Platform and Community First – Overnight Success

This is a great reason for people to start blogging NOW. It can be a personal blog, a blog about all your interets – ANYTHING. If you get yourself out there and start a community now, when you're ready to really focus on a specific niche or a new project you will have already made connections with people to kick-start your new project into a positive direction.

This is the number 1 thing I have learnt from starting my blog, which started out just being an experiment and testing the blogging waters – COMMUNITY. The insane amount of connects I have made over the last few months is incredible.

So if anyone is still procrastinating getting themselves out there – just start now, focus on building a community. Oh, and listen to Chris Brogan! :)

Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com

I disagree with this. There are a ton of successes who lack a platform or a community. There are also plenty who have these two things but only as a result of success.

I think it's dangerous to set up having a pulpit and a community as a prerequisite for building something or doing something of value because that's already the temptation for many people.

Greetings Chris,

Thank you for this concept. I agree! One's present network of professional relationships, and a well-established corporate or brand identity are the solid foundation upon which to comfortably build that community outward. Acknowledging fully the thrilling potential, and proven power of these tools of social media, – it's still about people. One's ultimate success will still come through time-tested relationships forged through collaboration, – and the trust that is built through those shared struggles and triumphs. Launching a larger presence from that place ensures that the adventure of exploring this new territory is grounded in those strengths.
Skills honed at the micro – serve one well at the macro.

All the best to you!

Bettina De Perez

Good points on having the established foundation from which to speak, but I think it sways a little to a chicken/egg argument or discussion.

Without some knowledge, hard work and experience, your platform and your community isn't going to exist.

For example, those people who are now the experts in this field began their work before there was a field to be an expert of. The early adopters for instance. They weren't even communicators for the most part, just techies who saw the shiny things from which to share their messages.

Now we've got myriad communities and more platforms than we can identify.

As with anything, the quality will rise from obscurity and then the community will follow. Reading back, maybe having the platform is more necessary early on and the community is the result.

Regardless, thanks for making me do some thinking on this chilly Sunday in Boston.

Best,

Jeff
http://jeffcutler.com
http://twitter.com/jeffcutler

Very true post! I have a friend who trains in building networks and he always says “build your network before you need it so when you need your network you have it”
That is very similar – it is all about building your online audience and then offering them what you know.

rethinking my platform now, thanks. do you ever sleep?

Chuck Smith-

Your points underscore Chris' points. 9 hour ago Chuck says platform comes later and Jeff says this a bit of chicken and an egg issue.

I go with it comes from relationships. Build them as you are on your way to your expert status. Create your community as you learn and grow. Waiting until there is a PhD before you start talking about your area of interest will leave you tongue tied in the time of need.

All good stuff. Great discussion.

Another interesting post, Chris. Thanks.
I think the idea is a good one if you know what your field of expertise is. You can't bait and switch: you can't start off talking about sailing because that's your passion, and then shift the conversation around to marketing when you pick that as your field of expertise. I’d follow you, because I share a passion for both sailing and marketing, but even the most enthusiastic sailor won’t read your blog on marketing if he’s an engineer who thinks marketing is snake-oil.
In these cases, where you are still trying to find the subject on which to build your platform, it will be, as Jeff Cutler said, the chicken and egg problem. These cases are like the Field of Dreams. You have to build it your platform on faith, show up every day and speak to your audience (even if it’s just to no-one to begin with), work on getting the message out the people in your chosen field, and then they will start showing up to hear you.
And here’s a thought. The conversations on Twitter and Facebook from within B2B organizations are not social in nature: we’re doing this to make money (and have fun, sure, but the connection is formed for a business reason). Would we be better off naming this increasingly important business tool something different? SocBiz media? Business Media?

Great point, Chris. I think it is an example of common sense thinking that people often forget, whether in social or traditional media, or whatever…that there are things you need to do as part of the journey of “getting there” – without which you will not succeed. I think these are often called critical success factors. I think the point you make is that if you don't do the basics to pave the way, you won't get what you're looking for?

Chris you continue to do us proud. Starting last year this time I started talking to my tribe with my radio show and it has been a HUGE blessing. Besides meeting great authors, speakers and bloggers it has afforded me a fabulous way to connect to my client base and help them improve their visibility.

I am forever grateful of the connections I have made by validating others first.

I concur. I have the PhD and no community. Working overtime to make up for that now.

This is the single greatest shift I made in my business this past year, Chris. I figured out who my community was (target market as well as colleagues) and found out where they were “hanging out” (predominantly on Facebook and Twitter), and then learned a strategy for meeting and building a relationship with them (being active on those two platforms as well as blogging). It has made this the best year ever in my business and set me up for huge growth in 2010. Thanks so much for all you'e taught me!

Do you remember that smash hit song: “I knew Jesus, before he was a super star”- this post is what it's all about. I thoroughly believe in this.

Hey Chris,
Why are you in your car?

Seth

I first heard the word “platform” used in this way from Steve Harrison on how to become a best-selling author. Writing the book was only the beginning. You must learn to build a platform, offering related content in many forms (e.g., seminars, speaking engagements, courses, videos, games).

Youve shown it also involves building a foundation. Many get discouraged because at this stage: they don't see results yet. Perseverance is critical and will pay off big time later. Im counting on it.

Excellent job Chris.. I totally agree with you that “communities” need to be built in order to grow at a faster rate that other successful companies grow.. If you have your platforms & communities growing, the rest is so much easier!

Nice work!

RM – InBoundMarketingPR

Love your “campfire” metaphor, Chris. You are right on about the relationship piece. We reap what we sow. When we sow into the lives of others, we reap the benefits of friendship and trust.

so long as the platforming is built authentically…but then even sayin that I'm cringing. We all know when someone's in our face w/ a hidden agenda. It just has a way of oozing out. So I'd ask back how's building platform (prep stages) any diff from building heart to heart real relationships? Methinks you master that latter and you're all set. (This from a geek who is rock bottom low on real time live events and must get her act together). ;)

It took time and effort, but getting the platform and community to me being where I am today is important. And while I think I'm only touching the tip of the iceberg, I also believe that “success” attacks, I helped an army of people ready and will support me. And before that …. And work that matters deeply to me because of work – not only achieve success by building these connections on such a great factor, it also deeply meaningful to me on so many levels.