Tag: community

  • Navigating the social media currents, together in NH

    When working with any emerging approaches to business (and technologies), understanding what’s working for people and where things are going is a constant challenge. There are self-professed experts willing to sell you a “package solution” to get you up to speed. I’ll skip getting into a discussion of the pitfalls and ethical questions people raise…

  • Rule #3: Be The Gatekeeper

    When you’re engaging with anyone online, rule #3 is “Be The Gatekeeper” You should never be a roadblock. Give customers a clear path. Just being there isn’t enough. Communication has to go both ways. You now have access to incredible feedback you used to have to pay a lot of money for. Lead customers to…

  • Followers vs. Community

    Rich Millington, on his FeverBee – The Online Community Guide blog shared two posts recently about a following vs. community: Why Most Organizations Shouldn’t Try To Create An Online Community and Clarity – What’s a Community? A Following = an audience that interacts with you A Community = an audience that interacts with each other…

  • Rule #2: Address The Need

    When you’re engaging with anyone online, rule #2 is “Address The Need”. Everyone needs something.  We listen, we may even understand what we’re being asked — but it that what they really need?  If you’re engaging online, make sure you’re actually addressing the need. I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently after a discussion…

  • Rule#1: Be Real

    When you’re engaging with anyone online, rule #1 is “Be Real”. The world is full of bots (both human and digital.)  Your customers are people, it’s ok to be a person t00. Be a face, not a name (or logo) Don’t just broadcast, have a conversation Be open and honest Be Yourself!

  • Personal fulfillment through effective communication.

    Communicating your organization’s message, whether that message pertains to a sales, marketing or support function should always take your audiences needs into consideration. The problem tends to be that professionals write professionally. Now, don’t get me wrong, there is a place for technical jargon, buzzwords and catch phrases – but unless your message is specific…

  • Are you encouraging or discouraging online communication?

    When I was studying interpersonal communication at Ithaca College in the early 90s, one of the concepts we looked at was whether your environment encouraged or discouraged communication.  The terms I learned were: sociopetal (environment encourages communication) and sociofugal (environment discourages communication.) Determining if a physical environment encourages or discourages communication is a pretty straightforward…

  • Kev’s Rules for Community

    For the September, 2009 Social Media Breakfast NH (#smbnh) at the Manchester, NH Public Library I gave this talk about my rules for community. I call it ‘Kev’s Rules for Community’. My rules are simple: Be Real Address the Need Be the Gatekeeper

  • Kev’s Rules–3 Rules for Online Community Engagement

    For the September, 2009 Social Media Breakfast NH (#smbnh) at the Manchester, NH Public Library I gave this talk about my rules for community.  I call it ‘Kev’s Rules for Community’. I try to live these rules every day–whether I’m engaging online via twitter, blogs, or any other tools.  The rules are simple: Be Real (don’t be…