My Morning WalkNew day, uninterrupted thoughts

How many people out there are DOING social media, but perhaps aren’t building on a solid foundation? How many are, instead, “going with the flow” as if building on water or sand? Professional architects of the web are advising them to amend their plans—specifically to create and leverage a blog instead of a static website or Facebook page—in order to maintain an online presence that can stand the test of time.

If we’re into construction metaphors, perhaps an applicable one would be to envision building your business on a blog (concrete) instead of an arrangement of “Lincoln logs on top of a Jenga tower”…(Thank you, Marjorie). When concrete is first mixed, it’s placed in forms that are the shape of the structure you’re going to create. The thing is, the concrete is initially somewhat fluid and can be moved during the pouring process. Even though it takes a long time to harden, it creates a structure that remains intact for many, many years.

Compare this to who you are at the core—Not much can change who you eventually become, but how you got that way has been shaped by many experiences. Even though most of us are set in concrete today, a blog’s history serves as a consistent, documented proof source using stories from the heart supporting who we are and the values we represent.

What do you think? Time to go back to the drawing board, or are you ready to start construction on the penthouse suite? Whatever the case, please remember one very important point: Rome wasn’t built in a day. Your empire won’t be, either.

Just heard a radio ad promoting “60 days to social media success” and HAD to post. Although this may be possible in some markets and with some prospects, the promise of immediate gratification in social media is usually about as valid as the promise of finding a spouse in one night out at the bars. Do the organizations making these promises actually believe they have a “perfect formula” for accelerated relationship-building that will enable the client seeking answers to find them in 60 days? Sorry folks, it takes a lot longer than that to build a meaningful relationship…That IS what you’re looking for, right? If not, should it then be assumed that you don’t CARE about the people you serve or get involved with?

Who is this ad targeting? Simple: It’s a B2B ad looking for panicked business owners who suddenly realize they are behind and want to catch up with this trend by YESTERDAY. Everything is fast and easy, right? Everything except relationships.

Advertising has always been about the “easy solution”. Who has the time for anything else? Just throw out a hundred and two will stick. I’m not concerned about the two that bite and get frustrated after 6 months, not 60 days, that their plans are not working like this organization has promised. I’m concerned about the 98 who are skeptical about the opportunity that is in front of them because someone is making a traditional promise that is just too good to be true. Those 98 don’t know who to trust because they’ve been burned before. Please, 98, don’t give up. There are realistic people out there who value relationships and will treat you right. You just can’t find them in a radio ad. Look me up on Facebook. Connect with me on LinkedIn. I’ll introduce you to the same great people that have helped me develop my business over the last TWO YEARS. (The icons at the top of this page are links.)

Make it a great day.

You say you want to do business in person or over the phone. Or at least that’s what your verbal cues state. Really? Then why are you on the Do-Not-Call/Do-Not-Solicit list? Why do you hide when the doorbell rings unexpectedly after 6 pm? Come on, folks, don’t be shy, I DO IT, TOO! Ask my wife what the first words out of my mouth are when the doorbell rings and I see something other than a neighbor’s friendly face or a young person standing outside waiting to sell me magazines for their school band trip. No offense to my clients at all, but if I could put my business on the do-not-call/do-not-solicit list, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, businesses aren’t allowed to sign up. One can only assume the reason being that businesses actually deserve to taste the unpleasant fruits of their own actions.

For years we’ve been conditioned to be traditionalists. Newspaper ads, television commercials, radio spots, traffic billboards, and web browser pop-ups have all attracted our attention by design. Forty years ago they were few and far between. Now they’re infinite and close together—and so LOUD and DISTRACTING that Congress is meeting about restricting their decibel levels…REALLY? So many people complain: “Why is Congress wasting their time on advertising noise when we have the highest unemployment in years and unemployment benefits are running out for millions of good people within the next 30 days?” I’d pose the question in a slightly different way: “Why SHOULD Congress HAVE to deal with advertising noise at all? Why can’t consumers litigate this situation on their own by promoting and supporting alternatives to interruptions and “noisy” ads?”