it’s been mentioned here a couple of times. Gaining people’s trust is the most important thing you need to achieve. Without it you have no chance of building a lasting relationship let alone business.

Once you lose people’s trust there is no way you can get that back. Even worse, a bad reputation gets around just as easily as a good one.

What you do online must be morally and ethically correct. Only then do you have a basis to build your business on.

Michael

it’s been mentioned here a couple of times. Gaining people’s trust is the most important thing you need to achieve. Without it you have no chance of building a lasting relationship let alone business.

Once you lose people’s trust there is no way you can get that back. Even worse, a bad reputation gets around just as easily as a good one.

What you do online must be morally and ethically correct. Only then do you have a basis to build your business on.

Michael

@Massimo – Thanks, much appreciated. I think what you say is key, it’s not just about reaching out to people who will buy things but also people who know others who might need what you offer, but always value FIRST

@Denise – And I look forward to seeing you back here in the comments

@Michael – Exactly – Trust is paramount and oh so easy to lose

@Easton – Good point, your community goals have to be in alignment, it’s about everything being consistent and congruent

@George – I do think social media is held up to higher standard than, say, tv. Perhaps it is because of the two way conversational nature?

@Kate – It doesn’t take much to taint it either does it?

@Evan – Thanks

@Mother Earth – That’s an advantage of blogging, it’s not a one-hit thing but you can build trust over a period of time and the visitor can slowly get to know you. People usually work out who is for real and who is just pushing product this way.

@Amrit – Yup, it is a much better long term approach than a SALES NOW tactic

@A geek – David is a complete rock star, definitely someone to keep watching

@Stan – I see it as “be nice on the way up …” because some of those people who think I don’t need anybody, just get the $ might be needing friends down the line and find they burned all their trust long ago

@Brian – That’s a good point, have pride in what you do. If you are not proud, then it will look shady, even though you are just being shy. Better to stand behind your offer than hide it away.

@Stan – Get your gravatar at http://www.gravatar.com then when you comment it will automatically show your face

@Massimo – Thanks, much appreciated. I think what you say is key, it’s not just about reaching out to people who will buy things but also people who know others who might need what you offer, but always value FIRST

@Denise – And I look forward to seeing you back here in the comments

@Michael – Exactly – Trust is paramount and oh so easy to lose

@Easton – Good point, your community goals have to be in alignment, it’s about everything being consistent and congruent

@George – I do think social media is held up to higher standard than, say, tv. Perhaps it is because of the two way conversational nature?

@Kate – It doesn’t take much to taint it either does it?

@Evan – Thanks

@Mother Earth – That’s an advantage of blogging, it’s not a one-hit thing but you can build trust over a period of time and the visitor can slowly get to know you. People usually work out who is for real and who is just pushing product this way.

@Amrit – Yup, it is a much better long term approach than a SALES NOW tactic

@A geek – David is a complete rock star, definitely someone to keep watching

@Stan – I see it as “be nice on the way up …” because some of those people who think I don’t need anybody, just get the $ might be needing friends down the line and find they burned all their trust long ago

@Brian – That’s a good point, have pride in what you do. If you are not proud, then it will look shady, even though you are just being shy. Better to stand behind your offer than hide it away.

@Stan – Get your gravatar at http://www.gravatar.com then when you comment it will automatically show your face

How does one get their photo inserted next to their comment? The default picture reminds me of an Alfred Hitchcock movie…

How does one get their photo inserted next to their comment? The default picture reminds me of an Alfred Hitchcock movie…

If people want to consume my free content and buy something I offer, excellent.

If people want to consume my free content and NOT buy something I offer, that’s OK too.

If people want to consume my free content and not only NOT buy something I offer but also bitch and moan that I make the offers, well, I think it would be better if they went elsewhere.

If people want to consume my free content and buy something I offer, excellent.

If people want to consume my free content and NOT buy something I offer, that’s OK too.

If people want to consume my free content and not only NOT buy something I offer but also bitch and moan that I make the offers, well, I think it would be better if they went elsewhere.

I decided to hook up with a few of the leading IMs on Facebook, befriended them as one of their subscribers, and before I knew it, a ton of others saw that I was so “connected” and I received many friend requests. Hmm. Then a few of these new “friends” hit the boards hard with “buy this” and “check this out”. The good news of course is the “delete friend” button is close to hand.

But I keep having this nagging thought: I think there’s an IM strategy making its way around that goes like this: “promote yourself hard and heavy, don’t worry about those who drop off your list, they’ll drop anyway, and count up your money at the end of the day. Get a good night’s sleep and then get up and promote yourself hard and heavy the next day.”

That strategy appears to work for those who have the big numbers on their list or simply don’t care how many people they offend on Facebook, etc.

I think it comes down to motivation. If you’re motivated just to make money, you’re willingness to tactlessly market is considerably higher than if you’re motivated to make a living and really good relationships along the way.

I decided to hook up with a few of the leading IMs on Facebook, befriended them as one of their subscribers, and before I knew it, a ton of others saw that I was so “connected” and I received many friend requests. Hmm. Then a few of these new “friends” hit the boards hard with “buy this” and “check this out”. The good news of course is the “delete friend” button is close to hand.

But I keep having this nagging thought: I think there’s an IM strategy making its way around that goes like this: “promote yourself hard and heavy, don’t worry about those who drop off your list, they’ll drop anyway, and count up your money at the end of the day. Get a good night’s sleep and then get up and promote yourself hard and heavy the next day.”

That strategy appears to work for those who have the big numbers on their list or simply don’t care how many people they offend on Facebook, etc.

I think it comes down to motivation. If you’re motivated just to make money, you’re willingness to tactlessly market is considerably higher than if you’re motivated to make a living and really good relationships along the way.

Thanks chris!! thanks a lot!!

Thanks chris!! thanks a lot!!

Chris, I like your style: offer useful content and unobtrusively let your audience know what business you do and then leave it on them if they want to hire you or not. And I think this is the greatest advantage of social media like blogging: you can promote your business without thrusting it down your visitors’ throats.

Chris, I like your style: offer useful content and unobtrusively let your audience know what business you do and then leave it on them if they want to hire you or not. And I think this is the greatest advantage of social media like blogging: you can promote your business without thrusting it down your visitors’ throats.