In social CRM, Marketing, Community Management, or whatever aspect of online networking you are a part of there is always one thing that matters. The people that you interact with, the people you talk to, Retweet, however you decide to be “a part of the conversation” are all potentials. A potential client, a potential friend, really the potentials are huge.

Nurturing your online relationships is just like handling any other relationship. Online or offline the way we compose ourselves and handle situations is a genuine reflection of character. As someone who works mainly in maintaining these online relationships – even with people whom I have not met in person – is a trait that I take pride in. As many others can vouch, the relationships will build translate for business, long-term friends, or maybe even more.

The point that I’m hoping to drive home is that if you’re changing personas from what someone knows of you online into someone completely different (multiple personality disorder?) then whatever relationship you have built with that person online essentially gets shattered when the “IRL” meeting happens.

I Tweeted a few days back saying that I will do my best to never bullshit anyone. I do my best to be truthful, honest, and if that relates to sometimes coming across as hostile, for that I apologize.

The relationships that one manages every day, matter. As people connected in a social, online atmosphere we’re entrusted to be the same person wherever we are, whoever we interact with. One of the best, and possibly funniest examples I have come across recently is by my friend Phil Buckley (@1918). Read the comments on his post. As more people chimed in for the comments, the true reality of online relationships became more and more apparent.

As relationships get built, so does trust; what relationship ever works without trust? Build trust, build relationships, build social.

Image Credit – Bikingbettie

The other day while while I was at Caribou Coffee (@Caribou_Coffee) I sent out this tweet:

Those few words have really been sticking with me since then, and they have really brought a true perspective into the way we’re looking at the new businesses we’re building, and more importantly the businesses we’re expanding.  The awareness of a company’s community and the people who are constantly engaged with them, have become just as big a part of the mission as increased sales and revenue.

The fact that a community is the primary factor leads to a much closer relationship with your clients/partners/employees and anyone else your company even interacts with. Your community is a factor of:

• Culture
• Caring
• Engagement
• Empathy

They are simple human elements that should become a factor of every company core.

What do you think? Where does your community begin? Your empire?

Reading the other morning I came across a post by Mitch Joel, and one part really stuck out in my mind and that was the part labeled “Screw Google”.  It made me think, what do we care more about, the people who care about us or where we rank according to a little robot crawler who analyzes links and content?

We all know that the internet era is changing, the term web 2.0 is now about as outdated as Betamax (yes I’m 21 and I know what Betamax is). So many social media “gurus” claim to know the key to getting more traffic and ROI. Really? If your strategy involves black marketing and link-baiting, I hate to say it, honestly…bullshit. I could tell my 14 year old sister how to submit links to websites too, there’s no strategy behind that.

The power behind social media is the power of the people. To create viral content, content that people care about, and to be able to give people what they truly want, that is social media. Social objects are the objects that we use in an online world that is shareable, defined on Brian Solis’s blog as:

Social objects represent the content we create in social media, including images, videos, blog posts, comments, status updates, wall posts, and all other social activity that sparks the potential for online conversations.

We know that we need to have the power to be found on Google, all of that can naturally be done with the use of good copywriting(affiliate link), linking and other ways of being no.1 on Google.  No longer is Google the top marketing priority, but the ability to have trust and a true meaningful connection to the people you work with, clients or competitors. A relationship with those in your social community are what matters and truly bring home the bacon when it comes to social media. The focus of social media just within the past year has changed from this high-rank competition, into a challenge of building the best relationships.

By having your content being found, whether on a social network or through Google is a combination of careful content, and your relationships. Without using the two combined, you’re just another robot out there in the social community. But who wants to listen to a robot?

How are you using your communities?

Image by Don3rdSE

Have you burned any bridges lately?
← Please not that one, I happen to like it!

But really, have you? Why? Sometimes I think it can be the best thing you can do. Although, should you ask many of the A-list bloggers and Personal Branding gurus, they will say no keep them around you never know when you will need them.

While I agree with that, I don’t mean erase them from your book and be the world’s biggest jerk to them. Just don’t ruin it to where they will be undisposed to help you in the future. Because really they will be a help for you.

