What I Want PR and Marketing Professionals To Know

man, i’m really glad you put this out there. anybody who has ever had a blog or has at least read people’s blogs would understand those points you made. unfortunately, too many people who are trying to utilize social media for their benefit don’t understand.

man, i’m really glad you put this out there. anybody who has ever had a blog or has at least read people’s blogs would understand those points you made. unfortunately, too many people who are trying to utilize social media for their benefit don’t understand.

Yes to all of the above.

And I don’t understand why #3 needs to be said, but it does. In face to face sales, the salesperson always chit chats with their prospect, getting to know them on a personal level before pitching to them. I’ve never understood why people have treated their sales pitches differently online.

Yes, companies should adapt to and use social media, but they should remember that behind each online persona we’re still humans who want a human connection.

Here’s what I’d like to tell you. Between this, “Drowning”, and some other similar posts, you seem to be getting awfully high and mighty in your self-appointed post as a social media guru blogger. Please be aware that your posts can come across as condescending, which will immediately alienate exactly the people you’re preaching to.

Here’s what I’d like to tell you. Between this, “Drowning”, and some other similar posts, you seem to be getting awfully high and mighty in your self-appointed post as a social media guru blogger. Please be aware that your posts can come across as condescending, which will immediately alienate exactly the people you’re preaching to.

Thanks Chris. I follow you on Twitter, and can’t help but notice your frequent tweets. I wonder how you do it. Do you ever sleep?

Thanks for bringing up the humanity piece. I know I can only relate to people, not machines that spill out information. Again, this is particularly obvious on Twitter. Anyone who just wants to push stuff, I turn off. This is why word of mouth is so powerful:

http://lamarguerite.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/word-of-mouth-it-can-help-move-people-on-climate-change/

You and I must be on the same wavelength. Or maybe it is just something bubbling up in the collective consciousness. Humanity lost as we plunder cyberspace with too many commercial messages.

Carson – my drowning post was to say that I was feeling busy and overwhelmed. I can’t see how that’d be high and mighty. That’s saying, “hey… I’m busy, and I need a day to recover.” Seems pretty much the OPPOSITE of high and mighty to me.

Condescending. I can see that. Sometimes, things I write come out that way, and that’s never my intent.

Should I have to write a post like this? My inbox says yes. My last several conference speaking gigs say yes. The other dozens of comments say yes.

But I’ll be wary. By the way, you let me know when you ever see me say I’m anything more than someone with an opinion. I don’t even say expert. Just an opinion.

And with that, thanks for your opinion. Truly.

Carson – my drowning post was to say that I was feeling busy and overwhelmed. I can’t see how that’d be high and mighty. That’s saying, “hey… I’m busy, and I need a day to recover.” Seems pretty much the OPPOSITE of high and mighty to me.

Condescending. I can see that. Sometimes, things I write come out that way, and that’s never my intent.

Should I have to write a post like this? My inbox says yes. My last several conference speaking gigs say yes. The other dozens of comments say yes.

But I’ll be wary. By the way, you let me know when you ever see me say I’m anything more than someone with an opinion. I don’t even say expert. Just an opinion.

And with that, thanks for your opinion. Truly.

I have turned my blog into an asset for my business, because I blog about my clients. That way, they are tagged. They get found. They are not static. My clients often don’t have time to blog, do social media or even think about it. Sure, I encourage to do it and some are starting to, but I am finding my real value add is having them become part of the fabric of my blog.

I am not a marketing or PR person but I read here out of interest (and an MBA major in marketing that I do not quite use in the classical sense).

What do I want to tell you?

Well as I said, I am a blogger but not a PR/ mktg person so perhaps you won’t think this relevant but since you are so into social media, I am sure you have some insights I can use.

Tell me how to deal with trolls.

They are everywhere. They are abusive. They hide behind cloaks of anonymity. I believe women bloggers get more abuse than male bloggers (many of my western blog readers think I am a guy but most trolls I encounter are from my country of birth – India – where my name is a dead give-away that I am a girl).

