Gini Dietrich

Building Your Online Community

By: Gini Dietrich | April 5, 2011 | 
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A few days ago, I recorded a podcast with Srinivas Rao for BlogCastFM (yet to be published). One of the questions he asked me is what new bloggers can do to find and attract readers and build community.

I used Drew Odom as an example.

Drew recently wrote a blog post where he used some Spin Sucks content. I received the backlink  and went over there to comment. He sent me a thank you note. Via email. It was personalized and written specifically to me. I make that point because some people have email automation set up to send you a note after you comment on their blog. I don’t like that.

What I liked about Drew’s email is he thanked me for commenting and asked me if the way he used some of our content was appropriate. And so began an online friendship.

When I began blogging, I did the same. I would send personalized emails to people who commented. In today’s age of 140 characters, those little things really count. And, without asking people to revisit the blog, it encouraged them to do so because they began to feel like they knew me…on the blog, on Twitter, on Facebook, and via email.

Mark Schaefer took it to a different level. He used to send handwritten thank you notes. Handwritten.  And it worked for him. He has a seriously engaged community.

While I no longer email thank you notes after people comment, I spend A LOT of time commenting to people both on Twitter and in the comments here. I also make it a point to visit all commenter’s blogs as often as I can.

It works. I always say social media, and building a community in general, is all about stroking other people’s egos and scratching their backs. If you do that, they’re much more willing to ask what they can do for you. And, in this case, visiting your blog and commenting is what they can do for you.

It’s hard work and not for the faint of heart. But it works. You can use Drew’s method or you can use Mark’s. Or maybe you have another method. If you do, share it with us!

About Gini Dietrich


Gini Dietrich is the founder and CEO of Arment Dietrich, an integrated marketing communications firm. She is the author of Spin Sucks, co-author of Marketing in the Round, and co-host of Inside PR. She also is the lead blogger at Spin Sucks and is the founder of Spin Sucks Pro.

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  • Gini,

    I love this post because it shares some great ideas for community building. I think some of what you do to build community comes naturally, like when you to a party and socialize with the people there. But if you’re “new to town” or shy these things must be learned and therefore taught!

    The blogosphere must be the friendliest place on the planet, due no little in part to what you said: “all about stroking other people’s egos and scratching their backs.” and you’ve just given us some good back-scratchers. Still, I’m new enough and perhaps naive enough to believe in the sincerity of everything I hear LOL (should that be a LOL – I don’t know 😮

    The rookie mistake I had to quickly learn to correct is the assumption that “if you build it they will come”. It was a little like fixing up your house and hoping the neighbors would drop by (since you put so much effort into the preparation) but there they were at THEIR homes, feeling the same way! Leaving your porch and visiting others is what makes it fun!

    Meeting YOU has made it a lot more fun for me! I feel like there’s this crazy girl in Chicago I can chat with as I sit alone at my computer, feeling more connected to the world because of her silly DM.s (or was that MY silly DMs – :o)

    All the best to you with your new venture! You CERTAINLY deserve it!

    Lori

  • ginidietrich

    @Lori Actually, I’m terrible at parties. I’m a natural introvert so when you put me in a room full of strangers, I am very shy and have a hard time making conversation. That’s why digital works so well for me! I can break the ice BEFORE I meet people.

    I love, love, love your analogy of the neighbor’s not leaving their porches! When I speak, I always say, “If you build it they will NOT come” and now I’m going to add this analogy. I’ll credit you. 🙂

    And there is a crazy girl in Chicago you can chat with! Anytime!

  • @ginidietrich No way no way YOU’re an introvert! Well I will have to take your word for it. I’m an extrovert, and used to be a shy one, but as you say, online…

    My coach keeps saying “Do a Skype Chat with someone you admire – say Gini” and I say, No way, she thinks I’m funny, but I’m really NOT that funny! Such is the magic of online chatting!

    By the way, written satire can go really flat really fast – thanks for getting me!

