Comments on: Preaching to the Twitter Choir is Easy, Winning Over Cynics is the Challenge http://twitterprofessor.com/2009/10/26/preaching-to-the-twitter-choir-is-easy-winning-over-cynics-is-the-challenge/ Useful Information About the Most Effective Content Tool on the Web Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:33:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Chris S. Cornell http://twitterprofessor.com/2009/10/26/preaching-to-the-twitter-choir-is-easy-winning-over-cynics-is-the-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Chris S. Cornell Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:19:19 +0000 http://twitterprofessor.com/?p=376#comment-178 Again, thanks for the comments. It's becoming more and more evident to me, that the way to build community through social media is to reach out to others who are involved and looking to move forward. <strong>Prove</strong> that something can work, and you'll have a line of people asking you to help them get involved. On the other hand, if we spend too much time trying to "sell" social media to the uninterested, the ROI (and I'm not necessarily measuring in dollars) will be small. If we are trying to expand local participation, find ways to reward those who have displayed an interest (feature them on your blog, RT their updates, recommend their business, post links to their blog, etc). If we help our fellow businesses and organizations succeed, they will spread the word and help bring in the next group of participants. Yes, government will get involved at some point -- but in Pleasantville the attitude seems to be "prove to me that it works, and then I might consider signing on." If you find things that yield success in Katonah or Bedford, please share. And thanks for the follower recommendation and link on your previous comment. Both were worthwhile and helpful. Again, thanks for the comments. It’s becoming more and more evident to me, that the way to build community through social media is to reach out to others who are involved and looking to move forward. Prove that something can work, and you’ll have a line of people asking you to help them get involved. On the other hand, if we spend too much time trying to “sell” social media to the uninterested, the ROI (and I’m not necessarily measuring in dollars) will be small. If we are trying to expand local participation, find ways to reward those who have displayed an interest (feature them on your blog, RT their updates, recommend their business, post links to their blog, etc). If we help our fellow businesses and organizations succeed, they will spread the word and help bring in the next group of participants. Yes, government will get involved at some point — but in Pleasantville the attitude seems to be “prove to me that it works, and then I might consider signing on.”

If you find things that yield success in Katonah or Bedford, please share. And thanks for the follower recommendation and link on your previous comment. Both were worthwhile and helpful.

]]> By: Christopher Roberts http://twitterprofessor.com/2009/10/26/preaching-to-the-twitter-choir-is-easy-winning-over-cynics-is-the-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-177 Christopher Roberts Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:43:16 +0000 http://twitterprofessor.com/?p=376#comment-177 Fair point. Our hope is not that the local government will expend (much) money or personnel on getting the community more engaged with social media, but that they will endorse our private efforts through actions (getting all the distinct town agencies online and the town leaders using personal/professional accounts), through statements (letters to the editor and use of the town's fairly well-maintained email lists) and through events (such as the Chamber-sponsored tweet-up and a small presence at this past weekend's Halloween Parade.) But, of course, the effort will fall on us and it will be really, really hard, for the reasons you describe. Some days, I feel like if I have to answer the "why do I care what somebody had for breakfast... ?" question again, I might implode! Fair point. Our hope is not that the local government will expend (much) money or personnel on getting the community more engaged with social media, but that they will endorse our private efforts through actions (getting all the distinct town agencies online and the town leaders using personal/professional accounts), through statements (letters to the editor and use of the town’s fairly well-maintained email lists) and through events (such as the Chamber-sponsored tweet-up and a small presence at this past weekend’s Halloween Parade.)

But, of course, the effort will fall on us and it will be really, really hard, for the reasons you describe. Some days, I feel like if I have to answer the “why do I care what somebody had for breakfast… ?” question again, I might implode!

