Good points here and a good question... My take on this is that it's probably a good idea to be an active participant as a member of a social network, and it's difficult to do that on all of them (i.e. more than a handful) and still have an offline life.
L John Yarusi
· 3 months ago
Nice List... Trust is not the only thing - it is everything... ( :
Michael Jobson
· 3 months ago
I disagree with some of this. Particularly the use of video. I think most people do not prefer video. There are plenty of people with strong writing skills who do not transfer well to video. And you can skim text, you can't skim video.
CarolAnn BaileyLloyd
· 3 months ago
Excellent tips for the entrepreneur and for those testing the Internet waters for prospective online biz networking.
jsloss
· 3 months ago
Some great advice. I don't fully agree with #3 "Don’t setup a profile on every network." I'm a proponent of setting up profiles on all relevant networks.
You should choose your main networks (bases, embassies, primary, whatever you want to call them) these are the places you interact regularly, and really build trust.
Setting up profiles on other networks, linking back to a place where users can get more info on you, is just as important. It allows you to discover relevant conversations across multiple networks and have a degree of credibility on each of them.
Just make it clear that you don't interact regularly on those secondary networks, and refer users to the places where you do.
If you are a coffee shop, wouldn't you like to have a store in every community. Even if it was only kiosk or even ..... a billboard?
Gamaware
· 3 months ago
These are great tips for keep your audience close, specially when you own a blog and want a lot of people to read it, i will implement them!
Greetings fro Mexico
Brandon Mendelson
· 3 months ago
Thanks for the feedback everyone. I wanted to answer a few comments if I could:
@mdee: To me, it's a waste of time to be everywhere, and the more you spread yourself out the less quality time you can spend with each network.
@Michael It's true some folks, including myself, are probably better sticking with text, but most people (increasingly so) are comfortable with and prefer video. You can take video anywhere which is important as more people access the Internet from their phone and netbooks.
@jsloss : "Just make it clear that you don't interact regularly on those secondary networks, and refer users to the places where you do. " To me, that defeats the point of being on other networks in the first place. It's best to concentrate on a few places, with the way Google, Bing, and Facebook are going, it'll be very easy to find the profiles you concentrate your time on.
jsloss
· 3 months ago
I don't see any harm in having profiles set up on other relevant networks, and the upside is more discoverability, access to a community that you wont have if you don't have a profile (such as small ning.com networks) and more links pointing to places you want people to view.
Not all searches happen on search engines: Youtube, Flickr, LinkedIn etc. are places that have significant search volume for specific reasons... if you're not on that network, you are not discoverable. Just because you have a profile that says "I'm here, but connect with me on twitter or my blog (it's where I spend the majority of my time)", it won't make people trust you less..
Zero downside, all upside. I say it's better to be there, than not.
I don't think real estate agents will take your "don't look like you're selling real estate" phrase very kindly.
I agree with many of these points, and not surprising, this post reminds me of what I said earlier in the year - after we've mastered the technical tools, we'll all want to go back to the conversation and bi-directionality.
I disagree with not being in every social network - you may not want to use them all at once (that's why you create a social media strategy) but you should be on every network.
I fully, completely and utterly disagree with video taking precedence over tweets and blog posts. Heck, this post is a post (you didn't do it on video, did you?)
You forget # 1 - be explicit about why you need the funding and # 2 - be explicit about how much you need per person (i.e. how spread your crowdfunding effort is - is the network 100 people wide or 100,000 people wide - do you need 40 dollars per person or 4?)
The title of your post would better reflect the content if you mentioned it's primarily focused on crowdfunding. From a first glance it looks like it's a catch-all blanket post for earning trust online in every circumstance.
My two cents :)
AnthonyProulxofPlasticPrinters
· 3 months ago
Really great points. Thanks for the tips.
Dave Doolin
· 3 months ago
90% of this is just gold!
But I do not agree with "Keep it short."
I regularly read long articles, long sales pitches, long books, whatever.
I do not, however, read *boring* stuff.
I'm not unique.
"Keeping it short" has the single advantage of "The less you say, the less you will bore them."
Whereas, writing long articles is more challenging. I'm up for the challenge!