  • @ginidietrich Crazy girl in Chicago, like this new nickname for you 🙂

    @Lori Yes building it I remember thinking like that, actually that is the easy part. Then the real work of meeting every one starts!

  • Another valuable lesson that’s applicable to not just the online world, but the offline world as well. How often do people receive handwritten thank you notes? Not that often. I do still write them, but not as much as I should. Anytime I ask for a recommendation, that’s an automatic handwritten note because it was awfully nice of someone to go out of there way to write something nice about me or the work I’ve done, the least I can do is write back.

    I actually have an addiction to note cards and collect them like treasures – but that’s a different story. Too often, I use email as my thank you note. I guess that has become a big part of the culture we embody these days.

    Gini, you’re such a giver of your time and talents! Thanks so much for sharing both with us on a regular basis! And what a great porch, right @Lori ??? Who wouldn’t want to hang out here?!

  • Gini I think you wrote the book on connecting with people online. I would never be able to get any community with markwschaefer method, simply because my handwriting makes hieroglyphics easy to read.

    I think an important step in building online relationships is also using different platforms, twitter, FB, blogs and then actually call on Skype or have coffee if you live in the same area. Maybe even a deep dish pizza?

  • markwschaefer

    I’ve actually been reflecting on this topic a lot, as I am nearing the 10,000th comment on my blog. That’s a big deal to me for a lot of reasons. I think that does reflect the vibrancy of the community and also a real gift of time, intellect and passion that people are contributing. The secret? As you mention, connecting authentically on a real human level. I think that is the real key. It’s not a comment, it’s a person : )

    Thanks for the great post!

  • KenMueller

    The beauty of this is that you walk your talk. That’s why I’m here. I commented, we connected, and we get along. Who knows if we’ll ever meet each other in person.

    What I tell folks is to focus on the word Social in “social media”. Too many of us get caught up in this being some sore of “new” form of media, and they treat it like all other forms of media. That’s not why people are here.

    I don’t go the route of of either Mark or Drew, I’m more like you. I seek to engage, but actively and pro-actively. It really works!

  • sydcon_mktg

    “Thank You” so a simple, yet powerful little phrase! Amazing how much uttering those two little words can accomplish. Those two words can make the recipients day!

    Saying “thank you” is a easy way to start a conversation, especially in social media. A little thank you & a smile can make any day better!

  • CreativeDynamix

    Thanks Gini, I think you skim over the fact that you go comment on other peoples blogs. We need to balance out create/consume ratio into a comment/feedback %. I think that is a key that you visit all commenter’s blogs. it is not just about saying thank you. it is about find real ways to connect that thanks for the comment + build that exchange, get in the conversation. Enjoying following you on twitter.

  • skooloflife

    Gini, Thanks so much for the shoutout. I think that you brought up something that people underestimate the power of. It seems simple but the effects of it compound. I check out the blogs of people who commment on my site if I’ve never seen them before and sometimes I’ll just send them a quick note to say thanks. Obviously there will be a point when this doesn’t scale, but it doesn’t have to. There will be a point at which you have your “entourage” so to speak, and those people will be the greatest people in your digital network. Handwritten note is something that’s a whole other level. Maybe Hallmark should sponsor Mark’s blog :).

  • bdorman264

    @johnfalchetto @ginidietrich @Lori Talk about crashing the party, but I do have my serious face on today.

    I think I came in the back door and started building my community by commenting on other people’s posts. It enabled me to see them more on a personal level and I could see who I wanted to hang out with.

    I actually do have a WordPress site but I’m not looking to drive people there yet. I don’t want people to know I’m living out of my car……I’m still just practicing.

    However, I think the relationships I have developed are relatively deep so if and when I get up and running it will be a lot easier to invite people over.

    As sanitized and anonymous as the social media world can be, I truly think the friends I have made thru twitter would be my friends in person too.