But what do you do when you just can’t stand someone, or they’re destructive to your client relationship, your business, or your own brand? You have to realize that there will always be someone you won’t get along with. Thanks human nature. The reality of the matter is that even though they are affecting you negatively you must turn that into a positive realization for you and what you stand for. Be it your B2B, B2C, relationship, whatever. There is always something constructive to be obtained from negativity.

Let’s take Dan Schawbel for example, the premier on Personal Branding. A few days ago he tweeted:

You have to be as committed to your social media profile as you are to your husband or wife.

And boy oh boy did that spark someone. Just read the response at Jerry Albright’s Blog.

I wouldn’t go as far as saying to burn a bridge but learn from it, why do people misunderstand advice? What can you do to clarify? Don’t go on the defensive and strike back, understand the misconception and react appropriately. Let us also not forget to take things with a grain of salt. No need to dwell.

Sometimes though, you must sever the connection. Just let things go and only attend to that contact when needed. Burn Bridges, it just might be productive.

What do you think? Have you burned bridges? Why? Did was it a wise move?

Image by Anirudh Koul

I almost titled this post, Everything I Know About Relationships, I learned from Seven Pounds, but it was a little too long and it would’ve been a lie. The thing is I finally got around to seeing the film Seven Pounds with Will Smith. It’s the story of a man’s post-accident life, and how he goes about making up for what he did during that accident. One of the few films showing the stress and the emotional impact of a man after a terrifying and life-taking car-wreck. 

I am going to try my best to write this post without giving away any spoilers so here we go:

We under-value our relationships. We always have and we always will. Whether you’re looking at this relationship from a work point of view, or a dating/marriage point of view, pure human natural tendency is to undervalue your relationship. It’s natural for a person to be closed when they disagree with something or to ignore the facts when it comes to making the best of what needs to happen.

Everyone however, can always tell when something is going downhill in a relationship, being strong and standing for what you want and what you need should really be a priority. Now even though, you could be talking about a b2b or a b2 relationship but holding your principles and evaluating what has to be done for the improvement of your mental, physical, accounting (or whatever else’s), health taking a stand and using the best of your abilities is the best way to establish these relationships. I think a great example of this can be seen in Love Actually where the Prime Minister stands up to the President. Watch it here on YouTube

Within these relationships there should always be a matter of trust and communication. I’m not saying go out into what you’re trying to get done and be 110% transparent about your needs or wants; however, to simply let the facts be known, let the truth be there without walls, without barriers, and definitely without the BS. When you need something from a client or a partner, let the facts be known, understand each other, establishing the priorities and the trust for a fruitful relationship.

But don’t just take it from me, check out Chris Brogan’s Trust Agents and watch Seven Pounds you won’t regret it. 

If you have any comments or objections let me know in the comments!

Image by Jim Boud

It’s funny to me, keeping an eye on the many companies that put themselves into the business mindset of culture, that they actually have no idea what culture means. Now, I will not name names or point fingers in this post but I just want you to think of the differences here.

When you take your company and you want your employees to feel part of a culture, part of an exclusive enterprise to enjoy their job and be productive within that scope, you cannot allow that culture to become a clique.

Should you have had a secluded middle school and high school aged personality a clique is that group of kids that are always together with their gossip, exclusivity, and sometimes down-right rudeness towards others outside of their sanctuary of friends.

You should really stick away from having a “too exclusive”(for lack of better words) culture. Let people in, let people understand your companies culture, if they don’t understand it how can they adapt to it, how can they learn to become part of the culture if not already established in their personality. Don’t let personality block culture. Those are two entirely different concepts that when done correctly can mix to have some of the best employees for your company! Personalities can always bring new ideas and new projects to a culture. Lets say that you have an extreme introvert, in a very extroverted company. Sure, personalities won’t mix. Where does this person’s cultural aspects lie within the company though? That’s more what you should be looking at. How can this person benefit the new idea, and aspect of what you’re looking for?

A culture should always form part of a society, not a separate society in itself. Remember to always keep your people happy, use them to your benefit. These are the people that will make or break your company.

Whether with customer service, marketing, Human Resources, accounting, a happy employee will be glad to do their work for you and more importantly for the benefit of the company.

You’re not trying to set up an exclusive company where it’s almost impossible to work in. Everyone always needs new employees to help expand and become a place where people want to buy your product, and people want to use your services. So be what people need, and what clients want.

Your culture should give the the best of both worlds, employees and customers.

Image by occhi da orientale