Tim Bursch

All of the cool web tools, social networks, and third party apps are absolutely nothing compared to real people connecting and making the world better.

My contribution to Liz’s idea on collecting social media wisdom.
What would you add?

Image credit: Elvire.R.

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You should be. I tweet about connecting, business, social impact, and share valueable links.

Feel free to follow me @timbursch

You might also be interested in trying out a simple and easy blogging platform called Posterous. I will be testing it out here.

Thanks for checking it out.

Tags: posterous, twitter.

I have read a lot recently about using listening to help companies with marketing. The practice is: pay attention to what customers are saying, and then join the conversation.

That depends. If all you do is track keywords and monitor your brand, you have a lot of data but possibly nothing more.

What if you really listened? Like sitting across from a customer, but online, and asked them for honest feedback. Do you really want to know?

Probably not if your product is mediocre. Or if you don’t really care about customer service. The fact is, we all like to be heard. If my concern is heard by a company and I am engaged in a conversation . . . I’m guessing that would lead to a transaction (sale).

Are you and your company listening? What tools are you setting up for feedback? How will you use this information?

Related posts:

Are you Listening

Listening Takes Focus

Image Credit: striatic

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We have access to more words than ever before. We can also find ideas near and far with one click. Ideas are great. Right?

An idea on paper or on the web is just that, an idea. Maybe not so great all by itself.

Have any ideas you want to say out loud?
Mine: What if I started giving away ideas that I cannot act on instead of storing them in a notebook?

Image credit: allyaubry

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My father-in-law has a favorite saying, “You can’t build up by tearing down.”

So why do so many people go for the subtle (or not so subtle) rips on people in social networks? Is it easier because we are not face-to-face?

I have seen status updates, tweets, etc that are downright mean. It’s just stupid. If you want to build a good brand (personal or business), you need to stay clear of the slime.

What’s your tip on how NOT to build your brand?

Image credit: Wolfgang Staudt

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There was a discussion this week about online vs. offline relationships over at Liz’s blog. I could not join in, but here is what I would have brought to the table.

It’s all real.

Facebook friend= real.

Linkedin connection= real person.

Twitter followers= again, real people.

All online relationships are real. Yes, you might have a difference level of intimacy with people offline.
Do we need to distinguish between online and offline friends? If I meet you on Twitter are you less real? No.
Let’s just work on relationships.

What do you think? Is it necessary to say IRL (in real life)?

Image credit: quinet

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The closed networker might be someone who collects their contacts in secret, keeps a record of favors, and will hesitate to make introductions. The driving question seems to be “What’s in it for me?” The closed mindset tries to hold the power.

The open networker is a connector. They don’t keep track. They are open and generous with their contacts. The driving question seems to be “How can I help you?” The open mindset tries to empower others.

I know some who disagree and feel that the closed networker is necessary in some industries. This might work short term. But if you want to build stronger trusting relationships that last, I think you need to be open.

What do you think?

Related posts:

Growth Squared

Network Check-up

Image credit: Clearly Ambiguous

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