When I came back from SocialCrush I had a letter on my desk from Lisa Gergely of Emulsion Arts. The address on the envelope was handwritten and inside was a handwritten note card thanking me for having lunch with her last week. It’s a tangible reminder of a company I enjoy working with. It punctuates the fact that they are talented people who care about their craft and their customers.
It’s ironic that I have just come back from a fantastic, two-day onslaught of social media training and education only to blog about a handwritten letter. But this is what all that social hub-bub is all about. Relationships and meaningful interaction.
Many scoff at social media saying it’s a way to avoid contact and conversation. And they will continue to say just that. My mindset is different. For me, social media is another door to get to know more people and gain exposure to new information and ideas. While at SocialCrush I met people I already “knew” on Twitter: @colacitygirl, @techherding, @egw74, @ryalcurtis, @nicolebcurtis, @RickCaffeinated, @willimac and others. I had many face-to-face conversations that were made possible by Twitter.
Nurturing personal relationships with customers, clients and co-workers is far better for business than starting a Facebook page or a blog. Trust, attention to detail and simple interactions like this letter are the ultimate plug-ins.
Be sure they are part of your business strategy.
I used to have long conversations with the doubters, and am now at a point where I smile and say “yes, that’s an important concern.” Then I move on to the hundreds of people that I have rich interactions with online and don’t worry about them. Some of those folks will come along with us on the wonderful journey, some will stay on their happy island. It’s hard to let go of what has always made you comfortable, and I understand that.
For quite a while I used to try to help people get on the bus. But I found that I really sucked at getting them to buy a ticket and make the first step. Not sure why — probably because I lack the patience and bedside manner. Could be because I tend to be a pushy jerk. But whatever the reason, they just didn’t want to come along.
So now I smile, validate their concerns, let them know that I heard them, and tell them that if they ever want help I’ll be there for them.
They rarely call.
Totally agree! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment!