Do you really understand what it means to be social?
I have to ask this question. You see several times in the recent past I have seen members 'scolding' other members for posting a joke etc. I wonder do any of you who are doing that understand what it truly means to be social.
Constant promotion and marketing of your products and opportunities is not being social. Just try pulling that at any in person networking event and see how far you get. This being the internet does not change that.The person who goes to a networking event and constantly talks about their business while shoving business cards in people's faces will soon find themselves ostracized by that group.
Instead of attempting to understand why they have been ostracized they deem the group cliqueish and move on to do the same thing in another group. If you have ever done offline networking events, you would know that business gets mentioned yes but the majority of the time is spent mingling and getting to know each other. That is how you size each other up and decide if you want to do business with them.
Most business is done in social settings, not the boardroom. Business is finalized in the boardroom, but the foundation comes from social events and socializing. If you don't know how to socialize then you are at a disadvantage. The Mantra of Know, Like, Trust is true.
If all you do is talk about your business then no one knows YOU.
IF no one knows you they certainly cannot make a determination of whether or not they like YOU.
If people don't know or like you, you can mark trust YOU completely off the list.
The next time you are tempted to make a snide remark or tell someone they are wasting their time by posting a joke, perhaps you need to stop and think. That person is socializing, He or she is telling the world that they have a sense of humor. Most people find a sense of humor to be an attractive quality in the people that they socialize with. While that person is out there socializing, others are getting to know them and like them and probably even trust them. Which is going to lead to them doing business with people. So if you don't like a joke just move on to another post and leave the joker alone because I can guarantee that others will enjoy that joke and quite possibly add that person to their contacts. And these are the same people who delete your constant promotional messages without looking at them, skip over you blog about your business without stopping etc. But they will look at the joker's next blog post.
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Comments (21)
Philippe Moisan16
Tutorial videos, sci-fi writer
So Dawie you went AWOL for a week from here ?
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
LOL @ Dawie I never went AWOL although I Preferred MIA (Missing in action)
Dawie Bezuidenhout11
Systems Engineer I.T.
Philippe, AWOL means Absent WithOut Leave.
Not a good thing to do when you are in the Army, especially when the MP's are starting to look for you.
Philippe Moisan16
Tutorial videos, sci-fi writer
Uh, Cheryl, you mean you know about my secret identity ? Darn, I have been discovered. You people where you work, Cheryl, you're too good, I have to go AWOL again.
Whatever AWOL means, I've seen the expression many times in novels, never tried to figure out it's exact meaning.
Chuck Bartok10
Veteran Entrepreneur now Sharing
I am glad I re-discovered Apsense. Thanks everyone for practicing the Golden Rule
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
That is exactly what keeps me coming coming back Warren. The people I have gotten to know. And I do get to know people when someone is MIA I know that too!
Warren Day7
Another good post Cheryl, This should be required reading for new members.
I can't stand most Business Social (B.S.) networks because there is nothing but affiliate links, I don't know who the people are and I don't even want to because it's all "Go Gold" "Check out my program"
If people want to do that, why not have a page of nothing but links?
the people don't matter in that case.
I like the Apsense features but I wouldn't be here if not for people and their personalities
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
If I can't have fun and enjoy myself doing what I do, why do it? If I can't meet people and build friendships with them why bother? If all I wanted to do was push my program without getting to know others I would just toss a listing up on Craig's list and be done with it. I certainly wouldn't take the time to join a Business SOCIAL Network!
Dawie Bezuidenhout11
Systems Engineer I.T.
@Cheryl, Very good to be back.
Got my army boots on ready to step on some more SCAMMERS toes the coming weeks.
Ken Tallman7
Pastor/Marketing Consultant
There is a great article about this topic in website magazine being social means engaging your followers in conversation and getting to know them
Ian Begg8
Marketer, Engineer
@Cheryl, yet another great blog post, Thank you. It's always a good thing to stop sometimes, we are all busy people and a joke or funny comment brightens any day :-)
Paula van Dun16
Retired
@Cheryl well i admit i write a lot to about my favorite program too. but is not always the same. i also like to write stories but i have to little time for it. I remember that when i was young i got a 10 for an essay once. I wanted to keep it since such a high rate is rare. Unfortunately the puppy we had at that time ate ripped it in pieces. Sometimes i write Dutch articles about events (of musical events, carnaval) for local newspapers. They are always published without shortening it or modific
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
Paula, yes I enjoy the blogs that tell me something about a person. There's certain people on this site that I won't even bother with because I already know what they are going to post they always post the same thing.
"Join this biz op today and make thousands of dollars tomorrow" all members of the FOS club (Full of Sh*t)
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
@Arthur you are a sight for sore eyes! Perhaps with the changes being made you will spend a little more time with us. I have missed seeing you around.
@Joseph stop scratching your head! Arthur and I don't have to argue about everything you know-and he's right those making the snide remarks and put down do think they are being clever!
@Phillipe is avoiding empty headed garbage posts is anti social well them move on over cause I'm 'anti social' too!
@Dawie good to see you back in the s
Paula van Dun16
Retired
Yes it is nice to read something else than bizz ops now and than. Whether it is a joke or something personal. Personally I like to post something about my passion "making music".
Carol Jacobs8
Money Keeps Coming To Me
I agree totally, all work and no play does not make my day. I love networking and socializing and it is cool to relax with enjoy a little joke. Nice article.
Dawie Bezuidenhout11
Systems Engineer I.T.
@Philippe, that empty Blogs gets to me too, but alas, the ones doing that has no ears as we have posted many Blogs regarding that issue. As you can see i am back in full swing at APSense and are having a jolly good time again. I have certainly missed all my friends and connections here. Catching up slowly but surely, many messages still too send.
Philippe Moisan16
Tutorial videos, sci-fi writer
I have nothing against jokes, for sure. :) What I don't really like is empty posts like "Hi" and "keep on swomming". Maybe I'm not sociable.
Dawie Bezuidenhout11
Systems Engineer I.T.
I love it Cheryl, i find the lighter side of social networking much more satisfying and certainly enjoy the jokes posted. People walking around with a stick up their "you know what", can keep on walking with that stick stuck up there, they will sooner or later realise it is bloody uncomfortable and pull it out. (Hopefully before it is too late)
Joseph Botelho15
Working on one project at a time.
Well, well look who it is my god the old coot, stay has a sense of humor, you not agree Cheryl.
Cheryl l agree with your thinking regardless of what his doing his doing he is socializing and l totally agree, not may read it but many just may read it....good stuff...