I was recently asked by Duncan Alney from Firebelly Digital on a recent Hoosier PRSA blog post to detail how I balance client interaction with social interaction in the social media realm. Here is the question:
“BTW Kyle – perhaps you should share with those that don’t know – how you balance client and your own social media interactions. I know how you do it (now) but clearly – there are others that are dying to know
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With such a great question posed how could I not answer it? Duncan is a great guy and an awesome social media advocate. I would encourage you to check out the blog over at Firebelly.
I am going to take a stab at this question and form my own opinion on what Duncan meant by client and social media interactions. The idea of being able to balance personal social experience with client lead generation is a valuable commodity when using social media. It is extremely hard in the long run to balance both without taking to much time in both categories. I would venture to say that you shouldn’t try and balance the two… they should be intertwined.
Time is a huge commodity when using social media. How do you take the time to truly use social media without wasting the day away… because we all know… time is money. When the importance of productivity is realized
The social world is beginning to change the way consumers look at brands. Are they viewing the brand as a logo or as an experience? In my humble opinion… the user is viewing the brand as a person… as an experience… as an extension to their daily lives.
I use social media to show my personal side… to show that life is revolving around more than just a balance sheet, an income statement, and an accounts receivable report. Social media is about giving a perspective into the daily lives of the individuals that make up a company. People buy from people and the importance of showing more than just a product is being lost by many individuals using the communication systems provided on the Internet.
When writing a blog, using Facebook, or connecting on LinkedIN… you should be making it a point to deliver a half/half balance of life as well as business. Your potential clients want to know about your knowledge in your given industry but they also want to know about your daily routine… what makes you tick.
I try to balance the two by using Facebook as my social interaction tool and my blog as my business side of my life. How do you balance the two? Do you even try to balance the two?
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Not only is this a sincere post but one that clearly shows you are brave and unafraid, regardless of the critics. And I can clearly say – that If there ain't critics – sumthin ain't right (indulge me – as an immigrant I'm very proud of using colloquialisms – hopefully correctly). I had this same conversation with both Jason Falls and Chris Brogan today, and I'll post the video links tomorrow – noone wants all business. If you're totally focused on client work – you're missing the point. You are a person, that is what makes great social media voices – humanization.
Some other factors that I've learned about you – you're passionate, organized and driven. And you care. Sure you could do ONLY client work – but you're better off and better connected, and more cognizant of what works and doesn't work.
One last past – I come across people that think social interactions and brand interactions are the same thing. They're not. Its like a mullet – party in the back and business in the front. Socialziing your business is key!
Kyle,
1-At our Advertising Federation of Fort Wayne monthly luncheon today, the topic was Social Media & Social Marketing presented by Anthony Juliano of the Asher Agency. Attendance was around 70 and the room was packed. After being introduced as an expert, he quickly said, no he wasn't an expert, there are very few experts. As a matter of fact he mentioned myself and someone else in the room as ones to go to for answers.
2- A couple of co-workers and friends have asked me recently how I get any work done with all the twittering and blog posting I do. One asked if I made any money with it and another asked if I needed an "intervention"!
My answers were similar to yours. Social Media is a tool. I used it for personal branding and then when I launched my company, I already had credibility among my peers, even the ones that are still clueless about Social Media, I've become their "expert". As far as making money, that is starting to develop now that I've begun to offer myself and my company for hire.
And balancing? I am the top biller for the group of radio stations I also work for (where I've been for nearly 7 years) . One day if I want to leave the radio business, it will be because my own business is a better use of my time, which has been built using social media platforms!
Wish I could attend the event in Indy this week, but I have other commitments. Keep up the excellent work.
If you're interested in how to use social media more effectively, you should check out our recent presentation "Productivity and Blogging" at:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/18546003/Productivity-a...
Way to spam my blog Robby…
Very well said, this is a very important topic as this medium continues to emerge.