You Need to Like Who You Are

The topic of social media has created thousand of stories, articles, tweets, experts and advice for people and businesses alike. The reality of things is that when you strip the media, which changes or seems to by the day, all you've got is the social part.

And even on the Web, you've got to like who you are to sound authentic. This is valid for companies, brands, and people. The relationships, business, followers, whatever that may be, are all outcomes.

This begs a few questions - are you trying too hard? Do you think you can "leverage" these new channels to push your message? When are you going to have enough? Friends, followers, conversations, even transactions.

A couple of days ago, when I read Chris' post about keeping it real, I could not help but tweet the link and add my two cents - well, 140 characters. In the post, Chris shares that someone asked:

“Is Chris Guillebeau turning into a broadcaster? He’s not interacting with his followers anymore.” 

It's the same question I get occasionally.

We both share a lot of content, on our blogs and on Twitter. We both help many connect with others and ideas. There is a lot more to my activities than what is out there on Twitter - or here for that matter. In fact, if you knew you might appreciate how little I broadcast what I'm working on to benefit others.

To paraphrase a good motivational slogan - I just do it.

Because he travels, Chris sometimes doesn't have access to a physical way to be online. Because my work requires many meetings throughout the day, I often have entire stretches of time with no ability to split my attention on Twitter, for example. So I don't. This is my way of keeping things real.

Chris and I have about the same Twitter strategy - sharing great content written by others, engaging in conversation when possible, using updates to add value. What I'm working on eventually makes its way into posts that potentially give you something to think about for your own content marketing or communications and PR strategy.

I also go out of my way to lave comments at other sites, where people spend time building on the ideas they find here, and on just plain great content. One of the easier ways for me to tell you I enjoyed your post is to share it with my network and community.

In addition to Chris Guillebeau, who keeps it real in my network?

Olivier Blanchard because he calls things what they are. I will forgive him that he was made in France. There is that age-old rivalry within Europe.

Many of the qualities I admire in his work revolve around being genuine and present. Those cannot ever be underestimated.

He also writes extremely long posts more often than not, citing literary figures on occasion, and has a good sense of humor - a kindred spirit.

He is @thebrandbuilder on Twitter and you're so incredibly lucky that he would take on your project.

Ann Handley has such a way with community building. She is not afraid of close ups and getting personal, has a wonderfully dry sense of humor, and can write amazingly well. Very gracious in interviews, Ann is on everyone's list of favorites for those qualities.

Ann is definitely someone you want to spend time getting to know.

Find her on Twitter (not here @annhandley) here @MarketingProfs. Something else we have in common as you can find me here @ConversationAge (not here @valeriamaltoni).

One of the smartest marketing people I met in the past year, Mark Earls totally gets that you want to look at things from all sides and not take anything at face value. If you take a peek at his blog, you will understand why.

As Mark himself writes (watch the video, too) human beings are not animals that make decisions on their own. We do what we do because of other people.

Reading the book will probably lead you to re-examine your choices, decisions, preferences, taste and even identity.

Follow him on twitter @herdmeister.

She came to SxSWi to facilitate a conversation around Culture Wars: Generosity v Microcelebrity. Kami Huyse is a generous microcelebrity in public relations circles. The conversation we had about EgoChat was valuable and animated.

I like the fact that she works with a virtual agency, and engages in projects with other parties. You will also find her on the speaker's roster for talks and workshops with the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), a professional association I've been a member of for years.

She tweets @kamichat.

Brian Solis is an incredibly smart, fun, and down to earth professional. We often think alike, and write in long form. So much so, that when we ended up collaborating on a post recently we basically took the whole front page of the blog to scroll down and read.

Brian is an entrepreneur at heart and a very enterprising one at that. He has written so much and there is so much written about him, that I suspect you already know him quite well.

He tweets @BrianSolis.

Toby Bloomberg was among the very first marketing professionals I read and then met within a year. She has a unique and recognizable style in everything she does - writing, hosting a radio TalkShow, or sharing her ideas on Twitter.

*** Did I mention that I was also on BlogTalk radio at SxSWi? I might have forgotten to circle back with you on that. ***

We were also both in issue number 8 of Personal Branding magazine - female power brands.

Follow her @TobyDiva.

Another fellow European, Francois Gossieaux, has what would be the ideal work for me - at least from the outside. He gets to research and talk about the Tribalization of Business, a topic that has fascinated me for years. 

A really good conversationalist, presenter, and all around cultured person, Francois involves others in his projects, builds communities in his spare time, and is a really good listener.

Meet Francois on Twitter @fgossieaux.

I know few people who can match her warmth, consideration, and smarts. CK is a true community builder.

A fellow marketer, CK joins projects and people with the energy and enthusiasm of someone who knows how to be in the flow of life.

When you ask her a question, you know you will get an honest - and kind - answer in response. She has a healthy dose of curiosity and has been known to ask very good questions herself. If you want to have an epiphany, find her here.

Or you can find her on Twitter @ckepiphany.

Harry Joiner is a marketing headhunter for online and search who understands SEO himself along with the value of sharing. He knows that to find a great candidate, you need to be out there to be found yourself. 