Also, video leaves me cold. Can't print it out. Which is what I'm about to do with this article!
shilonikelle
· 3 months ago
And don't sell bullshit! I realize that is not going to work for a lot of people, but...it works for me.
Jessica Falkenthal
· 3 months ago
Does "#10 Answer every message." include every Facebook wall post? Or just the ones that have questions?
Brandon Mendelson
· 3 months ago
Everything Jessica:-) But you have some leeway if they are not questions.
Ash
· 3 months ago
I think answering every message not being fake are the two most important. ---------------------------- http://www.adpoppr.com
David
· 3 months ago
Great list. I don't think many people truly understand how important building trust is.
concours
· 3 months ago
Great article Brandon, very helpful and informative, just a question to the third point. Isn't it better to focus on networks depending on your target audience? I mean if you are trying to reach peoples in the states, you know facebook and twitter is big there, so you might set a profile there, but what if you are trying to reach peoples also in Asia, Arab-world, India, etc...? those regions have each their own top networks, so is it not better to set your profiles depending on that?
concours
· 3 months ago
Great article Brandon, very helpful and informative, just a question to the third point. Isn't it better to focus on networks depending on your target audience? I mean if you are trying to reach peoples in the states, you know facebook and twitter is big there, so you might set a profile there, but what if you are trying to reach peoples also in Asia, Arab-world, India, etc...? those regions have each their own top networks, so is it not better to set your profiles depending on that?
Brandon Mendelson
· 3 months ago
@concours
You raise a good point. I know quite a few folks in China who don't use Facebook or Twitter but use the local service. In those instances, it may be worth splitting your strategy. Use Facebook and the local network (or Twitter and the local network.)
Charly
· 2 months ago
I fully agree.
Lillea Woodlyns
· 3 months ago
'Answer every message'
Absolutely! As a customer/ potential customer I have been dismayed many times by the number of online marketers who are just terrible about this. It makes a HUGE difference. It's something I try to do for my own customers and visitors. 48 hrs at most to get back to people, but far fewer is best.
Marty
· 3 months ago
I see responsibility just as important as trust. If you don't perform...people can't be expected togive money
cbjerrisgaard
· 3 months ago
This article is fantastic. I will be bookmarking it and showing it to anyone who ever asks me about how one goes about social media marketing.
Claire Thompson
· 3 months ago
Think you make some good points.
Re #3, I grabbed my name in all of the social networking sites as placeholders. I think this was a mistake - I would agree with what you say - social networks take time, and a half baked, only occassionally used effort doesn't encourage communication or conversation. Why would you talk to someone who takes 3 months to respond?
However I don't agree with the video bit. Unless you can do it *really* well you get the Blair Witch/'nobby no mates in front of computer' effect (well I do). Personally use a voice to web app - when you have a face that's perfect for radio, it's a great solution. It still has the personal feel, but I find it easier than videoing.
Good list though!
(Disclaimer: I used to work with a voice to web provider.)
Marty
· 3 months ago
I asked a question on here, but it was removed. I have since verified my email. The question does have merit.
Simply put: If a person donates say $250.00 to your High Five promotional film and the film doesn't make it. You have delayed it serveral times from August till November. Also it appears unlikely that you will raise $300,000. What happens to my donation? Do you just keep it, does it get returned?
Marty
· 3 months ago
Obviously Mr. Mendelson doesn't like certain questions to be asked. I see my question addressed on his website with some rather nasty name calling and calling me as an old man Troll.and other not so pleasant names and accusations that are totally out of my character.
I think when you donate to a charity you have the right to know how the money will be used. So much for transparency?
Richard
· 3 months ago
""Obama-like" in terms of transparency"? I'm not sure I understand that statement.
Terry
· 3 months ago
I believe you could have picked a much better role model for transparency than Obama. Does this mean that to be an effective marketer we should say one thing but do another or change our message based on polls or the audience we are speaking to?
Richard
· 3 months ago
I wish I had said that! Right on! I was being a bit too subtle with my remark.
element321
· 3 months ago
I started using these tips and I found that it really does work!
Overpopulated Internet
· 2 months ago
This is bland and obvious. Like the previous sentence. I bet this took you like 10 minutes to research and write this.
