Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

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

July 31, 2008

Social Networking: Online Tridimensional Conversation

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 11:31 am

Focus and Consistency

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My days are spent talking and writing about how conversations work to build relationships. I look for similaries and differences between conversations online and offline, so that folks I work with can communicate more effectively. When we talk an analogy I often use is the Star Trek Tridimensional chessboard. It’s the multi-level nature of online talk that’s so powerful and easy to overlook.

Online Tridimensional Conversation

In an office in the offline world, the only audience is limited, visible, and apparent — much like only one level on the 3-d chess set. Online, we might direct our words to a small group, but the potential audience crosses to people who who only watch, people who have keyword alerts, and people who check in at other points in time. Our words go much further.

A whole Internet of people over a whole future could eavesdrop. What’s the impact of that? Here are three ways to focus your Online Tridimensional Conversation so that your relationship building is successful.

To test what I mean, try this. List three people whose work you know. Consider what each person is about. Then visit their Twitter profile page. Look down the conversational stream. Does it show what you thought it would? Is the difference good? Imagine if the profile page was all you knew of each person.

It’s the multi-dimensional nature of online communication that makes apps like Twitter so powerful. Be authentic, interested, and interesting, but also look to be consistent. If everywhere I look, I see the same you. My picture of you will form more quickly and be far more clear. When someone asks if I know anyone who does what you do, you’re likely to get a referral.

Are you making the most of your conversation? Do you know more ways to do so?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!
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21 Comments to “Social Networking: Online Tridimensional Conversation”

  1. July 31st, 2008 at 12:20 pm
    Web Success Diva said

    Great, great post. Very insightful as to the very multi-dimensional nature of social media interactions.

    Maria Reyes-McDavis
    http://www.MarketingMastersGuide.com

  2. July 31st, 2008 at 1:08 pm
    Elaine B. said

    This is very true. Sometimes in a sea of people, there are too many places to look. This give you a concise list to start with. Well written Liz!

  3. July 31st, 2008 at 4:53 pm
    Ricardo Bueno said

    “Not every word needs to push your brand, but none should discount it.” — Liz Strauss

    I think this is a very, VERY important point and it shouldn’t be taken for granted. Brand image can be a tricky thing to manage online. Frankly, it should be top of mind when working your way through your social media interactions. That doesn’t mean “me, me, me” and “in your face marketing.” It just means be consistent with the image that you represent. And if it comes from a place of sincerity, you shouldn’t have a problem.

  4. July 31st, 2008 at 5:23 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Maria!
    Thanks!

  5. July 31st, 2008 at 5:24 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Yeah, Elaine,
    It can be stunning, if we try to keep track of it all.

  6. July 31st, 2008 at 5:24 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Ricardo,
    You said so well, I have nothing to add. :)

  7. July 31st, 2008 at 5:55 pm
    RayD said

    A whole internet? A whole future?
    NOW I’m too scared to write anything anymore. Ever!
    Oops, I just did… ;)

    But you are right (as usual..). I think in the coming years a lot of marketing textbooks need to be rewritten, specifically regarding brand management. And there’s also the other side to monitor: what are people saying *about* you on-line? This is far trickier to manage (especially for larger companies) than what is said off-line, because generally on-line people can respond instantly.

  8. July 31st, 2008 at 6:07 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi RayD,
    That’s the potential. We have to learn to talk with the eavesdroppers in mind. :)

    Maybe that’s the book title and new college course, “Marketing to Eavesdroppers.” :)

  9. July 31st, 2008 at 6:20 pm
    RayD said

    “Marketing to Eavesdroppers” - That’s brilliant!
    I have a hunch that Public Relations (both in college and business) will become ever more important in a connected world. Perhaps even more than the ‘one-to-many’ communication of the past.

  10. July 31st, 2008 at 6:46 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi RayD.
    Public Relations and Reputation Management. I just did a reputation management consultation about 2 hours ago. It’s very real.

    Glad you like my new course title. :)

  11. July 31st, 2008 at 7:06 pm
    BawldGuy Talking said

    About to hit ‘re-tweet’. Thanks for thinkin’ of me.

  12. July 31st, 2008 at 7:10 pm
    Vicky H said

    One look at that multi-dimentional Star Trek chessboard and I was worried that I couldn’t understand the post, but as usual it was just a great visual to have in the back of my mind as I read.

    My perspective is use your strengths and personality as part of your brand if possible. The closer your brand is to who you are, the better.

  13. July 31st, 2008 at 7:10 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Aw BawldGuy, I love getting you involved. :)

  14. July 31st, 2008 at 11:36 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Vicky!
    You don’t give yourself nearly enough credit when you start. . . .

    Your perspective is a strong one to keep your focus in the multidimensional conversation going on. :)

  15. August 1st, 2008 at 11:50 am
    Collective Wanderings for August 1st 2008 | Collective Thoughts said

    [...] Social Networking: Online Tridimensional Conversation [...]

  16. August 2nd, 2008 at 6:09 pm
    Todd Jordan said

    Wish I had read this sooner. Makes me wonder if there is a service out there to comb over my history of Twitter posts and drop me out just keywords. Kind of like a tag cloud without the cloud?

    Thanks for another wonderful post.

  17. August 4th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
    b5media - The Power of Networking said

    [...] Liz is a master at making you feel like part of the conversation. When it comes to networking, she touts online tridimensional conversation (try saying that three times quickly) - check it out for the cool picture [...]

  18. August 5th, 2008 at 7:15 am
    Invincibelle Column » Three Ways to a Clear, Consistent Online Reputation! said

    [...] the words people say about us, and the words people say for us begin to take on a new power. The tridimensional aspect of conversation on the Internet pulls all of those bits and bytes together to form more than a brand . . . they [...]

  19. August 11th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
    The Power of Networking from the b5media Business Channel said

    [...] Liz is a master at making you feel like part of the conversation. When it comes to networking, she touts online tridimensional conversation (try saying that three times quickly) - check it out for the cool picture [...]

  20. October 24th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
    Moving Forward and Standing Still . . . - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once. said

    [...] Social Networking: Online Tridimensional Conversation [...]

  21. January 15th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
    James D Kirk said

    Liz also spoke about writing your comments, and articles for your “future self”; which struck me as just fascinating. I realized that I do go back from time to time and re-read both posts and comments. Bearing this in mind during the initial creation might help one create even better!

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