Quite a lot apparently!
The feedback from the people I do business with, contacts on Twitter and from my friends was surprisingly consistent.
A "freebie" address such as Hotmail, GMail or Yahoo is considered ok for start ups and sole traders - but only as a means of contact. People are generally very reluctant to part with cash if no other dialogue occurs. Not to mention that most online payment services won't accept subscriptions from a "floating" account. The reaction is somewhat ameliorated if they know the person, but there is still the perception that they need to get a "proper" email address.
Almost equal wariness was accorded to businesses only using their ISP providers email. Again the understanding was there that this was ok within strictly defined limits. However, people were more inclined to "trust" these addresses more than the floaters.
Another consistent reaction was mild annoyance when companies have a website, but use a different domain name for their email addresses. The most common response I received when I asked for a reason was that it was "lazy".
However, the strongest negative reaction I got, across the board, was not to what appears on the right hand side of the address - it was the "name" that could really rile people!
Top 5 most despised:
Info
Mail
Enquiries
Sales
Post
You have been warned...
Monday, 25 January 2010
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Tarnishing the Twitter glitter
One of the main strengths of Twitter is the access you have to so many people.
However, the obvious counterpoint to that is that they also have access to you! (Unless you protect your tweets.) I use Twitter in a business/social hybrid model, so I prefer to have an open feed.
Good quality retweets are the gold dust that makes Twitter glitter.
I've found you need to be selective in what you retweet, but also be fair and return the retweet favour where possible. Receiving genuinely interesting information from your followers is part of the pleasure of Twitter, as is sharing your information with them.
However there is a dark and unpleasant entity lurking in the shadows - the auto retweet bots. These beasts hide in the "cloud" and pounce upon unsuspecting tweets and take them over for their own ends.
Some retweet bots are relatively harmless, like the "knitting" or "coffee" ones. (Don't ask!)
The ones I really have a problem with are those that add their own link to your original tweet and make it look like you endorse them. How many people would bother to check the original content? For example: One of my tweets was hijacked to direct people to a video of someone performing a very bad cover of a rock classic.
I particularly dislike it when bots pick up on my fibromyalgia and then purport to offer a "cure". Peddling nonsense has always been an internet speciality and Twitter is an ideal platform to promulgate the genre!
I know that by choosing to engage on Twitter that I take have to take the rough with the smooth. However, that doesn't stop the intense irritation nor the righteous indignation flaring up on occasions.
All I can do is hit the block button and hope my Twitter glitter isn't too tarnished.
However, the obvious counterpoint to that is that they also have access to you! (Unless you protect your tweets.) I use Twitter in a business/social hybrid model, so I prefer to have an open feed.
Good quality retweets are the gold dust that makes Twitter glitter.
I've found you need to be selective in what you retweet, but also be fair and return the retweet favour where possible. Receiving genuinely interesting information from your followers is part of the pleasure of Twitter, as is sharing your information with them.
However there is a dark and unpleasant entity lurking in the shadows - the auto retweet bots. These beasts hide in the "cloud" and pounce upon unsuspecting tweets and take them over for their own ends.
Some retweet bots are relatively harmless, like the "knitting" or "coffee" ones. (Don't ask!)
The ones I really have a problem with are those that add their own link to your original tweet and make it look like you endorse them. How many people would bother to check the original content? For example: One of my tweets was hijacked to direct people to a video of someone performing a very bad cover of a rock classic.
I particularly dislike it when bots pick up on my fibromyalgia and then purport to offer a "cure". Peddling nonsense has always been an internet speciality and Twitter is an ideal platform to promulgate the genre!
I know that by choosing to engage on Twitter that I take have to take the rough with the smooth. However, that doesn't stop the intense irritation nor the righteous indignation flaring up on occasions.
All I can do is hit the block button and hope my Twitter glitter isn't too tarnished.
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Downtime?
Having attended a few face to face network meetings recently - all with a seasonal theme - I started to wonder if there is a "holiday break" in the virtual world of social media.
An unscientific straw poll seems to indicate that the personal interaction will continue, but that people will "lay off" the business content. This then gives me another point to ponder: where does "personal" stop and "business" start on a platform such as Twitter?
The old adage "people buy from people" is particularly appropriate here. Can you just stop all your interaction and maintain the momentum you've built up because you see Twitter and your blog as work and not truly "social"?
