SOBCon2010 Webinar
Mon, Feb 15, 2010 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM EST
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/197073915

We’ll be talking strategy and tactics for our online business.

We’re doing everything we can to bring you all the value, the experts and expertise, and the time to work and network that you need to make your business outstanding and extremely profitable in 2010.

What could you do with a weekend of the time, expertise, and support you need to focus your business?

We’re all coming for the same reasons.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Four Human Reasons People Participate and Keep Coming Back

Filed Under Community, Marketing, Successful Blog | 5 Comments

It’s about Me!

When new clients start talking social media, it’s not long before they get to “engagement.” They want to know what moves crowds and individuals to genuine participation. What attracts us? What connects us? What keep us coming back and bringing our friends with us?

What makes one space more fun to participate in than another that looks like the same thing?

Why we participate might vary with each participant, but participants all have things in common — simple human reasons that give experiences meaning.

• Fame — some folks come for recognition. When we participate, our words get seen and read. Sometimes they’re shared. Every blog post, tweet, status update, and comment aggregates to form our reputation. And now that we friend and follow others, we have even more direct channels to share our words of wisdom and attract a following.

  Will your online experience attract the group you want — the authorities, the elite, or the “Internet famous?”

• Fortune — some folks come for contests and giveaways, but leave when the prizes quit coming. Some folks are interested in information or training that will raise their income. It’s a tricky business to combine participation and money without it beginning to feel like I’m working for it.

  Will your online experience offer enough to keep folks coming back?

• Friendship — connections on the social web are clicked on and off in seconds. So the key is conversation between people with common ideas or values. Conversations between like-minded friends grow exponentially faster than their real-world counterparts. Without barriers of time and space, meeting is simpler and more convenient. I leave a message you respond later.

  Will your online experience make it easy for folks to talk to people like themselves about things that they care about?

• Fun — the distraction of new people and new ideas. The level playing field in which introverts and extroverts both have to type makes it fun. Spice it up with some game that brings out personality … keep it simple and easy. It’s endless conversation in a coffeehouse that’s always open.

  Will your online experience be fun for folks who want to be with other people?

When we’re looking at an online experience, we have to consider what the human payoff is. What is the most basic reason that people will come and come back? That reason will underscore and validate that the environment we’re building is right for the ones we want to come to share it. Incorporate the values of the folks you want to be there, and people will participate and keep coming back.

Seems simple doesn’t iit? Humans will be human.

Which reason do you think attracts most folks to participate on Twitter?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!

Why Businesses Still Aren’t Engaging Online With Their Customers

Filed Under Marketing, Successful Blog | 6 Comments

A Guest Post by Frank Angelone

Are you a business? Whether you are a large corporation or a small business, you should be engaging with your customers. As many already know, the best way to engage with your customers is through social media. There are so many sites available at your disposal to be an active participant, yet many businesses still aren’t using social media to its full potential.

Why is this? Well, I believe it can be answered in 5 bullet points…

1. Laziness. It’s as simple as that. If you don’t engage in social media, your sales for your business aren’t going to be as high as Toyota who are actively engaging with their customers. Don’t sit around and wait for social media to come to you. You have to go after your customer base and see what they want. If you don’t, you are leaving money on the table for your competition.
2. Time Constraints. So many businesses say they are too busy to create accounts on Twitter or Facebook. That’s a poor excuse and a simple solution is hire someone to engage with your customers.
3. Unfamiliar with social media. This is probably the worst reason for not engaging with your customers online. If you know how to talk to your customers in person, then online interaction isn’t any different. You reach an even larger customer base online. If a business says, “We are unfamiliar with using social media.” My response is, “how come Toyota can do it?” Everyone starts at the bottom and learns more as they participate.
4. Fear of the unknown. To many business engaging with their customers online is a new form of business that older business owners simply won’t understand its benefit. An easy fix, just do it! The more a business puts off engaging with their customers, the quicker someone will take those customers from them.
5. Pride. There are many business owners and companies out there that feel the way that they do things is the only way it can be done. The minute you let pride get in the way, the sooner you will be bankrupt. You need to accept that the business world is always changing and if you are not willing to adapt because of pride, then get out the playing field. There are plenty of other businesses that will put int the time to make their companies better.

My takeaways for companies refusing to engage with their customers online are…

• Business in general is bigger than YOUR company. You need to adapt to changing times to be a big player.
• Engaging in an online capacity is the same as in person. The two shouldn’t be mistaken as different and the same amount of effort should be put into both.
• For your company to survive, you NEED customers. Treat your customers as your number one concern and you will see your profits increase. Always build trust and relationships with those people.

Find the social site where your customers hang out. Set a goal. Invest a little time. Learn a tool. Get familiar with what’s going on… Chances are you’ll find yourself proudly connecting to the people who love what you more and more.

—–
Frank Angelone is the founder of Social Tech Zone. He helps individuals and businesses with news and tips to better themselves in social media and technology. Frank is also the author of the Computer Speed Blueprint where he helps PC users increase the speed of their slow computer. You’ll find him on Twitter as @FrankAngelone.

Thanks, Frank! Great information on how we do more than survive.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!