6 Apr 2010

Why Are Your Great Ideas Not Making You Money? Did You Ask?

You may have asked but you did not ask 10 000 people. Or you may have asked 10 000 people but it was an expensive task.

In the past small businesses owners would wake up with this great idea. You may be one of them.
050405_einstein_tongue.widec.jpg

You had this dream!

You cannot stop because the energy is high. You design the dream stuff (calling it products or services sounds so boring). Then you create the promotional material and you buy expensive advertising. And you hope, in vain, that the ad will not be a waste again. Then, for some or other reason, your newly designed stuff fails and you cannot define the reason....  why did the people not queue up for your magic stuff? Have you ever walked up to a beautiful guy and asked him for a kiss? The fact that you want to maybe do it is another story. This is no different from your exciting, failed and out dated marketing approach.  

The marketing world, as you know it, will never be the same anymore. Because........

I am bombarded with your useless ads wherever I go. I choose to ignore you. I choose to find information and I choose to ask my friends, because the ads you are sharing are bull dust and I had enough. You have trapped me in the past. I will not be trapped again. I don't care about big brands. Stuff them. 

I go for word of mouth? 

I trust my social network. 

Where do I go? 

I go to my online social networks and I ask them for advice? I go there because it's easy to ask a 10 000 people. They can and will answer me in minutes. And they will tell me if you are a crook or not. 

Here I am trying to show the link between e-word of mouth (in the electronic word-of-mouth sense. Seth Godin calls it called viral marketing) and social networks.  When you setup online social networks to allow e-word-of-mouth you have an amplification ability. This is critical for any small business marketer to understand, what is meant by "amplification ability." By The Way: As you know; you also get off line social networks that will give you word-of-mouth ability. Off line word of mouth is the traditional way of spreading a story and but it has a decaying function rather than an amplification function). 

That's why I am asking and begging business people to start using social media to create their own social networks. (I call these social groups or places cultivation pools). 

 

When you start creating cultivation pools, filled with eager and willing fans (obviously fans are people in your cultivation pools), you will find that they will.... gladly.... assist you in designing your new stuff. If you start discussing a new idea, you'll find that your fans will be asking you for more. This must be a confidence booster. 

Now you have no risk or you'll have very reduced risk bring your idea to the market. You have people or fans from your cultivation pools co-creating your stuff ....or is it their stuff ......with you. And the same people will then spend money buying your stuff. Because you have made them an integral part of your feedback and product or service design system.

 

Let me summarise:

 

  1. Advertising is an expensive and easy way to make you feel good because you are doing something ..... even though it may in vain. 
  2. Advertising can be seen as intrusive and that it creates separation between you and your potential clients
  3. Creating products and services without a fan base is an wasteful activity
  4. Creating a online fan base (cultivation pools) help you create friendship and long term trusting relationships.
  5. Creating an cultivation pools takes time but it's not expensive. It's effective if you do it well.... meaning the correct intention. 
  6. Creating an online fan base is not a choice. You either do it or your business will drag along until it's eventual death.
  7. Start designing and improving what you do by asking feedback from your fans.
  8. Your clients are not interested in what you want, they are interested in co-creation...allow them. Give them the tools to talk to you.
  9. Most advertising does not make you more money, and creating cultivation pools takes to long. Both are right. You have only one choice; the easy road or the long road.
  10. Start creating a foundation for your cultivation pools and invite your potential clients and clients to become fans. 

 

Johan Horak

P.S. Leave your baggage in 3D - you won't need it where we're going. 

All my business and marketing coaching ideas are always published here.

If you rather want to follow me somewhere else then check my profile.

You Should Become A Facebook Fan 

Contact me: Google Talk/johanhorak Skype/lumeza
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28 Mar 2010

9 Ideas On How & Why A Virtual Business Card?

It's fun to have a virtual business card.
As my interest grew I wanted to have a centralised place to publish and distribute all my online stuff. But I also wanted to keep special places for special things. However, my centralised online place is not necessarily the place for you. You are not interested in my dog, my cat and my family. You may want to know more about my business and marketing coaching, or my awareness coaching, even what social media tools and applications I am using. I am even busy with talks on social media and 2012. I need to make it easy to channel you to the place you prefer to go. 

