A couple of months ago, Google created a new feature for it’s toolbar called “Sidewiki.” This allows your site users, who may or may not be customers, to create helpful information or insights in connection with individual search results. It also allows people to share these comments on Blogger, Facebook, Twitter, and your Google profile pages.
It’s kind of a cool feature that’s obviously designed to get people participating in a social way with Google’s search function, and also to get people to download and install the Google toolbar. I don’t have it, don’t want it, and rely on other cool Firefox add-ons to give me more information than the toolbar ever did without it clouding my reading pane. But…
What makes it a little scary is that Sidewiki can be a tool that people can use against you, if you’re in business. Imagine your unhappy customers writing their discontent into the wiki, which lasts forever. Imagine furthermore that same unhappy customer creating such a stir that everyone piles on. Makes me think of that Bugs Bunny cartoon refrain, “All pile on the dog pile.” When someone starts a feeding frenzy, it’s not pretty. continue reading »
I just read a very cool post over at Jack Humphrey’s blog, The Friday Traffic Report. He’s on kind of a rant about all the Internet marketing gurus charging an arm and a leg for products that they know 90% of the people who buy them will never use.
Yeah. He’s right. But…
It’s not the gurus’ fault that people are too lazy to take action. It’s just the way of human nature.
But that’s not the part that interested me. He said that he gives 110% to the people he mentors. He wrote:
“I guess what I am getting at is that I know me. And people who have paid big money for my services know from that experience that I give everything I’ve got. They can tell there’s a country boy deep down inside me that blushes when he gets paid so much just to tell folks what he knows about marketing. And they ALL walk away appreciative and very much fulfilled from the experience. I make doubly sure of that. (Almost to THEIR embarrassment at times.)”
I’ve learned that from Tellman. The List Building Club is all about giving people value. We give them content that rocks. We give them the ability to ask questions and have them answered twice a month on calls. We offer tons of quality stuff.
But it’s only $29.99 a month. I’d say that’s what Jack’s getting at. It’s not about greed. It’s about giving value. I believe in that, too.
And so, it’s how I’ve modeled my site Blogging4BoomersinBusiness.com . I have clients that email me reguarly and I mail back to them the minute I can and answer their questions. If it’s too involved, they can find me on the phone every Monday night. I want to be there for them, you know? I have one member who told me today…
“WOW! Pat. You’re not only my favorite blog and SEO mentor, but you’ve taught me so much about interrelationship marketing. If everyone were like you, they’d have customers for life.”
Well sure, it’s flattering, but what makes me feel really good is knowing that I helped someone move forward. I remember stumbling around feeling stupid 4+ years ago when I got into Internet marketing. And I don’t want people to do that.
I really want to help them, and I love doing it.
But I can see where someday, I may not have the time to do as much as I’m doing today. And then what? Will I be one of those $2,000 product gurus who never gets near their customers?
I don’t think I will.
Part of the fun of being smart at Internet marketing and having information to share is sharing it. If I can’t do that, I don’t think it will be fun anymore.
Money’s nice to have, but it doesn’t pay the soul.