How much damage - if any - will a week or so of virtual silence cause? Do people in your "Twibe" understand and are planning to do the same?
I'll take a watching brief and adapt as it's my first Tweetmas!
Seasons Greetings (whatever season you celebrate)
An unscientific straw poll seems to indicate that the personal interaction will continue, but that people will "lay off" the business content. This then gives me another point to ponder: where does "personal" stop and "business" start on a platform such as Twitter?
The old adage "people buy from people" is particularly appropriate here. Can you just stop all your interaction and maintain the momentum you've built up because you see Twitter and your blog as work and not truly "social"?
How much damage - if any - will a week or so of virtual silence cause? Do people in your "Twibe" understand and are planning to do the same?
I'll take a watching brief and adapt as it's my first Tweetmas!
Seasons Greetings (whatever season you celebrate)
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Snake Oil sales?
I was wondering how much credence people give to books that promise to teach you how to make a million in 5 minutes using the Internet? Or how about the ones that say that by changing the way you think in three simple stages you can attain everything you've ever wanted?
Personally, I've always steered clear of them. My "con detector" goes off when I see anything like this. What I find worrying is that some of the smartest people I know pay fortunes for cleverly wrapped up version of this stuff hoping it will show them "the way" to succeed in business and in life.
There is also the social media "delight" of the folks on Twitter that spew out homilies every 10 minutes that are not so much sweet as saccharine. The number of people that retweet this twaddle is alarming to me.
I put my hand up to sometimes being of a more cynical persuasion, if this kind of thing helps you I really shouldn't judge. At least the tweets are free. The literature and courses they try and interest you in, however, cost a LOT of money.
My version of these wonderful tomes?
Be yourself
Be adaptable
Keep learning
Do as much for others as you do for yourself if not more
Well, there's another million I won't make!
Personally, I've always steered clear of them. My "con detector" goes off when I see anything like this. What I find worrying is that some of the smartest people I know pay fortunes for cleverly wrapped up version of this stuff hoping it will show them "the way" to succeed in business and in life.
There is also the social media "delight" of the folks on Twitter that spew out homilies every 10 minutes that are not so much sweet as saccharine. The number of people that retweet this twaddle is alarming to me.
I put my hand up to sometimes being of a more cynical persuasion, if this kind of thing helps you I really shouldn't judge. At least the tweets are free. The literature and courses they try and interest you in, however, cost a LOT of money.
My version of these wonderful tomes?
Be yourself
Be adaptable
Keep learning
Do as much for others as you do for yourself if not more
Well, there's another million I won't make!
Monday, 2 November 2009
The Marmite effect.
I'm taking some time to concentrate on my coaching and social networking strands this week. Not only will it allow the SEO work I've been doing to take effect, it'll be a welcome chance to get back out amongst my local business community.
It's been fascinating talking to people about their perceptions of things like Twitter and blogging. To pinch the Marmite strapline, they either love it or hate it!
I think the most interesting part for me was the fact that people can deride Twitter and pour scorn upon it without ever having logged in to it, let alone learned how to use it effectively. They were particularly incensed that recent Tweetstorms like the one around Jan Moir and Stephen Fry made the "real" news.
Of course, the people that "love it" need little technical instruction and I can concentrate on true networking aspects of the phenomenon.
The people that "hate it" need a tour of the business benefits and also a gentle introduction to Tweeting and Blogging. I'm finding that several smaller sessions are far more effective than one longer "boot camp".
This duality makes it tricky running group sessions. I'm moving towards a proposal that offers 1:2:1 development and follow up support - including Tweet critiques. Persuading the refuseniks will be an interesting challenge, but I'm looking forward to it.
It's been fascinating talking to people about their perceptions of things like Twitter and blogging. To pinch the Marmite strapline, they either love it or hate it!
I think the most interesting part for me was the fact that people can deride Twitter and pour scorn upon it without ever having logged in to it, let alone learned how to use it effectively. They were particularly incensed that recent Tweetstorms like the one around Jan Moir and Stephen Fry made the "real" news.
Of course, the people that "love it" need little technical instruction and I can concentrate on true networking aspects of the phenomenon.
