NSA Speaks Many Twitter Languages
Saturday - July 4, 2009It’s time for another National Speakers Association convention and the NSA has certainly caught the social media bug – with blogs, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn taking the main stage. They didn’t ask us, but we have a suggestion or two for them (and for you, too).
Perhaps it’s because speakers speak that they sometimes need to be reminded that social media is really all about “the conversation.”
What makes social media so revolutionary is that it allows for quick and easy interaction. And that’s certainly one of the reasons behind the staggering growth of Twitter. You don’t need to be approved as a follower – you just follow. And you can say whatever you like to whomever you like.
That also means that you can thank folks, recognize people, ask questions and even recruit more attendees for your national convention.
Write Back to Them
In order to know if someone is talking about you, you have to search Twitter. You’ll find a link to Twitter search hidden at the bottom of the Twitter web site or you can go to Search.Twitter.com. We’ve already written about how to do this in “Going Next Door for a Drink,” so read that if you’re not sure how it all works.
There are many phrases you can use – like “National Speakers Association,” “NSA convention” and “best association in the world” (sorry about that last one, sometimes we get carried away!).
In the picture above, we’ve searched for “NSA convention” and show a few of the results.
@Paulterwal (Paul ter Wal) has mentioned NSA in a reply to someone who has written about Vistage International, a sponsor of the convention. This is an excellent opportunity for the folks at NSA to reply and offer to introduce him to Vistage representatives at the convention.
@HeatherLutze is seeking advice from her followers about what sessions at the convention she should not miss. This is a chance for NSA to thank her for mentioning them in her tweet – and a chance for you to donate your opinions about past convention workshops.
Also, @germanspeakers has written “NEWS von der NSA-Convention: auch 2009 gibt es wieder eine Cigar-PEG.” This should not deter NSA at all. If they don’t speak German, they can just fire up Google Translate (look for the “Language Tools” link on the Google home page).
Using this handy dandy quick translator, NSA will find out that what they’ve said is “NSA Convention 2009 – there is also another Cigar PEG.” Great chance again to thank the German Speakers Association. (What’s the Cigar PEG, you ask? Let’s just say you’d better attend the convention and find out).
They say that “social media” is viral. But, it’s not at all viral if it’s only used as “broadcast media.” Viral happens when people are being connected, recognized, thanked and even questioned.
500 Miles Away From Home
This year the NSA convention is being held in sunny Phoenix, Arizona. That gives NSA a chance to reach out to nearby folks who might not otherwise attend the convention because of the travel costs.
For this, they have to click on the “Advanced Search” tab of Search.Twitter.com. (We’ve also written about how to do local search in “Just the Guy We Need for Government 2.0,” so read that, too).
By using the “Advanced Search,” they can search Twitter comments within a specific radius of the meeting hotel – 50 miles, 100 miles, even 500 miles. (You’re probably already thinking of some pretty good ways to use this for your business, too).
Admittedly, this is a bit of a fishing trip, but phrases such as “speaking to,” “speaking for,” and “giving a speech” may unearth some people who are not members of the National Speakers Association, but who are speaking or interested in speaking.
Because they live close by, they won’t have airline or perhaps even hotel costs. They may be even more likely to consider coming when they find out that they can attend just one or two days of the convention at reduced rates.
In the picture above, there is a speaker from San Diego and one from Phoenix who might be interested because of the proximity of the upcoming national convention. NSA won’t know until they reply “tweet” to them.
(Not incidentally, you don’t need to take the time to do searches for your Twitter topics, names or phrases. You can have them sent automatically to your RSS reader or your Google or Yahoo desktop).
Viral and International
Just how viral is Twitter? I decided to help our NSA friends out a little bit and responded back to @JanetBetschart in Switzerland after she mentioned the National Speakers Association. Here’s what I wrote (you might need Google Translate to help you out):
Janet wrote right back (in English) that she has to miss this year’s convention, but will be at next year’s convention in Orlando. So, you see, I’m already working a year ahead of time. And, I have a new Twitter friend in Seengen, Switzerland.
The Moral of the Story
Now, class, it’s time for a quiz to review what we’ve learned. What’s the language of Twitter? For that matter, what’s the language of the National Speakers Association?
You’re right. Go to the head of the class! It’s the language of “conversation,” – and it is spoken in many tongues.
Michael you are right on with your statement that many speakers need to be reminded that social media is about the conversation–not about trying to sell or “speak” here. It is a relational tool to build your biz and having people just spew parts of their keynote on Facebook or Twitter is like meeting them at a live networking event and having them launch into presentation mode…oh…I guess there are people who do that too! Equally annoying. Build relationships–draw people in with great content and be interesting…If you do this…they will follow!
Thanks for another great post Michael!
Gina
@Ginaschreck (Twitter)
Great advice, my friend, and the real test will be to see if they apply it. Especially after you did the work for them.
I confess, your advice sounds like work. And are there guarantees? Don’t we all want guarantees of a great viral stampede of Oprah proportions?