    Gini, if you were standing in the corner at an event, you would be the one I would come up to and engage with. I know it’s hard for some people to feel comfortable in a room full of strangers so I try to make them feel like they are noticed and part of the group.

  • Gini, I’m a little embarassed to say, I never thought of sending a thank you email to commenters. Duh! I’m going to put this into action :)….

    As @KenMueller said, you walk your talk. And that, my friend, has helped you to build a pretty amazing community.

  • Look forward to the podcast @skooloflife ! In the meantime, this is a great point Gini. I believe it’s imperative to connect with people that comment as a means of encouraging them to come back.

    I put people’s details in Basecamp’s Highrise and schedule a reminder to stop by in a month or so on their blog (or twitter account) to check how they’re doing. It’s all about building relationships, after all.

  • I will comment back on the other person’s blog when they comment on mine. I never really thought of sending an email, perhaps because these days with all the email people receive I didn’t want to impose myself?

  • jackielamp

    You make a great point, Gini. It’s basically about selfless sharing. People respond well to that because it’s genuine. I think the reason people struggle with community building is because it takes time to organically share content and comment on blogs. It requires extra effort to send that personalized thank you, and a lot of people just don’t want to do it. Unfortunately those people leave a bad taste in your mouth.

    I would say you’re an example of doing it right. You’ve commented on my blog that gets 100 readers on our best post (haha), you thank me for RTing your blog posts even when there are TONS of other people doing the same thing. Bottom line: you don’t have to do that, but you do, and it’s part of the reason you’re awesome and you’ve built such a good community.

    Oh, and because you sent me a link to the Sole Society. Best invention ever.

  • ginidietrich

    @SandySidhu It actually works, if it’s personalized. There are plenty of services that will allow you to automate the email and I think that’s icky. If you’re going to add to my inbox, I want it to be personalized!

  • ginidietrich

    @Lori That is hilarious! So you’re afraid, if we chat, that I won’t think you’re as funny as you are online?!

  • ginidietrich

    @bdorman264 The problem is that I wouldn’t even go to the event. Unless I have people to go with, I won’t go. I’m that shy. It’s why I speak…it takes A LOT of effort to get me out there and on stage. I’m a better person because of it, but it’s not easy.

    I totally agree that the people you meet and talk to everyday online are people who would be IRL friends. Although there have been a couple of times that I’ve thought, “Whoa! This is not who I expected” when I meet someone in person.

    And the only reason you’re living in a car is you’re running from the law. Stop hitting up the cash trucks already!

  • ginidietrich

    @EricaAllison It’s scary how much alike we are! I also collect stationery. You know one of the things you did really well in the beginning? You highlighted people you wanted to meet on your blog, drawing them off their porch and onto yours. But you did it in a way that made people want to stay, not just drop by for a visit.

  • ginidietrich

    @johnfalchetto You can get one of those handwriting fonts and type the notes! You’ve done a great job of building your community. Not only do you show up on other’s blogs, you draw bloggers into your blog through Twitter, backlinks, and comments. It’s really been fun to watch you!

  • ginidietrich

    @markwschaefer 10,000 comments?!? Holy crap! How close are you? If you’re one away, I’m headed over there RIGHT NOW to be the 10,000th! “It’s not a comment, it’s a person.” No truer words have ever been spoken, er, written.

    Thanks for coming by, Mark! I’ll have to hold a contest so you can compete by using a nail file to judge the winning entry. 🙂

  • ginidietrich

    @KenMueller Do I know you?

  • ginidietrich

    @sydcon_mktg Isn’t it funny how “thank you” can go so far? Yet we almost always forget to utter those words.

  • ginidietrich

    @CreativeDynamix Ha! You totally called me out. Thank you! That is a great point…it’s just as important (if not more) to visit other people’s social sites and engage with them on their own porch (as @Lori says).

  • ginidietrich

    @skooloflife I agree it’s not scalable and you’re right in that you have your entourage. I do like you – visit people’s sites when they’ve visited a couple of times. Then, if I like what I see, I subscribe. I’m a little OCD, but I have my Reader split into different folders: The must read, the entourage, the new finds, etc. It helps me manage where I’m going to go on a given day.