]]> By: Chris S. Cornell http://twitterprofessor.com/2009/10/26/preaching-to-the-twitter-choir-is-easy-winning-over-cynics-is-the-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-176 Chris S. Cornell Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:27:24 +0000 http://twitterprofessor.com/?p=376#comment-176 First, Thank you for taking the time to make such logical, coherent comments on this blog. That is much appreciated. Second, I am very interested in learning more about the progress you are making on the social media front in the communities of Katonah and Bedford. The only thing you wrote that I am skeptical about is the prospect of "enlisting the local government" to help in this effort. Based on what I've seen and experienced, it seems more likely that the local governments and organizations would benefit from our help in this area. I'm interested in hearing about your challenges and solutions as you progress. Hopefully, you will consider attending one of our TweetUps. Look for the #WestchesterTweet hashtag. If you ever want to exchange ideas in the future, feel free to send e-mail to Chris AT Twitterprofessor DOT com. First, Thank you for taking the time to make such logical, coherent comments on this blog. That is much appreciated. Second, I am very interested in learning more about the progress you are making on the social media front in the communities of Katonah and Bedford.

The only thing you wrote that I am skeptical about is the prospect of “enlisting the local government” to help in this effort. Based on what I’ve seen and experienced, it seems more likely that the local governments and organizations would benefit from our help in this area. I’m interested in hearing about your challenges and solutions as you progress.

Hopefully, you will consider attending one of our TweetUps. Look for the #WestchesterTweet hashtag.

If you ever want to exchange ideas in the future, feel free to send e-mail to Chris AT Twitterprofessor DOT com.

]]> By: Christopher Roberts http://twitterprofessor.com/2009/10/26/preaching-to-the-twitter-choir-is-easy-winning-over-cynics-is-the-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-174 Christopher Roberts Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:41:45 +0000 http://twitterprofessor.com/?p=376#comment-174 By the way, are you following @BeckyMcCray or reading her site http://www.smallbizsurvival.com? She's doing good work in this social-media-for-small-business-and-small-towns arena, based in Oklahoma. By the way, are you following @BeckyMcCray or reading her site http://www.smallbizsurvival.com? She’s doing good work in this social-media-for-small-business-and-small-towns arena, based in Oklahoma.

]]> By: Christopher Roberts http://twitterprofessor.com/2009/10/26/preaching-to-the-twitter-choir-is-easy-winning-over-cynics-is-the-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-173 Christopher Roberts Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:38:15 +0000 http://twitterprofessor.com/?p=376#comment-173 As you know, @KatonahGreen and I (@bewildia) are trying to make this in-road with the Bedford Chamber of Commerce, and we've actually had two good events. For the skeptics, a couple of issues recur: what are the demographics of users for various social media platforms; who in our community is using them; and, how on earth can I find the time to add this to my day? It seems these — along with the glazed-eye, "this is soooo overwhelming" reaction — are the big impediments here. People actually want to do it, they're just afraid. The demographic question can be answered with research, and the "how do I physically/literally do this" question can be answered with "let us help!" It seems to me the next big piece of the puzzle is enlisting the local government and community to support getting social media penetration deeper into the consciousness of the citizenry. ("It's free!" "It's informative!" "Special offers!") So that the interactive element can truly be fulfilled, at least at the hyper local level. None of that is to counter your excellent point: that having a coherent, meaningful narrative is the key foundation of any successful social media practice. These are just additional tangents that we're facing here... Good luck! Christopher... @bewildia As you know, @KatonahGreen and I (@bewildia) are trying to make this in-road with the Bedford Chamber of Commerce, and we’ve actually had two good events. For the skeptics, a couple of issues recur: what are the demographics of users for various social media platforms; who in our community is using them; and, how on earth can I find the time to add this to my day? It seems these — along with the glazed-eye, “this is soooo overwhelming” reaction — are the big impediments here. People actually want to do it, they’re just afraid.

The demographic question can be answered with research, and the “how do I physically/literally do this” question can be answered with “let us help!” It seems to me the next big piece of the puzzle is enlisting the local government and community to support getting social media penetration deeper into the consciousness of the citizenry. (“It’s free!” “It’s informative!” “Special offers!”) So that the interactive element can truly be fulfilled, at least at the hyper local level.

None of that is to counter your excellent point: that having a coherent, meaningful narrative is the key foundation of any successful social media practice. These are just additional tangents that we’re facing here…

Good luck!

Christopher… @bewildia

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