Have you ever turned up at a parties or events on a regular basis where the fit just isn’t right?
You can end up having a miserable time as no matter how hard you try. In the end you realise you are in the wrong place with the wrong people.
A bit like a wine connoisseur turning up at the German beer halls on a regular basis and thinking others will be interested in their vast knowledge of the different varieties of red wine.
This scenario is also playing out online in particular and will probably only get worse as there are more networking sites opening and more businesses getting involved.
You need to have a presence for your brand, do it a little strategically and not follow the “be everywhere advice.” Otherwise you will not get the results you desire from your online efforts.
You only have so much time for online activities that it is becoming increasingly important to be targeted in your efforts. If not you can waste your valuable time.
There are a number of factors to consider and include:
Relevancy
Just because sites or platforms are available and free doesn’t mean not all will be appropriate. For example there are a number of blogging sites to engage with other bloggers. These may be just the thing if you want to be a full time blogger, but not necessarily if a blog is only part of your marketing efforts.
If customers, potential partners etc are there fine but if they are not then you might want to consider why you are there.
Presence
You only have so many hours to do things so sometimes it can be far better to have a strong presence in fewer relevant areas than be rather invisible on many sites. This also applies to such platforms as Twitter or Facebook.
Competition
The number of others participating is another factor. Trying to be seen, communicate etc is somewhat affected by the number of others doing the same thing.
The more there are the harder it can be especially if you are new to get a foothold.
You Tube I think is an example where you read that so many millions of people watching videos so you just have to be there. Unless you have a plan on how to get noticed on a regular basis and it leads somewhere what is the point.
The online presence of your brand is important online. It is just a matter of thinking a little before you try to be everywhere.
As always would love to hear your thoughts on this.
True:
There is the niche market, but they don’t always pay well. The better paying ones require being highly skilled. I went after the niche market in website presence for small businesses in small communities. Small business + small community = small $$$. I had to work harder. Then, I tried a cash cow. A portal website. It worked only slightly better.
Revenue enhancement opportunities: These can be present at the metaphorical beer garden. There may be others who prefer wine at the party. However, you may also have to diversify. Learn about beer. Then: “Wine for Beer Lovers” is born.
Topical, timely…
The rules of economics apply. Time utility. Form utility. Place utility.
I’ve been writing about the Middle East. Interesting lesson. Whenever I Post on a comments to article page, I offer the link to my blog and the link to my slideshare doc. I can get close to 400 hits on slideshare but only 2 or 3 hits on my blog.
Education during the Wisconsin situation. Diplomacy during the Egypt and Libya crisis. However, one of my most popular monographs is entitled: Social Media is the Medium: Greater than the sum of its parts.
Regards,
Slim
ps. Keep up your site. I really enjoy it.
Slim
Slim Fairview recently posted..Whats Normal
Hi Slim, thanks for sharing your story
Great factors to consider when you’re thinking about joining a new networking group. As you point out, the key is to build your presence strategically.
As Jack Nicholson says in The Shining, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” So, it is perfectly fine to go to that beer hall if you’re looking for fun (and as Slim points out, we may meet other wine connoisseurs while we’re there) but it doesn’t make sense to try to be everywhere.
Nice, entertaining post that hits home Susan.
Sherryl Perry recently posted..Social Networking and Casting a Bigger Net
Hi Sherryl,
He did have a way with words in that movie didn’t he. Sometimes I think twitter can be used for that as a break and having a little fun. Thanks for your comments.
How if we choose to be everywhere instead confuse whehter we are in right place or not? Is it better or not in your opinion?
Dana recently posted..BlackBerry Playbook Tablet PC Supports Android Apps
Hi Dana,
I just want to make sure I read your question right. Are you asking if it is better to be everywhere?
Should I Really Be Here?…
Have you ever turned up at a parties or events on a regular basis where the fit just isn’t right? You can end up having a miserable time as no matter how hard you try.This can also happen when networking online. Tips to help you be more strategic when …
Hi, Susan. Cool post! That is a question that I ask myself time and time again. When I find myself in the midst of many blogging topics and less on marketing and graphic and web design, I ask myself that question. It makes me re-focus myself, so I get back on track. It’s great that you are getting this out there. Will definitely give us a knock on the head, eh?
Wes Towers@Melbourne Graphic Design recently posted..Blogosphere Roundup 3
Hi Wes,
Not too hard a knock I hope
Reading about Empire Ave as the new must be place brought this issue up for me as I saw a number of tweets etc saying you must get involved. Appreciate your comment Wes.
You can’t be everywhere at once. That’s just the way it is.
In this business, niches are by their nature small, usually, but you don’t need to be a jack of all trades to be successful. That’s what outsourcing and specialists are for.
Delena
Delena Silverfox recently posted..epc Lisburn
Hi Delena,
You are right about not being able to be everywhere. Good point about niches.
Here is the conundrum.
If you are teaching nursery school, you have to be everywhere. (Each child has a claim to some of your time.)
If you are doing that in business, rethink your plan.
We live in a world where everything–everything! is market driven.
No one wants to know who your favourite author is. They ask only for the purposes of talking about books so they can talk about their favourite author. They crave validation on one level; in business they are trying to sell their friends book, their ideology expressed by the book, their (self) image imputed to them by their having read the book. And if you don’t allow yourself to be bullied, you will be vilified by those whom you choose not to nurture. (That could be said more clearly, but not more politely.)
Make judicious choices. Optimise the time you spend by making prudent choices about how (read: where) you spend your time.
Warmest regards,
Slim
Slim Fairview recently posted..Osama Bin Laden Hiding in Plain Sight Cite
Hi Slim,
Bullied is probably a good word as some do feel pressure in some ways to be on certain sites or doing certain things to be accepted by others. This is a shame as it does waste time. Thanks for adding to the conversation.
Thank you, Ms. Oakes
As was said:
“Don’t bother with explanations. Your friends don’t need them and your enemies won’t believe them”
Regards,
Slim
slimfairview recently posted..Osama Bin Laden Hiding in Plain Sight Cite
Hi Susan – I am back in action – I missed you.
Your posts are getting even more clever, relevant, and really valuable. I am loving your use of analogies to make your point. When it comes to being online, we could easily get lost in the black hole of online marketing so your advice is very helpful. May I add that reciprocity is another important factor to consider? If you are trying to engage with others on various online networking sites, those sites where others are “speaking” and not interacting, might not be the places you want to spend too much time, right?
Julie Weishaar recently posted..In Honor of Mother’s Day and My Mother
Hi Julie,
Good to have you back as you were missed. You addition of reciprocity is great advice and you do see these on some forums. As you said don’t spend too much time there as it can waste your time and I would imagine be rather frustrating.
Thanks for sharing information