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How Has Social Media Changed the Way You Do Business?

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Dawud is back, a proud dad of a new baby, and we’re picking up the conversation where we left off.

At the end of his recent post, Dawud asked me a question is far simpler than its answer.

What’s one way you’d say social media has changed the way you do business?

Forgive me Joyce Kilmer,

I think that I shall never see
a clock as hungry as social me – dia.

An activity whose hungry mouth is prest
Against my blog’s flowing breast.

A front page that looks out all day
While bloggers talk, submit, and pray.

How Has Social Media Changed the Way I Work?

When I turn on my computer, it’s not really that unusually that within a few seconds I might get a Twitter message. I jump on and say, “Hi Tweeple!” And folks answer with their greetings. We pass messages that eventually become conversations about what we’re doing.

Some Twitter folks are folks I’ve met. Some are folks who visit my blog. Some are neither one. Some are folks I’ve wanted to meet for a long, long time. We all message to each other in the same 140 characters. Occasionally that leads to a telephone call or an email.

When I Digg, I don’t break a sweat. And when I Stumble, I don’t fall. I find myself among a group of people who surf the Net and serve me up a menu of ideas and inspiration in the form of articles and blog posts that they have found. Sometimes we meet under the surface by way of a message to discuss what we do when we’re apart. I’ve done business, been introduced, and gotten beautiful picture gifts from folks I’ve met in those two places.

Over at the local Facebook and down at the Linkedin location, I connect with folks I know and meet new ones. I especially look for folks who live in Chicago or who are coming to visit. It’s a good thing to get a chance to have a sit down with a new friend face to face. I never know where such a meeting will lead me, but those hellos usually become important working friendships.

Those are just five, but I think you see the patterns.

Of course, it happens that people I meet in those places often tell other folks about me, and everyone knows I just can’t keep quiet about the cool folks who cross my radar. They come to visit my blog. I go to visit theirs. More than anything we share ideas in every way we can.

It’s time invested in new places, but going to the same end . . . relationships.

Speaking of relationships, I ask Dawud and everyone reading . . .

What do you find is the key to great relationships with social media friends?

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One2One is a cross-blog conversation. Find the answer at dawud miracle on Monday. You can see the entire One-2-One Conversation series on the Successful Series page.
In Case You Missed It: Writing 06-13-07

My 2008 Bucket List — Thank You, Jeff Pulver, for Asking

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It’s a Movie! It’s a Thought Worth Having!

The Living Web

The idea of a bucket list isn’t a new one or that exceptional. We used to talk about such things when we were kids. Then it was

If you had 6 months to live and all of the money in the world what would you do before you died?

A bucket list is just that

What would you do before you kick the bucket?

Jeff has added a new twist.

What things on your bucket list will you scratch off in 2008?

Jeff Pulver made a bucket list in response to the Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman movie by that name. But he didn’t throw out isn’t any nebulous challenge. Oh no! It’s what will we remove from our list curing 2008. As Jeff said,

In the spirit of the movie, and in the spirit of trying to make 2008 be the year that we all start to do some of the things we would like to accomplish one day, I thought it would be fun to reach out to friends across the blogosphere and ask them to share some of the things on their “Bucket List” they hope to remove during 2008. For some of us, these are not necessarily our “New Year’s Resolutions”, but rather things we have been meaning to do for some time that we WILL get done in 2008.

Then, tossed the ball to a few of us to respond — Chris Brogan, Liz Strauss, Jeff Jarvis, Fred Wilson, Andy Abramson, Steve Garfield and asking them to share their “Bucket List for 2008.”

How could I say “no” to that?

My 2008 Bucket List

In 2008, I plan to knock a few things off the list of “what I want to do while I still have time” list. . . I know these for sure.

  • To be paid to speak, teach, and have ideas, and to get to do so in more than one country.
  • To attend the social media breakfast in London that Jeff Pulver has on his list.
  • To be an integral part of launching an original idea — an idea in progress — and to see that it funds itself.
  • To decide which book I need to write and whether I need to write it alone.
  • To get to know at least one new person a week.
  • To spend a weekend or more at a vineyard with the friend I’ve known longest, a weekend, at least, with two other such friends, and several hours in person with my best friend from college..
  • To find someone who ‘s interested in getting this symphony out of my head and onto a musical score.
  • To travel with my son and to surprise my husband with something he wants but doesn’t need.

thank you, Jeff Pulver for inviting us to keep each other alive and thinking.

Of course, the giving back, the laughing, and the hanging out here with my friends goes without saying.