All Comments
http://www.adgirlandtechnerd.com
You should choose your main networks (bases, embassies, primary, whatever you want to call them) these are the places you interact regularly, and really build trust.
Setting up profiles on other networks, linking back to a place where users can get more info on you, is just as important. It allows you to discover relevant conversations across multiple networks and have a degree of credibility on each of them.
Just make it clear that you don't interact regularly on those secondary networks, and refer users to the places where you do.
If you are a coffee shop, wouldn't you like to have a store in every community. Even if it was only kiosk or even ..... a billboard?
Greetings fro Mexico
@mdee: To me, it's a waste of time to be everywhere, and the more you spread yourself out the less quality time you can spend with each network.
@Michael It's true some folks, including myself, are probably better sticking with text, but most people (increasingly so) are comfortable with and prefer video. You can take video anywhere which is important as more people access the Internet from their phone and netbooks.
@jsloss : "Just make it clear that you don't interact regularly on those secondary networks, and refer users to the places where you do. " To me, that defeats the point of being on other networks in the first place. It's best to concentrate on a few places, with the way Google, Bing, and Facebook are going, it'll be very easy to find the profiles you concentrate your time on.
Not all searches happen on search engines: Youtube, Flickr, LinkedIn etc. are places that have significant search volume for specific reasons... if you're not on that network, you are not discoverable. Just because you have a profile that says "I'm here, but connect with me on twitter or my blog (it's where I spend the majority of my time)", it won't make people trust you less..
Zero downside, all upside. I say it's better to be there, than not.
---------------
http://freenintendowiipoints.com
I agree with many of these points, and not surprising, this post reminds me of what I said earlier in the year - after we've mastered the technical tools, we'll all want to go back to the conversation and bi-directionality.
I disagree with not being in every social network - you may not want to use them all at once (that's why you create a social media strategy) but you should be on every network.
I fully, completely and utterly disagree with video taking precedence over tweets and blog posts. Heck, this post is a post (you didn't do it on video, did you?)
You forget # 1 - be explicit about why you need the funding and # 2 - be explicit about how much you need per person (i.e. how spread your crowdfunding effort is - is the network 100 people wide or 100,000 people wide - do you need 40 dollars per person or 4?)
The title of your post would better reflect the content if you mentioned it's primarily focused on crowdfunding. From a first glance it looks like it's a catch-all blanket post for earning trust online in every circumstance.
My two cents :)
But I do not agree with "Keep it short."
I regularly read long articles, long sales pitches, long books, whatever.
I do not, however, read *boring* stuff.
I'm not unique.
"Keeping it short" has the single advantage of "The less you say, the less you will bore them."
Whereas, writing long articles is more challenging. I'm up for the challenge!
Also, video leaves me cold. Can't print it out. Which is what I'm about to do with this article!
----------------------------
http://www.adpoppr.com
You raise a good point. I know quite a few folks in China who don't use Facebook or Twitter but use the local service. In those instances, it may be worth splitting your strategy. Use Facebook and the local network (or Twitter and the local network.)
Absolutely! As a customer/ potential customer I have been dismayed many times by the number of online marketers who are just terrible about this. It makes a HUGE difference. It's something I try to do for my own customers and visitors. 48 hrs at most to get back to people, but far fewer is best.
Re #3, I grabbed my name in all of the social networking sites as placeholders. I think this was a mistake - I would agree with what you say - social networks take time, and a half baked, only occassionally used effort doesn't encourage communication or conversation. Why would you talk to someone who takes 3 months to respond?
However I don't agree with the video bit. Unless you can do it *really* well you get the Blair Witch/'nobby no mates in front of computer' effect (well I do). Personally use a voice to web app - when you have a face that's perfect for radio, it's a great solution. It still has the personal feel, but I find it easier than videoing.
Good list though!
(Disclaimer: I used to work with a voice to web provider.)
Simply put: If a person donates say $250.00 to your High Five promotional film and the film doesn't make it. You have delayed it serveral times from August till November. Also it appears unlikely that you will raise $300,000. What happens to my donation? Do you just keep it, does it get returned?
I think when you donate to a charity you have the right to know how the money will be used.
So much for transparency?
I'm not sure I understand that statement.