This is where a virtual business card becomes indispensable:

Let me give you a list of issues and how your virtual business card can address these:

  1. Email signature. You must have a signature that's automatically added to all your outgoing emails. It should be short and sweet. But if you have a long list of things that you do then your signature can become pretty long and boring. This is where your virtual business card can and should replace your signature. The nice thing about a virtual business card is that when you make changes your email signature updates automatically.  See my email signature that I created using dooid.com:  johanhorak
  2. I have not done all yet, but I will change my about me pages and profile links on all my blogs and social media profiles to include the address to my virtual business card. This is what the address to my virtual card looks like http://www.dooid.com/johanhorak
  3. I always suggest to the people, I coach, to have a business card for all their different niches. It makes sense. You give a business card to a person depending on her likes. The problem is that you end up with 5 or more business cards depending on what you do. Problem. Instead I plan to use one business card from now on and add, as my website, the address to my virtual business card http://www.dooid.com/johanhorak.
  4. It does not matter if you only have a Facebook page or if you are still using email exclusively. Start using a virtual business card as it will create a basis for your personal brand. 
  5. If you use a virtual business card make sure you differentiate. You are different. For example, make sure you have a nice background image. "Being remarkable is everything and it can get you to the next level, it can open doors, it can make favorable impressions. Most importantly, it can help you build trust". Mike Garr
  6. A virtual business card force you to condense what you do into a few words. That's great, because you can think of it as your elevator speech.  Agree with  Mike Garr when he said, "Be authentic and let people know what YOU want them know about you." Think and discuss your profile info with someone you can trust before you publish it. 
  7. Word of mouth: Most of you will tell me that word of mouth is your most effective way of advertising. For all I care the internet can be seen as a tool to amplify word of mouth (download a free copy of Unleasing The Idea Virus by Seth Godin). "Profiles are vital for telling other users who you are, what you are like, and what you do, all without anybody actually meeting you in person ..... and a profile is the starting point for people who might be interested in spreading this word". Read more here.
  8. When creating your virtual business card, a couple of key concepts need to be factored in: content, appearance, and audience. Read more here.
  9. Having many blogs and many social media profiles it takes me forever to update and add new things and do. Integrating your virtual business card with these site makes life a lot easier. 

Johan Horak

johanhorak


27 Mar 2010

ReBlog: Tyler Romeo's Weblog: Selling Yourself with Profiles: Appearance and Content

Profiles should contain content that informs first, and engages second. You are not writing a blog post, or maintaining a website, so rather than putting your entire website in a profile, only include the basic information and a summary of your activity on the website in question. As far as basic information is concerned, this usually means name and contact information, but there are two important parts that deserve a sentence or two. The About Me section on your profile might be the single least or most important section on your profile. Least or most depends on you. Uninteresting or long About Me sections will likely not be given much attention, while both extremely awesome and extremely crappy About Me sections will almost always get read. The worst would be an About Me that portrays a personality that is not you, because the reader will almost always detect this. While neutral About Mes (those that don't get read) are better than lies, you want to aim for an About Me that tells the reader who you are and why he or she should know who you are, because it is this brief paragraph that can really engage the reader and hold on to that person, hopefully for future site visits to come. And make sure not to go on a rant, because About Me is supposed to be about you, not about your entire life.
via parent5446.blogspot.com

I have a Google Profile. It's central and contain all that I do. But this guy made me aware of more issues and I recommend you read it and implement what he suggest.

25 Mar 2010

sorry I stuffed up

First of all I have to apologize for sending out more than 14 emails yesterday. That was one issue. But to complicate the issue I also auto published stuff to all my social profiles. I should not have published any of these. But there's always a lesson and an opportunity.

