Feeding Your System

Creating so much content is a full time job, and those of you who have successfully managed to create your source of income via the Internet *must* deliver as much feed the system as much as possible.

All of us who are reading your blog have the need to “feed the system” on some level. My little cornerof the internet involves developing websites and custom blog themes, and I get nearly ALL of my clients from cold contacts they make to me via the Internet. The main reason for these contacts is because I also feed the system with my blog, fresh content, commenting on websites, and an overall presence on the web.

Come to think of it, someone must be hungry right now. Time to feed *my* system with a new blog post!

Long ago in the days of print, I was responsible for creating a quarterly newsletter for a Fortune 500 that will remain nameless (unless you look up my résumé) and the hardest part was getting the content. Design, layout, etc was the easy part. So, no small task doing all the above and still being able to make grilled cheese sandwiches for family dinner. :-)

I am reading “What the Dog Saw” by Malcolm Gladwell* and one take-away point on the Heinz ketchup chapter is that ingredients don't matter as much as how they are BLENDED. So, you can tell us all what your success ingredients are and how you do it, but you are the blender that makes what you do work. I could do exactly what you are doing and it would not be the same. It might sell better; but chances are it would probably sell worse. Each of us our own blender. (Come to think if it, what a great way to keep competitors behind you ;-) )

*I make no money on a referral, but good book. Required reading. You have been disclaimed.

Sharing is the only positive-sum game. You become known as someone who is forward-looking, curious, and therefore someone who is always going to have more to say that is potentially valuable and even unique. I love this aspect of social.

I agree with the comment that you, Chris, are “the blender” and you mix your content and social media in such a way that cannot be replicated. Why? Because you are unique. Your circumstances are unique. You have family support that is unique. And although we cannot replicate your work, we can learn your methods and systems to become better writers, bloggers and content creators.

And beyond that, we can emulate your optimistic outlook and positive style, which is magnetic. I appreciate that you generously share from the heart “online,” for in doing so, you're helping a host of people who may not get the encouragement to persevere otherwise.

Thank YOU for being consistent, persistent and insistent.

I think too many equate giving information away with that fear of someone stealing it so they try to hold on to what they know as if it’s proprietary. In some instances it is but the vast majority is not. In the field of intellectual capital and ideas, it’s best to share as much as you can. Something you said in this line is key: “I worry that there aren’t enough people executing effectively for companies.” The word “executing.” Clients and prospective clients want to know that you know what you’re talking about, it enlightens them as well but for the vast majority they don’t have the bandwidth to EXECUTE therefore they hire people like you (or me, in my given focus) and we bring the ideas they see to life. The more we share, the more credibility we build and the more we help raise the bar overall.

This post is sponsored by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Give it away, give it away now. :)

Part of why I think ou do this is to help other people, plain and simple. But like any how to book, the reading does not make you better- it's putting what you learn into practice, putting verbs into sentences, and making it work where the rubber meets the road.
Gibe a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime- and you gain a great friend in the process.

That's absolutely true. Pick a few platforms. Why do them all? Just do more than one, because people learn differently.

One of my favorite songs. : )

I think lots of folks can do it their own way. It wouldn't be any fun just to do it my way and want you to replicate. : )

Well, thanks for this and I get what you're saying. But for those of us who've just recently come on board, it's just so overwhelming; talk about diving into the deep end. Not just in trying to learn and digest everything but also in trying to bring along the rest of your company (if you're from a traditional agency). Luckily, in my case, they're starting to get it. But as davidzemens suggests, it is a full time job.

Amen, amen, and AMEN. Me: “What is it that you you have no time to do?” Client: “Blogging” Me: “What is your main marketing channel?” Cient: “My blog.” Me: *dead silence.* Client: “Oh…”

:-)

The inputs come from us. The outputs lead to business. I love your “feed the system” metaphor.

One of the steps to creating trust is to have consistency, to always give and give always your best. I understand that perfectly but when you say you are a “media company of one” but had written before of the importance of social media becoming a team sport, it seems contradictory. Your body of work is very impressive but how do you make a “media company of one” seem like a media army that is ready to work as a coalition for a company.

Like so much of your stuff, this really helps in clarifying the different tasks in building and enhancing a platform. One addition–I've been thinking lately along Seth's line that books are just souvenirs of other interactions. Your thoughts on that?

Really great article with some simple but powerful ideas- So just to clarify, you're suggesting that we all find our own niche area, take a social media approach, and then simply feed the system?

You're definitely someone that I look to because you've taken the skills that I know I have and shown me that there's value in them. I've been in marketing and creative spaces for the past 10+ years and in that time I've always seen myself as a brand of one, but never saw myself outside my local area.

Online media has allowed me to grow tremendously and I look to expand my abilities and take any speaking job that I can, and look to collaborate any chance I get. You've really said some key points in this post that I think anyone, whether self employed or 9-5'er, can take to heart and make something of themselves.

Thanks for sharing how you feed your system. I will definitely review my processes and make sure that I'm maximizing every effort to be helpful, relevant, and meaningful to the people I meet.

Give a man a Jellyfish and he has reasons to be thankful he has a spine.

Tad: You should check out Chris' contact page–one of the options is “I want to send Chris a bag of money.” Perhaps lots of folks take advantage of that opportunity. :-)

Add @chrisbrogan to 'People of Value'. Welcome to my motto 'Be of value, not success.'

Chris, great post! It's cool for you to lay everything out like you do. I think it's also important to remember that it takes a tremendous commitment and a lot of skill (acquired through practice) to be able to manage the amount of work that you do. You make it look easy, but there's definitely a lot going on behind the scenes and you are building on good habits that have taken time to perfect.

I'm trying to match your work ethic, but I also realize that I can't expect to be top notch out of the box. I think I read somewhere that around 10,000 hours goes into mastering any profession. I've calculated that I still have a couple years before I meet that mark.

Dear Chris:

I am just starting out and I feed the system in the following ways:

1) I write three posts a week
2) I constantly comment on other blogs
3) I always reply to to the comments on my site
4) I concentrate on writing about ways to accept and embrace change in people's lives
5) I try to share the love with everybody else who needs help

Doing those things has proved to be successful so far, so I am going to continue doing that and see where it takes me.

Best,
Tomas

Chris your lines “Mostly, I help other people. This gives me social capital. (That, by the way, is the most important detail that most people skip and miss.)” are EXACTLY what the secret sauce is when it comes to success with Social Media. That's why I named my Blog “Now Share This” – because it is about sharing, helping and building that Social Capital. The reason you are so successful, Chris, is that you provide awesome information for free, are nice/helpful/genuine and reek of transparency and authenticity. Thus I have no problem supporting your projects, buying Trust Agents, preaching you up to my work and PR contacts, etc. You get it, my friend!

A little late to the party here, but many thanks Chris for the link and the kind words. From a conversion standpoint, I'd say I focus mostly on converting people to the convergence of marketing and customer experience. But I have to convince them first. (hence the name). The unidirectional marketing archery of the past is being replaced by the new ping pong of personalized, relevant marketing. If I can convince and/or convert 1/100th of the folks you have, I'll be happy with my role in this little group exercise we call the social media and human business resolution.

You were the second person to ever promote I work nearly two years ago, and for you to still find value in what I do means a lot to me.

Nice article by Chris Brogan on the importance of feeding your content system. The decision to use social media and content to build business relationships in a great way.

In this “new normal” of marketing businesses have to become publishers. They are not set up from a work flow or organizational perspective to create content on a regular basis. Any thoughts on how to set up dashboards and organizations within companies or using contractors that works?