 
Would you dance on tables at a cocktail party? When you join a social network and send copy and paste ads to your contacts in the community, that is what you are doing. Is it effective? It depends what you are attempting to do. If all you want is attention and you are happy with negative attention, then it is effective. But if what you want to do is make money on the internet, it is not effective.Â
As an internet marketer, your job is to promote yourself. You get to choose what light you wish to present yourself in. People join people, not businesses. The only thing that you really have to separate yourself from the hundreds of thousands of other marketers is YOU. If you join a community and get busy adding people to your contact list, then send them an ad… think about this… what would cause those people to read your ad if they get a hundred others?Â
On the other hand, if you take the time to read the profile of your new contacts, to join in discussions and to interact, you begin to build a presence in that community. You are building a reputation. It doesn’t happen overnight, but once you do it you have developed trust with your contacts. Once you have built some trust, familiarity… or have made a “friend”, you can send that ad and because the person you are sending it to feels he or she knows you, they are far more likely to read it.
There is an interesting discussion occurring on APSense on this topic. The fellow who started the thread has commented that even bad press is good if it gets you noticed. I disagree when it comes to socializing on the internet. You only get one chance to make a good first impression. Always remember, everything you put on the internet is out there for the world to see. Present yourself in your social communities in much the same way you would in a live community. Be respectful and you will find that other members of that community will be attracted to you.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Cindy Bolley // Mar 15, 2008 at 10:11 am
Yes Karen it is just amazing to me how this guy thinks. It is getting alot of people reading it.
I have tried to teach him manners about social etiquette but he is just not listening.
It is that horse thing again, you know about the leading and the water.
Cindy
2 Francis Walsh // Mar 19, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Please understand that I manage to create enough interest from any blog, that I can find it to my advantage to do what I need to do accomplish my goals.
You and you are my affirmation that what I do is working. You are talking about me here. My social etiquette can take a back seat to the fact that I am doing what I want in a highly competitive industry.
I’m one who likes to have something interesting to talk about among all the other postings and whatnot.
B.J. gave me good advice, and I updated accordingly. No reason not to have some discussion about something of interest to get people to see what was going on.
the direct affect on Mr. BJ, And CINDY, and ??, was one aspect of the coversation. The risidual effect was on the 8 other people who contacted me and connected with some of what I was saying.
I feel that you are really misunderstanding the whole concept of the blog, and that the blog could have a “concept”, and that it may not “really” be my view only a tool. Research, examples of the right way and the wrong way to deliver that type of message effectively.
I not only received a critique I used itto “improve” my site, I was able to have a lively discussion after the fact. It’s more than I can say for what other people do with much of their day.
I did that, and I still think everyone is totally missing the point.
E
3 Cindy // Mar 20, 2008 at 9:25 am
Rude manners will always be remembered. I certainly would not want to be remembered that way. BUT… that is just me.
It goes back to that first impression thing.
Cindy
4 Karen Weir // Mar 20, 2008 at 10:15 am
You did generate a lively discussion Francis, no doubt about that… obviously I was interested enough to make a post on my blog about it. I don’t think we are missing your point, but are you missing ours?
You seem to think that the feedback you received was a form of censorship. It isn’t. It was simply feedback. As with any feedback, the receiver is free to use or discard it. You did take some of it and used it effectively. I’d even take my opinion a step further and state that some of the feedback you received was delivered in a manner that is unflattering to the deliverer. Again, his choice to portray himself in any light he chooses.
5 Francis Walsh // Mar 22, 2008 at 10:40 am
It’s all about the discussion. Discussion is what drives results. I like to use a discussion rather than a standard posting. There are plenty of Articles posted around the different venues we frequent.. But how many “discussions” are happening.
Even when you find a blog that is important enought to garnish the kudos, it’s more the kudos are in the form of “isn’t that great?”
BORING>>>>
So, that’s why I like to do what I do. Generate a debate, a pro against a con. etc. etc.
Like why it was necessary to pull the topic off-site rather than keep the discussion on ApSense, and allow people the ooportunity to expand the discussion there?
I think that a true discussion would involve people coming to a topic and haveing interpersonal comment to each other about they like or dislike of a topic.
We fail to utilize some of the tools we have to their full potential.
I’ll expand on this idea later..
6 Karen Weir // Mar 22, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I am definately in agreement that debating makes good and exciting discussion.
Where we disagree is on the importance of your reputation. I have a reputation for debating issues. I LOVE to debate and contraversy is my middle name.
Not sure what debate and spamming your friends have in common though. I’ll happily join in a debate that I have a position on, but you won’t catch me spamming. I guess my mama just taught me good manners and I use them.
I didn’t “pull the topic off site”. I’m sure its still going on there. This is a new discussion in a different venue about the same topic.
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