Social Media Best Practices – Don’t Forget the Real World – 10/25/08

Over the last 6 months I've begun to really immerse myself into the Social Media space. There is so much going on that it can be overwhelming, but I've gotten through that to where I'm fairly comfortable with the spaces I've settled in and have landed on some idea of what I want to get out of the space and what I want to be able to contribute back. For me it's about networking, learning and an opportunity to expand my thinking about the web, marketing and business in general.

Over the last while, I've connected with some fantastic people on their blogs, on LinkedIn, and particularly through Twitter. It wasn't until recently that I actually met any of these people in person after first connecting online. Herein is my contribution to the Mitch Joel writing project on Social Media Best Practices.

Social Media Best Practice - Don't Forget the Real World

When we get involved in online communities, it can be easy to forget that there is a real world out there. We can become so entrenched in our belief that online is the next big thing, and it very well may be, but there is still a lot going on outside of the web. Don't limit your conversations and interactions to being web-based.

Just the other day I went to an office warming for Lift Interactive, a digital design firm based in Edmonton, where I work. I had met Micah, one of the principals from lift, through Twitter. I can't even remember exactly how we connected, but when we did it seemed we had quite a bit in common. I was invited (along with all followers on twitter) to come out and check out their new space and join them for a drink and some socialization.

It was great to be there and meet people face to face that I had connected with online. Sure, I've got a lot of friends that I connect with online after meeting them in person, but this was really the first time that I had met someone in a social media setting before meeting them in person. It reminded me that there is still something really powerful about face to face communication.

My advice to those getting into Social Media and networking and using these channels for business is don't forget there are real people behind the avatars. Take the opportunity (or make the opportunity) to go to a tweet-up or geek dinner, or just head for coffee with someone that you've never met in person but know online. This goes for businesses too, don't forget that communications online are still with real people. Create opportunities for your customers to come in contact with real representatives from your business offline.

If you begin to rely purely on the web, you will be missing out on so much more.