Tag Archives: Social Media

Seth Godin – If He Builds it They Will Come

Posted on by by Ariana Friedlander

A few weeks ago Seth Godin announced a KickStarter project that was quite successful in a matter of hours!  He has since raised well over a quarter-a-million dollars for his new book, The iCarus Deception.  The real kicker, his goal was only $40,000 ca-ching.  (BTW Seth, what are you planning on doing with the overage from your goal? I’m thinking a philanthropic contribution, maybe books for underprivileged kids, or the Stop Stealing Dreams Foundation, just a thought……)

Field of Dreams Cover

If I was more savy I'd photoshop Seth Godin's head on Kevin Costner

Godin created the KickStarter project as an experiment.  He wanted to demonstrate a new method of publishing and marketing where you engage your audience, test interest and proceed with the big launch (or not) accordingly.  He did it to prove a point to his publishers and boy did he ever; he built the project, “they” came and he succeeded in exceeding his goal.  It kind of feels like a true Field of Dreams moment!

Allow me to recap the premise of the movie.  This crazy Iowa farmer (played by Kevin Costner) starts cutting down his crops to build a baseball diamond.  He keeps hearing a voice that whispers, “If you build it, he will come.”

So the guy continues down this insane path, all-the-while he’s jeopardizing his family’s livelihood.  The weird thing is, he’s not even sure why he was doing this but he just has this strong compulsion to persevere and the hopes of an allusive vision coming to him from some mysterious voice.

Low and behold (spoiler alert), he completes the field and all these old school players making right on their shattered dreams appear…. There’s Shoeless Joe Jackson, Archie Graham……And people drive from all over to pay to see it because it reminds them of their youth.  Oh, and he amends the tattered relationship with his father (no one ever seems to remember that part of the story though)!

The movie has sensationalized this notion that if you follow a dream, even a crazy one, and build something, the people will follow.  By build something I mean a business of sorts.  And by people I mean customers that quite literally just appear, which will of course make you rich.  But were not in Hollywood and building a baseball field (or website, storefront, KickStarter project, etc) isn’t enough in-and-of-itself.  What you build has to be deeper then that, more meaningful than bricks and mortar (physical or digital).

If you want to build something “they” will come to, then you have a lot of work to do.  You have to create a movement of sorts, around an inspiring vision.  You know, you have to lead the effort and market that Purple Cow!  I think it is safe to say that Seth Godin is a modern thought leader.  By my own observations, he’s followed these six steps for building his Field of Dreams.

  1. Inspire a shared vision (Kouzes and Posner) – You need to have a vision the your working to create for making the world better.  I don’t actually know Seth Godin’s a vision for what he seeks to create in the world.  But this is a vision I feel he has conveyed: Innovators in business that build relationships, are dedicated to learning, make creative use of technology and adept to change succeed.
  2. Challenge the process (Kouzes and Posner) – Well, if we’re going to be innovative that means we have to question the status quo and find new, better ways of doing things.  You know, to boldly do something no man has done before!
  3. Build your tribe – The reality is, some people will love what you’re putting forth and other’s will think it is hogwash (forget about them).  Connect with the people that get it, and want to be a part of your movement.  Have a system to communicate with them.  Provide value.  Appeal equally to their emotions and their intellect.
  4. Demonstrate credibility, and expertise – This is a continual process of striving for improvement, delivering on your promises, walking the talk and practicing what you preach.  It doesn’t mean you have to be perfect, but you have to admit fault and maybe even be vulnerable.
  5. Engage your tribe – Create timely calls to action.  Give them something to do to contribute to your movement while giving them latitude to choose how to get involved.  Ask for the sell!
  6. Keep at it!

Welcome to the MisInformation Age – 3 Steps to a Reputable Online Presence

Posted on by by Ariana Friedlander

One of the things that I find frustrating with the world wide web is how quickly misinformation can spread.  My Mom likes to call it the “Misinformation Age” and I’ve taken to that saying as well.  Anyone with an online presence (business and individual alike), is establishing a reputation and it is advisable to be aware of the validity of the information you are sharing.

I recently fell victim to sharing misinformation on my personal facebook page!  We have another fire near Fort Collins and this one’s even bigger.  The High Park Fire is all over the local news, facebook, my twitter page….it is a daily topic of conversation around town and now the impetus for many social gatherings (AKA fundraisers).

And rightfully so, this fire is substantial.  It is now the most destructive fire in the history of Colorado, destroying almost 190 homes so far, and burning over 68,000 acres.  AND it is still raging.  The High Park Fire will likely continue to burn at some capacity until mother nature extinguishes it!  Not to knock the 1,600+ dedicated firefighters battling the blaze, their heroic efforts are certainly limiting the devastation.  But I digress….

Elk in the Crown Fire

Photo by John McColgan, a fire behavior analyst

Lots of images, stories and such have been shared throughout the social media sphere.  And, recently, a picture was posted that is well, right here!  And as you can see…it depicts a heart wrenching scene.  It was being shared on Facebook as the High Park Fire.  But it actually isn’t the High Park Fire at all.  It is from a fire in the Montana Bitterroot National Forest on August 6, 2000.

It is a stunning shot!  But if you really look at it you can clearly tell that it isn’t in the area of the High Park Fire.  Even further, upon researching the source of the picture, I found it was first posted on a girls personal facebook page.  Who knows if she knew what she was posting was incorrect or not.  But upon a quick glance I can tell you, she isn’t a reputable source and I should have looked for a reputable source before sharing it.  Yet, I went ahead and shared the picture without due diligence because it was a sensational shot that swept me off my feet.

I’ve learned quite a bit from the experience.  Particularly that since I want to be recognized as a reputable source of information I must take some responsibility for practicing due diligence!

Welcome to the MisInformation Age – 3 Steps to having a Reputable Online Presence

Step 1: The first step in dealing in the misinformation age is acknowledging that we’ve got a problem.  We are so over-inundated with data, with information, with images and messages from so many different sources that can quickly become viral……just because you see something posted everywhere doesn’t mean it is true.

Step 2: The second step is to research and qualify your sources!  When something goes viral there’s likely to be a bit of sensationalism around it.  That causes people to share things without researching them (hey I made that mistake myself).  That is why you have to research and qualify the source.  Had I looked at that picture with a critical eye and researched the source I would have realized it was not reputable.

Step 3: The final step is to identify go-to sources you trust, one’s that validate the information you’re sharing. Established organizations like the Harvard Business Review or Forbes Magazine have track records and standards that they follow.  You may also find blogs that you determine are trustworthy on certain subjects or matters.

Interested in helping victims of the High Park Fire?  Below are some links to (reputable) opportunities for making monetary donations or volunteering: