Comments on: Affiliates, Customer Evangelists & Twitter http://www.jimkukral.com/affiliates-customer-evangelists-twitter/ Small Business Consultant Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:45:24 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jim Kukral http://www.jimkukral.com/affiliates-customer-evangelists-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-12702 Jim Kukral Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:51:15 +0000 http://www.jimkukral.com/?p=1444#comment-12702 Great thoughts Christine. Thanks for sharing them. Great thoughts Christine. Thanks for sharing them.

]]> By: Christine Fife http://www.jimkukral.com/affiliates-customer-evangelists-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-12701 Christine Fife Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:44:09 +0000 http://www.jimkukral.com/?p=1444#comment-12701 This is an interesting topic and I believe critical to continue to discuss amongst marketing/PR/communications/sales professionals. What about this take on it? 1) Companies absolutely should be utilizing social media for communicating to the audience(s) most likely to buy or have another interest in their solutions. But, consumers don't actually care about a company's products--they care about solving their wants and needs. I believe "engaging" with consumers through social media is great, but that key here is "engaging with" them. Many, many companies are "advertising at" them with the same old marketing fluff. How long before we have social media spam (or SMAM) tools? 2) As an evangelist, absolutely it should be ok to recommend companies or products, but only if you have no vested interest in that product or company (nothing of monetary value will be thrown your way from their making more sales.) BUT, even if you have a bested interest, you also have a right to tell people you like the product/company. If they find that offensive because they normally look to you for vendor neutral advice, that's their problem. 3) More than likely, if you have full disclosure (i.e. you tell people you have a vested interest) at the same time you're telling them about the product or company then they will appreciate the candor, won't feel like they're getting a covert sales pitch and will probably still consider the recommendation. The experience you're sharing here seems to illustrate that people want to have "conversations" about how to fulfill their wants and needs and not to just get a product pitch. If you had no vested interest, then you're just sharing your opinion and people want that. This is an interesting topic and I believe critical to continue to discuss amongst marketing/PR/communications/sales professionals. What about this take on it?

1) Companies absolutely should be utilizing social media for communicating to the audience(s) most likely to buy or have another interest in their solutions. But, consumers don't actually care about a company's products–they care about solving their wants and needs.

I believe "engaging" with consumers through social media is great, but that key here is "engaging with" them. Many, many companies are "advertising at" them with the same old marketing fluff. How long before we have social media spam (or SMAM) tools?

2) As an evangelist, absolutely it should be ok to recommend companies or products, but only if you have no vested interest in that product or company (nothing of monetary value will be thrown your way from their making more sales.) BUT, even if you have a bested interest, you also have a right to tell people you like the product/company. If they find that offensive because they normally look to you for vendor neutral advice, that's their problem.

3) More than likely, if you have full disclosure (i.e. you tell people you have a vested interest) at the same time you're telling them about the product or company then they will appreciate the candor, won't feel like they're getting a covert sales pitch and will probably still consider the recommendation.

The experience you're sharing here seems to illustrate that people want to have "conversations" about how to fulfill their wants and needs and not to just get a product pitch. If you had no vested interest, then you're just sharing your opinion and people want that.

]]> By: Joel Libava http://www.jimkukral.com/affiliates-customer-evangelists-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-12684 Joel Libava Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:33:14 +0000 http://www.jimkukral.com/?p=1444#comment-12684 Jim, By far the best title of any of your posts, this year. A couple of days ago I put a question out over at Twitter. Then, I put in a link to a product that I use, believe in etc...Did I feel guilty? No. I knew that I could "maybe" upset a follower or two, but maybe "upset" is not the right word. Heck, I don't know. I have not been at this for as long as you have, but here is what I know. I know we all have choices. I hope someone makes the choice to use good folks like you and I..our services, our knowledge, etc. The Franchise King Joel Libava {Jim, thank you for your loyalty and support} Jim, By far the best title of any of your posts, this year. A couple of days ago I put a question out over at Twitter. Then, I put in a link to a product that I use, believe in etc…Did I feel guilty? No. I knew that I could "maybe" upset a follower or two, but maybe "upset" is not the right word. Heck, I don't know. I have not been at this for as long as you have, but here is what I know.
I know we all have choices. I hope someone makes the choice to use good folks like you and I..our services, our knowledge, etc.

The Franchise King
Joel Libava
{Jim, thank you for your loyalty and support}

]]> By: Factor77.tv http://www.jimkukral.com/affiliates-customer-evangelists-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-12680 Factor77.tv Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:36:09 +0000 http://www.jimkukral.com/?p=1444#comment-12680 Jim, i'm not sure that an evangelist gets paid off of something they love. If you are a Huggies evangelist, you are someone who loves diapers made by that brand and you tell all your friends about them. Not because you are getting a commission. People don't mind talking to the company it's self they call it "customer service" and they trust that. People don't trust sales people... Jim, i'm not sure that an evangelist gets paid off of something they love. If you are a Huggies evangelist, you are someone who loves diapers made by that brand and you tell all your friends about them. Not because you are getting a commission.

People don't mind talking to the company it's self they call it "customer service" and they trust that. People don't trust sales people…

]]> By: Sam Harrelson http://www.jimkukral.com/affiliates-customer-evangelists-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-12671 Sam Harrelson Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:12:46 +0000 http://www.jimkukral.com/?p=1444#comment-12671 It's about community and trust. If I ask for a good place to buy a uke, I'll trust your recommendation b/c I know you and I know that you are really passionate about that topic. If someone I don't know sends me a DM or an @ message with a suggestion and an affiliate link, I'm going to have to do my homework and see who they are and if they are really passionate about something or just trolling keywords on Summize. The question that needs to be asked isn't "if it's ok to use affiliate links on Twitter?" (of course it is), the question should be "WHEN is it ok to use affiliate links on Twitter?" Sam It's about community and trust.

If I ask for a good place to buy a uke, I'll trust your recommendation b/c I know you and I know that you are really passionate about that topic.

If someone I don't know sends me a DM or an @ message with a suggestion and an affiliate link, I'm going to have to do my homework and see who they are and if they are really passionate about something or just trolling keywords on Summize.

The question that needs to be asked isn't "if it's ok to use affiliate links on Twitter?" (of course it is), the question should be "WHEN is it ok to use affiliate links on Twitter?"

Sam

]]> By: Eric Nagel http://www.jimkukral.com/affiliates-customer-evangelists-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-12670 Eric Nagel Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:08:13 +0000 http://www.jimkukral.com/?p=1444#comment-12670 As long as you (as the affiliate Twitterer) provide value to your followers (or the specific person you're replying to) then affiliate links are OK. The other day someone I follow asked a recommendation for a web-monitoring service, and I replied with an affiliate link for Pingdom. I use them - I recommend them. And if I recommend them, I'd like my cut. Provide value & it's OK. As long as you (as the affiliate Twitterer) provide value to your followers (or the specific person you're replying to) then affiliate links are OK. The other day someone I follow asked a recommendation for a web-monitoring service, and I replied with an affiliate link for Pingdom. I use them – I recommend them. And if I recommend them, I'd like my cut.

Provide value & it's OK.

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