Posts tagged as:

community

Mapping Your Community

by Daria Steigman on December 29, 2010

Workshifting, Community | Independent Thinking | Steigman Communications, llcIf you have ever worked for or with a nonprofit, then at some point you have probably gone through a community mapping exercise. Have you done the same for your business?

My latest Workshifting.com blog post is out, and it’s all mapping your community:

We think about community in many ways. Our family and friends. Our colleagues. Our online circles. But there’s also our workshifting community, the network of small business owners, independents, home office denizens, and others in our proximity with resources and know-how who can help us out in a pinch.

Read the complete post here. And then take a minute this holiday season to thank your workshifting community for all they do for you.

Photo by Striatic (Flickr).

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Are You Investing in Toilet Paper?

by Daria Steigman on October 19, 2010

Customer Service | PR | Independent Thinking | Steigman Communications, llcThis Saturday marked the 10th anniversary of the Baltimore Running Festival. It’s a terrific event, and I’ve run either the half-marathon or the marathon relay in 6 of the last 10 years (and drove up to cheer the runners another year when I was sidelined by injury). It’s also a money-maker for the city, bringing an estimated $25 million in revenues into the city this year alone.

It’s also all about community (see Community, Baltimore style).

Except for the Hyatt Regency. While the rest of the city was welcoming the running community, the Hyatt was shutting its doors. Or, more specifically, its bathrooms.

The hotel hired security guards to stand at the bathroom doors and turn non-hotel-guests away. I’m a big Hyatt hotels fan. I’ve stayed at this one in the past, but I’m certainly never staying there again.

I understand the challenging logistics of 10,000 half-marathon runners with a start line across the street. It’s a challenge for all the hotels, restaurants, and other public spaces nearby. But instead of hiring guards, why not beef up your cleaning crews, put your best public-facing foot forward, welcome runners, and invest in toilet paper?

Photo by Sharon Mollerus (Flickr).

Have you signed up to receive the Independent Thinking newsletter? Now’s the time! Once a month I’ll send you exclusive, subscriber-only content highlighting interesting articles I’ve found, as well as tips on marketing, social media, and how to grow your business. Sign up today!

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Social Media Rules, Wrongs, and Beating Ourselves Up

by Daria Steigman on October 12, 2010

We need to stop beating ourselves up.

There seem to be two big trends among social media proponents these days:

  • Beating up on people and companies alike for using social media “wrong.”
  • Beating up on ourselves.

This post deals with a little of both.

First, though, some great food for thought to set some context. Over on his blog, Stowe Boyd pointed to this amazing presentation by Google researcher Paul Adams that looks at people’s communities and the disconnects between our various networks and how online platforms have typically been designed. It’s really smart stuff, and worth going through.

The Real Life Social Network v2

This presentation is particularly relevant to our ongoing efforts to define the boundaries of our various networks. Who should I connect to on LinkedIn? Is it okay if I don’t friend you on Facebook? Will people think I am vouching for you just because we’re connected somewhere in cyberspace?

We’re trying to create  ”rules” without having any rule book.

Ari Herzog wrote a very moving post about his struggle to set parameters. He said, in part:

I want to say I am sorry for reading your messages and requests to be my friend, for me to join your networks and for you to join mine. You wanted me to share myself with you on a deeper level outside of this blog and you invited me into your inner sanctum–and I said no.

That conversation continued here. It’s worth reading in full–including the comments–as it’s clear that this discussion is going to go on for a long time.

Here’s my bottom line: It doesn’t matter if your network is more (or less) exclusive than mine. There isn’t a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all community. I’ll hang out where it makes sense for me and evolve the parameters over time just as my business might shift strategies and add or subtract services as market conditions change.

So can we agree to stop beating ourselves up as we work on our rules?

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Let’s Talk About You

by Daria Steigman on June 4, 2010

Independent Thinking | Steigman Communications, llcThis blog turns 2 today. It all started with a 74-word post about communications, business, and unique selling points. But the blog  is here because of you — my community.

So in honor of our second anniversary, let’s talk about you:

  • Who are you? I know who some of you are — but not all of you. Whether you’re new or a seasoned reader, please take a minute to introduce yourself to the Independent Thinking community.
  • What do you want me to write about? I’ve tried to stay true to my pledge to write about business, entrepreneurship, communications,social media, and how technology is impacting the way we work. But what kinds of posts resonate with you? Is there something you’d like to see me write about more? Something that’s missing from this blog?

Thank you. The comments are yours.

Photo by mischvelente (Flickr).

Have you signed up to receive the Independent Thinking newsletter? Now’s the time! Once a month I’ll send you exclusive, subscriber-only content highlighting interesting articles I’ve found, as well as tips on marketing, social media, and how to grow your business. Sign up today!

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Are You Squandering First Contact?

by Daria Steigman on April 19, 2010

Social Media & First ContactStar Trek has a special protocol for establishing “first contact” with new civilizations. It has to do, first, with ensuring that the people are ready for aliens who come in peace on spaceships. More broadly, it’s about setting the stage for a fruitful relationship.

Closer to home, we’re having a hard time with this concept. Especially when using social media.

My gripe is with people who squander opportunities every day. The other day, for example, I tweeted in conversation that I was headed on a road trip to Albuquerque. Immediately, @AlbuquerqueApt and a second local company followed me on Twitter. But did either bother to say hello, suggest any cool restaurants, or point out a great hiking trail?

Now you might say that it doesn’t matter or that I’m not going to be in Albuquerque long enough to go hiking. But (1) they don’t know that, and (2) they don’t know who else I know who just might live there or be moving to the area. Contrast that to Busboys and Poets here in DC which tweeted me to say they looked forward to seeing me the next day. Or the Roger Smith Hotel, which I’d recommend in a heartbeat even though I’ve never stayed there.

Clearly, my point isn’t about brands on Twitter that don’t know anything about social media. It’s about business, and how you build communities.

Mitch Joel had a good post the other day about people who feel compelled to ask favors of strangers. He wrote:

Because we’re all intrinsically connected … many people are asking people do things that are over and above the social capital equity they have put into the relationship…

The real world is the same as the online world. In fact, even making the false assumption that our social rules do not apply online is silly (and wrong). One of the better mantras to embrace when it comes to engaging with Social Media is:“just because you can, it doesn’t mean that you should.”

While Joel is talking about presumed intimacy and I’m talking about failing to build intimacy, both are ultimately about lost opportunities.

Are you squandering first contact?

Photo by Scragz (Flickr).

Have you signed up to receive the Independent Thinking newsletter? Now’s the time! Once a month I’ll send you exclusive, subscriber-only content highlighting interesting articles I’ve found, as well as tips on marketing, social media, and how to grow your business. Sign up today!

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