  • ginidietrich

    @KatieFassl You’re so funny! I don’t think you have reason to be embarrassed. NO ONE does it. So it’l make you stand out.

  • ginidietrich

    @jonbuscall THAT is a great idea, Jon!! You’re so smart.

  • KenMueller

    @ginidietrich nah. im just the guy you proposed to last night. the guy who cares enough about you to find GOOD coffee for you. the guy who WAS thinking about getting you pretzels….

    nah. you don’t know me…

  • ginidietrich

    @jackielamp RIGHT?! Don’t you love Sole Society?! A pair of shoes every month for $50. Or you can pass and not have any. Mr. D doesn’t know about it yet. I hope I can keep it a secret. 🙂

    This is a very nice comment – thank you! You’re absolutely right. It takes A LOT of effort to build community. We’re having a webinar later this month on this very topic and we’ve told people that if they’re willing to put in some serious work, don’t bother attending.

  • ginidietrich

    @KenMueller Oh! That was you?!?

  • KenMueller

    @ginidietrich No. It was Charlie Sheen

  • bdorman264

    @ginidietrich Breakin’ the law, breakin’ the law…………

    I think it’s very admirable you don’t let the ‘shyness’ totally shut you down. Yes, you probably carry a barf bag w/ you on speaking engagements knowing how your stomach will be churning away, but you are doing it…..and surviving it.

    Question Ms Overachiever, do you think that is why you have such a strong online community because you over-compensate from your public persona? Dr Freud wants to know………..

    If you (or any of my twitter friends) met me in person I’m just as goofy, so it would probably be what you would expect………..I like to think I’m Brad Pitt and suave and debonair but probably closer to Fred Flintstone.

    Finally, I don’t hit up the Brinks trucks; I can’t get them to stop coming by my office and dropping off all this loot I am making from my online presence.

    Have a lovely day…………

  • @ginidietrich Thank you! That’s a very nice compliment and I’ll take it! I’m glad it didn’t come across as stalking…I think was pushing the limit on highlighting and stalking, but glad you felt it was the appropriate kind of attention! 🙂

    xoxo!

  • ginidietrich

    @KenMueller Did you miss the memo when we said his name wasn’t allowed here?

  • I love this post so simple, to the point and true. I am definitely going to share this with others! Thanks Gini!

  • @ginidietrich uh – yeah! Because I’m NOT as funny in person, at least I don’t think so. Augh! Who knows!? We’ll have to try it sometime and find out! LOL

  • ginidietrich

    @EricaAllison Oh yeah. I didn’t feel that way one bit. I might have felt differently if you were a nameless and faceless dude living in his mom’s basement.

  • ginidietrich

    @bdorman264 LOL!! You seriously make me laugh!

    I’m actually the same way offline as on. I just don’t do well in crowds of people where I don’t know anyone.

    And one of the things everyone here should know…you also send handwritten notes! It was an absolute sheer pleasure receiving one from you.

  • ginidietrich

    @rachaelseda And thank YOU for sharing!

  • CreativeDynamix

    @ginidietrich @CreativeDynamix @Lori funny you mention Lori’s post it was one that struck me. Its interesting to note that you consider yourself an introvert. I commend you for myth busting that introverts are bad communicators. Lots of great comments to your post testament that you are building a great community as Ken points out you walk your talk.

    Jacki mentions selfless sharing and I think one has to have caution that it is ‘selfless’.

  • mikeashworth

    hiya, i think this is a great example of people who genuinely care and put the work in to build their business etc. I wonder what your thoughts are about such activity away from bvlogs such as on facebook posts. often i am amazed that ppl go to the effort of having a presence, shouting stuff about them at ppl, yet if someone comments, rarely does the page owner respond.

