by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Apr 10, 2014 | Communication, Social Media
The digital landscape is abundant with incredible industry thought leaders sharing the knowledge and best practices in social media. The circle of influencers crest the lists of who to follow and how to engage them.
- You admire them.
- You follow them.
- You learn from them.
- You implement their suggestions.
- You share and comment on their posts.
- You believe it is a mutual give and take to build deep relationships and connections.
Social media is BEING social not doing social. Right? It isn’t an automated robotic act of verbal diarrhea to gain and maintain a following. You will surely lose if that is your strategy. You are dealing with real live human beings behind the keystrokes. While we are a push button society, get things done, do it fast; building relationships is a one on one personal endeavor and no amount of sterile replies or automated apps will generate authentic connections.
If your job is content and social media marketing then try to live as a good example of a digital citizen. Christian Vanek
Get real. Be real.
BUT, how does the little guy fair in this vast sea of legendary experts? Is it like swimming with the sharks or do you have the same opportunity to engage in unpretentious dialog?
Are you able to be noticed or shuffled amongst the minnows until you become one of the bigger swimmers?
You will find that many will respond in kind, a quick thank you but there isn’t always an extensive amount of back and forth. Maybe more courtesy replies if you will.
“I firmly believe that respect is a lot more important, and a lot greater, than popularity.” Julius Erving
Your challenge may be to continue prompting the conversations to further deepen your experience and connection with your esteemed colleagues. Have the empowering discussions, becoming more educated and learning from “the best” in the industry. It helps you and your business.
- Be engaging
- Add value
- Ask questions
- Share other people’s content
- Express gratitude
- Be a giver
- Make introductions
- Connect within your community
- Emulate those who inspire you
- Remember to always respond to others
What happens when there is no reply? (Don’t take it personally!)
The Social Disconnect
Does that influence your impression of the individual or impact your level of engagement?
It seems like it would be a dichotomy.
How do these respected professionals write and talk about the essence of social media and relationship marketing, yet they don’t put forth the same? Shouldn’t their actions back up their words? Like Daniel Newman said: Social Media Pundits (Mostly) Suck At Engagement
The problem is the proclamation of engagement as a key part of success in social media. If you think about it when it comes to this group that talks engagement but doesn’t really do it, it starts to just sound like a bunch of kumbayya stuff and not at all like a real strategy. Almost like a “Wag The Dog” strategy for the small circle of elite that want to keep you looking left while they are building their empires on the right.
by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Apr 2, 2013 | Small Business, Virtual Assistant, Word Processing
Living in the digital world of online connectivity and technology, we have been able to broaden our reach, create deeper relationships and have many avenues to share our voice. With this explosion of technology and new forms of media expression, we have become accustomed to communicating in 140 characters on Twitter, sending a quick IM or using much abbreviated texting that sometimes leaves the message open for interpretation, or worse, needing a few dictionaries or phoning a friend to decipher the code message.
While texting may be an efficient means to deliver a quick message, allow multi-tasking, and is less of an intrusion when there really isn’t time for a phone call, it can leave you scratching your head, wondering what the sender is saying. This type of tech shorthand is expedient but studies have shown it has negatively changed our levels of personal communications, interactions and writing skills for some. Educators from the Janus project “worry that heavy use of electronic communications such as email, social networking, texting, instant messaging and networked video games has diminished kids’ and adults’ social skills.” Texting is an instant convenient form of communication but has the possibility to weaken our social and written skills, if we allow it to happen.
Debra Vargulish, is a training administrator at the Latrobe-based global tooling company and college recruiter for Kennametal Inc reported that the students she meets are often inarticulate and shy, “They seem to be way better at using technology than older people. It’s actually the content that is missing. A lot of them don’t know what to say at all, and that’s not good.” Influence on Texting on Communication Skills.
The potential impact of texting:
- Reduce the in-depth conversations
- Dumb down spelling and grammar
- Distract people from being fully present
According to a Wall Street Journal article, people are becoming lazier about their grammar and spelling due to texting, instant messaging and social media.