Now I pass this along in hopes that some others might share their list too, because I’m interested:Sashi Bellamkonda, Becky McCray, Mike Sigers, Ann Michael, J.P. Rangaswami, Anne Wayman, Glenda Hyatt Watson, and Mike DeWitt.

Actually, I’m really interested in everyone’s bucket list. What will you cross off your bucket list in 2008?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

The Mic is On: We're Talking about What We'll Learn or Teach …

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It’s Like Open Mic Only Different

The Mic Is On

Here’s how it works.

It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.
The rules are simple — be nice.

There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.

… this Year

We might talk about:

  • becoming a speaker, a skier, or a rockstar
  • learning to drive a speedster, drive a golf ball, fly a plane
  • teaching writing, illustration, or how to dance the cha-cha
chalkboard.jpg

And, whatever else comes up, including THE EVER POPULAR, Basil the code-writing donkey . . . and flamenco dancing (because we always get off topic, anyway.)

Oh, and bring links about learning and teaching to share!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Open Mic 7pm Chgo Time: It's about What We'll Learn or Teach …

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Join Us Tonight

… this Year

We might talk about becoming a speaker, a skier, or a rockstar, learning to drive a speedster, drive a golf ball, or fly a plane, or teaching writing, illustration, or how to dance the cha-cha and whatever else comes up — even flamenco dancing.

Oh, and bring links about teaching and learning to share!

The rules are simple — be nice.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Are You Letting Customer Relationships Pass You By?

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Don’t Let One Customer Click Away

One customer. That first customer. That next customer. Will that customer click away before you connect?

Most businesses don’t realize that the missing out on a single customer relationship is more costly than it appears. The customer that passes by today doesn’t mean the loss of one sale. That one customer gone represents

  • today’s sale
  • every purchase might have returned to make.
  • and every friend that customer might have brought to the business in future days.

Every customer that doesn’t connect takes those benefits to another business.

Strong businesses are built on strong relationships. Strong relationships are built on connections that stick.

Relationships that last don’t happen by accident.

Connection Central for Solos Opens Today

I’ve been working on a way to make useful 20+ years of education, the strategy, business, and relationships. The result is a sleek and flexible set of courses called Connection Central for Solos. They’re smartly focused on conversations connections, relationships, customers and paying the rent.

Connection Central is two carefully crafted curriculum — one stands alone, one comes in three versions. Each is designed to show you how to attract, delight, and form long-lasting relationships with customers. Both offer solid methods and strategies you can use to connect quickly, profitably, and predictably. I only made two because I only have so much time

Don’t let another customer click away.

Connection Central for Solos

Choose the course that fits your situation. Or call to discuss something tailored precisely to what you need. Visit SOBNet: Connection Central. If you have questions, call or email me. Don’t let those customers keep passing by. Isn’t it time that you connect?

Course 111: Getting Paid What You’re Worth

Are you ready to charge more for your services? Are you having a problem naming your fees?

Course 111-TeleLiz

Work with Liz to set the rationale for your fees. Use value, time, and math to discuss what you charge. Develop and price smaller offers. Check what you offer for missed opportunities to deliver value. Learn how to change the amount of work rather than lower your fees.
Enroll at Connection Central.
3 Telephone sessions with Liz ……………………………………………$295.00

Course 222: Connect with Customers

Like to Work Alone? Email Self-Coaching Course

Learn on your own with all of the tools you need or learn through conversations with Liz. See the complete 16-Step Curriculum in the box at the bottom of the page.

Course 222-Email

Self-coaching means just what it sounds like. You’ll get the tools and information and a push in the right direction. Weekly coaching plans and worksheets crafted by experienced educational publisher will guide you to define your product or service, fine tune your presentation, write a compelling offer, attract ideal customers, and close the deal. Begins January 20th, 2008
Enroll at Connection Central.
16-Step Email Self-Coaching Course …………………………………… $ 97.00

Don’t have 16 weeks to wait?
2 TeleCourses with Liz

Course 222 -TeleLiz-1

It’s the same curriculum with all of the same content, but fast-tracked through telephone sessions with Liz. Identify, connect, and form a relationship with your ideal customers by providing them with an atmosphere they recognize and an offer they value more highly than the price.
Enroll at Connection Central.
6 Telephone sessions with Liz …………………………………………… $585.00

Course 222- TeleLiz-2

Invite a colleague to work alongside you and share the benefits.
Enroll at Connection Central.
6 Telephone sessions with Liz ……… $970.00 [$485.00 each for two]

TeleSeminars are available to limited number immediately.
The first session of the email course will begin January 20th.

–ME “Liz” Strauss