A Bigger Voice

Hidden Benefits of Being a Follower

This blog is about how to make your thought leadership more visible, to do good in the world.  But sometimes, it pays to be a follower, not a leader.  Let me explain. 

Last year, I looked for affordable technology that would support a dream--to have an Internet version of a talk show. Two webcams, broadcast via the Internet to others who could see and hear a conversation with myself and a guest, talking about an interesting topic.  Add in the ability for the audience to ask questions live, and you get an Internet talk show.

The problem was that I couldn't find a service that was both affordable and reliable. I asked smart people in related industries and still, no one knew of anything that fit what I needed.

While I was frustrated, I knew it was a just matter of time before the service I needed would be available, from a startup, as a beta.  It's what I've seen repeatedly happen in the last few years with technology.  This includes the webinar platform space, which seems to be ultra-competitive these days. (Established vendors, like Webex and Gotomeeting, should be worried at this point.)

I found my answer on a private Facebook group, for participants of Pamela Slim's Power Teaching course.  A woman who had taken the course last year posted remarks about BigMarker.com, describing her experience with the service, as well as the features that it provided over and above the competition, for *free*.  Yes, it's in beta. Yes, there are glitches.  Yes, their site could be better organized. But what they offer is exactly what I've been looking for. 

Here's the important part. I found what I needed by being a follower--by being part of Pamela Slim's tribe, and then going deeper into the experience by buying a course on what she knows from her decades of teaching, first as an instructional designer for corporate training and now as an entrepreneur. 

Being part of the eco-system of a thought leader is not just learning from the thought leader. It's learning from others who are following that thought leader. It's what comes from joining a vibrant community, that's started by a wisdom entrepreneur.

 

The Wisdom of Gary Vaynerchuk

One of the best books I've read recently on social media is Gary Vaynerchuk's The Thank You Economy. Not only does Vaynerchuk have practical wisdom in this area, based on his own experience in using social media to grow his wine business, he's eminently quotable. He's the rare "social media expert" who really is an expert, because he's done it and lived it--and in the process, created compelling results for his own business. Photo by Eric Kastner.

If you don't "get" social media and why it's such a powerful tool for building relationships, read this book.  A few of my favorite quotes from the book:

On Customer Relationships

"[The customer] is not going to give me the chance unless the other guy slips up.  And even then they'd probably give him a second chance because forgiveness is the hallmark of a good relationship."

"Any company that gets so complacent it thinks everything is "fine" deserves to go out of business--it literally means its leaders have stopped caring. A competitive company is always on the offense.  Always. Always. Always."

"A successful social media campaign is one that plays close to the emotional center; the farther away you stand from that center, the farther away your customers are going to stand as well."

Photo by rachaelvorhees

 

On Quality Over Quantity

"It's not the number of followers you have or "likes" you get, it's the strength of your bond with your followers that indicates how much anyone cares about what you have to say. In this game, the one with the most real relationships wins."

 

On Messaging

 "You may not be able to control the message anymore, but you can absolutely control the tone in which the message gets played."

 

On Company Culture 

"We are a capitalist society, but the majority of businesses are taking a communist approach toward allowing their employees to use their voice on social media. They don't want the wrong message to get out, but if they create the right internal culture, it's unlikely there will be a wrong message."  

Photo by malias

 

On Social Media as the New Focus Group

"Social media gives us the opportunity to figure out what people want before they even know they want it.  Using social media to talk to customers is like getting access to the most honest focus group that's ever sat around a conference table and not paying a dime for their input."

 

The best part of book is at the end, in a section titled, "Sawdust".  Here, Vaynerchuk discusses everything from how fear blocks innovation to how Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, should have bought Woot several years before he actually did (in 2010) to hiring and firing.  In this section is Vaynerchuk's version of the Cracker Jack prize at the bottom of the box--small, intriguing, and a delight to find: 

Biggest Mistakes Companies Make With Social Media

1. Using tactics instead of strategy

2. Using it exclusively to put out fires

3. Using it to brag

4. Using it as a press release

5. Exclusively re-tweeting other people's material rather than creating your own original content.

6. Using it to push product

7. Expecting immediate results

Social media gives us back the ability to be personable, in a quiet way, in a world that can be too impersonal, too over the top, too reality-show-attention-getting.  That neighborly approach, even as it is applied one-to-many, can be the basis for a lasting and trusting relationship with your audience.

