Comments on: A few tidbits

By: larak

larak — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:31:44 +0000

@Vin and @Ben, thank you so much for your visits to my blog and your insightful and well balanced comments.

I’ve definitely learned a lot today from this experience and all of you. I really appreciate your input and being part of this conversation with you!

By: Ben Kunz

Ben Kunz — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:43:43 +0000

First, go Advergirl, there are worse things in life than food drives as clients. Second, Lara, don’t feel bad for raising the issue … because you are spot on about a deeper issue.

There is a wild undercurrent in social media called self promotion. It goes way beyond pushing products or clients to pushing ourselves. I fall victim too — how many times do I communicate with another blogger hoping that they link to me, build my blog’s traffic, somehow help ME rise in the ranks? Do I check Google Analytics every morning? You bet.

And thus perhaps we’re all missing something. The real cool thing about social media is not rising stats, or boosting clients, but connecting with new minds. I’ve met some amazing people, and found good writers like you. I recently debated cognitive dissonance with a wine marketer in Australia and compared media planning notes with another expert in Florida. I got called from a reporter who spoke to a leading economist, who in turn had referred the reporter because the economist read something he liked on my blog.

I’ve connected with minds, and that’s what it’s all about.

So let’s all agree — we’re all selfish, we all like to promote, but let’s move beyond that a wee bit to try to connect with other humans who can teach us something about ourselves.

PS hope that food drive rocked!

By: Vin

Vin — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:29:26 +0000

If you had not raised the question, this meaningful conversation wouldn’t have taken place. Thank you for bringing it up. It takes guts to raise questions when you feel it’s the right thing to do, even when you know the side effects.
I do IT consulting work for few non-profit organizations with great causes. When I voluntarily choose to support them and seek my network’s help, it shows my integrity to disclose my work relationship. It’s a great cause, social network likes to help as much as possible, and it likes even more when it’s done with more openness and right credits. Sure, the ‘cause’ is bigger, but when there’s “something in it for the initiator”, people appreciate the disclosure.
It’s the human nature, but not everyone has the courage to ask or they just ignore by getting busy with life.

By: larak

larak — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:47:27 +0000

@Sameer, thanks for your input here as well, much appreciated.

@Catalysta, thank you for commenting on the less prickly parts of my post as well – glad we were on that webinar together as it was a bit humorous in the beginning!

By: larak

larak — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:18:37 +0000

Gary, thanks for your awesome comment, which I referred to in my comment back to Leigh above. There’s no comment to long to be approved, in fact I need to change that setting so nothing needs need be approved. I hate the delay time, it can hinder a good conversation! Thanks again for your insights.

By: larak

larak — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:13:24 +0000

Leigh, thank you so much for weighing in here, and I wish we knew each other well enough for you to know that I was not trying to slam you AT ALL, I promise. And my first response to your challenge was 100% positive – wow, yes, we want to help too. It was only after talking about it with a few people that I thought hmmm… is there an agenda here? Not a bad, evil agenda of course, but just an agency person wanting to further her agency’s work. I really like Gary’s post above, he sums it up well about how this is a bit of a gray area for all of us. I’m honestly a student of social media more than anything else right now, so I see this is a good lesson for me personally. Thanks again for the challenge and bringing a good cause to our attention, and for joining in the discussion here! Now, let me buy you lunch?

By: Advergirl / Leigh

Advergirl / Leigh — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:41:59 +0000

We talk about social media being the power of individuals talking about things they care about in their own networks, but – wow! Ok, here’s the story. I’ve been at Ologie for 6 months. Before I got here, this agency worked on some branding projects for them. Some people remained really passionate about the work and started a food drive here (employees to employees). We raised ~$2300 + 845 food items. Not at the request of MidOhio or our bosses or anyone else. And, I passed it on (as an individual) because I thought it was cool. The work relationship didn’t even enter my mind.

By: Catalysta

Catalysta — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:58:27 +0000

I agree. She should let you know. It’s a great cause and people should/would want to help anyway. She could even say- I’m trying a new technique on how doing some pro bono work via social media. It’s pretty cool and people would applaud her effort, I think.

I agree on the Webinar. Although- the people on the call, that couldn’t even mute their phones must have needed the “basic training” that came with the course. I’m definitely going to get that Top 15 and start following.

I just posted a new blog on How to Get a Job After College- and anyone with any advice to those that are hitting the pavement this summer should come by and leave some comment advice! We newbies would greatly appreciate it!

By: Sameer Vasta

Sameer Vasta — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:19:47 +0000

A little disclosure? I’m all for complete disclosure. The core currency of the web these days is trust, and trust can not be obtained without transparency.

If Advergirl really is working (even if it is pro-bono) with Mid-Ohio Food Bank, then it is an imperative that she declares that relationship. Anything less and she’s manipulating the trust of her audience.

By: larak

larak — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:13:59 +0000

Leo, thank you so much for weighing in. My #1 go to counsel and advice person (aka my husband!) had advised me to remove this from my blog entirely, as he felt it was too inflammatory and controversial. I didn’t, but I do want to add a disclaimer here. I did not mean to be combative as I respect Advergirl and her agency, and the food bank is a tremendous organization doing important work. I am just trying to share as I learn about social media and this blog challenge was something new for me. Again, Leo, thanks and I appreciate your counsel!