  • mikeashworth

    @jackielamp i wouldnt necessarily say its “selfless” their is a goal in mind, building their community, business, marketing, sales, profits etc. (people shouldnt be ashamed to admit these things) however it is at least a step in the right direction from most of the stuff I see on Social MEdia

  • mikeashworth

    people shouldnt restrict this behaviour to online only, apply it to every area of your life. i send thankyou cards to people who have given me great service. ppl often ask me why i bother and i always use the same example. if you were in the shoes of the typical shop worker or customer services rep and the only time ppl sought to interact with me was when they wanted to shout and rage and rant at me about something that had gone wrong, imagine how you’d feel at the end of every day. not very good, despite the fact that most of the work you did was probably fine.

  • HowieSPM

    I just give free cookies. But then that’s me.

    I remember last fall Mitch Joel decided he was going to respond to every comment even if he had 200. Personal engagement is important. And humbleness. I won’t read Seth Godin’s blog because even if he is smart he has no community. He is Push Marketing the kind I loathe and hate. I didn’t even know who he was until maybe a year ago. To date I have watched a TED video with him as speaker. That is not enough to bring me to his blog.

    But I come here almost every day. Spin Sucks is Pull Marketing. And it works!

  • ginidietrich

    @HowieSPM WHAT?! I’ve never gotten cookies!

  • ginidietrich

    @mikeashworth On my birthday my husband said to me, “You’re going to respond to every, single person who wished you a happy birthday on Facebook, aren’t you?” I get made fun of, but I do it and people LOVE it. I think there is almost nothing worse than responding to something someone has put out there (FB, blog, Twitter, etc.) and not getting a response back.

  • ginidietrich

    @CreativeDynamix It’s funny that there are so many myths out there about introverts. The fact of the matter is I get my energy from having downtime and being by myself. Extroverts get their energy from being around people. So, if I’m invited to go to an event by myself or I have the opportunity to read at home, I’m going to choose the latter every time.

  • ginidietrich

    @mikeashworth TOTALLY agree with taking this behavior offline! My siblings make fun of me, but I still send thank you notes for gifts. 🙂

  • mikeashworth

    @ginidietrich @HowieSPM did someone say cookies 🙂

  • ginidietrich

    @mikeashworth @HowieSPM RIGHT?!? How do we get cookies, Howie??

  • @ginidietrich @CreativeDynamix So true guys! My husband is an introvert and LOVES living in the country because he’s a bit of a hermit. I love living in the country too but I have to get my “fix” of interaction. (I get energy from people – watch out!) I’ve got a half-cooked blog about this that I’m working on!

  • Well said Ms. Gini. It ain’t easy…that is, until, you meet people that legitimately rock and inspire you….then it’s easy to talk, promote, comment, etc….But getting to that point, yes, it’s like a filtering process of sorts.

    Love your blog and message lady, but you already knew that. 🙂

    Marcus

  • redpage75

    I try to do the same (on a much smaller scale) of course. And it does pay off! I was certainly pleasantly surprised to get a tweet from you yesterday. And look…here I am again!

  • ginidietrich

    @redpage75 We all start on a small scale so don’t let that intimidate you! I was actually just looking at our stats and our traffic is up 473% from this time last year. If you the same, I can guarantee your goals for your social media efforts will be exceeded!

  • ginidietrich

    @Marcus_Sheridan When I speak, I always say, “You guys! This is fun! We all like to have our egos stroked. And, the more you participate online, the more your ego is stroked.” Sometimes that works. Sometimes it doesn’t. 🙂

  • sydcon_mktg

    @ginidietrich @mikeashworth i still send them too…and its required form my children when they receive gifts as well!

  • @ginidietrich <—-I learn from the best

  • ed_han

    Gini, this is absolutely superb, esp your point re: commenting on blogs. I’ve been a big fan of yours via Twitter for a long time. And with the number of people commenting on this, if you still did write individual e-mails, I’d be frightened for you!

