The One Thing You Should Never Do

Okay, there must be more than one thing (I think we’ve all seen "those" Websites), but when it comes this Six Pixels of Separation Blog, my Podcast and my ever-pending first book, the one thing I will never do is be silent. If someone emails me, Blogs, Podcasts, interviews me for an article, I do my best to – at least – leave a comment (or email) letting them know that I am reading, paying attention and – most importantly – appreciative.

Make this same one thing your one thing.

I’ve read a lot of books lately, commented on a lot of Blogs, written to people who have minor popularity (and some that have major). Who do I never forget? I never forget those who respond. Now, there are instances when Google News Alerts fails or a Technorati driven ego surf does not pull in every result, so if you have written about me and I have not responded, please accept my apologies (again, it is the one thing I will never do 😉

More than anything, Social Media – Web 2.0 and channels like this Blog provide a global platform to share. If you’ve been following, there is the Momentum Effect that Marketers are increasingly paying more attention to – when a Consumer mentions your company, brand, product or service in their profile in an online social network and the effect it has in the marketplace. I find it completely insane that individuals (and companies) that have Blogs and are currently pimping products that they were able to get mass distribution with on the platform of their Blog popularity, and yet they do not take the time to acknowledge when they are mentioned in spaces like these.

It’s a responsibility to always respond to an inquiry. This is why Marketing plays such a critical role in Customer Service. It’s simple: I say "thank you," you respond with, "you’re welcome." But now take the real crux of action here: someone bought your product, took the time to mention it in their own space (to the potential detriment of their personal brand), don’t you (as the person or company being mentioned) feel in any way obliged to at least drop in a simple "thank you"?

If anything there’s that Raving Fan who you are all but ignoring. This is further amplified because the feedback in being given in one of the Social Media channels.

Whenever I get an opportunity to connect with companies about Social Media Marketing, they all want to dive head-first into Blogging. Before getting all hot n’ bothered with Blogging, the first real exercise needs to be monitoring the space, listening to what’s being said and being a part of "those" conversations (responsive) prior to trying to start your own. Nothing reeks of insincerity more than a Blog/Blogger that is not listening to the other conversations.

I know people are busy and they can’t respond to every comment or postings. In this day and age, can you really still afford to have that kind of attitude, especially when it was this channel that gave you access to those other opportunities in the first place?

I don’t think so.

In as much as I can, I’m going to continue to respond and be thankful. If anything, my recent disappointment has only fuelled my passionate fire to make sure that all of the links in the chain are (and stay) connected.