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I wrote to my list about my experience with ‘being REAL’ in my online persona – and was wondering how you feel about it?
Do you reveal bits and pieces of your REAL personality in your social media profiles on your blog, Twitter, Facebook, Orkut, MySpace, Squidoo lens or elsewhere?
Is your idea of an ideal online presence mainly related to extending your ‘brand’ instead of your ‘individuality’?
What are your reasons for feeling that way?
{ 6 comments }
Hello Dr. Mani,
The main reason I stay on your lists is because I see you as being real. The fact that we are both in professions that help children is also part of it as well, but the most important thing is that you are not afraid to express your views…AND make it known that it IS your view irregardless of what everyone else is saying. Individuality triumphs over common branding hands down.
Making money on the internet can be a lonely profession but when we add bits and pieces of ourselves into our blogs and products, others feel the relationships we are trying to create and respond by answering the call…either by purchasing or taking the time to answer a question on a blog!
Have a great day Dr. Mani!
Internet is a strange place to be. You come in contact with so many people (most of them by mail) that it is difficult to separate the people out only to SELL you a product from those who in addition to selling you a product, want to HELP you as well. The second category is usually of people whom you are in personal contact with (mail, phone etc) Recently a very well-known marketer sent me a mail claiming to give me membership to different premium sites. When I went ahead I found out that this was only AFTER I made a purchase of $67.00 for some product. I immdly shot him a mail (he is VERY REPUTED, everybody knows him) and told him point blank that sending false and misleading mails to people on his list is unbecoming of his stature, and if such reputed marketers resorted in such cheap tactics, where would ultimately the net go! I was hurt by his mail, but shocked by his answer. Instead of apologizing to me, HE SENT ME THE UNSUBSCRIBE LINK. He didn’t BOTHER to reply. I would never buy any product from him, ever. The case may have been different had he taken the pains to say something. Thats the difference between interacting and knowing a person and being ONLY on the mailing list. Then the only approach is of sale, and not helping them. A judicious balance of providing valuable and helping information and sales recommendations is vital for a mutually rewarding interaction.
Thanks for the comments, I agree that we’re seeing more of a ’slash and burn’ approach as against real relationship building – and that’s because we live in an era of ‘instant gratification’.
Developing trusting relationships sure doesn’t pay off in the short term – but the longer lasting benefits dwarf any immediate gains. Understanding and believing that is the difficult bit – but those who manage it win in a big way.
All success
Dr.Mani
This “slash and burn” approach could be a major reason for the general distrust of everything related to internet. According to an article in the Times of India a couple of days back, the tech savvy people avoid making online transactions. The more tech savvy the person, the more his distrust of the internet. I am not talking about some computer operator, but high level executives, programmers, developers and even some CEOs. What does it imply?
We were away on holiday for a soccer camp last week and dragged along was the kid sister of one of the boys. We were talking of this and that and she started to tell me how girls are school react to her when she is real. She says if they ask if something looks good and I don’t think it does, I say so and then they call me a bitch.
Real and brutally honest are the same thing for her and she is mighty confused when to be real and when not to. So I suggested perhaps she could just ask herself if it would hurt someone to be real before she is honest and then to think about whether the truth is more important than whether or not pain is caused.
You are real to us Dr Mani, thanks for giving us ways to be real to you. We must be a big list of names to you but you always make us feel as if we’re important.
Genie, thank you for the kind feedback. It is indeed easier for me to relate to you and my other readers/subscribers/clients one on one – because that’s the way I always THINK about you. As an individual. Someone who has granted me access to a part of his/her life and time.
It’s also why I visited your blog before writing this, and so know that ‘Genie’ is your ‘alter-ego’ online persona. I believe that ‘personal’ connection is what makes the Web unique, as compared to any other broadcast medium.
Of course, it is not easy – or quick – to build such connections… but surely very very worthwhile.
All success
Dr.Mani
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