Marketing Talk

In the spring of 2011, it was difficult to navigate the blogosphere without bumping into a post about the social media supplemented revolution spreading throughout the Middle East. Was social media really helping the cause? Would these revolutions have happened without social media? Would they have been as effective?

Regardless of how the bloggers answered all of those questions, one thing was pretty clear. There was palpable excitement in the air. Holy smokes – people – young people – were breaking through decades and/or centuries of programming and saying, “Nope, this isn’t cool.”

On the other hand, as we flash forward to September 2011, hardly anyone is blogging about the Occupy Wall Street movement, which is now spreading all across the nation. A few people have posted a picture of the “We are the 99%” statement, but that’s been it. And I’ve really looked. Beyond Huffington Post, there isn’t a whole lot going on in the blogging world about this massive social movment.

Why?

You would think this would be a golden child for people who have been proclaiming that social media is in fact behind these big movements. You would think that the folks who talk about the millennial generation would be all over this. You’d think business bloggers would be all over this.

Where are the posts?

Is it too early to write about what is going on? Do we have to know the ending before we write about it? I am just entirely perplexed. Maybe you can help me out.

image by Robert Linder. http://www.sxc.hu/profile/linder6580

Ever since I first heard about Triberr, I felt in my gut that I just wouldn’t like it. A lot of that was because mostly what people talk about when they talk about Triberr is the automation aspect. I don’t really see the point in automating your social media presence. It has always seemed to me like the concept of sending a robot to go on a date for you. Why bother?

However, enough people I really like and really respect invited me in and told me that Triberr was great that I finally had to cave and give it a try. I am not so bull-headed that I am unwilling to change my mind, especially in scenarios where I haven’t actually gathered information my own self. So, a couple of weeks ago, I signed into Triberr for the first time.

[Read more…] about Triberr is okay. It just isn’t for me.

When Twitter first came out, one of the first things people were saying about it was that it was going to change how people did business. It was going to personalize client-customer relationships. It was going to humanize brands. Remember all that stuff?

Here’s the funny thing about Twitter and how it has evolved. A lot of the people who joined up so that they could do business somehow forgot along the way that they were using Twitter for business. They started to move over into the land of “How many followers can I get” and “What’s my Klout score?” Unless you are social media consultant (and even then you’re on shaky ground), these numbers do not necessarily prove that you are great at your actual paying job. If you are a plumber, people aren’t gonna really care that your company has 5,000 followers. They want to know if you can get their sinks to stop making that drip sound.

So how can we use Twitter for business? Is it actually a lost cause? I really don’t think so. We just need to get back to our roots a little bit. For example:

1. Make sure you are networking with people who may at some point buy from you. This is where the numbers game can really mislead a lot of people. In my case, a lot of the people I network with on Twitter are my peers, not my prospects. How about you?

[Read more…] about Let’s Talk About How To Use Twitter For Business

If you hang out on Twitter for a bit, you are inevitably faced with a decision. “How many of these people following me should I follow back?” If you do research on the topic, you’ll find that there are plenty of blog posts on the subject. You’re also likely to find that many of these blog posts implore you to do everything that particular way. Many of these posts sort of deride other ways of approaching the great following/unfollowing question.

In the end, it’s kind of silly to get so worked up about these things, and besides, in the end it really comes down to how you want your Twitter world to turn. So let’s talk about some pros and cons of some of the advice you’ll encounter out there.

[Read more…] about Let’s Talk About Following and Unfollowing on Twitter

A lot has been written about the basic techniques of how to approach a Twitter chat, how to follow a Twitter chat, and things like that. In fact, this post from the BlogWorld folks lists 26 posts about Twitter chats that should give you a pretty good summary of that kind of information. But today, I want to talk with you a little bit about something that doesn’t get talked about as much, and that is how to get the most that you can out of participating in a Twitter chat.

Twitter chats are interesting because they take the whole world of Twitter and minimize it into a much smaller group and a specific topic. That said, your approach to Twitter as a whole can be formulated and refined as you make your way through Twitter chats. The following are some mannerisms I’ve developed over the last year. That’s not to say they are the right ways to do it, but I have found chats have become increasingly rewarding as I have followed these basic ideas, so hopefully it will work the same way for you.

[Read more…] about Let’s Talk About How To Get the Most Out of Twitter Chats

Lately, there has been an outpouring of “best of in Social Media” lists. Maybe it’s that time of year? I don’t know. As each list comes out, I scan the names, hoping to learn about new and fabulous people. But more than that, I look for the fabulous people I see working hard every day. I look to see if other people are noticing how hard they are working. Sadly, many times they are not on these lists.

It’s tough to say that these lists are wrong. I’ve seen Jay Baer on several lists lately and you’d be hard pressed to find me a person I admire more. Danny Brown has been on several lists lately and I think he’s a fabulous guy who works hard and tries to get it right while also being a truth-teller. There’s absolutely no question that the stuff Michael Stelzner is doing is amazing.