Let me tell you want happened. I use Posterous.com because I have not come across anything like it. I can publish easily and automatically any updates to my many blogs and social profiles using Posterous, but in there lies a problem. You can easily make mistakes. And I did not focus.
Posterous also has its limitations and it will never replace my wordpress blogs. But there's no reason to compare the two.

 
One Posterous limitation, that I wanted to overcome, it does not allowing people to subscribe to updates via email. Basically, I cannot add fancy code to my profile. Therefore I decided to create a page with my email newsletter subscription box and then share the link on my profile. 

I went to my newsletter integration providers, Madmimi, and grabbed the subscription code. I added the code to my Posterous page and clicked on publish. As I clicked on publish, this page was published to all my blogs and social profiles. Havoc. The next thing Madmimi picked-up my RSS feeds and published the update to all my email lists. Havoc. 

To add another hurricane to this disaster my new newsletter integration went in for a serious twirl. It started sending the same email from JohanHorak.com more than 14 times. I apologize to my subscribers. It was not my intention. But I take responsibility. 

I then emailed Madmimi support. Within a minute they were back and resolved the issue. Let me tell you that I have tried all newsletter integration providers. I like Madmimi. They make mistakes, like I do. They apologize and take responsibility. Thanks Madmimi, you guys have a great product and you have a fan in me because you took responsibility.

I received this email from the owner of Madmimi:


 This RSS thing has been our single hardest and most hard-to-track-down-the-bug-on piece of software we've built... I'm so totally embarrassed and sorry. I'm not sure what to say. "Sorry" sounds lame. :-)
Gary

I am sorry that I polluted your inbox and your social stream. I hope that you forgive me. 

Johan Horak

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Tel: 027 21 786 4028
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25 Mar 2010

Invitation to speak at Cape Town Tourism Networking Function ~ You Are Invited To Attend

 

Cape Town Tourism tour operators, guest house owners and restaurants at the Cape Tourism network function. 

Here's an invitation to speak at the event and I hope to meet you there. 

BTW: If you read the article I wrote on 2010 marketing strategies you'll notice I share 14 marketing tips. I can either give you a run down of the all or I can focus on less and give you more detail. Any idea on how I should approach the talk?

"As per our telephone conversation, we are having a members networking function on 7 April 2010 with a focus on Marketing Tools for members.

I was very impressed with your article “2010 marketing strategies for guesthouse owners” and in fact forwarded it on to some of our members. I thought that it our networking function would be a great platform for you to do a presentation around the points you mentioned in the article. We have a large amount of small businesses registered with us who would greatly benefit from your advice.


Just some background to our organization: Cape Town Tourism (CTT) is the official visitor, industry & destination marketing agency for the City of Cape Town. We promote private-public partnerships, sustainable development and service excellence in tourism. We serve a membership base of approximately 2700 businesses, operate a current and growing network of 18 official Visitor Information Centres and assist an average of 150 000 visitors per month. The majority of our members are in the tourism sector (guesthouses, tour operators, restaurants, etc).

 

Details are as follows:

Date: 22 April 2010

Time: 14:00

Venue: Blaauwberg Manor, 6 Verkouteren Street, Bloubergstrand.

 

 

 Warm regards

 

Gadijah Darries

Membership Administrator

Cape Town

LIVING CAPE TOWN, LOVING CAPE TOWN!

Southey’s Vines, 186 Main Road, Somerset West. 

Tel:         021-840-1400

Fax:         021-840-1410

Website: 

Blog:        

Skype:     gadijah.darries

I would like to thank Gadijah for the invitation. 

Now please let me know what you would like me to say. Leave comment below.

Have Fun

Johan Horak

 Become An Online Marketing Coach Fan
Stay In Touch With The Stuff Johanhorak.com Publish
Tel: 027 21 786 4028
Cell: 027 82 870 2004
23 Mar 2010

How Effective Is Testimonials?