  • michael_taggart

    @ginidietrich @jonbuscall hi

  • michael_taggart

    @ginidietrich @jonbuscall Hi, just wanted to say I’ve been reading your blog for a while now because of a glowing recommendation by Jon on one of his podcasts. I’ll be recommending you to my friends and clients too 🙂

  • @mikeashworth Excellent point. I think sending thank you emails is something that stems from my mothers impression on me about sending handwritten thank you’s after receiving something from someone – even if it was just a kind word.

  • I appreciate the shout. Thank you so much. Sending a thank you email that day wasn’t even really a strategy. It was just a typical response. I think we all too often forget that forging an online community should be done with much the same aplomb as forging real life communities. We treat others as we would want them to treat us!

  • ryanknapp

    @HowieSPM I wouldn’t be so quick to discount Seth Godin. His whole focus is on shipping and doing work, which is why he doesn’t actively use twitter. If someone is giving great content I would still read their work even if they do not actively promote community. Just because he chooses not to participate in a community but wants to write has not hurt what he’s been able to accomplish nor his reach.

  • markwschaefer

    @ginidietrich @HowieSPM Neither have I. What gives?

  • markwschaefer

    @ginidietrich And there is also the benefit of being able to have a running joke among us, blog to blog. : )

  • AlexaChance

    It’s all about making the connection and maintaining the connection!

  • Just attended the Rainmaking Conversation webinar where the “new reality” to creating commitment and trust is building a community that has both an emotional and a rational connection. Thank you Gini, this is exactly what I find here ; )

    {Moving forward my commitment is to grow a community along these lines as well!}

  • ginidietrich

    @DrRae It’s so true…and people buy from people they like, right? So why not spend time creating those connections. I’ll have to check out Rainmaking Conversation. You like?

  • ginidietrich

    @AlexaChance Exactly!

  • ginidietrich

    @anotherkindofdrew Yes…and no one does it. That’s why you stuck out!

  • ginidietrich

    @ed_han LOL! As 3hatscomm would say, I have clones!

  • ginidietrich

    @markwschaefer @HowieSPM Oh Howie. You got yourself into some trouble!

  • ginidietrich

    @markwschaefer It’s one of my favorite parts!

  • KevinVandever

    So all this time you’ve just been stroking my ego? I thought we had something more. I sent you wine.

    Civility works in building an online community just as it does building your offline community. Anything that comes off as disingenuous or too contrived (example: automated email responses) won’t work. You’ve got to be caring, gracious, open minded, have a sense of humor, be able to listen, view things from the others’ perspectives and possess the ability to sincerely engage.

    From my standpoint, you have all those traits and that’s why you’re successful on and offline — yeah, who’s stroking who’s ego now?!

  • 3HatsComm

    @Lori @ginidietrich IDK Lori, seems like you meet a bunch of us self-proclaimed introverts online. Gini, I too am not always good at parties.. have to get to know folks first .. but when I do, look out. 😉

  • 3HatsComm

    @sydcon_mktg @ginidietrich @mikeashworth I try, don’t always though but I try. And agree with taking it offline, as I’m pretty good about remembering to send real birthday cards vs. just texts or FB cards.

  • 3HatsComm

    @ginidietrich @markwschaefer @HowieSPM I’m sure my cookies are in the mail, I’ve got milk on standby.

  • ginidietrich

    @KevinVandever Well, you were supposed to send me more wine so I’m only speaking to you until you do!

  • 3HatsComm

    @ginidietrich @ed_han I’m telling you, it’s something.. all this blogging and tweeting and networking and global empire building. If it’s not clones, Gini has superpowers and is holding out on us. 😉

  • Regardless of the method by which you communicate with your community, it’s essential to develop value. I appreciate a tweet, a comment or an email that acknowledges appreciation, support, advice or feedback.

    People who are engaging in any form are busy. Their engaged because they work their tales off, providing value to the community, building their business or brand, taking care of their families and a zillion other things.

