Blogs Are Not Social Media
06/07/2007
Nope, Girlfriend, blogs are Not social media .. unless you add s-o-c-i-a-l.
Word of caution. Adding s-o-c-i-a-l to blogs may prove hazardous to your life. Talk to my friend CK
who had more than enough friends, thank you very kindly. So CK adds
s-o-c-i-a-l to her blog and what happens? You guessed it. Now she has
more friends. Turns out that is just fine with CK.
To understand that real friends can develop through blogs please read CK's story of how her BBF friend Drew McLellan coordinated a surprise memorial for CK's mom: The Momma Tree. I told the Momma Tree story to my friend Polli who told me that all of a sudden blogs clicked for her. She "got" the side of how people "typing in the dark" can come together to create global friendships.
As amazing as CK's story is, similar relationships are happened all over the blogosphere .. from bloggers in New England like Lewis Green and KD Paine and to Rajesh and Arun in India. But hold on .. what does this have to do with business or marketing you may ask. I'll borrow a comment I left for on a CK post ..
Many people don't understand how the internet works as a catalyst to build relationships which can lead to friendships which can evolve into a community.
Why is that important from a business perspective? Simple. People like to do business with people they like. (That extends to brands.) Building a business community is not necessarily about singing Kumbaya but expanding a resource network.
How do you do coffee with Luc or Philippe or Kris from Belgium or Nettie and Connie in Texas when you're on opposite sides of the world? CK and Drew to the rescue .. drum roll please .. you host a 
Blogger Social and invite your friends to the biggest bloggy bash ever. More on CK's Blog including a survey where you can give your feedback on places and dates.
Me? I'm voting for a cruise and looking forward to Belgium chocolates from Philippe and Luc and Kris.