I think about a post someone made in the linkedin CSP group asking who has made serious money through twitter and social media. No one asks who has build a viable presence and gotten a little business through social media. (I got a radio interview from twitter.)
I like the way you illustrate here how social media can work – on an individual level. I also like the way you respond to my tweets and my posts about you. You’re walking your talk, and that is the kind of role modeling that tells us how this can really work for all of us.
Michael and Sheryl you are SOOOOO right! This is an important point, critical to Twitter. I teach Twitter to Business Coaches, and the question I get all the time is “have you gotten new clients on Twitter?” as if that’s the main purpose. I always remind people that while I have gotten new clients through relationships I’ve built on Twitter, that is not the point, nor should you engage on Twitter if that’s all you’re seeking. Twitter, like real life, is a place to engage in conversation, meet new friends, and seek to BE OF SERVICE. Ask not what Twitter can do for you, ask what you can do for your new connections on Twitter!
Have fun at NSA and say hi to my DC buddies who will be there: Cates, Jolley, and Moorhead.
http://www.innovativeleader.com/twitterwithsuzi.htm
Thanks for pointing out the importance of the conversation.
As recently as last month I saw a tip on SNN from a well recognized NSA leader pimping a service he used to tweet FOR him. Yes, he hired someone to broadcast his garbage tweets, and was showing others to do the same. Truly bad form.
Hopefully when you two are at the convention and speaking about social media you will continue to educate folks.
@shorespeak
Thanks Gina, Meryl, Suzi and Rob,
Gina, yes there are folks who do that kind of glad-handing in public, but it’s much rarer. For instance, on the Book Publishing Professional’s Group in LinkedIn, there’s a guy who has faithfully posted advertisements for his “copyrighting secrets” every two days. No one has ever joined the “discussion.” It’s not only bad form, it simply doesn’t work as a sales tactic.
Meryl, actually it is a lot of work. Here’s Chris Brogan on that topic (a guy who walks the social media talk) http://www.chrisbrogan.com/19-presence-management-chores-you-could-do-every-day/ People who “sell” social media as a way to sell are simply selling themselves. Don’t buy.
Suzi, great pick-up on the Kennedy quote. Or, as Marisol Rodriguez says(another friend from NSA DC), “Social networking is not about what you can get. It’s about what you can give.” We met Suzi, by the way, on the Internet, without benefit of any social media sites. Yes, it is possible!
And, Rob, thanks for telling it like it is. There are so many pimps and pushers now infecting the social media landscape that it’s become an outright danger. We’ll talk about that when we do our session – and we’ll name names and take prisoners.
By the way, all four of the folks who’ve commented here really do know their stuff and don’t pose or pimp. Hire them – don’t buy the pushers’ stuff.
Great points, Michael! (As always…)
I’m frequently asked how to get more followers on Twitter. Here’s the answer no one seems to want to hear: Be an interesting person, saying interesting things, sincerely interested in others.
Look forward to seeing you in Phoenix…and continuing this important conversation.
Scott
Well done! I’ve seen the benefit of a NSA/twitter connection and have sent info I thought was important for NSA to tweet to us all in the past.
Twitter is a conversation, a source of information and a way to keep up with others.Send direct messages. Read tweets and reply. There are far too many people (not only NSAers) using twitter as they use everything else: to bulldoze a brand, a service, a book. UGH!
Thanks so much for sending a clear, cogent, well written message about this aspect of “sociala’ media.
Thanks Scott and Susan,
Scott is an interesting person, saying interesting things and is sincerely interested in others. I’d say that’s walking the talk.
And Susan has adopted Twitter in a social way – doing just what she says – reaching out, reading and replying (and commenting on blogs – we’ll talk about that soon, folks) and definitely NOT bulldozing. Such a great term. Can we steal it Susan? It’s the perfect summation of the hawkers, spammers, pimps, pushers, pitchmen and other online sleazeballs. Bulldozers – perfect.
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The search tips should be helpful and you’re right on about the conversation on Twitter. I follow people for useful, interesting info. Would love to see more people excel at this!
Hi Stephanie,
It may even be the interactions and the connections that are even more important than the useful and interesting information. Thanks!
Hi, Michael. Thanks so much for writing this,and for nailing what Twitter is – and what it isn’t. As Suzi has said, it is like real life – I’d go further to say that it is another aspect of real life, allowing us to engage in conversations and connect with people who aren’t in our region.
If you approach every relationship you have in person as a chance to sell, then you won’t have many enriching relationships, and the same is true about Twitter.
I’ve found some amazing people on Twitter, and I look forward to meeting many in person at NSA in a couple of weeks. And it feels good to share what I’ve found that is of value. As far as what I get, what goes around comes around. That doesn’t just apply to ‘bad’ stuffs.
Thanks Ravi,
We don’t get many nuclear physicists on this blog, so it’s an honor.
We also want to meet you at the NSA meeting (indoors, somewhere, ok?). See you there.