The Benefits of “Joining the Conversation”
Posted on July 12, 2007
Filed Under Uncategorized |
One of the great things about blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and all the other weird and wonderful Web 2.0 services available, is the ability to engage in conversations with people of all stripes, from all around the world. While this has been the case since the earliest days of the Internet (my taste in music would probably be much narrower if it weren’t for some of the people I’ve met on various web forums), social media has made it easier than ever.
My interest in social media, combined with my curiosity about pretty much everything, has led me to get involved in a lot of conversations on the web. I read and comment on a variety of blogs. I tend to mostly stick to a few niches that interest me the most–freelance writing, online marketing (with a focus on social media), and lifehacking and productivity. I read these blogs because I want to learn more about these things. But, more than that, I read them because I have the opportunity to join in the conversation.
If I were to read a book about these subjects, I would get one person’s opinion, and that would be the end of it. With blogs, I get to read the opinion of the author, and also the other readers who leave comments. On top of that, I can engage directly with all of these people and ask questions, or add my own insights. This is the same reason that I blog myself. I want to share my opinion, and to hear the opinions of others.
While I personally feel that this sort of interaction and sharing of knowledge is its own benefit, sometimes more can come from it. I’m a regular reader of The Lonely Marketer, and yesterday Patrick was kind enough to buy me a beer (despite living in Minnesota), and feature me, and this blog, on the Lonely Marketer. Patrick’s blog gets a fairly high readership (quite deservedly), so his little plug will probably give my freelance work a nice boost. This is one of the ways that social media “marketing” should work.
It isn’t about going out and blatantly plugging your website or your service all the time. It’s about building genuine connections with people and communities. If you can do that, you’ll find success. Just like traditional networking, it takes time. But, if you’re got patience, and you’re willing to contribute and help other people, it will benefit you in the long run.
It’s much more effective than trying to exploit Digg or Reddit (although both can play an important role in a good social media marketing campaign), because when the connections you make are genuine, and based on mutual interests, rather than selfish ones, the referrals and recommendations that you get–and the resulting traffic–will be of a much higher quality.
Ultimately, that’s better for everyone. Not only do you get a much more targeted and receptive audience, but the people coming to your site will be more likely find something of value in it, since they’re looking for something more specific than the average Digg user.
Wow! The concept for this post started off as me wanting to thank Patrick for highlighting Ink Slinger, and ended up being a discussion about social media and organic marketing.
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3 Responses to “The Benefits of “Joining the Conversation””
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Great post! You pretty much nailed social media and how to play the game for the long-term. Enjoy the beer!
I approve of this post! I don’t have much to add, except the quality of the linking in social media also affects your SEO quality. Strong connections with those who share your interests will help when it comes to linking.
Semi-related: Are you interested in a Pownce invite? I have one left and have been meaning to ask you.
Hey Mike,
I’m definitely interested in a Pownce invite. I’ve been hearing mixed reviews. Some people are saying it’s the greatest web app ever, others are saying, “Why can’t I just use email for this?”
I’d like to see what the buzz is about.