Why is this worth asking someone?

I do not like censoring comments. But even if I do not publish a comment, I see it when it is in moderation. The language and the insinuations distress me – even if momentarily.

I am about to launch my professional blog. Trolls are definitely going to be there too.

If I wish to use my professional blog to promote myself, where do I draw the line?

I am not a marketing or PR person but I read here out of interest (and an MBA major in marketing that I do not quite use in the classical sense).

What do I want to tell you?

Well as I said, I am a blogger but not a PR/ mktg person so perhaps you won’t think this relevant but since you are so into social media, I am sure you have some insights I can use.

Tell me how to deal with trolls.

They are everywhere. They are abusive. They hide behind cloaks of anonymity. I believe women bloggers get more abuse than male bloggers (many of my western blog readers think I am a guy but most trolls I encounter are from my country of birth – India – where my name is a dead give-away that I am a girl).

Why is this worth asking someone?

I do not like censoring comments. But even if I do not publish a comment, I see it when it is in moderation. The language and the insinuations distress me – even if momentarily.

I am about to launch my professional blog. Trolls are definitely going to be there too.

If I wish to use my professional blog to promote myself, where do I draw the line?

Hi Chris,

I don’t really interact with PR people at all anymore and I am just a tiny cog, so I could be way off base.

However, sometimes I think PR people (and others) try to “figure out” social media instead of just doing social media… Meaning they try to come at it from a corporate (benefits only) angle rather than a human (hey-how can I help you) angle.

If someone contacts me seeking only benefits I am most likely to hit delete or move on. Talk to me like a new acquaintance or friend (or at least know my name) and I will go to great lengths to assist.

Keep up the great work!

I really enjoyed this post- very informative. Do you think that people are making the transition from the internet being this impersonal, quick way to do business without developing the relationship to using the web as a tool to make yourself visable, connect with others and then buy or sell?

I really enjoyed this post- very informative. Do you think that people are making the transition from the internet being this impersonal, quick way to do business without developing the relationship to using the web as a tool to make yourself visable, connect with others and then buy or sell?

@carson – i think anybody who has even moderate readership to their blog would say the same. even arrington talked about it at startup school.

What’s funny is the notion that because we are less connected personally and more connected fibre-optically, that we lose the need to be personable. As you’ve noted Chris, the “pitch” loses its stigma if you only take the time to develop a relationship, to make the transition from client to friend. I like Tony Chapman’s quote that the next generation of marketers must “move the agenda and investment from shouting to conversation.”

What’s funny is the notion that because we are less connected personally and more connected fibre-optically, that we lose the need to be personable. As you’ve noted Chris, the “pitch” loses its stigma if you only take the time to develop a relationship, to make the transition from client to friend. I like Tony Chapman’s quote that the next generation of marketers must “move the agenda and investment from shouting to conversation.”

Chris, simply brilliant! I enjoy following you and your wisdom on Twitter. Mahalo from the Aloha State.

Hi Chris,
I was introduced to your work by some mutual friends – @gregcangialosi, @shashib, @technotheory, etc… Your posts that I have read have been useful and educational. I appreciate that you take the time to share your thoughts. For someone (me) who is trying to make Social Media an everyday part of life within their own organization — all the help (which you dole out for free) we get is great.

Keep on keeping on.

Hi Chris,
I was introduced to your work by some mutual friends – @gregcangialosi, @shashib, @technotheory, etc… Your posts that I have read have been useful and educational. I appreciate that you take the time to share your thoughts. For someone (me) who is trying to make Social Media an everyday part of life within their own organization — all the help (which you dole out for free) we get is great.

Keep on keeping on.

Good read Chris. I’ve just recently started following you after attending (or listening in) to your Twebinar. I think you offer a realistic perspective and actionable advice. It’s a new and exciting time to be in PR really, if you are willing to depart from the traditional ways of thinking and embrace the opportunities.