Online Video, One Year Later

Over a year ago, I decided it was time to learn about online video, not as a consumer but as a creator, to understand how I could make use of this medium. I bought a Flip camcorder because of its portability (it's about the size of a deck of cards) and ease of use, in creating video on the fly and in uploading to the Internet. Photo by ilamont

Since then, my Flip has been a steady companion, stashed away in my purse, ready for action at a moment's notice. Fourteen months later, I've created plenty of video. Here are my top tips for creating and using online video:

To become more natural in front of the camera, tape yourself often.  Forcing myself to use the Flip got me used to being in front of the camera--whether I was on vacation sitting at a restaurant, standing in line to get into a theater, or interviewing my 8-year old nephew about what life was like for him. The more you do it, the easier it gets. You may start out in front of the camera looking like you are under interrogation. If you stick with it, over time, you can expect to see a more relaxed and genuine version of yourself.

Aim for authentic, rather than picture perfect. Along the way, I've watched myself on video and learned that:

• Many days, my hair looks better under a hat
• I do a strange thing with my mouth before I start talking
• My eyes seem to pop out of their sockets when I'm trying to emphasize a point

All of this is to say that almost no one is ever satisfied with the way they look on camera. The good thing about online video is most people don't expect a polished presentation. In fact, oftentimes with online video, there is an assumption that the more "unfinished" it is, the more real and authentic it must be. Think Candid Camera instead of the Oscar awards. Photo by jenny downing.

It's not about you. It's about your message. Whether your message is meant to inform, entertain, persuade, reassure, or illuminate, the message is what's important. You may be the messenger, but the message should still get the spotlight. This will also help you be more natural, when you focus on what it is that you want to communicate, rather than saying it perfectly.

You can edit your way to a focused message. I suppose this is the same with other media--taped audio, written essays. But the point is to not be afraid to shoot more video than you need. And don't be attached to how a particular video will be used in the end. Photo by mobilechina2007

The more you use online video, the more uses you'll find for it. Here are just a few of the ways I've used video: 

• Video helps me record the mundane parts of my life and in the process, have a little fun with it. From showing the mad dash of my teenage sons to get in the car in the morning for school to what my family eats for breakfast. I especially enjoy the wry commentary that can emerge in looking at the routine. This first video is about having a hot breakfast to soothe a nasty cold.....

• Video allows me to share quirky moments, like walking into the Department of Motor Vehicles office with my son to get his learner's permit and finding out that the it could easily be mistaken for a 1950's Russian ministry, complete with plastic chairs in rows and numbers being called. This next video was taken at the Peoria, IL airport at 5:30am on a cold (minus 19 degrees outside) winter day. The only place open at that time in the morning was a stand that sold a microwavable bagel with sausage and cheese.

• Video enables me to introduce myself to others, who I might not otherwise meet in person, as in this clip to welcome new followers on Twitter. You could just as easily do a video to welcome visitors to your website:

• Video is a fabulous way to bring others into the room, when they can't be there. I've done this by taping a few moments with my son on his birthday to upload for grandparents to see. In this next video, I'm visiting a college friend in Chicago, and we are saying hi to a mutual college friend who lives in California.

• Video can capture the energy of an event. The following clip was taken after an event I facilitated with Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind and more recently, Drive. We asked participants what they learned....

• And finally, with video, I can share the small moments of life, like this one after a snowstorm, taped on Christmas Eve. I was feeling particularly peaceful and grateful that day:

After a year of playing with online video, it's become another tool in my toolkit, to connect with others and share more of my world. It takes getting used to and it's not for everyone. But if you do take the time to learn it, you'll have a new, technicolor way to engage with others.  I hope you've been able to get to know me better through my online videos. 

To Build Community, Start Networking Naturally

MP3 recordings of the recently completed teleseminar series, Networking Naturally Program, are now available for the discounted price of $40 (regular program price was $189), through December 31. Click here for more info and scroll down to click on the "Buy Now" button.  Photo by ShashiBellomkonda

One of the tools for building community is networking--creating mutually beneficial relationships that can support your cause. This can be in the form of creating strategic alliances (e.g., an expert on X, Y, and Z has a large audience that would appreciate your platform on A and B), creating a personal board of directors, or connecting to kindred spirits. When you are "networking naturally," you more easily enroll others in helping you reach your goals, with less effort.

So if you need a refresher or a confidence-booster (especially as the networking season gets into full swing with holiday gatherings), consider investing a few hours and bucks to make the process not only more enjoyable, but more effective. With one client, better networking helped her to connect with two speakers at a conference, resulting in an invitation to be considered for a national task force, and a lead to have her work used in a government program in Puerto Rico.

If you are someone who dismisses networking as schmoozing (a common misperception), this program is definitely for you. But don't just take my word for it. Read what others have to say:

“The Networking Naturally Program helped me think consciously about how networking is giving to others before asking for help. I highly recommend that anyone looking to hone their networking skills participate in this program--whether you think you have it mastered already or not.”

