Have you ever felt like with all this new media and social networking, that we are losing the key interest?
Where has the social aspect gone, and where is it going?
Not too long ago, I was on the phone with a potential client when I was referred to as being very “text-book” with my social media and branding strategies. Now, on one hand I can definitely understand this, but on the other hand, quite simply, it’s because it works.

The rigidity of being able to stick around and actually interact on many social networks is what builds the strong relationships that I have within my social networks. Whether or not they are people that I know directly, or people I have never met, there is a strength that trumps over many other methods.

I am not the only person who believes this. A few days ago Mitch Joel(@mitchjoel) wrote a piece titled, Personal Branding R.I.P. and I must agree with him whole heartedly. But this lack of personality and interaction not only has to do with Personal Branding, but many presences on Twitter and Facebook and extending to the social aspect of social media.

We are losing this social interaction that started and continues to strengthen the purpose of social media. This social meaning that we have is the one thing that allows us as businesses and individuals to market ourselves and build the long-lasting relationships that eventually prove fruitful. Being on a social network and merely pushing out links or press-releases is not the way to go. Sure, you might see click-through rates go up, maybe even some turn around. Take the @DellOutlet for example; people understand that this is a mostly automated service. However, if you’re setting up a service to cater to people and build your network with the end of having attendees or worth-while connections, you’re not going to get anywhere.

Build these conversations and make them into something that you will always benefit from. Relationships are the key to understanding sales, marketing, and overall the Social and Personal in Social Media and Personal Branding.

Disagree? Agree? Let me know!

Image by Sjany

How many times have you seriously done something that you enjoy? Something that you want to do and give back to someone else? Are these your passions?
Even as a student the level of involvement of my friends to their studies and what they want to do is sometimes  slim to none. With the new business world spinning at a rate that we keep pushing and keep advancing, the only way to keep it going is by doing what we love!

I can agree it sounds cheezy, you may be stuck in a job that you think you enjoy, but at the end of the day you couldn’t give a rat’s-ass about it.

I couldn’t tell you the many times my Grandfather and my parents just put everything aside and said, “Here, this is what we are going to do, and you’re going to help!” I was never 100% committed to what they wanted me to do; I stuck with it though. I learned what to do and how to act. But when it comes down to the nuts and bolts of your prime business or website, whatever, you have to care, and you have to love what you’re doing to make it worth while.

That’s not to say that you will not be successful, but simply a way to enjoy what you do, and be able to take yourself and your venture to the next level because you care, want, and need to see something come of what you do.

The way of Social Media has entirely changed the way we put our passions into our projects. You don’t have to agree with me, and quite honestly I don’t expect you to. I just personally despise seeing so many twitterers depending on ReTweets, @ Replies, and how many followers they have. And all that in the end does have significance, but what’s the most important part of this new marketing wave?

The Passion.

Give it all you’ve got. Make it significant, for yourself, others and they will come.

What are your passions? How can this be changed?

Image by (nutmeg)