DISQUS

briansolis: Are You Talking to Me? Taking the BS Out of Business Blogging

  • geoff · 2 years ago
    Great entry. How true. I had a conversation with a client today about the very same thing. Engage, not sell.

    GL
  • T.J. · 2 years ago
    Right on, Brian. It seems much more important to cultivate relationships and establidh dialogue than to sell, sell, sell the product.
  • Brian Solis · 2 years ago
    Geoff, TJ, thank you. Geoff, I think we'll have many more of these conversations with clients.

    TJ, who knew right? It's astonishing at just how difficult it is to get them to embrace the idea of conversations versus selling - and without tying it to the bottom line.
  • geektastik · 2 years ago
    Thanks very much for your feedback on my post about this. I completely agree that the key is transparency and participation/engagement.

    We evangelists do, I think, have to temper our enthusiasm with the acknowledgment that blogging is not always the right decision for everyone, even for companies with nothing to hid.

    Instead, we should keep in mind the strengths of blogging and the end-goals it achieves, and look to find the best tools that most effectively achieve those goals.

    I think that will often point to blogging and other "social tools," but no single tool with fit every need - however much my geekiness wishes it did :D
  • Anonymous · 2 years ago
    Do you think company's should socially bookmark posts or stories covertly?
  • Amanda · 2 years ago
    Are conversations always good?

    Hmmmmmm, no.

    Are conversations sometimes risky?

    When talking to strangers… sure.

    Do conversations help in making stuff?

    Hmmmmmm, no. Actually, the distraction can be somewhat disruptive.

    As it is all based on the idea that flat is better than hierarchy, is that universally true?

    Not if psychology, anthropology and all of human history means anything.

    Is there any ROI to this Conversational Marketing thing?

    No. It is more avocation than vocation.

    Has any of the professed experts of CM ever run a multimillion-dollar enterprise?

    No.

    Has any of the authors of the Cluetain Manifesto ever run a multimillion-dollar enterprise?

    No.

    So, other than you trying to hawk some rationale for your business, what is your article about Brian?

    I appreciate the chat.

    Regards,

    Amanda Chapel
    Managing Editor
    Strumpette.com
  • Brian Solis · 2 years ago
    "Amanda" thank you so much for stopping by.

    Not sure if you knew this, but I don't sell blogging or conversational marketing services per se. I leave that to all of the rapidly emerging, and incredibly savvy, “social media” consultants and agencies. In fact, I don't blog to sell anything.

    I think we share a passion for calling out the bullshit to help people keep things legit, while helping others learn from the mistakes of their peers.

    It seems to me, of all the marketing/PR bloggers out there, that you (strumpette) would appreciate that I am simply trying to keep companies (and the people that work there) from hawking their goods/services through their blogs - and more importantly, helping to prevent them from insulting the people that might read their blogs.

    I thought that point was pretty clear throughout the post...but just for you, I'll take another look at it.

    You bring up interesting and highly philosophical points, many of which inspire a new post aimed at conversational marketers.

    Thanks for stopping by. The chat was pleasant - as always. Looking forward to continuing the chat over at your place.