--Jenny Hightower, Manager of Alumni Relations, Johnson and Wales University

“After procrastinating going to a potentially rewarding networking event for three months, I finally went AND enjoyed myself. You gave an introvert tools to be more outgoing in groups.  This Program was the very best bargain I have had in over 45 years of trainings!”

—Elizabeth Stirling, psychologist, www.elizabethstirling.com

Social Media is For Lawyers, Too

I was interviewed for an article in the Illinois Bar Journal, a magazine distributed by the Illinois State Bar Association. The topic? How attorneys can use social media to build their businesses. The writer did a great job at pulling together many sources to explain LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. While this was written for an audience of lawyers, the advice applies to anyone wanting to learn more about using social media for networking. This type of article--helping non-techies understand how to use technology to achieve their goals--is indicative of how mainstream social media has become.

A bonus: Our very own Simon Young is quoted from one of his blog postings here, for the article.

One part of the article specifically quotes a Twitter user as saying that the search feature on Twitter is more useful than Google--because the information is not only findable but updated in real time with real users. Users that you may then want to connect with and folllow. Think about it. People looking for specific information-- whether it's the details of a court case or where to meet for to show support for the Iranian people or tips on managing a chronic disease--can now find not only the information they want, but the source of the information, someone who is likely to be a kindred spirit. That's what we have today, at the flick of a few fingers on a keyboard. Amazing isn't it?

Photo by NOIZE Photography

Connecting Over Achieving

I continue to be impressed with the capabilities of Facebook, even though I'm only an occasional user. Seems like each time I log on, there's a new capability that allows me to connect with others in a way that is most comfortable for the individual. Sometimes, it's via a blog post. Other times, it's a short comment on how the day is going. And other times, it's a video of something meaningful in one's life (like a performance of a song!)  Today, it came in the form of a book recommendation.

I have to remind myself that community-building is often just about connecting, for no other reason than that.  I forget and think that I have to "get somewhere." When in reality, there's no place I need to be other than right here.

Today, I spent 30 minutes on Facebook, connecting on many levels to half a dozen "friends."  It felt good.

BTW--The beauty of social networking is that it allows me to come into someone's life, intermittently and briefly, without skipping a beat.

Photo by jelene

Update on Networking Naturally Program

In offering the Networking Naturally Program, I'm realizing it's become a case study for A Bigger Voice. I'm seeing how the model works "in the field." Some thoughts:

• Crystallize: It was difficult for me to develop this program, to help others learn to network better and realize the benefits of networking, until I could get to the essence of what would make this program different. Ahhh...the sweet feeling of innovation--a new solution to an old problem!  When I hit upon the idea that there are underlying principles that successful networkers use, independent of their personality and style, I tapped into my own wisdom. That led me to the name of the program, "Networking Naturally," and marketing copy that described what it is that I was offering. The stunning result has just emerged from recent activity on the participant-only blog: A Community of Givers. Participants were asked to answer the question, "What do you want help with?" It wasn't too long after the answers came in on the blog (as comments) that I could see participants giving first before asking for anything. This one of the principles of Networking Naturally.

• Build Community: There are three primary tools for building community, Marketing, Networking, and Technology. In addition, communities are built around a central question, one that is expansive enough to keep everyone engaged for a long time. The central question for the community forming around the Networking Naturally Program is, "How do I network more naturally and more effectively at the same time?"  A great question to explore as there's no quick answer. Marketing this program has shown me the wide range of tools that are now available--from email announcements to my ezine list to talking about the program on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, to postings on three blogs (all my own.) Networking has played a large part in getting the word out--via my connection to the Northwestern University Alumni Association. This is a relationship that started several years ago when I did a series of interviews with Northwestern alums for a Northwestern-sponsored career podcast. I'm learning that networking with groups that have a large distribution list can accelerate the path of a wisdom entrepreneur, by delivering a critical mass that becomes the core of the community. Technology has been the final piece of the puzzle, creating a sense of community from people coming together all over the world (literally!) to learn about networking. I set up a participant-only blog, thinking it was just a central repository for information. It's been that and more, one of the great success stories of the Networking Naturally Program. To give you a sense of the activity, in the first week alone, there were over 3000 hits on the blog. You can use Marketing, Networking, and Technolgy well and still not have a community. My colleague on A Bigger Voice, Ellen Ingraham, who served as the networking consultant during the pilot last year, has a been a wonderful partner in creating a culture of giving and role-modeling community-building skills. She's a natural at both.

