How To Build Community – Part 3
Don't hide behind this...
I find that most people hide behind their computer monitor for two main reasons:
1. They think they need to continue learning, reading, researching and getting everything perfect, before they go out into the world and go to market with their business.
2. They hide behind Facebook and Twitter all day long, pretending it is hard work that is keeping them busy. When the wife calls into the office, you say, “but honey, I am busy marketing the business.”
Here is the PROBLEM with these two scenarios: One, things will never be perfect. Get out in the real world, mix it up, makes a few mistakes, get a little dirty. You will learn far more valuable lessons from REAL EXPERIENCE than you will from reading all my brilliant thought leadership online.
And two, you probably don’t have a true social media strategy anyway. And you are just fussing around treading water, when in fact, social media – and the relationships you develop online – are just conduits to real world interaction where the magic happens. You do have to venture out and talk to real, honest-to-goodness, humans. It really helps.
Look, there is no doubt that time spent researching and learning online is important, and clearly, implementing an online social media strategy and devoting time to execute and engage, is very important…
But it is just a part of your overall business marketing and outreach. So, go ahead, get out there, meet real people. I promise, EVERY time you go out in the world and engage with the RIGHT live audience, magic will happen. Such as:
1. You find a new client.
2. You build a relationship with a potential referral partner.
3. You find a vendor who can help you.
4. You find people that you can help.
5. You make a new friend, someone who will listen to and share your thought leadership.
These are just a few things that might result. But I promise, building community doesn’t just happen online. But those relationships you start online become much deeper with live interaction.
So, if you spent most of 2009 looking at your monitor, commit to getting out of the office a bit in 2010. Good luck!
[photo credit: kevindean on flickr]
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9 Responses
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Todd Schnick, Susan Perlman. Susan Perlman said: RT @toddschnick: YO! There’s Life Beyond Your Monitor! | High Velocity http://bit.ly/88GWXA [...]
Posted on January 2nd, 2010 at 11:10 am
Truer words could not have been said about the magic that happens BEYOND your monitor, when you take those online networking skills and you apply them to actual face to face interactions. People seem to think that sitting online all day is a valid substitution for “real world” interaction versus virtual. There is something that happens when you meet people – a gut feeling, a joke, something that cannot be staged, fake or scripted and that is when you go from an introduction to a relationship… I loved the closing thoughts: ” building community doesn’t just happen online.”
Excellent post!
Posted on January 2nd, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Thanks Taryn, for the comment. And I love what you said about the “gut feeling” – that’s what you can’t really ascertain from an online conversation. As we always say, you can’t discern tone from a text, email or tweet.
I mean, honestly, you and I met on Twitter, but it wasn’t until we met in person that you understood how wonderful I really am…
Posted on January 2nd, 2010 at 6:12 pm
Great post, Todd! While 2009 really ushered in the widespread acceptance of social media for business, I think it also led some of us (I’ll admit, myself included) to believe that SM was here to replace face-2-face, or even phone contact to conduct our networking and marketing. I’ve learned that it is a great way to meet new people, but there does need to be a strategy to it. As well, there should be limits to it. Social media is a great way to enhance our relationships but nothing beats sitting down for a cup of coffee. 2010 will be exciting because I believe it will be a year where we learn to maximize the potential of SM while minimizing our time spent on it.
Posted on January 2nd, 2010 at 8:29 pm
….you all know me, and so you can imagine me doing a little touchdown dance here….and if not, go with me to this scene http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nNhOH4Y0bI (fast forward to the yes. yes, yes!! part) to imagine how emphatically I agree with this post!!! Tone conveyed?? Great post, perfect points Todd!
Todd, Taryn, Chris… how apropos that we all met online but have taken it further to meet in person!
Posted on January 2nd, 2010 at 8:57 pm
I agree Chris – “maximize the potential of SM while minimizing our time spent on it.” I think that’s the magic formula, and the business people who crack that code for themselves will win in the market.
I can’t to discuss this topic on the High Velocity Radio Show. And thanks for taking the time to participate. I look forward to the next cup of joe…
Posted on January 2nd, 2010 at 9:34 pm
James, apart from forever ruining my dreams about meg ryan, i am sincerely grateful for your comment. and pleased you like the message.
and yeah, this little motley crue of you, me, TP, and thechris are a prime example of what we are talking about here….
Thanks again!
Posted on January 2nd, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Todd–I appreciate the reality behind your thoughts on an actual social media strategy. Too many deer in the headlights type of approaches that are still taking place. The reality certainly comes into play when the real connection takes place with whoever we are involved in. A full business plan has to involve the real life interactions that some are starting to do away with. By the way- I retweeted your post but it defaulted to @stonepayton.
Take care sir and I hope to meet you at some point in the near future.
Posted on January 2nd, 2010 at 11:20 pm
Jonathan – yeah, no worries. Stone blogs with me on this site, so no problem. Just really appreciate you sharing this with your community.
And you’re right…too many people think they can do away with the human interaction, and that’s a shame. Well, to be honest, we are all still learning how to balance the social web with face-to-face. As Chris said above, I think we all will make progress on that score in 2010.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, and look forward to meeting you as well!
Posted on January 2nd, 2010 at 11:48 pm
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