It depends if you use testimonials and if you have a system to collect them.


Most real estate agents spend a lot of money advertising. And that’s why you want them to advertise in yourCoffee News. Do you think that if you walk in to their office with the following testimonials that you will get them to advertise for a year?

  1. I have a realtor that has been with me for almost 5 yrs he says he will “ Never leave Coffee News.“  He plays a game with the papers as well… whenever his ad is below the fold he turns the papers over so his ad shows.  He’s known as the “Coffee News Realtor Guy “and he loves it. Rod Coffee News owner

  2. We have a realtor in every edition, 3 of the 4 for multiple years. They all advertise a specific property each week, one includes a photo of the property with a brief description and contact info of the agent. The other just list a brief description of the property with her picture. None of them will give up their slot. I think it is also a bit more of a ‘farming’
    than a ‘hunting’ philosophy as well. The ad keeps their agency front and center with the readers for when they have a need and a specific property is intended for prospective buyers. This is a tough real estate market and it will only take 1 call to pay for a lot of advertising.
  3. My realtor has been getting multiple calls each week since I talked her into adding the 2nd ad with the picture and description of a house. Hope this helps. Gene.

You need to collect testimonials from your advertisers. If they have something to say, let them say it on paper and keep it. You will find selling your ads becomes a lot easier when other advertisers do the talking for you.

By The Way: If you want to give your advertiser a bonus then teach him, for free, on how effective testimonials are. Search Google and find an ebook on testimonials or write your own  and share it as a gift.

Coffee News South Africa A Small Business Opportunity

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15 Mar 2010

How's Your Energy Flowing? Here's My Info Stream

After checking out what others are doing, like Steve Rubel, here's my understanding of it. My major publishing outlet is at Posterous.com and specifically at JohanHorak.com. Initially I wanted to create a blog on Posterous for every niche I managed. Today I know that that was a mistake. (I will make an effort to incorporate my four blogs and end up with only two Posterous blogs).  

  1. It's my intention to publish anything substantial on On JohanHorak.com. And I will do it using as few tags as is possible.
  2. I have grabbed a free Posterous theme from these guys as it gives me more flexibility. (I tried some of their other themes, as I wanted a dark theme, but the layout was not nice on one and the other did not have a tag menu bar at the top. Some or other time I will sit down and change the banner colour of this theme). 
  3. You'll notice the tags become nice navigational entry points at the top (more tags can make this messy).
  4. I publish all my posts to Posterous via email. Nice and easy.
  5. Posterous allows you to add your tags when you email your story. This reduce the time to publish and organize my posts with ease.
  6. I use gmail to compile my post. The benefits are endless, one) it allows me to publish images inline and not necessary as email attachments.
  7. As soon as I have published the story on Posterous, I use their autpost function to publish my stories to relevant social media sites and dedicated accounts for different niches.....important. 
  8. Because I am an online handyman (I know a few things about a lot of things) I have setup more than 20 channels (social media sites, like facebook pages (4), Twitter (3) and many other). I have created these niche accounts (see 9) because I am sending these stories to the correct niche. 
BTW: The other day I huge publishing company (print media and online) said to me they are not getting results from their social media efforts. I asked him, "You have 5 major niches within your huge company, how many Facebook pages do you have?" he said, "One!" How boring.

What does all this means? 

It means that most of my stuff is available at Johanhorak.com --- or will be in the future. But many of the people who (may) follow me are not at Posterous. They are all over the internet. Therefore I use the Posterous autopost tools to publish relevant stories to my niche groups wherever they are. 

Have fun

Johan Horak.com

Tel: 027 21 786 4028
Cell: 027 82 870 2004

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15 Mar 2010

Marketing Your Small Business

You need more customers for your small business because you want to make more money. 

It's always been my impression that you cannot make more money if you are not known, liked and trusted. The problem is that you cannot buy to be liked, to be known, and to be trusted. One of the ways to get that is to treat people well. And let them spread the good news for you. Today we can use the internet to help make it easy for our customers to spread our message quicker and easier than ever in the past. The risk is that they can now spread the good and the bad. So get it right.