The people that "hate it" need a tour of the business benefits and also a gentle introduction to Tweeting and Blogging. I'm finding that several smaller sessions are far more effective than one longer "boot camp".
This duality makes it tricky running group sessions. I'm moving towards a proposal that offers 1:2:1 development and follow up support - including Tweet critiques. Persuading the refuseniks will be an interesting challenge, but I'm looking forward to it.
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Back to my roots...
I get to do something that I love doing tomorrow! I'll not get paid for it, but it's why I originally set up in business and so it'll be a treat anyway.
I'm meeting with a young person to help them plan what to do next with their life. More education? A job? A bit of both? Self employment?
People rarely want to be instructed on how to run their lives, or their job, but they are much more comfortable with an open discussion that allows them to come to an informed decision that is personal and appropriate to them.
My core belief is to offer alternatives and not give directions. Hence my company strap line: Unique Solutions for Unique People. I get a bit hoity toity when folks tell me I should "always recommend" their pet solution or that I should "follow the received advice". I bear all the information in mind and bring it into play if it's appropriate.
I try and avoid offering "the obvious"advice. If "the obvious" worked then I'd be eating less, exercising more and wearing a size 12 frock! It also insults the intelligence of the person you're trying to help. There are far more subtle ways to discern whether or not they know the base information needed for the conversation.
People aren't a commodity to be "channelled" into a particular stream of education - or employment. A good consultation can help change some one's life and really make a positive difference. It's a privilege to be a part of the process.
I'm meeting with a young person to help them plan what to do next with their life. More education? A job? A bit of both? Self employment?
People rarely want to be instructed on how to run their lives, or their job, but they are much more comfortable with an open discussion that allows them to come to an informed decision that is personal and appropriate to them.
My core belief is to offer alternatives and not give directions. Hence my company strap line: Unique Solutions for Unique People. I get a bit hoity toity when folks tell me I should "always recommend" their pet solution or that I should "follow the received advice". I bear all the information in mind and bring it into play if it's appropriate.
I try and avoid offering "the obvious"advice. If "the obvious" worked then I'd be eating less, exercising more and wearing a size 12 frock! It also insults the intelligence of the person you're trying to help. There are far more subtle ways to discern whether or not they know the base information needed for the conversation.
People aren't a commodity to be "channelled" into a particular stream of education - or employment. A good consultation can help change some one's life and really make a positive difference. It's a privilege to be a part of the process.
Thursday, 8 October 2009
Taking my own medicine.
I spend quite a lot of time encouraging people to build in effective evaluation into their processes. I then spend a larger amount of time persuading them to act upon their findings! You'd think that I'd automatically do the same for my own company would you not?
Today I took some time out to do my 6 month evaluation. Like so many people before me, it told me that what I had thought was going to happen and what had actually happened are two very different things! Even though the evidence was staring me in the face, I didn't want to move away from the areas that aren't performing because I have invested so much of my previous life in them.
After a cup of coffee and a self administered pep talk (my neighbours must worry about me!) I tried to look at the facts as if I were my own client.
I expected to be visiting schools and colleges giving advice to young people on selecting a University, or a different path that will get them to where they want to be. Although the interest is there, the cash to pay for the service is not.
What I'm actually doing is helping people set up their own social networking models, coaching people and acting as an agent for other consultants. I've also developed an e-publishing and e-merchandising strand.
My advice to a client would be, concentrate on what is working and join the voluntary advisers for the education side of things once you're finances are stable.
Looks like I'm revising my business plan then...
Today I took some time out to do my 6 month evaluation. Like so many people before me, it told me that what I had thought was going to happen and what had actually happened are two very different things! Even though the evidence was staring me in the face, I didn't want to move away from the areas that aren't performing because I have invested so much of my previous life in them.
After a cup of coffee and a self administered pep talk (my neighbours must worry about me!) I tried to look at the facts as if I were my own client.
I expected to be visiting schools and colleges giving advice to young people on selecting a University, or a different path that will get them to where they want to be. Although the interest is there, the cash to pay for the service is not.
What I'm actually doing is helping people set up their own social networking models, coaching people and acting as an agent for other consultants. I've also developed an e-publishing and e-merchandising strand.
My advice to a client would be, concentrate on what is working and join the voluntary advisers for the education side of things once you're finances are stable.
Looks like I'm revising my business plan then...
