How To Web 2.0 and Social Market Your Offline Life
55Is this web 2.0 values in the real world?
How To Web 2.0 and Social Market Your Life
Web 2.0...
Social Marketing..Viral Marketing, Word Of Mouth, Community Marketing, Social Media.....and on and on. The democratization of everything. The ability for everyone to be an expert and for everyone to be a critic.
Hey, I'll admit it, I am overwhelmed. It's beyond me.
I keep hitting the edge of complete disconnect where I feel like I understand nothing at all. Consider this: Web 2.0 says Nobody wants to be pitched to, Nobody wants to be sold, and Nobody wants anyone without the right "Street Credentials" telling them ANYTHING. Right?
But I am in SALES (all caps because it is a dirty dirty word) and even worse, I sell REAL ESTATE (everything I say is a lie), so I must be wired Web 1.0 or worse right? What does it mean for me to make it to 2.0?
See, I was told that web 2.0 was all about Community and not "gaming" the system and all that. And because I knew nothing about web 2.0, I should be learning Social Marketing Strategies right?
But I have a problem.
I never made it into the "IN" crowd and I can't help but feel like Social Marketing is a little dishonest. I mean, you go in and pretend to be a friend to a bunch of people until you can get their trust, then you try to sell them something?
That seems icky.
I am not that smart. And I am not that cool.
But since all the cool people are web 2.0-ing it. I better figure out how to fit in.
So I started looking at what else I could see about Social Marketing and Web 2.0 and I saw some really cool stuff. These people really do care. They really do want to assist in their online community. They really do want to be seen as a solution provider and (dare I say it?) a friend.
I have seen really nice things happen online in Social Marketing. I have seen the best in what makes us human come out. I have seen isolated people step up and become leaders. But you know what? For me that's still not enough.
In Social Marketing and Web 2.0 I see that we still have a layer of invulnerability, a steel mask of anonymity. So what can we learn from Web 2.0 and Social Marketing that we can apply to our offline life when we are no longer anonymous or protected?
For me, the "memes" of Web 2.0 that I have seen in the last month that I am committed to implementing in my offline life are:
Vulnerability
Honesty
Compassion
And Respect.
Those are all that I have really noticed so far in my brief venture into Web 2.0.
But i like 'em. And I think I will try to remember them when I see another human face to face,
And I am happy to say, I think Web 2.0 is good for good for good- even in the offline world.
Thanks,
Karl Hartley
I forgot Laughter!
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Hey Lissie,
Thank you so much for your kind words. Really.
Karl
I think we should start Web 3.0. Maybe then I can get a date to the Prom.
Just kidding, you hit it right on the head. 2.0 is replicating what we all learned in high school, but we get to sit behind a computer screen instead of getting beat-up by the left-tackle. At least it gives us a chance to connect with "like-minded" people, versus being forced into a social network bounded by geography. Thanks for your post Karl, keep up the good work.
Great thoughts, Karl.
I do think we need to get over our preciousness about people who sell things - it's people selling things that pays everyones wage at the end of the day, and people selling things that give everyone something to spend their wages on! Our society is all about the exchange of value, in whatever form.
What's nice about some of the Web 2.0 sites is that they facilitate the exchange of value in the form of information, advice, and affirmation, as well as cash, goods and services.
The two economies start to merge back together into one seamless reality, which is how it should be. The exchange of cash for goods and services does not have to be an impersonal, soul-less transaction which diminishes both parties to the status of machines - it can be an natural part of a textured relationship which operates in multiple modalities.
Good on you for taking the core of that message back to the offline world!
Jenny
I get people with the right "street credentials" pitching me every day, and guess what!? I still don't buy from them. I believe the idea that people don't want to be sold is very true. But I also believe that people love to buy.
I think that selling via "web 2.0" has more to do with "pulling" rather than "pushing". It's about giving and giving until people trust you and want to buy from you.
Everyone is selling something. Don't let anyone tell you different.
Everyone sells.
If you are eplaining why your kids have to go to be or getting a document from a civil servant (and they don't want to give it) you are selling yourself.
What people don't want is to be sold. Selling is OK, but the buyer has to be in the position of wanting to buy. If you approach me and try to sell me the greatest house in all Utah... well. I live in France. I don't want to be sold.
You want to sell me that hot new Audi... wel, I can only afford the used Audi.
You want to sell me your best product, but you are not thinking about me. What do I want? What do I need? Not the biggest and best. I need something that fits the bill.
Good news for you Karl, web 3,0(beta) will be about good people and good relationships. You will do fine.
Siredserv has hit on something really deep with his usage of the term "like minded" at first I thought well sure...people with common interests...but actually I am certain there is something a heck of a lot more deep and interesting going on with "like minded"......Thoughts anyone?
Inspirepub- when you talk about the two economies merging you know what came to mind for me? Sort of like the medieval blacksmith who while selling something, is also going to be BUYING something and LIVING amongst his "customers". Your thoughts?
Ohodon- But WHY do you buy from the person who give and gives until you trust him/her? Why not simply buy from whoever has the best price/value/etc?
Cindy- Are you sure you don't want to buy a house in the fastest appreciating city in the Entire Country (Uh oh! We have a bug in the web3.0 Beta version! lol)
If a stranger walks up to me and offers to sell me a Rolex for really cheap, I'm not buying it. I don't trust the seller. The Rolex is either a cheap fake, it doesn't work properly, or it's stolen.
I would prefer to pay more at a jewelry story. Which store? Well, one that I trust. One that has established themselves and built a reputation for good service and honest dealings.
When I stop and think about it, I'm not sure I ever buy anything from someone who hasn't built a level of trust with me in some form or another.
Ohohdon- Thank you. I get the credibility issue for you can only be solved by a relationship. I wasn't sure before but it is crystal clear to me now and I appreciate you opening my eyes to this.
Great, honest and widely felt sentiments here.
~Schelli
Thanks for your warm comments.
Karl
Thanks Karl. You really got me thinking.
Web 2.0, 3.0 and beyond is simply re-discovering the way people were way back before business had any number attached to it. Weird that we have to learn how to be what we basically are, and just drop the social mask to be more socially correct.
Denise
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Lissie Level 1 Commenter 4 years ago
Wow this is the first time Ive seen someone write what I instinctively felt when I first learnt about web 2.0 - this is not for me - I was always on the outer, never popular, learnt not to want it and am quite happy not being a hugely social person. The weird thing though is that over time I find that the 2.0 sites do work if, as you say you just be yourself