So many articles and blog posts about social media say how we are becoming less tolerant of interruptions on such platforms -LinkedIn for example. And they assume that people will simply filter out the annoying messages and ignore the brands that do it.

They assume that this is the sort of marketing that people will continue to do, without understanding that it is just a ‘way station’. That smarter marketers have already evolved from ‘One-Stop Tell and Sell’ to long term engagement strategies. And some short term ones that engage quickly!

It’s much better to just disallow interruptions from the beginning. Always. Continue reading “Start with the End Goal in Mind – Spam Free Customer Networks” »

There is so much more to social networking on LinkedIn than what the current discourse allows for. So much more benefit from building professional customer networks.

Whenever I speak on a platform or am part of a panel discussion in the media, all the Social Networking examples from my industry colleagues are drawn from one of the following:

1. About Not-for-Profits (NFPs) – typically more sexy or at least more interesting than the most boring topic of all – how to be a better accountant! Jokes aside from this former accountant, professional customer networks for accountants are really important, and LinkedIn can deliver great ones
2. About launching a new product
3. About a natural disaster and how people used the tools to communicate
4. About a ‘viral’ campaign like the wonderful Old Spice (Dark man. White horse. Very sexy!) which isn’t even social networking (see below) Continue reading “Professional Customer Networks: The World Changing Phenomena” »