That's why I have always suggested to people, to create an online presence. Take it slow but start. It's for this reason that I have created blogs and urge people in business to do the same. Just recently, I added a FaceBook Page to my news spreading and coaching tools. And you are invited to become a fan. Come along and ask questions or share your experiences. Why did I do that? It's all part of the discussion and interaction. The coaching and teaching of people who may not know what I know. My blog can send this email newsletter, but Facebook is the place where you talk. Let's go where the people are and start talking and become a fan, even if it's just to learn how a new page is made a success.

One of the first South African blogging Coffee Newsers in Paarl started using there blog with an integrated newsletter, and I am impressed. Have a look at the great work they are doing here. 

Even if you are not in your own small business yet, start a blog, or a Facebook page and start working on your own brand. Your brand is critical and the sooner you start the better. Because it's the people who know, like and trust you that will make you a success. 

What is critical is that you choose a tight nice. 

For example:

If you want to create a Facebook page for your Coffee News business in Durban, then it's waste to create a page and invite people all over Durban to join. No. If  you are in the Bluff then create a page for Bluff businesses and invite them to become a fan of your page. Does this mean you should not have a blog? Horses of courses. All I want is for you to start. And start where it's easy. Then let it run when you have a rhythm going. 

Have a look here if you want to learn how to create a FaceBook page.
And go here to read more on why it's important to have a FaceBook fan page.

Have  fun

Johan Horak

Coffee News Small Business Opportunity South Africa

Tel: 027 21 786 4028
Cell: 027 82 870 2004

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23 Dec 2009

The Simon's Town Ice Cream Parlour And My Exclusion For Going Public

&

What started as a Simon's Town Ice Cream Parlour Marketing Initiative has now also got me banned from receiving emails from a Simon's Town Civic Association Exec member. Because I am not supposed to make these emails public. 

Due to the latest email from this member I decide to share it with you all. This not done as a personal vendetta. No. This is done because this is a public issue. And the sooner we make these issues public the better for us all. And if I am banned from receiving any Simon's Town Civic Association emails then that's also good. Good but unfortunate. Because writing this is not as easy as you may think it is. It takes courage to go against the grain. And I don't have all that courage. Let me soften the blow and say I am doing what am doing because I believe it's the right thin g to do. Just as the others who are involved do.

The saga started when the Simon's Town Civic Association Exec Member sent the following email. I will not publish his name as he wanted to keep this civic issue private:

Last year we put a lot of effort into signage and what was appropriate for Simon's Town.
 
I now see that the ice cream parlour has a cartop advert on the vehicle parked outside the shop. I find this rather stupid as our Comminity Law Enforcement Officers are concentrating on local business members parking in the Main Road. Even the magistrates wife got a ticket!
Where do we stand on such advertising? Civic Association Exec Member sending this to the Civic Association

When I received this email I did not feel this to be a private matter, concerning only the Simon's Town Civic Association. Keeping it private or making it public was never a consideration..... My intention was to also share the information with Simon's Town businesses to get their view on the matter as it concerns them directly.

Here's my response to the original Civic Association Exec Group and a few Simon's Town businesses:  div amp;gt;

Hi 

The Law!?

All advertising should be good and acceptable.

This ice-cream guy can improve his ad but there's nothing wrong with his initiative.

Why not help the guy to make living and run profitable business?

This guy has a great idea but he has to advertise because he is new 
and obviously not making it. 

When some or other artist advertise on the main street using large orange banners at the entry to the library there's no comment.

Real Estate agents are being harassed by poorly defined advertising laws. They have to pay to 
have show boards for  24 hours over weekends. Their boards are being removed and they have to
pay more to get them back. Real estate agents should complain.  

We all should make our Simon's Town businesses profitable.

Or are we busy making it easier for businesses who we don't want to take over in Simon's Town.
 
