DISQUS

Erin Kotecki Vest · 1 year ago

Chris this is one of the most comprehensive, yet succinct posts I've seen thus far on the whole ball of wax. Seriously, I mean that. Excellent work. Now to make them all unafraid ;)

And don't forget CNN.com. Just their leap of faith into SL deserves a few points. Not many of the old media dinos are that brave.

Connie Bensen · 1 year ago

Chris,
You did a great job of putting a lot of info out on the table.

I agree that the blogging policy is redundant if the company has a technology use policy. My suggestion is to put more time into a blogging strategy.

Building community is definitely about people. Companies can ask themselves how does their product/resources impact people's lifestyles? That's the place to start looking for the existing community. Once you identify that place(s), then find someone who can work externally & internally to connect that group with the company & vice versa. It's definitely a cause for a Community Manager position.

And how to start? I agree, just start experimenting and the engagement will grow with attention. People will definitely take notice & spread the word.

Deirdre · 1 year ago

Chris, this post is very helpful especially the steps to take when you are launching a company blog. We launched our company blog and unfortunately it didn't receive the attention internally that we had hoped for. We need to revisit how to get our employees involved. Thanks for the advice.

michelle lamar · 1 year ago

You forget more in a day than I know. That is simply the truth. GREAT post and I am going to link to it, email it. Thanks for laying out information in a very snackable form.

Ainsworth Boyle · 1 year ago

Great post Chris. I'm currently in the process of revamping the company's social media approach. This will definitely be a routine review piece.

Don Lafferty · 1 year ago

In trying to explain Social Networking to those starting from scratch, I‘ve been using a graphic illustration to help people visualize the independent relationships that exist between a user and their network.

Some of these relationships are one way streets while others are more collaborative by their very nature, and as usual, which you use for what purposes comes down to understanding your objectives BEFORE jumping in.

I break the relationships down into these simplest of terms:

Listening – simplex
Gathering – simplex
Sharing - duplex
Collaborating - duplex
Promoting – simplex

Functionally speaking, this covers just about every action that can take place in the context of a social network, online or otherwise.

The key to gaining entry to these information streams is positioning, which includes the content you provide. Your ability to fully capitalize on the more collaborative features of social networking lies in the quality and exclusivity of your content, the places you choose to distribute your content and your skill level in creating communal chemistry, which as you point out Chris, is what makes the people in your network feel wanted.

Guy Rosen · 1 year ago

Chris, what a thorough post! Made for some good reading. Here's a question on this point in your blogging suggestions -

"It’s considered good etiquette to link to other great posts you read, and to comment on other blogs written by people you admire or want to engage in conversation."
How effective do you think it is to build relationships with fellow bloggers by conversing in this way? How has it worked for you in the past? (Is it working for me now? (-: )

chrisbrogan · 1 year ago

Hi Guy-- I'm not sure. : ) I think it's a good way to get people to know who you are. I find that peopl who've commented here a few times are more likely to have my interest picqued to see their take on things, etc. I think it's effective.

What do other people say?

chrisbrogan · 1 year ago

@Don - that was really interesting. It gave me a different way to consider this. Thanks!

Guy Rosen · 1 year ago

Chris - what I've found so far is that it works. Comments and trackbacks are the bread and butter of the blogosphere. It's all about being social, right? Well, striking up a conversation is the best way to socialize.

James Clark · 1 year ago

Chris, love the detail. As Don points out above and in our experience to be successful one must first learn how to listen.

Most great conversationalist, I'm talking in general, not online are people who listen well. The same translates online. You just don't walk into a bar and start yelling out oddities. You walk in sit at the bar and join a conversation that you can have input in. It's common sense, but we're talking marketing here, so, well just so.

Companies get in a big rush to use social media to serve the company and launch a blog or podcast and then find that no one visits them.

The company should be there to serve the social media effort, and step one is getting people in a company comfortable to listening. This means, get them trained and proficient with RSS readers.

In our experience the simple exercise of training people how to track and listen to conversations is a completely mind blowing experience for them.

Once they start listening to all the conversations, they can resist to but to want to jump in full force.

Drew Bernard · 1 year ago

Chris, your post was just what the doctor ordered. It's got me thinking how to translate this to social change non-profits... Much is the same, but a few things are different. I have a feeling I'll be doing something with this. If I succeed, I'll shoot you a copy.

Thanks much.

Stephen Tompkins · 1 year ago

Great post. This is a in-depth list. I really think you hit with analysis paralysis. I think many companies still fear handing over power to the community. But they need to realize all the value that lies within.

wendy · 1 year ago

Hi Chris

I felt I had to reply to you as although I am totally lost in most of your site, quite a bit is in laymans terms and this is fantastic for a novice like me!

I am in my second year of a Foundation Degree in Digital Media and the module I am working on at the moment is quite deep. Decoding the digital society!! Theories for interpreting the social change! can you guide me in the right direction on your site, as I am totally lost in space!

Thanks Wendy

Elizabeth O'Grady · 1 year ago

Chris,
I'm glad I came across this - I'm looking into some social media applications for the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, and your Social Media 100 series will give me some really helpful perspective.

P.S. I also went to the recent Podcamp, and I learned a lot there too, as well as met some great people!

Thanks again,

Elizabeth O'Grady
Online Marketing Consultant
Bata Shoe Museum

chrisbrogan · 1 year ago

Hi Elizabeth - I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to talk much, but I remember you well, because of your name badge on your hat. : )

bonjour madam- · 1 year ago

bojour u silly men , how r ru all , all this tslk is drivin me crazy , get a life xx

Carl · 1 year ago

Really interesting post. We recently launched Blogs for our in-house writers. Nice to read that we did most of what you reccomend, so fingers crossed!

http://www.carlknibbs.net/blog/2008/7/24/foolco...