But…I’m still left with a feeling that more people are out there who could really benefit from lists like these. People who maybe don’t have as many followers or as many subscribers but who are just as wonderful, and for whom a spotlight would mean so darned much.

I raised this issue over on Google Plus last night and Drew McClellan said, “OK, fair enough. Who would you add to these lists?” I’m so glad you asked, Drew.

There are probably hundreds of people I could list, but I’ll give you my top eleven (because I can’t count) for right now at this minute. Get to know these people. Take a day to get to know each of them. Then get to know the people they know and see how your community expands and deepens.

I encourage you to make your own list – ten people (or 11, or 20, or 50) who never make “those” lists but who really should. Influence, I strongly believe, is something we decide for ourselves. While there are people who have the scope to influence many, that doesn’t mean they have what really counts.

1. Mark Schaefer: Mark has become sort of my Jimney Cricket over the last year. His blog raises issues that are both within and outside of the world of social media. His business acumen combines with a down-to-earth, easy-to-talk-to, genuine human being.

Mark’s Blog Mark on Twitter

2. Gini Dietrich: A lot of people have heard of Gini, but does she get the credit she deserves? It seems like Gini’s name only appears on lists when there is trouble to dish out, and it makes me mad, because not only is she brilliant and brave, she is also genuine, kind, and funny as all get-out.

Gini’s Blog Gini on Twitter Gini on G+

3. Fred McClimans: Fred is one of the most brilliant people I have met in my life. His brain turns my brain into pretzel 9 times out of ten. Despite that brilliance, Fred is also entirely approachable, extremely kind, very funny, and is out there sharing his wisdom in seemingly every chat there is.

Fred’s Blog Fred on Twitter

4. Cate Colgan: It drives me nuts that Cate doesn’t get more credit for all that she does online and offline. Cate has a well of support for those around her that doesn’t seem to have a bottom. She is always full of ideas, always warm, always understanding, and can always create a smile from seemingly nowhere.

Cate on Twitter:

5. Tristan Bishop: Tristan is one of the few people in the online world who can throw out motivational wisdom and have it not be anywhere near annoying because you know he lives it and truly believes it. The more you get to know Tristan, the more you realize how very multi-faceted he is. Another brilliant fellow who doesn’t let his brain get in the way, Tristan seems to be everywhere online and he is always making people feel better about themselves.

Tristan’s Blog Tristan on G+ Tristan on Twitter

6. Sherree Worrell: If Mark has become my Jimney Cricket, Sherree has become his partner in crime. When I need advice or a sounding board, Sherree has become one of my first choices to turn to. She is warm, sharp as a tack, and she shows pictures of REALLY cute kitties if you ask her nicely 🙂

Sherree’s Blog Sherree on G+ Sherree on Twitter

7. Jure Klepic: I only got to know Jure recently, but what an impact he has had on my online life. I would love to see lists that pay tribute to people who just jump in and bring a bright ray of light with them. Jure certainly fits into that category. A kinder, more outgoing person you’d be hard-pressed to find.

Jure on Twitter Jure on G+

8. Molly Cantrell-Kraig: How does Molly not make these social media lists? She is one of the most inspirational women you can find and uses social media the way it is supposed to be used. I am very happy that I know so many people who know and adore Molly so that I have had a chance to get to know her better. Now I’m doing that favor for you.

Molly on Twitter Molly on G+

9. Sam Fiorella: Whenever something cool is going down, Sam is sure to be there. That’s not accidental. Whether it’s UnGeeked, a great chat, or 12most, I’ve run into Sam everywhere. He’s a smart guy, he has a wicked sense of humor that often puts my own to shame, and he does social media the right way – in that he gives a lot and asks for little. He deserves far more credit than he gets.

Sam’s Blog Sam on Twitter Sam on G+

9. Peg Fitzpatrick: Peg is another woman who seems to know everyone and who seems to be involved in everything. I remember when she first came onto the Twitter scene – she immediately struck me as someone who “gets” how be a star online. She is just full of energy, seldom has a bad word to say about anyone or anything, and can be friends with anyone she meets. Now it’s your turn.

Peggy’s Blog Peggy on Twitter Peggy on G+

10. Stanford Smith: Does anyone notice everything that Stan is doing for people? He can teach you how to blog, slap you upside the head for being lazy, and charm you by pointing out everything you’re doing right all in one post. Stan works harder than most people I know and is someone I always strive to keep up with.

Stan’s Blog Stan on Twitter Stan on G+

What do you think abou the lists that have been floating around? I’d love to talk with you about it!

Image by Stephanie Berghaeuser. http://www.sxc.hu/profile/kirsche222