Join the Conversation that is Right for You

This was quite a week for conversation. After spending an evening and a full day with a group of smart marketers at DMAW (thank you, Donna and Geoff) and learning about some of the projects Jim Long and Stephen Marino are working on, I feel quite energized. I know I will be back to both for an in depth look at what they're up to to share with you.

If I had to summarize it all in one call to action I would say: join the conversation that is right for you. That also means start your own in whichever medium works for your business and personality. Do not let technology be a deterrent. I am by no means an expert and right now I blog from an old Dell laptop that will not turn on when not plugged in -- my fellow speakers were very gracious and did not laugh me out of the room.

Jim Long and C.C. were both so passionate about Twitter that I might (notice the conditional) consider signing up. And if Vaspers is reading this -- thank you for your ongoing support. There is a whole stream of content and ideas flowing through Twitter. I was sitting next to C.C. this morning and could see the activity. I get that more than I get Facebook, although how I might stick to only 140 characters per message is both a mystery and a challenge.

While I was speaking, a few posts I wrote published.

This week's Fast Company Expert post is more out of a Seinfeld episode than the latest in the news. The payoff:

Today, there are enough people doing what you do and offering you kind of service. Customers can choose to walk across the street (literally) and take their business elsewhere. Have you been available to a conversation with them? Do you stick to their meaning of service?

I am talking about New Age and branding at Marketing Profs:Daily Fix. The bottom line is that if your business is broken and your products need to be tuned up, you need to do that first. Is social media appropriate for your brand?

As new age was put forth as a panacea for a society seeking spiritual roots, now social media is being thrust upon the fabric of business. Ask yourself: when was the last time you talked about new age? In five years can you still imagine yourself talking about social media as something layered on top of your core marketing?

And today at The Blog Herald I share a couple of tips on the change of season and what it means for your blog. You may win too if you participate.. only if that conversation is right for you. Help me out here, are we having the types of conversations you'd like to join? I'm doing some regrouping and fall cleaning, too. Thank you for reading, and participating.

[Lazise, Garda Lake, Italy. October 4, 2007 taken by my mother]

Comments

[Geoff Livingston]

We had a great time! This was an excellent conference, and I so appreciate the great job you did as keynote. Cheers!

[steven e. streight]

I was thrilled Valeria when Twitter was all a-flutter with "Valeria Maltoni is a kick ass presenter" and "Valeria Maltoni rocks!" all over the place.

I would say you were "Twitter rock star" but I don't like rock stars, being brought up on punk and anti-art of the Dada / Surrealist school.

And you don't even have a Twitter presence! Yet there you were, being raved about, universal praise and astonishment.

I, for hideously self-promotional and self-glorifying reasons, had to pipe up and chortle about how I knew you and liked you and hoped you still liked me.

I remembered our interactions on CK's blog and Liz Strauss and other odd web venues, and how we shared marketing and book editing interests.

Ah, how that little gal has grown up and matured to such a prominent and beloved position in the super-blogosphere!

[vaspers the grate aka steven e. streight on the bleeping edge of Web 2.0 trash talk]

P.S. BTW, you really mustn't let the opportunity to practice micro-blogging. Enter the rushing river of brevities that is called Twitter.

We share cool links, relevant news items, questions, advice, jokes, self-deprecations, pirate talk, hugs, nudges, and marketing insights, as well as fiery debates, on Twitter.

It's not fair to us that you deprive us of your pithy messages, that we know are deep inside your clever mind and subtle heart!

Sign up, then announce your Twitter page url on this blog!

http://twitter.com/vaspers

[Valeria Maltoni]

Geoff -- you were an impeccable host and terrific enabler for everyone yesterday. We loved your talk about community!

Vaspers -- you gave me the biggest chuckle I had today. What fine expressions you used, thank you. Right now I'm technology challenged with all my scattered tools giving up on me from old age ;-) I am planning a complete remake at the Mac store and possibly a BlackBerry, etc. I shall definitely consider Twitter on the strength of your fine endorsement of the tool.

[CK]

"If I had to summarize it all in one call to action I would say: join the conversation that is right for you."

I agree and wish I had been at the event (loved the video).

Also glad to see Vaspers up there. He, like you, is one of my faves and has taught me so very, very much.

Lucky girl am I to be in the convo because of smart, generous pros like yourself. Enjoy the weekend!

[Valeria Maltoni]

CK:

The flowers up there are for you! If I'm not mistaken you were a star at the Marketing Profs B2B conference in Chicago. For those of you who'd like to catch up on that action, stay on the Daily Fix blog -- Matt Dickman and others did a great job of capturing those conversations.