Posted in blogging, relationship, small business, social media, social media marketing
5 comments
24/01 2009

Tired of People Ignoring Relationships

I am tired of people ignoring relationships. I am tired of being a part of conversations about the “lack-of-time” for tools that build community value and relationships. 

Have we still not dropped over the edge? When you are reading studies that tout figures like:

 

  • 36% of Internet users post opinions about products and brands online
  • 84% of buyers look for opinions on products and brands online
When you have conversations centered around the number of people reading the news on the Internet far outreaching the number of people reading the newspaper… how can you keep ignoring it? 
We are a group of people that yearn to be known by the brands we love. We are emotionally connected to everything we buy whether it is a candle, pair of shoes, or a marketing service. We want to be heard and we hate being ignored. 
When you are a small business owner.. You ARE your company. Your life revolves around the business you are trying to build and your personality shines through every service offering and product. Every small business owner should be using social media.
  • Sign up for Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIN. Pick one site. 
  • Spend 15-30 minutes a day updating your profile.
  • Measure the time spent versus potential leads
  • Just do it
Maybe it wont work. Maybe your clients don’t care about who you are or who you are representing. I would venture to say that concept is COMPLETELY false in the small business work.
Try it. Just try the tool. If you need help don’t hesitate to ask questions. 
Or. 
Spend another $500-$3000 on marketing mediums that are dying slowly. 
Your choice. Your company.

 

 

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Posted in Social Media Community, Social Strategy, blogging, friendfeed, relationship, social media, social networking
2 comments
7/09 2008

A New Level to FriendFeed: Confessions Room

Currently on the Confessions Room: 360 posts, 2815 comments today

I have been preaching about a new level of relationship building on social media. There needs to be a deeper connection between individuals on social platforms. Enter the Confessions Rooms.

Friendfeeder Shawn Farner started the confessions room as a way to share some deeper things in Friendfeed and post it anonymously. At first I was hesitant, shrugging the room off as just another way to spread myself farther across the wide expanse of FriendFeed. I decided to join the room after hearing a couple of excellent comments crossing the feeds.

I have not been disappointed. Other than the random meanderings of some complete idiots, the FriendFeed confessions room has been an excellent way to really get deeper with friends on an online platform.

Some Examples of the feeds in the Confessions Room:

“Honestly, I wouldn’t mind not having kids. It would really not be a big loss to me…”

“I was drunk the night I asked my wife to marry me. She was as well…and also on the other side of the country at the time. That was 10 years ago October :-) ”

“I just had a terrible fight with my girlfriend. And now i feel like shit.”

“I want to make a big difference in this world, but my career goals and the fact that I’m lazy means I never will.”

The Confessions room is an excellent way to get to know your FriendFeeder’s in a more intimate way. Join the group. Start a conversation. If you want to do it anonymously you can sign in to the Confessions account and post.

I encourage everyone to check in and see what is going on. What a great way to make social media have deeper meaning!

 
Posted in Social Media Community, friendfeed, relationship, social media, social networking
9 comments
1/09 2008

When Does Subscription Turn into a Relationship?

Recently this has been an ongoing thought in my head:

Do online relationships have the same depth as relationships off line? Can they obtain the same meaningful purpose as your friends you see in day-to-day life?

I have had some interesting conversations recently with people on Seesmic and Friendfeed about the friendship dynamics between online and off line relationships. I have only been debating this because of the increased time I have been spending on social media platforms over the past few weeks. I have had the opportunity to ‘meet’ some interesting and extremely intellectual people through feeds at Friendfeed.

The problem that exists, for me, is the overwhelming urge to know more. The desire to get deeper into a persons psyche and actually understand where they are coming from and where they have been. I have had fun debating and sharing in conversations over the communications platforms and yet I am left with this undeniable longing for something more.

The sharing of information and idea generation has always been a staple in the increased support of social media. I started using social media as a way to gain more insight into technology, entrepreneurship, and the overall aspect of viral marketing. What I have found is (while all the information is great) there is a point where a person stops and wants something more from a relationship or an acquaintance.

I have had extreme success in meeting people in my area off line whom I had the first interaction online. The relationship factor grows exponentially when you are sharing both online and off line forms of communication. I am relating more to the people I have met online who do not live in my vicinity.

I know research and data is a prerequisite to have in blog posts pertaining to an opinion. In order to support an idea it is always better to have others opinions to strengthen your own. Unfortunately, I am running off the cuff here and spouting words over a virtual page.

When is the right time to want more from an online relationship? Is there a need for it? I love the information super highway sometimes more than the road outside of my house and that is what bothers me the most.

How do you strengthen online relationships to the point where you can say they are a friend? Where does a follow or a subscription turn into a relationship?

Are we meant to delve deeper? We should be.