    I’m not so moved by those who are too busy to provide feedback, although I understand their dilemma. I have a highly engaged small community and it’s a lot of effort and work just to provide them the time and effort they deserve.

    I don’t have all the answers at this point, however, if you want to develop a valuable community, you need to figure out a method by which you’re are engaged with your community, otherwise you won’t have one.

    Back to you Gini, do you have any suggestions on how to scale this process???

  • KevinVandever

    @ginidietrich Coming soon. Labels being created. Official release, May 3. Oh, sorry about the grammar error in my comment. I don’t want the grammar pet peeve discussion to spark up again.

  • ginidietrich

    @KevinVandever OMG! Seriously?!? I want to see the label!

  • ginidietrich

    @Mark_Harai It’s funny you ask…I nearly had a nervous breakdown last summer, trying to figure out how it was going to scale. This time last year, we had 4,000 visitors, wrote maybe three blog posts a week (on a good week), I had maybe 5,000 Twitter followers, I was speaking three times a week, and I couldn’t keep up. We hired a community manager and he kept pushing to do more. So I sat down and went through everything I had to do to decide what I had to keep, what I wanted to keep, and what I could delegate. I looked at our goals and thought about the vision (which just was announced yesterday) and figured out how I could manage it the way I wanted to…by still being highly engaged. Yes, it means that sometimes I’m reading and commenting on blogs at 5 a.m. and I always do my writing that early, but it works for me.

  • @ryanknapp @HowieSPM Great point, Ryan. And if Squidoo and The Domino Project aren’t great examples of Godin’s understanding of community and promoting others, I don’t know what is. 😉

  • HowieSPM

    @ginidietrich @mikeashworth LOL!!!! Man what was I missing!

  • HowieSPM

    @markwschaefer @ginidietrich Mark you can actually claim I owe you cookies! Now @Shonali but I am still eyeing a golden Vuvuzela for when Spin Sucks Pro launches for Gini.

  • HowieSPM

    @DannyBrown @ryanknapp@ginidetrich is Grace Slick. And Danny is Ozzy. Seth is more Dave Mathews who while wildly successful is not in my 99gb’s and 58days of music. lol I mean I was a linchpin before he even thought of the term going back to my first busboy job. I just never cared to share that with anyone because then they could compete with me better. Screw that! LOL

  • HowieSPM

    @sydcon_mktg @ginidietrich @mikeashworth OMG The Black Hawks are in the house!

  • HowieSPM

    @ginidietrich @rachaelseda@nittygriddyblog and I are nervous this will become like a spin sucks rule. As it is do you know hard it is for me to do twitter with the 140 characters having to reduce paragraphs down to short bursts of commentary. Sigh.

  • @ginidietrich Thanks for the insight Gini. I’m usually up by 5AM as well writing away before my day starts and then in the evenings after my day ends. I’m usually out by 9PM, but have been staying up late these last few months say 11ish : )

    That’s what it takes to get things done, so I’ll wait for another season of rest to sweep through my life. It helps to live on beach, work from home and see my wife and kids throughout the day. I really like the lifestyle.

    Again, thanks for taking the time to share. I need to do the “had, what and delegate’ scenario soon though.

    Good night : )

  • @HowieSPM @ryanknapp@ginidetrich Pre or post Bark At The Moon?

  • simplysocialchi

    @ginidietrich @Mark_Harai It’s encouraging to know that at one point you only blogged three times a week (and also that you eventually grew 400%+ from last year). With a full time job and two part time jobs I’m lucky if I post once a week but I’m still trying! I couldn’t agree more with the power of genuinely showing thanks (one of the few blog posts I did get to writing!) and I too ‘stroke other people’s egos’.. heck, hopefully one day I’ll be as awesome as you 🙂

  • simplysocialchi

    @Mark_Harai @ginidietrich I just saw this seconds after I left my reply below.. I envy your lifestyle, Mark! I also admire your insanely long work hours. Looking forward to reading some of your blogs as well.

