Be Memorable
I recently attended a workshop on blogging and social media networking, where I learned that I need to continue to work to develop original, dynamic content, that keeps my audience interested and engaged, in order to create a true on-line dialogue.
One of the routine tasks to be performed is the updating and maintenance of email reader lists, where individuals are added to and deleted from the list as per their request.
I recently had the occasion where an email recipient requested to be deleted from the list, a request to which we complied. His email read as follows:
Turns out I did not recognize him at a business mixer sometime back, hence his desire to be removed from the list for a blog that was providing him — I thought — with a wealth of interesting info on smAlbany, technology and small business, etc.
I found this situation to be unfortunate (in a number of ways), but what can you do…
Rather than trying to be ”memorable” on account of his personality, work accomplishments or standing in the community, he was looking for “professional recognition” from me in our encounter. Because he did not receive this recognition, he wanted to be removed from the list.
This incident reminded me of an event that occurred to me in my early 20’s, when I was just out of college. I was at a technology trade show in Las Vegas and in a conversation with one of my colleagues who was a few years more senior in the business than me. In the middle of our discussion he walked away from me in mid-sentence, and I had no idea where he was off to. Turns out he went off to talk with a good looking woman from one of the other venders at the show. I was quite offended.
When he got back he was unapologetic, despite the offense I took. He told me: “Don’t take it so personally.” When you have an opportunity, you take it, he said.
I learned a lot from this incident, and have carried this concept with me in my business networking. When you have less than five years in a professional capacity, it’s understandable (but not always attractive) to seek “professional recognition” from others, but for people who’ve been in business for years, I suggest that instead you work to be memorable, and when something comes up, no matter what, “Don’t take it so personally.”
December 15th, 2009 at 7:19 am
Good extrapolation from that incident. Did you attend the Social Media Breakfast Tech Valley #4? I wish I was free to go to that.
I also attended some workshops on blogging and social media as a tool for business growth. So far the growth has not been very impressive. What are the factors of this growth? You write 1 blog then some people read it.
How many blogs do people read in a day? How do they decide which blogs to read? What other activities would they give up in order to read additional blogs? What causes them to go to your business after they read your blog? What other things could I do rather than write another blog? Which thing would lead to more new business? None of these things were addressed in the workshops I took.
How much time does it take to write a blog? One workshop leader suggested an hour a day of blogging would be the minimum to attract significant new business. I think they were guessing rather than answering from an informed scientific position. I am sure there are other questions that would give useful insight into this new media.
I want to get more business. I want to have a blog that is efficient in getting more sales. If it is part of a complete marketing plan, a sound business plan, and a personal time management plan, we would be able to answer those questions.
December 15th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Stephen,
I also wish that I had been able to attend SMB-TV 4, as I had found the other breakfasts to be very helpful. I did try and follow the live tweets, but it can be difficult without context.
I think that an hour a day of blogging is excessive unless your business is blogging. However, if you work in a different industry and are looking to simply build a relationship with your client base and bring in new business, then you really only need to be blogging about twice a week, depending on your industry.
I work in media and journalism, so many of the blogs that I read post every day or multiple times a day, because writing is their job. For other industries, I would blog a couple of times a week to inform readers of changes in the industry or to share insight, and then pair the blogging with a social media strategy that allows you to promote the blog to those interested in your industry.
For someone who doesn’t work in media or communications, developing a blogging/social media plan, or even a general public relations plan, can be very difficult. You basically have to decide whether you want to invest the time to learn all these tactics, or whether you want to pay someone a consulting fee to do it for you.
Sorry for the long-winded comment. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me.
December 15th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Larry,
I received an email about your blog (it ended up in my spam filter for some reason, but I have since added you to my contact list). I agree that some people can take things too personally, and that some people will find any reason to be offended.
However, when working in business, if you are able to make someone feel memorable (even if they really aren’t) that creates an opportunity for a potentially beneficial business relationship. It is a little shallow, but essentially you are appealing to that person’s sense of vanity. I know that when someone I only met briefly manages to remember my name and a little about myself, it makes me look at them in a more positive light.
There are going to be those instances though where you just don’t remember someone, and people are going to take it personally. It’s unfortunate, but if someone doesn’t allow you the opportunity to save the relationship, maybe it’s a relationship not worth saving in the first place.