Merging Your Social Media Communities
Monday, August 23rd, 2010
One reason associations and other organizations hire speakers and consultants like me is for our unique perspective – one that presumably will help to create new perspectives for their members.
An association is a community, just like those that you interact with on the social networks. So, my question is this: Why is it that many people organize their social communities to keep them distinct from each other, when merging them could introduce more valuable and unique perspectives that could help the community?
Traditional Approaches to New Media
If you are applying traditional methods to new media, you may be limiting yourself – and the results you achieve. Sure, there is some risk to allowing new acquaintences into your Facebook community if that is one that you typically reserve for family and close friends.
We have been conditioned to compartmentalize our lives. Ladies have their girlfriends, guys have their regular golfing buddies, and so on. Then there is the idea of not mixing “work” friends with “regular” friends – a curious approach indeed.
Yesterday I commented on how I am learning new social networking strategies from my children. They take a very open approach to their communities because they grew up with this platform. They seem to intuitively understand that the social Web has no boundaries, so why work against it by creating them?
Natural Habitats
You should inhabit those communities where you are most comfortable. If you are a corporate type, LinkedIn is most likely your favorite place to hang out. And it should be, because this is where your corporate clients and future customers are most likely to be located.
Yesterday I went running in the prairie here in Chicago and was noticing how the plant communities are indeed distinct, yet they also overlap. Over time the seeds of one community merge into those that are adjacent to it. Isn’t it possible that doing the same with your social media communities could extend and enhance them?
Are You Inclusive or Exclusive?
Not long ago it was fashionable and socially acceptable to be exclusive. This was reinforced by the prestige associated with private clubs and gated communities, to name just a couple of examples. If you haven’t noticed, private clubs are suffering these days because they cannot attract enough members.
This may be a function of the economy, but I believe it is also being driven by the influences of social media. We are learning that there are limits to exclusivity. And once you establish those barriers, it is exceedingly difficult to take them down and communicate to the pubic at large that they are now welcome.
Personalize, Humanize, and Energize
New members to a community bring new ideas and personalities that can energize a community, which also serves to make that community more sustainable. I don’t know about you but I love meeting new people. I love the challenge of understanding them and why they do what they do, especially if they have a passion for it.
The challenge with doing this is that it takes some effort and can be a little bit messy. New perspectives can seem to be a little weird.
But the truth is, that is exactly why they can work wonders for shaping new ideas that will transform your association, business, and personal thought process.
If you really want to break through to new levels of acheivement, you have to be willing to accept new perspectives.
It can be a little bit messy, but then when have you achieved anything worthwhile without working at it?
Consider being more open with your small business communities and I promise you will most often be pleased with the results.
There is a reason we call this a Web, and that is because we are inherently connected. Does it make sense to work against that when you are trying to grow your business?
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