Seth Godin on Social Networking

Seth Godin's blog is one of the few blogs that I subscribe to via email and that I read just about every day. This video below is an interview clip from AMEX's OPEN Forum wherein Seth Godin talks about Social Networking for Business. A gentleman in the audience asks a question that I'm asked daily by REALTORS® and Brokers: 

"My question is on social networking for business. Is it valuable for business? Yes or no? And if yes, for what types of businesses?"

Seth Godin on Social Networking: 

My favorite line from Seth is this one: 

"Networking is always important when it's real and it's always a useless distraction when it's fake. What the internet has allowed is an enormous amount of fake networking to take place." 

There's A LOT of truth in this statement (in my opinion). I think that the biggest mistake that people make when they jump into social media is they engage in blatant self-promotion and focus less on building relationships. They use their blogs, their twitter streams and Facebook updates as press stations to talk about themselves and they do it in such a way that screams desperation and that is just simply unattractive (there's not quicker way to lose a sale than by spamming me with your promo's). 

Those that are doing it right, are the individuals who are out there building relationships and growing their network one true fan at a time. See, if you believe that business is built on building relationships, then you need to make building relationships your business. This means responding to every comment, answering every email (and phone call), responding to your status updates (Facebook reference) and your @ replies (Twitter reference). To reference Chris Brogan, "make the relationship before the sale." At the end of the day, it really isn't all that difficult... 

What say you? Am I off base here? 

Comments

[Melissa DelGaudio]

You've not only hit the nail right on the head, but managed to do all the finish carpentry, as well.

I have no use for people who use social forums as electronic billboards. Talk to me. I'll most certainly talk to you. Get to know me. I want to know you. If we've talked, if we've engaged in some way and THEN you want to tell me about something you're doing or promoting, then I WILL listen. Intently. But if all you're interested in is turning me into a dollar sign, then we needn't go any further.

I'm also happy to say that you're one of the good ones. Always there with a good word, always upbeat, always supportive. You're the real deal, my friend. :)

[Ricardo Bueno]

@Melissa: thank you so very much for the kind words! You and I have shared moments together if even over the Twitter-stream and morning coffee. Those kind of interactions, as simple as they may seem, are in fact very very powerful. And I think that so many people miss that.

Too often big business and small businesses alike jump to use social forums as "electronic billboards" (as you said). To me, that equates to spam and as well all know, nobody likes spam. No quicker way to get on someone's sh** list than to engage in heavy spam-like tactics.

Which brings me back to the whole Chris Brogan phrase: "Make the relationship before the sale." To me, that just means acting like you would in-person. If you're one of those heavy "let me shove my business card down your throat" kinda guys, then best of luck to ya...

[Jim Gaudet]

Come on, now I thought that the most important thing was to have 100,000 followers. I mean I get emails for that every day so it must be what I need...

It is super annoying. I try to comment when I real something and it makes me want to say something. I am not trying to get back links. I am not trying to sell anything. And why do I follow Chris Brogan? I am using tools like Facebook and Twitter to listen, not to blab about myself. I want to learn from those who are doing it well already, so I listen and learn..

Soon I will have something worth listening too and I will have followers.. And to end it the same way you did..

"At the end of the day, it really isn't all that difficult..."

[Ricardo Bueno]

@Jim Gaudet: it really isn't (or shouldn't) be that difficult... And listening (as you said) is by far the first step...

[Matt Singley]

Well said, Mr. Bueno.

[Ricardo Bueno]

@Matt: thanks man! But I gotta give props to my man Seth Godin :-)