Young students have turned in papers using text shorthand and emoticons.
The US Job Bank reports that many employers have expressed complaints and dissatisfaction with received employment applications that are written in text language. They noted that many applicants have a propensity to speak more informally and use abbreviated text messaging as though they are writing to a close friend.
There is now an online dictionary to explain the most used terminology.
You have just a few seconds to make a valued impression and if you aren’t clear, use proper spelling and grammar, this may present you in an unintended manner.
“Good grammar is credibility, especially on the internet. In blog posts, on Facebook statuses, in e-mails, and on company websites, your words are all you have. They are a projection of you in your physical absence. And, for better or worse, people judge you if you can’t tell the difference between their, there, and they’re.” Kyle Wiens.
While texting, shorthand “lingo” or social media communications may not directly impact you, it has influenced our communications and written word. Know when it is appropriate, who is your audience, become familiar with the common grammar mistakes, use spell-check but don’t depend on it 100%, proofread your documents, blog posts and emails two or three times and add in the email “To” field after you have taken the time to reread your message.
Your communications are a representation of you and your company. Make sure they are free of errors.
Image credit: Might Red Pen
by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Jul 10, 2012 | Life Thoughts
In our day to day encounters we sometimes are aligned with individuals we believe to be like minded and on the same playing field. Engaging in conversation, camaraderie and laughter, we are led to assume a prospective forth coming partnership is built upon mutuality and common ground. We know we are genuine.
We deliver on our word. Our promise. Based upon this premise, knowing that we say what we mean and mean what we say, we would expect the same from others. Human nature desires honesty and trust. When we know who we are, we presume the others we choose to invite into our circles will mirror our own value system.
No legacy is so rich as honesty. – Shakespeare
Occasionally however, we meet others whom operate on a different agenda, both personally and professionally. Think about it: how many times have you met someone, enjoyed a great discussion, discovered similar interests, talked about a business partnership and so forth, yet when it came time for the follow-up, there was no response on their part?
I personally always find this curious as they may have declared a desire to connect, introduce, partner or otherwise further engage on the next level, yet their conversations may not have had any true validity.
Why do people go out of their way to make conversation based upon empty assurances?
Are they not genuine?
Do they not come from a culture of authenticity and strong moral compass?
While I can only speak for myself, I strongly value my word and commitment; never offering an empty gesture for the sake of conversation or social value. I am passionate and back up every word or promise with timely action. It is an intrinsic characteristic that would seem to be a natural trait based upon integrity and honesty.
Personal authenticity delivers many internal benefits, enabling you to live a life free of stress, full of possibilities and great promise as you are live your life from real principles and heart.
- Being honest with yourself and others imparts the fortitude, courage and directness to cope with problems swiftly, instead of procrastinating, or disregarding them altogether.
- When you are truly authentic, you also preserve your integrity. You persistently do the right thing, so you never have to second-guess your choices or actions.
- When you are true to yourself, you not only trust the decisions and evaluations that you generate, but also create a level of trust from others.
- Authenticity delivers a lesser degree of stress when you stay true to yourself, say what you mean and mean what you say.
- In trusting yourself and knowing what is morally right, you are able to recognize your maximum life potential. You control your own life versus allowing others to make decisions for you.
- Being genuine and doing the right thing leads to achieving greater self-confidence and self-worth, enhanced positivity and further internal fulfillment because you are able to trust yourself to make the right decisions.
Honest communications create not only a strong foundation but show great respect for the other party. Think about how you interact with others; the verbal commitments you make and how you intend to follow through. Ensure your words are given with reliability and sincerity.
Have the courage to say No. Have the courage to face the Truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity. W. Clement Stone
Being genuine is not a tool for success, but an admirable characteristic for living an authentic life. It is so cliché but say what you mean and mean what you say, as others have faith in your word.
