Social Business Mentor

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012

Roses are Red. Violets are Blue. It's about your Shareholders. It's not about You.

This post is dedicated to all my "Shareholders" on Empire Avenue


What is on your mind? What's happening? What's new? YOU DECIDE!

Shareholders are your best source for dialogue. Unlike casual customers, they have a long term investment in your growth and success. How you interact with your shareholders says as much about your company as it does about them. 

If you broadcast and they merely consume, you have a disengaged relationship. If you inquire and they opt to ignore, you have a disengaged relationship. If you get them involved and they respond in kind, you have an engaged relationship.

Most shareholder mail provides insight to your shareholders on the status of your company and the direction it is going. In a recent shareholder mail, I opted to throw a twist into the mix. The message was simple and to the point. Send a tweet and carbon copy me so I could see it. The topic of said tweet you may ask? It was for them to decide.

They could tell me what they were eating (cashews) or drinking (beer). They could promote their Facebook fan page or their cause. They could let me know where they were in the world and how beautiful of a day it was (Adelaide. 25 degree C). They could tell me a joke about the dyslexic Satanist, who sold his soul to Santa. They could offer up a few quotes about "... worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum." They could remind me to make today count and let the generosity flow. They could simply share, share, and share what was important to them with me.

It cost me currency to send this request. It cost me nothing to focus on my shareholders instead of myself. The gain was a night long discussion across multiple tweets. The purpose was to reach out and engage with those who choose to engage with me. The end result, I got to know them better and in the end that is what Customer Service is all about.


What is on your mind? What's happening? What's new? YOU DECIDE!


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16 comments:

  1. Authentic Seacoast Company22 February 2012 at 11:28

    Great post! We couldn't agree more. Thanks for helping keep it real. Doug at the Authentic Seacoast

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  2. Your Social Business Mentor22 February 2012 at 11:29

    You're quite welcome Doug and thanks for sharing that.

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  3. dlewis22 February 2012 at 11:49

    That's exactly the way I feel Robert. I look for my EAv friends everywhere I go online. They have become my social family, the relationships being developed here are unique and treasured.

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  4. Unknown22 February 2012 at 12:14

    Good points Robert, engagement is something that I need to improve upon. I have never been a very social person, but I wanted to be, so I am learning, and trying to be more engaging. I agree with you dlewis.

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  5. Anonymous22 February 2012 at 13:27

    Excellent post Robert. I love how you have focused your energy outward - not to sound too new age *polishing my crystals*

    Have a great day! :)

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    1. Your Social Business Mentor22 February 2012 at 15:58

      you may not be a poet, but you did spawn a great title for a blog entry ;-)

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    2. Anonymous22 February 2012 at 16:09

      Thanks! I don't think I conveyed my excitement at seeing my Twitter feed in your post header. I was so excited that I called my husband. He is a CHP and I try not to call him during work...you know, just in case he gets distracted and someone runs him over or shoots him. (Its CA, it happens!).

      Thank you so much. Kim :)

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    3. Your Social Business Mentor22 February 2012 at 16:22

      Glad you enjoyed that. Wasn't sure initially whether I should let you know that it had become the image before posting it online.

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    4. Anonymous22 February 2012 at 16:28

      Oh, what you did is perfect. I didn't even know about the mission. I saw your tweet and went to read it. I was so surprised...and honored. Now I am going to have to come up with a really good poem!

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  6. Lisa Mason22 February 2012 at 15:24

    I'm agreeing here. Great post. I enjoyed it and I appreciate you and the many friends I have met at EA.

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    1. Your Social Business Mentor22 February 2012 at 15:57

      Thanks for the compliment Lisa. Of course as much as this post was using a EmpireAvenue as the model, so many organizations could benefit from doing similar mindsets with their Shareholder Mail.

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  7. Your Social Business Mentor22 February 2012 at 15:54

    With you on that one Diana. So much so that I purged 80% of my G+ follows to make room for those who engage on Empire Avenue.

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  8. Your Social Business Mentor22 February 2012 at 15:56

    Ron, we all have to start somewhere. As those who know my story from http://lifeat42.wordpress.com/2010/11/18/hello-world/, I wasn't always the 2.0 person I am now. The key to being able to successfully engage to start with is to become more transparent so people have a reason to want to engage in the first place.

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  9. Anonymous22 February 2012 at 16:15

    Oh wow. Just read your blog post lifeat42.wordpress.com - saw your tattoo! We have both been barcoded! Of course, mine is a QR code. :)

    Do you have a suggestion as to what software I can use to combine 3 different mp4 video clips I have? I recorded a vlog but I had to do it in 3 different takes because my 4 year old kept interrupting me. I need to combine them into one vlog. What do you suggest? Thanks, Kim

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    1. Your Social Business Mentor22 February 2012 at 16:21

      But of course yours would have to be a QR code ;-) Linking to what though? For video editing, all 400+ videos I have online have been edited in iMovie. For easy cut/paste/trim, something as simple as quicktime pro would work as well.

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    2. Anonymous22 February 2012 at 16:30

      My QR code actually links to my profile at http://qwikr.me/pickykim and it scans! I am on a PC so I'm guessing iMovie is not an option. I can try quicktime. I think it works with Windows.

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