Comments on: Social Media Workshop: Ranching Butterflies

By: Margherita

Margherita — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:08:04 +0000

I just discovered this blog but how many useful tips inside.

By: David @ PostcardPerfect

David @ PostcardPerfect — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:20:21 +0000

I couldn’t agree more. Glad to hear we’re on the same page. If you care, I posted about the “feeler” strategy not all that long ago.

http://postcardperfect.com/blog/?p=16

By: Sonia Simone

Sonia Simone — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:58:23 +0000

Definitely, David--but I think it's worth testing lots of small ideas rather than putting all of your resources into one "home run" strategy.

Play small ball, get some base hits, and keep moving forward. And sure, take a big swing every once in awhile, if you can do that without hampering your other efforts.

By: David @ PostcardPerfect

David @ PostcardPerfect — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:56:17 +0000

Hi Sonia,

Another good post.

I'd be careful not to take Seth's account to far though. There is still value in planning, partnerships, etc. Sometimes plans work, and sometimes they don't. However, just because social media is unpredictable doesn't mean you should just sit in the back seat and wait for something to happen. Right?

By: Sonia Simone

Sonia Simone — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:48:55 +0000

Hi Mark, thanks for dropping by!

Great post title on that link, by the way. Great example of what a magnetic headline can do.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 08:54:59 +0000

Greetings – very nice analysis! Also, don’t forget that, according to Seth, “It’s also about the stories that you tell…”

By: John Bougearel

John Bougearel — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 13:27:29 +0000

Sonia,

I get it perfectly,don't lose this idea.

The buttrfly effect is part of chaos theory. Another analogy is the biblical allegory of Jesus of telling his disciples to cast their nets to the other side of the boat - et voila.

By: Sonia Simone

Sonia Simone — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 13:15:07 +0000

Hi Daniel! Thanks for coming by.

I agree that it's basically about creating relationships and many of the same rules apply here as apply anywhere. But I believe there are group dynamics that are unique to online community. If you're a business and you're accustomed to consumer behavior from traditional marketing like advertising or direct mail, or if you're a nonprofit and you think that an online community will behave in the same way as a real-world face-to-face event, you might be in for a rude awakening. The ability to tie really large groups together with true communication, and not just broadcast one-to-many messaging, is, IMO, new.

I would say this particular post was written mostly for folks who have worked with some relatively simple models of "customer behavior," as a heads up that the kind of analysis called for is different when you start playing with this new way of connecting people together.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 12:59:36 +0000

Sorry if you think I am too dumb to post this comment but honestly I don't get what this post (and many others) are trying to say about social media.

Looks like it's getting more complicated than it should be isn't it?

Social Media is a "virtual" place where you meet characters. It's the same as when you join "real world" communities, and for me it's simple" If you can't manage your character to be the best you can be in the "real world", than you won't be able to set a respectable profile in social media. It's not a technical stuff, but it's based on relationship. You have to really "meet" the people.
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Daniel