusting cloths and dish-washing gloves? Man, it’s getting tough to peddle anything these days! 😉
I know what you mean though – you do become involved in people’s goings on and you want them to be okay. If you can help, even better.
Is that so hard to understand for some people?
Danny Browns last blog post..Balance Is A Precarious Thing
Damn, now what am I meant to do with this suitcase full of dusting cloths and dish-washing gloves? Man, it’s getting tough to peddle anything these days! 😉
I know what you mean though – you do become involved in people’s goings on and you want them to be okay. If you can help, even better.
Is that so hard to understand for some people?
Danny Browns last blog post..Balance Is A Precarious Thing
You are awesome, Amber! Thank you!
You are awesome, Amber! Thank you!
Great post as always Amber
The key to convincing a skeptical business community, who are hung up on ROI, to engage in social media is to demonstrate the benefits, including using case studies of businesses that are already engaged in SM and why it works for them.
With this in mind I would suggest the gathering of like minded social media advocates in a 1 hour online seminar to discuss the benefits of SM and brainstorm.
We need the right people on board to champion the cause.
Linkedin is now adding social media apps such as WordPress and slideshare.
Here are some of my benefits of meaningful engagement in SM
1Recommendations..is he/she ok? yeah I trust them ok
2 Feedback
3 R+D
4 Collaboration
5 Google page ranking
We could use apps like Calliflower or blogtalkradio for the seminar.
Whats needed is a uniform case for social media by people who understand the true benefits and are not afraid to take the step.
Social media education is also key to its success
I am passionate about social media. Who else is up for the challenge
I feel you would be the ideal person to facilitate this seminar Amber if you were wiling and had the time.
Its straight forward to set up and would only take an hour
my email is mike@blog4business.com
Great post as always Amber
The key to convincing a skeptical business community, who are hung up on ROI, to engage in social media is to demonstrate the benefits, including using case studies of businesses that are already engaged in SM and why it works for them.
With this in mind I would suggest the gathering of like minded social media advocates in a 1 hour online seminar to discuss the benefits of SM and brainstorm.
We need the right people on board to champion the cause.
Linkedin is now adding social media apps such as WordPress and slideshare.
Here are some of my benefits of meaningful engagement in SM
1Recommendations..is he/she ok? yeah I trust them ok
2 Feedback
3 R+D
4 Collaboration
5 Google page ranking
We could use apps like Calliflower or blogtalkradio for the seminar.
Whats needed is a uniform case for social media by people who understand the true benefits and are not afraid to take the step.
Social media education is also key to its success
I am passionate about social media. Who else is up for the challenge
I feel you would be the ideal person to facilitate this seminar Amber if you were wiling and had the time.
Its straight forward to set up and would only take an hour
my email is mike@blog4business.com
Thanks Amber…I wholeheartedly agree. People sometimes think that they have a facebook profile and a myspace page (maybe they even have one for their company!) is the definition of being “established” within social media. Sorry guys and gals…hate to burst your bubble but you have to have a conversation with your customer or user to be truly interactive. It isn’t soapbox media…it’s social media, now act like it companies!
Stuart Fosters last blog post..The Phenomenon of Crowdsourcing
Thanks Amber…I wholeheartedly agree. People sometimes think that they have a facebook profile and a myspace page (maybe they even have one for their company!) is the definition of being “established” within social media. Sorry guys and gals…hate to burst your bubble but you have to have a conversation with your customer or user to be truly interactive. It isn’t soapbox media…it’s social media, now act like it companies!
Stuart Fosters last blog post..The Phenomenon of Crowdsourcing
That has always been the hardest part to get across to clients, at least for me. I think that the fundamental change from sales pitch to conversation is a sizable chunk of the problem.
For most of the people in the business world this is not only completely alien territory, but also flies in the face of all of the conventional wisdom they have absorbed over the years.
There is a fundamental change happening and a great degree of flexibility and creativity is needed to embrace it. The trick is to get them to realize that the way that things have been up until now is flipping onto its head. “Top Down” is being replaced by “Bottom Up” and that is a complete reversal of every axiom they have embraced in their careers. People have a hard time changing the rules they operate under.
Like being a good community manager it requires patience and truckloads of diplomacy.
That has always been the hardest part to get across to clients, at least for me. I think that the fundamental change from sales pitch to conversation is a sizable chunk of the problem.
For most of the people in the business world this is not only completely alien territory, but also flies in the face of all of the conventional wisdom they have absorbed over the years.
There is a fundamental change happening and a great degree of flexibility and creativity is needed to embrace it. The trick is to get them to realize that the way that things have been up until now is flipping onto its head. “Top Down” is being replaced by “Bottom Up” and that is a complete reversal of every axiom they have embraced in their careers. People have a hard time changing the rules they operate under.
Like being a good community manager it requires patience and truckloads of diplomacy.
Amber –
Agree wholeheartedly with your post. How do we get the word out there more effectively? Sometimes I feel as though we are all just talking to eachother via blogs, twitter, and other social medium. How do we get those who do not yet realize the power of social media to jump in?
dj
DJ Waldows last blog post..djwaldow: @jakrose re free open source social netorking platform – how about Ning? We use it for the Email Marketers Club: http://idek.net/1X
Amber –
Agree wholeheartedly with your post. How do we get the word out there more effectively? Sometimes I feel as though we are all just talking to eachother via blogs, twitter, and other social medium. How do we get those who do not yet realize the power of social media to jump in?
dj
DJ Waldows last blog post..djwaldow: @jakrose re free open source social netorking platform – how about Ning? We use it for the Email Marketers Club: http://idek.net/1X