Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

July 29, 2008

Social Media: Great Marketing Is . . .

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:12 am

Tuesday Open Comments Night, The Virtual Conference, and The Blog-to Show

The Living Web

This weekend we had an event that some folks have been calling a success and a few have written me to say what a great marketing idea was. Other things I do have been called masterful marketing too. None of them started out as such.

We all know that promoting an event or a blog looks easier than it is to do. Word of Mouth only works when folks want to talk. I learned that the same way everyone does by inventing great marketing ideas that didn’t take off.

I quit trying to market. Here’s what I recommend instead:

Open Comment Night started because, on a Tuesday afternoon, I thought it would be fun if we all could just talk. The Virtual Conference for SOBCon07 was invented as a way to include folks who couldn’t come to the first SOBCon. The 25-Words project was a way to share the experience of how limiting our words can change how we think. The Blog-to Show happened because folks said they needed a way to talk about their blogs.

All of those got called “great marketing.” If that’s so then,

Great marketing is connecting and celebrating readers and customers.

Let’s talk about how to help readers and customers connect with each other.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
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14 Comments to “Social Media: Great Marketing Is . . .”

  1. July 29th, 2008 at 7:47 am
    Luc Debaisieux said

    Hey Liz,
    Very efficient definition. Connecting definitely requires listening to & sharing with the community. I also think that through time, the link between readers / customers and the values we believe in becomes obvious, once conversation is engaged. : )

  2. July 29th, 2008 at 9:50 am
    almostgotit said

    You have a large readership, Liz, but one of the things you still do is read our comments and respond to them. That’s what made me want to come back. “Marketing” is only one part of building a great blog — good content and respect for your readers are the MOST important.

    It seems so obvious, but bloggers do need to interact with their readers. They should also try to reciprocate and leave comments on their reader’s blogs, in return. (I deliberately make this part of my own blogging routine.) It’s called “social networking” for a REASON!!

    Cheers to you, Liz, and keep it up!

  3. July 29th, 2008 at 10:08 am
    SpaceAgeSage said

    You certainly helped me make connections! I finally read most of those Blog-to Show blogs, and found so many of them are commenters on the blogs I subscribe to already. It was nice to have your Show act as a catalyst for us all to interact in more direct ways.

    “Marketing”? Hmmm … I see it’s all about appreciation — where respect, recognition, affinity, and gratitude intermingle.

  4. July 29th, 2008 at 10:13 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Luc!
    You’re so right! It’s darn hard to hit the mark if we don’t listen actively and take part in what our readers are about. :)

  5. July 29th, 2008 at 10:15 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi almostgotit!
    You’re describing respect. If we forget that our readers have a choice to be with us or be somewhere else, they’ll remind us . . . :)

  6. July 29th, 2008 at 10:16 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Sage,
    That’s why you and I seem to agree on everything. :)

  7. July 29th, 2008 at 10:36 am
    Karen Swim said

    Liz, this is something near and dear to me. I am amazed that in an age when we have the opportunity to really get to connect and know our customers, prospects and colleagues that many still squander that opportunity by “splat” marketing. People allow us to really talk to them and then to offer solutions that are relevant and helpful yet many abuse the tools and access by conducting one way pitches. Thank you for being a shining example of how to really take care of readers and customers. I have learned so much from you!

  8. July 29th, 2008 at 10:43 am
    wisequeen said

    Good advice Liz,
    How many of us have learned that people don’t just follow the “build the blog and they will come”, theory on writing. I found with my new wineblog and with http://www.wisequeen.com launching August 1st, that I have to talk to people,remind them, send them the link, have business cards with the address on,support and help other bloggers, till they have it on the radar, then it catches fire.

  9. July 29th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
    Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach said

    This line:

    “Great marketing is connecting and celebrating readers and customers.”

    Utterly. Brilliant.

    Thank you for sharing, Barbara

  10. July 29th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
    Ricardo Bueno said

    Without readers, our content wouldn’t matter! So I say celebrate and celebrate often…

  11. July 29th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Karen,
    It’s investing in others that makes it easy for them to invest back. I see you do the same thing on your blog often. :)

  12. July 29th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi wise,
    Yep being prepared to help with the right tools nearby makes it easier for everyone. :)

  13. July 29th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Barbara!
    Thank you! You do it too. That’s how you know!

  14. July 29th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Exactly, Ricardo!
    Showcase your stars . . . the folks who read your blog and are your customers. :)

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