Disqus - Latest Comments for gravit8

Re: Three Keys to Social Media Success…But Are They Enough?

Chris Bailey — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:35:59 -0000

Maddie, I guess my thought is that I don't know if having awesomeness, personality, and humanity is enough either. We know plenty of people who have these qualities but can't square them with success in social media (or business, as well). As I commented to Aaron above, these qualities you mention could be preconditions, but alone don't guarantee that anyone will pay attention to your efforts.

Re: Three Keys to Social Media Success…But Are They Enough?

Chris Bailey — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:13:17 -0000

Aaron, appreciate your response. I think maybe this highlights common ground I think we both might be moving toward: authenticity, credibility, and transparency within the organization are preconditions for social media success, but alone may not yield success. An organization also needs to create a stage in which its message can be heard clearly...plus have a finely-tuned strategy which includes content planning and appropriate measurements (among other things).

Makes it a little more complex, but then no one (at least with any credibility) ever said success in social media efforts was going to be a walk in the park.

Re: The Art Of Volunteer Engagement

Chris Bailey — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:24:41 -0000

Jane, I absolutely agree with your assessment and your comment that a great experience that benefits both nonprofit and volunteer begins at the "attraction stage." Thanks for adding your voice.

Re: Are You a Twitter Douchebag?

Chris Bailey — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:41:10 -0000

SEOcopy, thank you so much. That whole interaction stuck with me for the remainder of the day. I can't say that I'm perfect in taking myself too seriously and overreacting. What I can say is that I usually find a way to make amends for it. This individual lost a lot of respect from me which is sad (and rather than committing an act of linkbaiting, I'll merely give the URL of the exchange: http://twitter.com/copyblog....

As I commented to Ricardo above, I'm trying to see actions like this as examples of behavior rather than as sources of identity. We're capable of a wide range of acts...and mistakes, as well. At each of our cores, we're far more multifaceted than maybe anyone knows.

Re: Are You a Twitter Douchebag?

Chris Bailey — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:28:55 -0000

Hi Ricardo, thanks for the input. This week, I've been meditating on something that's been gnawing at me: that we often don't see the full individual online. How many people have built up their online "celebrity" by being controversial or snarky? Its awfully easy to get hooked into a singular persona in this internet space. So, I don't know if I was right by saying that douchebag behavior online equates to being a douchebag. Still thinking...what are your thoughts?

Re: How Not to Be a Social Media Jackel

Chris Bailey — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:20:29 -0000

Thanks, Matt. Yeah, I think one of the benefits of integrative social media is being able to use media that fit the purpose. We can easily kickstart conversations on Twitter and then move to a deeper dialogue on blogs.

That whole "If you're having problems with your web hosting..." approach is little more than what we might get from a spammy blast email. We're not doing any sales listening, analysis or awareness and its likely not going to lead to a sales solution. You can only get there through a relationship. And by making the commitment to delve through the surface level issues to uncover true needs from the prospect.

All these things are available through social media, but they take time to cultivate...but then, the best sales are done that way. So very little changes. Agree?

Re: How Not to Be a Social Media Jackel

Chris Bailey — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:13:29 -0000

Thanks, Tia. I think style and tact are exactly the qualities you have to put out there if you're going to approach a competitor's dissatisfied customer. Anything else and you'll likely have a customer pissed off at two companies rather than just one. Thanks again for adding to the dialogue.

Re: Live From Shop.org: Best Buy Learns How to Handle Facebook Cranks

Chris Bailey — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:09:42 -0000

It really is a question of scale, isn't it Tim? Which is why I wonder about the utility of a community management model where the org isn't solely responsible for maintaining relationships with all members. There is a strong member-to-member component that eases the burden. However, experience shows that creating such a community is not light work. It takes careful planning just like any other initiative or else it likely falls prey to failure.

Re: Live From Shop.org: Best Buy Learns How to Handle Facebook Cranks

Chris Bailey — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:37:13 -0000

What's most interesting is not the racist and rude comments, but the inaction of other fans. I didn't see the activity so perhaps there were some attempts made by others to moderate the extreme comments (but I'm guessing not).

Facebook pages have the potential to provide Community to brands, but most companys - Best Buy included - still don't understand how to utilize the space most effectively. Their current strategy appears to be post something for comment, let their fans have their say, then post something else. It appears to be little more than a sounding board. And if they can't effectively listen to the 800k+ fans they already have, then what is the real purpose?

My suggestion to Best Buy and Tracy Benson is to rethink their strategy. Having 800K+ fans may make you feel important and popular but without anything solid to pin this number to, its just smoke and mirrors. Engage with your fans in the space or move on.

Re: Fox’s Fringe “Twitter on TV” Experiment Irks Fans

Chris Bailey — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:30:34 -0000

@loganmarlowe has the measure of it. It was a repeat and intended to provide commentary on the episode. Jeez, folks just need to calm down a little. Fox tried something new...good for them. So rather than bitching and moaning, contribute to making things better. It sounds like Fox is continuing to experiment rather than pulling everything up at the roots to appease the twittering class. That's good to me.

Re: Are All Passionate Fans Are Worth Listening To?

Chris Bailey — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:07:08 -0000

Hi Susan, thanks for the comment. Along a similar thoughtstream, Paul Seaman wrote a post that you may also enjoy:
http://paulseaman.eu/2009/0...

Just like any other tool, social media and the internet as the power to create as well as destroy. We all just need to slow down a bit and think more carefully before hitting the 'publish' button.

BTW, I corrected your connection to IKEAFANS. Sorry for the inaccuracy.

Re: Should You Moderate Your Blog Comments?

