As most of you know, last weekend we had an event in Virginia Beach dealing with Social Media. For the most part, we had business owners and other professionals trying to learn how to use Social Media to enhance their online presence. Now, I really can’t say in detail what they were expecting before they got there, but I know for a fact these business owners took away more than they bargained for.
A lot of people come up to me and ask what the Social Media community is all about. They hear these stories of great new-found wealth, and want to “get in” on the action. Well, let me tell you what I believe Social Media is all about. In short, it is bringing the “Community” back into our lives. Without delivering all kinds of statistics, it is safe to say that people are more transient now than they have ever been.
When I was younger, I remember when we had a new family move in the neighborhood we would try to make an effort to introduce ourselves, and maybe even bring over a welcome gift of some type. In addition, as a “Community”, we relied on our neighbors to watch out for– and on some occasions–to protect us, knowing that we would do the same for them. Unfortunately, those days are slowly passing. Think of the last time you made a pie for a new neighbor, or had no problem knocking on a door to borrow a cup of sugar or an egg. If you think about it, you really can’t place the blame on anyone. We have too many new neighbors now, and every time you build a relationship you risk losing it just as fast. We have grown a little reserved to protect ourselves, and make little or no effort to fight it. This is where Social Media has restored an important piece in our lives.
Our keynote speaker, Jeff Turner ( Twitter @respres), introduced to all of us how relationships are built through Social Media over time and interaction. Now, because I am already running over my 250 word limit (Sorry DSS and JSMV) I need to simplify his talk a bit.
Basically, the Social Media community has the ability to fill that void in our lives. This is one place where we can find people who are not only willing to be your friend, but also eagerly anticipating meeting new ones. The main reason it has been able to accommodate to our new transient lives is the fact that, in general, the community has no boundaries. There are no more broken hearts, or tough goodbyes to worry about. We can finally open our doors again. Another point Jeff made was that as you build these true relationships, not only will people follow you, but at some point they will watch over you (online of course), and even protect your interests (sound familiar?). In short, it is about you becoming a neighbor again. Your goal should not be so focused on quantity, as much as it should be quality. Respect everyone as you would if they were right down the street ,or even in the lot right next to you. I promise you that once our neighborhood sees that you are willing to be part of it, they will become some of the best friends you’ve ever had. So again, Welcome to our home, and feel free to come over for some eggs anytime!!
Chau
Coach West
Frederick West “Coach West”
Enterprise Solutions International
“Get Your Business Working For You”
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Email:Coachwest@enterprisesi.com
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