Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

No-Way Jose!


Thoughts on design, marketing, pr, and new media.

Filed under: Relationship Building

How To Connect with Anybody

Connections-matter

We are an audience of many. Our connections open the doors to new relationships in business and life in general. Technology has shifted when and how we communicate. Shifts in communication and new technology brings us to a point where we must be nimble and adapt without losing site of the people factor. Some of the most agile and successful individuals are those who master the art of relating to others.

What does it take to build long lasting authentic relationships?

Trust.

Our society places a great deal of importance on gaining trust. If being polite is a building block of human relations then gaining the trust of your audience is the glue that makes everything stick. Regardless of industry or expertise, winning the hearts and minds of your connections can help elevate you to a position of trust agent, confidant, and maybe even the go-to expert*.

Here are a few fundamental dynamics of building trust:

1. Authenticity

2. Reverberation

3. Empathy

4. Sincerity

5. Credibility

*Nobody's an expert. We are all students on a unique journey to leave our own mark.

The Social Side of the Internet

The internet has become an important tool for communication and collaboration across varying types of industry. The ability to interact and opportunity for amplification in today's attention economy is of tremendous interest to groups who are looking to create awareness. A recent study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project sheds some light on the value of the internet and its impact on group and organizational life in America.

A new national survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project has found that 75% of all American adults are active in some kind of voluntary group or organization and internet users are more likely than others to be active: 80% of internet users participate in groups, compared with 56% of non-internet users. And social media users are even more likely to be active: 82% of social network users and 85% of Twitter users are group participants. 

The overall impact of the internet on group activities and accomplishments

In this survey, Pew Internet asked about 27 different kinds of groups and found great diversity in group membership and participation using traditional and new technologies. It becomes clear as people are asked about their activities that their use of the internet is having a wide-ranging impact on their engagement with civic, social, and religious groups. Asked to assess the overall impact of the internet on group activities:

  • 68% of all Americans (internet users and non-users alike) said the internet has had a major impact on the ability of groups to communicate with members. Some 75% of internet users said that.
  • 62% of all Americans said the internet has had a major impact on the ability of groups to draw attention to an issue. Some 68% of internet users said that.
  • 60% of all Americans said the internet has had a major impact on the ability of groups to connect with other groups. Some 67% of internet users said that.
  • 59% of all Americans said the internet has had a major impact on the ability of groups to impact society at large. Some 64% of internet users said that.
  • 59% of all Americans said the internet has had a major impact on the ability of groups to organize activities. Some 65% of internet users said that.
  • 52% of all Americans said the internet has had a major impact on the ability of groups to raise money. Some 55% of internet users said that.
  • 51% of all Americans said the internet has had a major impact on the ability of groups to recruit new members. Some 55% of internet users said that.
  • 49% of all Americans said the internet has had a major impact on the ability of groups to impact local communities. Some 52% of internet users said that.
  • 35% of all Americans said the internet has had a major impact on the ability of groups to find people to take leadership roles. Some 35% of internet users said that.

Nonprofits and a diverse collection of organizations throughout the counties of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and beyond are presented with a powerful tool for interest generation, stakeholder education, empowerment, and audience engagement.

Read more about the social side of the internet.

Taking It Offline and The True Value of Being Social

The beauty of online conversation is the ability to take the show offline. Quality relationships are built not only one tweet at a time but also strengthened by offline communication where individuals have an excellent opportunity to network, relate, and get to know each other on a greater level. Such was the case recently as several individuals who first met online convened in the city of Santa Maria, a gem of the Central Coast located between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Relationships are strengthened when we have the ability to add nonverbal cues and validate words that sometimes we take for granted in the digital space. 

Some might be struggling to validate the true value of social media without considering the merits of good person-to-person offline interaction.

Social media is just that...social!

The Essence of Being a Mensch

As we travel the long winding roads of the information highway seeking new methods of influence and audience engagement, it becomes important for us to master the craft of being a 'mensch'. Trust is an important dynamic of creating rewarding relationships and building our network of mentors, partners, customers, and raving fans. Exploring the true definition of what it means to be a mensch makes good business sense (and cents).

First of all, what is a mensch?

A mensch is a person of character, purpose, and admirable fortitude.

Someone who will take the time and courtesy to retweet your tweets, return your calls, introduce you to others, and follow through on commitments.

Being a mensch takes time, dedication, and a positive attitude.

Many factors contribute to the ability to become a mensch but in actuality it's easy and is built on the foundation of simply being a good person.

A mensch combined with the power of social media can become one of the greatest influencers.

Who do you consider to be a mensch?

Why The Social Media Bubble Will Not Burst

Some might say that social media will decline in popularity and become an object of the past and that social media is nothing more than a current marketing + sales fad. What these individuals fail to realize is that social media is nothing in itself. It is not an object that we can contain within certain online communities.

Rather, social media is about people, trust, influence, engagement, and digital democracy. Social media is about giving people an opportunity to connect and allow their voice to be heard across multiple outlets.

The popularity of being able to communicate with others and the ability to share and create content is something that will be around for a while regardless of the medium.

The medium might be the message but the message is still in control and more popular than ever.

Having a voice and an outlet to engage, share, connect, and create is not flash-in-a-pan type object.

So, don't worry...social media is about people and the value of relationships.

The V.I.P. Treatment

A customer walks into your establishment interested in making a purchasing decision. How do you respond? Do you evaluate this person's attire? Do you take a peak outside to see if they're driving a Mercedes? Is an attempt made to measure this new visitor against the scales of an A and B customer?
 
The essence of customer service and the arena of social media place an enormous responsibility on today's brands to rethink their strategy. Gone are the days where one could simply ignore or look past a potential buyer. The social media and customer relationship landscape places a significant importance on recognizing the value of each and every customer that visits your website or walks through the door.
 
The potential for a public relations crisis and customer service dilemma is magnified because of the massive audience and armies of influence made possible through word of mouth and social media.
 
How you treat your customers has always been important but today's environment is a whole new playing field making it vital that marketers appreciate the value and potential of their customer base. Each transaction is an opportunity to perform and over deliver.
 
Why not give that new customer the V.I.P. treatment and turn them into another raving fan, brand advocate, and satisfied customer?
 

The Importance of Trust in Social Media

Trust is an important factor in building connections and solid online business relationships. Chris Brogan has a good book out on the subject of becoming a trust agent. I agree that there is a significant set of rules and guidelines in play in terms of how to be a good citizen on the internet.

You can have the best content, product, or idea but if you don't know how to interact and communicate online your efforts are pretty much null and void.

"The difference between social network advertising and marketing and traditional online campaigns are the ecosystems where engagement is fostered. Social networks are “social” and therefore respect and empathy are the minimum antes necessary to potentially earn attention, a precious commodity in Social Media. Without a genuine intent to offer value, trust is elusive.  It’s the difference between shouting “at” people and speaking “with” someone." - Brian Solis