{!date dayname+0}, {!date long+0} Dear {!firstname_fix} Whatever happened this week in your world it will have been eclipsed by the earthquake in Japan and subsequent Pacific tsunami; clearly we are all thinking of the people affected by this disaster. As the news continues to flow and the human stories unfold many of us sit in front of the TV, no doubt, stunned by the power of nature and the sudden, un-forecast impact it can have. It is a reminder that as much as we like to think that we are "in charge", human beings are not rulers of the world - nature is. Inside our heads there is this desire to think we are "boss"; after all, humans reckon that WE caused climate change - yet most climate experts say it is just part of a natural cycle. Humans like to think we could build something to stop the English coast being eroded - but King Canute failed at that. It is really a reminder for us to only try to control the things which we really can; often online people try to be "in charge" of things they cannot - like pretending they can put up a brick wall around Twitter and avoid it. You can't control what other people say about you on social networks - so stop trying..! Just take control of what you can and stop thinking you can be in charge of everything else.
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED: How do you please all of your online audience? This is an interesting question because the person who asked it was concerned about someone who had been upset by what they had said on their blog. The questioner didn't like to feel that they had lost a reader or that they had annoyed someone. So, just how do you go about writing interesting material on your website, on your blog or in your newsletter and not annoy people? To answer this, consider for a moment a newspaper like The Sun; people who dislike the Tory party would no doubt be upset by its political views and those who oppose the use of nudity in newspapers would also be annoyed. There again, think about something like a football club - the people who love Manchester United get really annoyed by the people who adore Arsenal. What if there was a newspaper that was designed to appeal to everyone of each individual political colour? There would have to be articles that would appeal to supporters of the British National Party and the Communist Party at the same time. And what if we could have a football team that everyone would support, that would please everyone in every city of the land? The fact is, you cannot please all of the people all of the time. Someone, somewhere will not agree with you or like what you have said. Indeed, you may dislike what I am saying here. Sorry, but it is my view. And that's the point - if your online content does not have a viewpoint it is bland. And if it is so middle of the road, being all things to all people, it loses all interest. If you try to please all the people all the time, you end up pleasing no-one. So, whether you write a blog, a newsletter or simply want to add content to your website make sure you have a viewpoint. Take a position on things - don't sit on the fence. Blogs and websites that don't have a consistent - often controversial - viewpoint are the ones that get little, if any, reaction and comparatively few readers. If you want more readers, don't try to please everyone - simply write your views, no matter that they might annoy some readers; they are the people you are not really trying to connect with. You are trying to connect with people who agree with you.
WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK: Your environment matters This week I was privileged to be able to present a workshop on producing successful websites in the glorious setting of Pentillie Castle in Cornwall. When you arrive at the gate, you cannot see the castle, which is a further mile down the drive. When you get there you are met by the statue of James Tillie, who built the property 313 years go. Pentillie Castle was made even more famous recently in the TV programme Country House Rescue where hotelier Ruth Watson convinced the current owners to run it as a high-end conference, events and wedding venue. Set in 2,500 acres of rolling countryside, Pentillie Castle is a wonderful venue - and the family who own it are superb hosts, making you feel at home from the moment you arrive. It came as no surprise that, as a result, everyone attending the workshop was positive, happy and relaxed. The venue was in direct contrast to another place where I spoke recently. I was at a secondary school which was shabby, drab and in a severe state of disrepair. There was extensive graffiti, plenty of litter around and perhaps it was no surprise that the exam results at this establishment were very poor indeed, with the school only just escaping "special measures". How do the authorities expect teenagers to learn when the environment they put them in is such a disgrace? They are not motivated to behave well or learn simply because they are going to a tip each day, not a school. Put those kids in Pentilllie Castle for just one day and it would change their attitudes and their behaviour - because the environment creates a place where people want to learn and discover. It is a reminder that perhaps we should look at our own working environments more closely. Is your office a tip, making you less motivated to do your job? Do you host events at sub-standard venues, which reduce the connection between you and your clients? Paying attention to the environment in which you work is important. So, who wants a blogging course down at Pentillie Castle with me?
THIS WEEK'S "MUST BUY": SocialCorp: Social Media Goes Corporate One of the problems for many businesses when they look at social media is that it is so, well, social...! When you look at Twitter or Facebook, for instance, it looks rather un-businesslike. It doesn't seem the place to promote your company. Luckily, this excellent little book from corporate communications expert, Joel Postman, shows you exactly how businesses can benefit from all kinds of social media. The book covers all kinds of social media from blogs to Twitter, but importantly looks at them from a business perspective. So there are discussions about risks versus rewards, there is information on using social media for employee engagement and there is a detailed look at measurements and metrics. Overall, one of the best business books on social media you can find - with plenty of useful case histories to help you understand what works. To find out more about this book visit: http://uklik.me/socialcorp
AND FINALLY: Fancy coming to Andover..? This Wednesday, 16th March, you'll be able to hear me and my colleagues from The Social Media Guys presenting a one-hour overview of social media in business when we open the Andover Business Expo. More information at: http://www.andoverexpo.biz/
Kind Regards
Graham Jones Web: grahamjones.co.uk Tel: +44 118 336 9710 If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter than you can delete your name from the mailing list by clicking this link: {!remove_web} Affiliate Links: Some of the links in this newsletter are affiliate links providing me with a small commission when you purchase the item. However, I only use affiliate links for products which I personally value. |