• Sustain. Efforts are underway to look at how to sustain this Community of Givers, after the program ends on April 29. I purposely did not monetize as much as I could have from this first go-around on Networking Naturally Program, when community-building and giving back was really the intention. The fee for the public is $37 for all four teleseminars. 100% of the fee from those registering through Northwestern University (as a partner in marketing this program) is being donated back to Northwestern, to fund future career programs for alumni. Monetizing, to create sustainability, will come afterwards. 

There's still time to be join in--to get an inside view of community-building, as well as learn some valuable networking skills, and to connect with a community of givers. All sessions (MID-DAY and EVENING) are recorded and replays are available through May 31, 2009.  Go to www.naturalway2network.com to register.

Kim Dority, Part 2: Building Community, Top-Down and Bottom-Up

How many ways can we complement each others' missions? We are not here to compete but we are here to help everyone in this space. --Kim Dority, talking about how Disboom collaborates with other disability-oriented organizations.

In this second part of a four-part interview, Kim Dority from Disaboom reminds us to look broadly for community members, from the "temporarily abled" to employers to the caregivers of the disabled. She also challenges us to think creatively about collaborators and in the process, shows us what savvy networking can do for a cause.

This second part of the interview is under 12 minutes:

In the interview, I was struck by how Kim looks for stakeholders, community members, and collaborators in many places. She uses both top-down and bottom-up approaches to create a web of mutually beneficial connections. Combine this with a focus on engagement and participation and the results are truly stunning.

Where could you open up your thinking on who is in your community or who to collaborate with?  Provide comments below, so that we can continue to learn from each other.

In the third part of the interview, Kim talks about using social networking to further expand the Disaboom community.

Networking Naturally

Networking is one of the tools for building a community.  What do you need to know about networking to be more effective?  You'll hear some fabulous ideas in my second interview with Kim Dority, VP of Content from Disaboom, an online community for the disabled and those whose lives they touch. The first part of a four-part interview with Kim will be posted tomorrow.

In the meantime, check out a new program that I've developed to help you network with less stress, more joy, and better results. The Networking Naturally Program, starting on April 8, consists of four teleseminars. You'll learn the principles that successful networkers follow. Other topics covered:

• April 8.   Myths and Beliefs: What You Aren’t Conscious of Can Hurt You!
• April 15. Creating a Meaningful Conversation: What Do I Say?
• April 22. Etiquette, Systems, and Structures:  How Do I Develop Lasting Connections?
• April 29. Integrating Online With In-Person Networking: How Do I Put It All Together?

Photo by respres

What's at stake?  As a wisdom entrepreneur, networking allows you to attract your kindred spirits more quickly, with less effort. Successful networkers know that they can't achieve their goals alone. They must connect with others.

I've purposely made this program affordable ($37) so that more people can take advantage of it, whether you are a wisdom entrepreneur or not.  The need for networking skills has never been greater. At a time when individuals are looking for answers, collectively, we're smarter than any one individual. (Okay, Congress not included.)

Space is limited and this introductory price won't be available after registration closes. To register, go to www.naturalway2network.com

How Book Authors Can Have a Bigger Voice

Forget the book tours. Go online. That was the advice of Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Work Week. If you don't believe Ferriss, check out this series of interviews with successful authors who are using social media to get their ideas out into the world.

The first interview is with Dan Pink, author of Free Agent Nation, A Whole New Mind, and The Adventures of Johnny Bunko. I've talked about Dan Pink on this blog before (and on my other blog, Ordinary Life, Extraordinary Living) because he always seems to have his pulse on where the world is heading (although these days, it seems like no one knows the answer to that question.) One of the ways I learn best is from reading what smart people have to say and Pink comes through as usual. He's right on target when he says in the interview: "Marketing is not a monologue. It’s a conversation." I would add, ideally, the conversation leads to a community.

A quote from Rohit Bhargiva, author of the book, Personality Not Included:

"The best thing social media can offer any author is a way to connect with influential voices who are currently talking about your subject, and letting people share your content and ideas with one another. The first point is about connecting your book with the people that can spread the word to all the right audiences. The second is about letting your readers and people who like the book spread the word about it. I would say that for any author, the trick is to try and focus on both of these pieces."

He's really talking about using both top down and bottom up approaches to having a bigger voice, as well as the use of networking to connect to the top and others who have a large following. Fortunately, as Bhargiva states earlier in the interview, individuals who were previously inaccessible are now accessible using social media. He gives the example of leaving a comment on John Mackey's blog (CEO of Whole Foods) and having Mackey respond to the comment.

Take the time to learn from these authors who are already using social media and using it well. Hats off to Satchi Studio, a web design and marketing firm for doing these interviews and providing some valuable insights.

Photo by oddsock