How many customers, followers (on Twitter), friends (on Facebook), database names do you need to have a successful business? Is it 10,000 followers, 5,000 friends? How many fans? How many names on a database? I’ve seen people do an amazing job amassing connections on social networks, often in a short period of time and sometimes with relentless effort but questionable reasons. Similarly, as a direct marketer I’ve run many campaigns to get names on a database. When I started on Facebook I (like many) began to collect friends (many of whom I didn’t know at all). Then when I started on Twitter, I similarly began to collect followers. (Here’s a snapshot of my profile page the day I went to 1,000 followers.) Then, one day recently, I had a change of heart. I decided it really isn’t about size (or at least it isn’t only about the size of the following/names/database). I changed my strategy and how I think about those that take the time to connect with me. I read this post called 1,000 True fans. It convinced me that my ‘gut feel’ about how I want to relate to my community was something I should follow. I encourage you to read the post in full.. but here’s an excerpt…
“A True Fan is defined as someone who will purchase anything and everything you produce. They will drive 200 miles to see you sing. They will buy the super deluxe re-issued hi-res box set of your stuff even though they have the low-res version. They have a Google Alert set for your name.”
So, I’m looking to make you a true fan. While I do that I’m not about to dismiss the thousands of subscribers to our network or to do away with a focus on generating more (relevant) community members I have a new way of looking at things. Here’s what I’m doing now.
- I follow people on Twittter that I feel I can add value to or who I think may have common interests to me
- I become friends only with truly personal contacts on Facebook (I haven’t quite figured out how to unfriend some of the ‘friends’ I don’t know without upsetting anyone)
- I continue to accept those that subscribe to the Australian Businesswomen’s Network – in fact I encourage you to… if you want access to great articles on business
I understand that MY responsibility in the communications (whether they be tweets, posts, emails, letters) is to:
- Deliver what you tell me you want to know about
- Know that if I don’t you’ll unfollow/unfriend/leave
- Understand that your name on my database means NOTHING (who wants to be a name on a database???)
- Stay relevant and build a relationship with you and give you resources you want
Thanks for being around.
