Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

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

December 9, 2009

What Cool People Can You Tell Me About Today?

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 10:08 am

With social media and social networking everything changed.

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Some say the playing field is leveled. I’m not so sure that’s the analogy. First of all it’s not a game. What’s happened is that everyone who has a voice has a chance to put their signal into the stream. Whether it’s a blog, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or the smallest, most targeted social site you’ve ever seen, every business needs to seek out where our customers are and start talking with — not to — them.

Why? If we’re not talking to them, something else is happening …

How can we improve that situation? Certainly asking people to say nice things about us might be one way, but it’s not the best way to start.

Social networking is best when we learn, listen, and engage — telling great stories other people and businesses (not about ourselves). Find good things that great people and businesses are doing. Find people who are making strides doing things that relate to what you do. Help those doers tell their valuable stories. People will notice.

The best form of networking is telling folks about the great people you know and what they are doing. Sharing the news of cool people is a great way to show our own values.

What cool people can you tell me about today?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
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Filed under Comments, Marketing, Successful Blog | 2 Comments »




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2 Comments to “What Cool People Can You Tell Me About Today?”

  1. December 9th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
    Tre ~ said

    solid points. value much that you won’t consent. value more that you shift thoughts to a different view.
    my for now shout outs:
    @inspiredwriter…Shannon’s gotta blog http://inspiredwriter.com where she blogs consistently Blooming Mondays and “Flowering Fridays”…nuggets that essentially find her zeroin into the right now growth of her days. She insists on the bloom even amidst the most trying of times…as a recent sharing of the heartache and healing process of witnessing her mom pass away testified….Shannon’s also a great one for drawing out the possibilities of everyone. She’s just an all around awesome motivator, mentor, confidant, friend.
    Another: @lisajohnson…she runs a yoga studio and just launched a new blog: http://www.lisajohnsonfitness.com/
    I’ve never taken a yoga class in my life:) but I so appreciate her happy motivational self care tweets and blog posts.
    Lastly (for now, hard to keep me quiet on this) @reginayau or @pixelproject is a wonder woman in Malaysia who in less than a year created a global campaign to reduce violence against women. From the tweets of resources for immediate help to her offerings on her new site: http://www.thepixelproject.net/ Regina and her team are providing ways anyone anywhere can understand why their efforts matter in stopping violence.
    Anyhoo..there’s a few. Why not keep this as a weekly theme? would be a neat way to learn about more who are doing great things.
    Thanks for all YOU do.
    Deep respect and warm hugs..

  2. December 10th, 2009 at 8:19 am
    Alisa Bowman said

    I know I’m not answering the question you asked in the post, but this resonated with me… so I felt the need to comment on one aspect of it. It seems as if many people look at networking and social networking from a “what can I get out of this right now place?” These sorts of people walk up to others (either at an event or online) and start with a sales pitch: Hi I’m Al and I’m great because of x y and z.

    I suppose if you offer that pitch to millions of people, it might be effective on a few.

    I choose to see social networking differently. I try to have zero expectations. I never know how someone may or may not be able to help me in the future. All I want out of it is to form relationships and help others whenever I can. I’ve made it a firm rule that I share writing advice with anyone who asks for it, for instance. I don’t charge for this. This is the knowledge I’ve been blessed with–what I have to offer to others.

    I’ve made so many close friends in real life and online with this approach. I could not possibly list them all. And I’m a naturally introverted and shy person.

    And, it’s my belief, that this “give give give” approach eventually results in business benefits. Many people have helped me along the way–offering things to me that I didn’t even know I needed at the time. That’s because we had a relationship, one that was not based on me trying to sell myself to them.

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