I had a business in Sunnyside Pretoria. Go and check that out if you want to see what happens when traditional businesses leave.

Rather than throwing the book at battling businesses support them and ask them how you can help 
and make it better for all.

Next time an foreign navy ship arrive we all wonder what these sailors will do because there's nothing for them to do in Simon's Town.
Like exchanging foreign currency at some other doggy guy. 

The next day a Bank pack up and go and we believe they have a moral right to serve us.
They leave (have left) because they are not making money.

They day we have a profitable balance then we will have more businesses that we like.

Take your family to the ice cream guy and buy more than you should.

Tell your friends about the new guy and help him to make bags of money.

Please don't push him off the rails.    Johan Horak

A business person who received these emails responded with a private email to me (I am not sharing the name):

I have lived in Simon’s Town for 10 years.

I used to shop in Simon’s Town.

I went to the Bank, I had my photographs printed, I went to buy bread, electricity, the Post Office.  On my way I passed very interesting shops and often stopped to buy what I didn’t need but what caught my eye.  A present for someone.  An article of clothing that I thought might look nice next season etc.

 

Now –all the banks have left except for FNB, there is nowhere to process photographs, the bread – not much choice if it is available at all.  The result is I have to go to Long Beach for the above so I now do ALL my shopping there under one roof and don’t walk through Simon’s Town at all.  The Post Office and electricity vendors are still here and I would LIKE to support them but when I walk right passed the Post Office in Long Beach Mall, it takes some effort to make a special trip to stop in Simon’s Town.

 

I have only just realised that this has become the norm for me when I read the letter below.  I didn’t even know there was an ice cream shop and I LOVE ice cream.  At least that has given me a reason to stop in the Main Road.  Surely there are other people like me who are now not stopping or shopping in Simon’s Town.  I will make an effort in future but will others when there is not all that much to offer in Simon’s Town for the regular housewife?  When the tourists go home the shops in Simon’s Town must struggle. Concerned Simon's Town Business Person.

This ice cream business is now trying to make it big time. The other day I had a chat to a friend selling fancy and tasty stuff on Main Street. He told me that they sell less than halve a dozen fancy breads per week during winter. Have you thought what this Ice Cream guy will do during winter. He has not seen winter yet. I hope he makes it.

There were a few more emails one that stipulated the rules and the other from a business person. 

The most concerning email came from the originator of the Ice Cream Parlour saga (The Civic Association Exec Member):

The sign is illegal ito of municipal regulations and no sentiment can overide this no matter how 'noble' the argument. The owner is occupying a parking place all day - possibly he can afford the fines but is denying visitors a place to park and buy an ice cream.
 
I am not sure why he is 'obviously' not making it. I and my family go in and there are usually other clients there - I doubt that the sign on the car is the redeemer of the problem.
 
It is not STCA or any other organisation's (other than the Business Association) responsibility to 'help any guy make a living and run a responsible business' - we just make it possible and safe for anyone to operate in the town. What if all struggling shopkeepers decide to park outside their shops with signs? Will the business community be happy? Not those with ethics and who follow the legal process.
 
The inclusion of real estate problems to a simple specific question and your comment on making businesses profitable indicates a personal interest. Your unwarranted disclosure of an email to numerous other addressees is uncalled for and indicates that emails to you are not treated as within the STCA.
 
I will thus refrain from including you in any further correspondence and suggest that you take note of the regulations as expounded by Judy Hodson - they will be enforced. Having lived in Simon's Town for some time and being involved intimately with the town since 1965, I have no intention of allowing profit motives that break the law to distract from the historic beauty of the town.  (The Civic Association Exec Member)

 You must make up your own mind on this story.

I feel that the any Civic Association or related body should at all times communicate in public. Going public may be seen as a threat to some, but it will eventually bring us together.  

Then the law:

This sign being illegal as stated above.

Who made the law?