Chris Bailey — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:36:15 -0000

Thanks for visiting and adding to the dialogue, Doha. It sounds like you take the path of Tim, who commented above. You moderate, but with an eye on making sure that appropriate messages get approved quickly.

I certainly can't fault anyone who moderates because their blog is a lightning rod for troll messages. I see too many news sites have open comments only to become the soapbox for folks practicing unthoughtful and hateful behavior.

Re: Should You Moderate Your Blog Comments?

Chris Bailey — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:29:47 -0000

Thanks for adding to the dialogue, Toby. As a fellow online community pro, I appreciate your insight on this issue. It sounds like you're suggesting that there may be benefits to dealing with both spam and trolls in the openness of the community rather than behind the moderation curtain. Is that an accurate read?

Anyone else have experiences that show this works or does it merely fan the flames and decrease trust and engagement in the community?

Re: Should You Moderate Your Blog Comments?

Chris Bailey — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:24:14 -0000

Hi David, glad to hear from you...it's been a while :) I'm curious about your approach: do you feel like there's opportunity to overmoderate? And is the balance of moderating in proportion to the number of times you have to delete troll messages or truncate lengthy comments?

Just curious to learn more about the circumstances behind moderation.

Re: Should You Moderate Your Blog Comments?

Chris Bailey — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:18:57 -0000

Absolutely agree that an important issue for business blogging is how to get readers to comment. An open comment structure is always a risk - particularly when the business is used to command-and-control communications. But we're starting to see how open dialogue is changing the way organizations relate to their customers...and innovate their internal communication systems.

Re: Should You Moderate Your Blog Comments?

Chris Bailey — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:53:14 -0000

Rosa, you make a great point about the other extreme that few people talk about: a blog where commenters are given free reign at the expense of value. I see this happen less with blogs (though you may have examples) than with news sites. Our local Austin American-Statesman allows comment sections on articles that often read like a junior high bathroom stall. It's more a chance for locals to bad mouth whoever seems to be the subject of the article. Which leads me to a similar conclusion you make: is it better to have no comments at all?

Re: Should You Moderate Your Blog Comments?

Chris Bailey — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:08:48 -0000

Brad, you make some good points. In particular, we now grapple with dialogue increasingly taking place outside of the originating blog. Conversations via Twitter, Friendfeed and Facebook are becoming more of a norm. Individual bloggers (as well as businesses) will look for ways to engage in those areas as well as integrate those dialogue channels back into the blog.

But I still argue that creating barriers for conversation on the actual blog site using onerous moderation tactics creates poor experience that could come back to haunt the publisher...particularly if its a business's blog. We may not be able to 100% control where the conversation takes place (and shouldn't try), but we can create the structures to encourage it in places we want it to happen.

Re: Should You Moderate Your Blog Comments?

Chris Bailey — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:11:37 -0000

Tim, sounds like you've found a comfortable middle ground in your commenting plan. And here's what I appreciate: even though you moderate, you actively make every effort to approve quickly.

As I've said many times, you totally get how community forms around blogs. Its one of the reasons why you're a true pro when it comes to blogging for business.

Re: Guest Post from Lani Rosales – Why Are There So Many Realtors on Twitter?

Chris Bailey — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:16:13 -0000

Lani, as someone outside the RE profession, you've provided me with a perspective of realtors that I hadn't fully appreciated. You've managed to effectively advocate for realtors, which is something to be proud of. The big takeaway? If you don't personally know a realtor, you better get to know one now. Thankfully, through you and Benn, I now know a few more. Good stuff!

Re: What if you just hired better?

Chris Bailey — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:14:44 -0000

Hey there Jake...turns out this isn't a Godinism. It came from Matt Haughey:
http://a.wholelottanothing....

Still good, though, particularly for those of us who also work around the concept of employer branding and employee engagement.

Re: How To Bludgeon Your Brand In 140 Characters

Chris Bailey — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:57:17 -0000

Richie, I think what we're seeing here is a company cramming an old, tired strategy into a new platform. Once upon a time, an enterprise could farm out its marketing strategy and delivery to a third party and everything would be fine. Doing this in the social media world doesn't work anymore. It actually requires a company to own not only their message but the transmission of that message. Habitat is learning this lesson that hard way.

Re: The Hut: A Case Study In Marketing Shallowness

Chris Bailey — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:04:48 -0000

Thanks, Greg. Glad you enjoyed it.

Re: I still get asked to defend why social media matters to a business…

Chris Bailey — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 13:50:32 -0000

Right...I didn't think about MVPs fitting the B2B mold. It's why I love communities that have a reputation point system that's dependent on what others think has been helpful (e.g., I like how LinkedIn does it with their Answers area). It builds trust which cultivates engagement. Good stuff, Sean.

Re: I still get asked to defend why social media matters to a business…

Chris Bailey — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 22:51:19 -0000

Okay...I think you're right. But let me add another wrinkle to this. Of fellow users, which of *them* do you trust? That's the next phase of the trust wave that B2C online communities must address. Not all online users are alike so reputation counts. Organizations employing communities for their products/services/etc need to be aware of this.

I'm more of a B2C guy so I'm not sure how that plays out in the B2B world but I'm curious to explore it.

Oh, and I think we should always be ready to speak to why it matters to business. And the day we no longer have to do this will probably be the day another new technology will arise that we'll be defending and pitching.

Re: @thomasknoll

Chris Bailey — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:25:32 -0000

Hmmm...and its on the thoughts in that second paragraph that I'm now curiously wondering, too. As an anthropologist, I sometimes try too hard to put online communities into the mold of traditional offline communities rather than acknowledge that the online space has its own peculiarities. And this topic would make for an interesting research project.

Great topic and great wonderings, Thomas. I think the questions we raise here are going to be far more interesting and powerful than any answer.