Call it synergy. Rajesh might say there are no coincidences.
One. Jeneane Sessum invited me to co-lead a non conference session with her about women and social media this Saturday at SoCom 07. Any excuse to play with this cool diva and I'm there in a NYC minute. One of the topics we want to open is integrating your personal and business self into social media be it blog, podcast, vlog or community. Should you? And if you do, how much of you can you and/or should you give away on a business blog?
Two. Recently I've been thinking more about how far do I take the personal on Diva Marketing. I write about sweet Max. I've even told a story about my grandmother and drop bits and pieces about my background and life. The personal is usually subtle and woven into business stories.
Three. A few weeks ago Divo Lewis Green started a series honoring on people who have served in the armed forces by posting photos. I sent him a couple photos of my dad in uniform with my mom. I anticipated that the post would include several other photos and was surprised to find Lewis had dedicated an entire post to Lou and Anne Bloomberg .. along with their story. My thoughts were WoW .. my folks are now part of the history of an exciting communication change. Then I thought .. perhaps I should cross post on Diva.
Sidebar: Lewis is looking for more photos.
Four. Rajesh'scomment: Very nice story about your parents Toby. Love to hear more... again turned my thoughts to how much should personal stories be integrated within a business blog.
Five. Tonight I was watching Men In Trees and the showed ended with this line, "Everytime we bite our tongues we know each other a little less."
Call it synergy. Rajesh might say there are no coincidences.
I would love to share with you the photo and story of my parents Louis and Anne. I know Dad would have loved this medium .. Mom probably not so much so.
The older gentleman is grandfather "Popsie." I think it was taken at the Cocoanut Grove night club in Boston. Probably in 1942.
As our family story goes .. my dad and my mom met on a blind date. Dad proposed that very night. They were married 6-weeks later because of "the war." If two people were ever soul mates it was Lou and Ann.
Although she loved being a mother, she loved being Lou's wife even more. And he was crazy about her too. I have a lot of the letters that my dad wrote but none that my mom wrote. My mom gave me these letters just before she died and told me that there were many more but she destroyed them because they were too personal. One can only imagine ;-)
To bring it back to branding and social media .. if the heart of social
media, as a marketing tactic, is developing relationships. Then letting
people into some of your personal life should be okay.
So .. how does the personal self fit into a business blog? I suppose the first question to ask is, "How comfortable are you with giving away pieces of you in the context
of a business blog?"
The next important question to ask is, "How far do your readers want you to go in that direction?"
Up where the smoke is
All billered and curled
'Tween pavement and stars
Is the chimney sweep world Chim Chim Cheree
Ever wonder what life is like looking down from roof tops? Or from outer space? GeoGreetings has a cool mash-up that uses Google Maps to identify buildings that appear to be letters from an ariel view.
Wonder how can this can be used to reinforce the message that your company has a global reach ..
As you tune into watch the 2007 Superbowl Game where bold, brawny heroes compete, Jane Genova, reminds us that it is the Anti-Hero that sometimes makes the final touchdown.
Caveman knows something is wrong. And, no, he isn't ducking it. He aggressively and relentlessly questions how the world perceives him. He has sought, like that other famous fictional anti-hero Tony Soprano, therapy. We admire that - maybe even too much.
Friday Fun is Diva Marketing's virtual happy hour from cosmos to
Jack to lemonade. A waiting for the weekend 'playground' time to be
sophisticated-silly. Or sometimes just plain silly.
Bloggers are you lonely tonight? Or are you building and living in a virtual fantasy world? For University of Calgary Professor Michael Keren that's called Blogging. Sounds like a sort of 2.0 Stg. Pepper's Lonely
Hearts Club Band.
In his new blog book (Freudian slip perhaps. Thanks CK for the catch), Blogosphere; The New Political Arena, the good Prof says,"Bloggers think of themselves as rebels against mainstream society, but that rebellion is mostly confined to cyberspace, which makes blogging as melancholic and illusionary as Don Quixote tilting at windmills.
I've been reading with interest about your philosophy regarding bloggers and social media. "Bloggers are living in a world where emotions may be real but everything else is make-believe, says a University of Calgary professor in a new book." - CNews
Oh sure there are lonely people who blog. There are sure to be people who have created a fantasy word in cyber space for themselves.
However, there are thousands and thousands of people leading full lives who are also blogging. These people will tell you that blogging has enriched their lives. They will tell you that social media has had a positive influenced their lives .. off-line and on-line. They also will tell you that they have developed real, honest friendships.
For me, a community is a group of people who care about one another more than they have to. David Weinberger in an interview with Rebecca Blood
People are simply communicating in a new way Professor Keren. A way that was not possible until technology and the internet unlocked the limitations of physical travel. From the blog JeremyOut/complements of Jeneane Sessume at the blog Allied
This is a new day in being "social" -- for men and for women. Friendships today are not what they were in our parents' day. We can dare to share our true feelings in a way my father's generation never could.
Yes, social media has influenced and changed lives. But those changes (for the most part) are based in reality not in a pretend world. I launched a blog, Blogger Stories, to collect and tell those stories. I invite you to drop by and read a few. You'll find the tales to be heart warming, inspirational and very real. And every once in awhile something amazing happens.
Jack Yan, publisher of Lucire, - blogs serve to make the world a collection of neighbours rather than disparate groups separated by borders.
Nedra Weinreich - blogging can be a powerful force for social change, and the more people are connected, the larger the potential for having an impact.
Nadia Muna Gil - blogging is a way to indulge her passion while at the same time doing something for the greater good.
I welcome you to join the conversation either by comment or I'm happy to offer you a guest post on Diva Marketing.
Sidebar: Divo and Diva Bloggers if you are lonely tonight here's a song list to help you sing the blues!
Are You Lonesome Tonight?- Elvis Presley
Only The Lonely - Roy Orbison
So Lonely - The Police
In A Lonely Place - The Smithereens
Lonely - Akon
I'm so lonesome I could cry - Cowboy Junkies
Another Lonely Day - Ben Harper
Lonely Soul - Unkle
Song For The Lonely - Cher
What's Up Lonely - Kelly Clarkson
Share Another Lonely Song - Lorrie Morgan
Are You Lonely - by Ann Mortifee & Valerie Hennell
The Lonely - Toby Keith
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles
Disclaimer: Although I have not read the book this post is based on the press release along with various articles and posts. Unfortunately, Prof Keren doesn't have a blog .. or if he does I couldn't locate it.
The effects of last night's full moon in Leo are still filtering down bringing the desire to let loose, have fun, and party. Take your favorite client out for lunch, or meet someone for cocktails after work. Keep it light and keep your goal not on creating business but on creating connection.
With the moon in Leo and Venus in Pisces being able to connect and understand the problems and dramas of your business associates will be the foundation for loyalty for years to come. The Moon moves into Virgo Saturday morning about 9:30am and will be there for the rest of the weekend. Use this energy to recommit to your diet and exercise program and to catch up on any paperwork and boring task that need to be accomplished to keep your business running smoothly.
I would love to share with you the photo and story of my parents Louis and Anne. I know Dad would have loved this medium .. Mom probably not so much so. 