Do we hide behind the law because it's the easy way out? Let me remind you of extreme cases where man made laws were used and the consequences never considered:

  • Many years ago there was a law that saw many people being killed to protect that law.
  • The same law forced many people out of Simon's Town
  • Some or other authority decided to fell many beautiful and age old alien trees without considering the consequences.
  • When you want to trow the book at the Ice Cream Parlour have the courage to do it in the open and take note of the consequences.

Let me conclude and say to you; I want you to go and have a look at the mirror. The bad news is that you will see me there. And I have accepted the fact that I will see you in my mirror. We are the same. I am another you. We may vibrate on a different level but we all want the best for Simon's Town. 

But before we can agree we must go public with public issues. It will be painful. Some will see wounds opening. Get a plaster. It will get better. Then we can all work together. 

As the Mayans greet: 

In Lak'Ech: I am another you.

Johan Horak

1 Dec 2009

How To Empower The Individual To Tell & Amplify The Wild Dog's Story

The request to help in counting the Kruger's wild dogs and cheetahs reminded of the plight of these animals and the task organisations like Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) have in ensuring that these beautiful animals can live a happy life (Getaway, January 2009).



I am writing to share an idea and a possible solution with you. My concern, with organisations like EWT, SANParks and other conservation bodies, is their general slow adoption of new technology to amplify the animal’s plight. Not only amplify it, but also giving followers (supporters), tools to get involved. Involved in telling the wild dog and cheetah story. (Somewhere I read that story telling is the most underrated business skill).


I am aware of the great work being done by EWT. But due to their nature .... I can include many large businesses.... they find it difficult to adopt new media tools.
 

Let me refresh your memory on EWT suggestion on the wild dog and cheetah census; "Sightings can be reported on 076-725-5242 or email census@ewt.org.za."


This effort, designed to include the public, is commendable.

According to EWT, "The census ran from the beginning of August 2008 to the end of April 2009 and we were extremely fortunate to receive a record number of 1,131 entries from members of the public". I believe that this should be the foundation for more such exercises. But this effort should or could be self driven (self sustainable) by the concerned and involved public.  

If you have a look at the way EWT arranged the census they created tools to communicate. The next step is to create tools to socially discuss these issues.

Let me try and explain the difference between communicate and socially discuss. The email address and phone number, provided by EWT, allowed one way communication. As soon as the spotter left the sighting info, that was that. The spotter and his friends could not join the communication because the sightings were not made public as they were reported.... because of the inherent inability of the communication tools used.

I believe the real opportunity lies right here.

Instead....

When we use social media tools, the supporting public (followers) can start communicating in various directions ... creating  many discussion.


For example, one follower may have 10 000 people in her social-media-sphere-of-influence. When she supports the wild dog’s plight, she can now amplify the story to her followers. And, potentially, the wild dogs can have 10 000 more followers joining the conversation.

Today social media tools like Twitter and Facebook allow you to post videos, photos and comments, online, via email or from your phone.


This is what I will do if I had to set-up such a social media discussion tool:

I provide the public with an email address and a cell phone number. They will take photos - with their cells phones, if they like - of the wild dogs or cheetahs, even with GPS co-ordinates, they can include a short text summary and email it to a blog, via the given email address. Or they can just sms a text message via the cell number that will also update the blog.

As soon as I have authorised the post, this blog tool will auto-post the story to ten or more social media sites. All the followers, on the various social media sites, get the update and have the option to share the story with their followers. Some of these followers will now also visit the blog and join the cause. More people, more stories, more photos, more discussions and more wild dogs awareness. 

As I have said, Story telling is the most underrated business skill. The wild dogs and the cheetahs have a story to tell. And we can tell that story by empowering people to become (social media) followers. I believe we can empower the individual when we make the individual an integral part of the story being told.    

 
http://cultivation.posterous.com | Online Marketing Tips Newsletter Using Social Media Like Twitter.



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When I am not busy making soup and trying to stop thinking I teach individuals and business on How To Stay In Touch With Self and Others

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