He was also the very first person who put me on their blog roll when I got Conversation Agent started. Thank you, Harry, for the vote of confidence.

If you're looking for a job now, listen to career advice for desperate job seekers, a podcast he did recently with Peter Clayton. The top three pieces of advice are: (1) leave on your own terms; (2) sharply define the value that you create; (3) have a “keyword – rich” and “metrics – rich” resume. He is @eCommercejobs on Twitter.

She was among one of a handful of people to welcome me to the 'sphere. Stephanie Quilao is a beautiful person, writer, and a geek to boot. 

Stephanie lives authentically and is a joy to talk with and read. I like her philosophy on fitness. With words like lean, advantage, endorphins, boost, strength, kick ass, reward, fitalicious (I kept trying to write flirtatious), hawt (sexy and hip), you cannot help but be intrigued.

Find her at her other blog, or on Twitter @skinnyjeans.

There are many more amazing people in my network, of course. These here really do like who they are and in turn make it easy to like them, too. It's Friday, so add them to your #followfriday list and tell me - who are the people who keep it real in your own network?

Comments

[Rob Diana]

I guess great minds think alike. I just wrote about conversations as opposed to the broadcast that many people do with blogs and twitter.

I am planning on using twitter more, but as you said, sometimes work gets in the way. As usual, this was a great read.

[Laurel Hart]

I love that you took something like the #followfriday idea and expanded it into this warm and welcoming post. I've seen a lot of discussion on Twitter the last few weeks about whether #followfriday is getting old and how to make it more useful or relevant. Sometimes 140 characters just can't tell the whole story, which is where your personal introductions here come in - they go a very long way indeed. Thanks for this.

[Stuart Foster]

Thinkin' about doing this for my blog right now... Thanks for the inspiration.

[Chris Guillebeau]

This is incredible, Valeria. You continuously 'keep it real' every day with great content like this. Recently I've begun to think you have some kind of clone or a twin sister who helps you get so much done.

Thanks for the props, and thanks for being so awesome!

[Christa M. Miller]

In the last few weeks I've been pondering why I "hang out" more with cops on Twitter than with other PR/marketing folks. Two factors interplay: cops are more familiar to me. I've worked with them for 8 years. They feel "safe." (Right now I'm picturing funny looks. LOL)

But they're also my base. I still write trade articles in addition to blogging about LE and social media, and even the corporate PR work that I do is geared for them. So staying in touch with them keeps me, I guess, from going too far into a bubble.

That said, enough PR/marketing people lend "real" to my world that I do want to grow my network that way. I would say my top 3 are Liz Strauss (who provided immeasurable support and guidance as I started to build my current business), Amber Naslund, and Chris Brogan, neither of whom I know well but whose blogs resonate and who always communicate personally even with me.

[Valeria Maltoni]

@Rob - that's probably what I miss the most from the old FriendFeed interface - the ability to spot more conversations. The new interface and functionality encourages broadcasting. If I had the time, I would send a strongly worded letter to FF.

@Laurel - 140 characters are probably enough to say we like someone, but they are inadequate in letting us describe exactly why. When I connect people, I tell them why they should meet. Even with the facility with which we can link directly online today, a personal introduction is worth gold in my mind.

@Stuart - glad to be of service. Keep rocking.

@Chris - it was really good to have this intra-blogs conversations with you and your readers. I took to heart the principle that we earn our keep and am passionate about paying it forward.

@Christa - Brogan has been an amazing supporter for me and the only reason why I did not include him on my list is that he's already so well known. Also, you may notice I've highlighted a very diverse group with at least 3 fellow Europeans in the mix. I often challenge myself to learn from people who have very diverse points of view from my own. Witness my including not one, but two people who are native French speakers (kidding). Of course, it's natural to gravitate towards people with whom we share experiences and projects like LE for you.

[Christa M. Miller]

Valeria, believe me, I want to learn from a more diverse group! I am just so new to this space and already dealing with information overload. :) I just about got comfortable commenting on a few PR/SM blogs here and there. Once I know a bit more then I will seek out more diversity. Right now, sticking with the people who resonate most (you'd be one of them), I guess those whose work follows my instinct, makes most sense to me -- I just don't have the knowledge yet to separate wheat from chaff, you know?

[Ann Handley]

Valeria -- I love this on-blog #FollowFriday! What's more: I'm honored to be part of this group... which includes others I know and respect and learn a lot from, too. Thank you very much.

[Toby]

Valeria - you show us with each post and tweet you write how to keep in real. thank you for including me as part of this list of people who also do it so well. would love to continue "talking real" with you on the diva talk btr show you mentioned.

[Valeria Maltoni]

@Christa - I think you're doing great already. I'm sure you'll find your voice and become more comfortable over time, but I would not underestimate the power of being genuine and you have that in spades. Keep up the good work.

@Ann - sometimes less is just less and it's hard to have context without it. Looking forward to seeing you in June at the Marketing Profs B2B Forum.

@Toby - let's organize something, then. After I heard myself at the SxSW BlogTalk Radio program I had renewed confidence in podcasting.

[Francois Gossieaux]

Hi Valeria - it's an honor to be part of your list, thank you! We should catch up more often.