Social Networks Enable (But Don't Create) Strong Conversations

I was lucky enough to have an opportunity to write an article for the ASAE & the Center Professional Development Forum Online - Ironically I made my PD debut right as I made my switch to marketing.

You have to be a member of ASAE to read the full article. However, I will be giving a presentation at annual on the need for a solid conversation as the basis of any social network. I hope if you're there, you'll join me. I'd be interested in feedback prior to the session on the idea that Social Networks Enable (But Don't Create) Strong Conversations. Maybe I'm way off? If so please let me know as I'm starting to write my formal presentation.

I've seen many facebook groups pop up centered around an idea, but not much of a conversation. Thus the group quickly becomes a shell - it attracts members, but that's about it. Where's the social in that?

Are social networks so easy to implement that we rush into creating them for the sake of creating them - instead of taking the time to fully develop a conversation and purpose - critical steps that would most certainly be taken if social networks and other new media were a laborous and/or a costly task?

A good example - to call out someone (hopefully they won't mind) - the author of the blog youngassociationprofessional.blogspot.com, Bob Wolfe, has only posted 2 posts in June (can I get a boo?). Let's be honest - if there was some form of commitment - odds are this blogger wouldn't be quite the slacker they currently are - that or they wouldn't have joined the game in the first place. This is also a reason they won't be contributing anytime in the near future to more professional blogs (sorry Alyssa).

As social media continues to be all the rage, its important not to forget about the due dilgence needed to impliment any sustainable group or conversation:

• Purpose
• Value
• Content

The three bullets above are the pipe that keeps the lines of communication flowing. (get it - PVC - pipe - flowing) Worth a shot

Thanks for reading,
bob
P.S. - Thanks to Lindy for posting my article on the yap group - an excellent example of a group harnessing the power of conversations
P.S.S. - Life's still crazy, but I have some new ideas I'm almost ready to impliment - someday

Future of Associations Programming Modeled off of a T-Shirt Company?

First, thanks to Maddie and Alyssa for the comments to the last post.

What a past couple weeks - I'm terribly behind in my blog reading, but I'm doing ok on magazines.

The current issue of Inc. Magazine headlined with a company where the customer quite literally is the company, i.e the customer supplies the product. Sound like an association? It should - but it's not. It's a T-shirt company by the name of Threadless.

Here's the down and dirty on threadless: Customers design t-shirts for money and prizes. The designs are then judged by the customers and the most popular shirts become part of the catalog. Your shirt gets selected - you win the money and prizes you hoped for. The company is incredibly lean with high margins, but more importantly it's never sold a dud - why would it though? If the customer is actively choosing what they want and the company produces it - then instant harmony.

Ever think about doing that at your association - giving the members the choice? And I don't just mean the elite few on the programming committee - I mean the entire membership? Engage all members and let them decide what training and sessions to offer.

How would this look? Here's my suggestion (I'll let you know the feedback i get) - Have potential speakers submit abstracts for an online webseries. Members can then vote on the sessions they want to attend. If an abstract recieves enough votes - than viola - that's the session(s) to be presented. The creme rises to the top.

Post the latest "u-pick" sessions on your members only website to increase site traffic. And if a particular session gets really really high votes, depending on the timeliness of the message - make a spot for it at the annual conference.

It's not news that customers (in our case members) want it their way. So why not involve them (all of them) in the selection process and give it to them?

Thanks for reading,
bob

P.S. I'm hoping to get back in the blogging mode, but life is busy. Mom and baby to be are doing well and I've kept the ship afloat in my new position, now it's time to push it forward.
P.S.S. - I'm actually thinking about posting a design - but that's another story