  • @simplysocialchi @ginidietrich For me it’s not really work SS -it’s a labor of love 😛

  • @simplysocialchi @ginidietrich Hey, I wanna be as awesome as you too Gini!

  • HowieSPM

    @DannyBrown @ryanknapp@ginidetrich Pre Bark at the Moon. He kind of sold out with that album. lol Hell now he is just a comedian who does commercials with Bieber. LOL That said I did see Black Sabbath blow Pantera off the stage in the late 90’s when they toured together. Hard feat if you ask me.

  • ExpatDoctorMom

    I am new to your site and thoroughly enjoyed your post! Well said. I am 6 months into this having started my site as a passion.

    Initially, I thought it was just enough to offer a free service(in my case free health care advice) and hopefully awesome content. But am now finding much joy in the networking. It is not too much different than networking in person.

    Looking forward to your next post!

    Best,Rajka

  • ExpatDoctorMom

    PS. Many thanks to John Falchetto and Marcus Sheridan for leading me to you!

  • ginidietrich

    @Mark_Harai You so crazy!

  • ginidietrich

    @ExpatDoctorMom You’re right – there is so much joy in networking! I’m stealing that for when I speak. I’ll try it out tonight and let you know how it’s received. Thanks for stopping by…and thanks to @johnfalchetto and thesaleslion for bringing you here!

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  • @Mark_Harai @ginidietrich Love that lifestyle Mark. Good for you man.

  • @ExpatDoctorMom “Take us to your leader…..” 😉

  • @ExpatDoctorMom Don’t thank me, once you get here you never leave :)@ginidietrich

  • ExpatDoctorMom

    Good luck on the talk. Hope the “joy” comment brings lots of er… JOY!

  • I’d say treating everyone the same. And don’t just highlight posts that you’re featured in.

  • @ginidietrich I’ll let you know Gini as soon as the book {a gift from Mike Shultz} is received and read. I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation yesterday; and today have attempted to put to use what I’ve learned! ; )

    FYI, the book is going to be posted on my Shopping Network tomorrow…

  • JGoldsborough

    Good perspective, GD. Just acknowledging people sounds so simple, but it’s very smart and not enough people take the time.

    I really like what shonali does when she tweets or shares a post on Facebook and asks people their opinion by tagging them. Smart way to get other involved. Cheers.

  • @JGoldsborough How nice of you. Thank you – though I think you’re the master at doing that.

    You know who I think is really good at doing this, apart from @ginidietrich who is really very good at it? nittygriddyblog and @3HatsComm .

  • 3HatsComm

    @Shonali @JGoldsborough @ginidietrich nittygriddyblog I think this whole thread is full of folks good at building community. Some like you Shonali cross post to FB, others reblog and link back, some share and tweet, we comment and mix it up and have fun. Except for when I’ve been bad and @DannyBrown bans me from his site. 😉

  • @3HatsComm @Shonali @JGoldsborough @ginidietrich nittygriddyblog IDK, IMBJM FWIW 🙂

  • 3HatsComm

    @DannyBrown @Shonali @JGoldsborough @ginidietrich nittygriddyblog I am being just.. ??? Hmm, gotta think on that one.

  • michaelgiese

    @simplysocialchi You are that awesome. It is already inside of you. All you have to do is put it out there on display for the world to see.

  • michaelgiese

    @ginidietrich @mikeashworth I replied to every happy birthday on facebook this year. It took every spare minute for 2 days. I wasn’t going to do it again. But now…

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  • ginidietrich

    @JGoldsborough shonali I LOVE that Shonali tags people. I need to do more of that.

  • ginidietrich

    @DannyBrown For instance. LOL

  • ginidietrich

    @ExpatDoctorMom They loved the joy comment! I gave you credit.

  • @ginidietrich @JGoldsborough The thing is that I’m not consistent about it. 🙁

  • ExpatDoctorMom

    Aww, thanks very much! @ginidietrich

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