Becoming a Thought Leader in Social Media

"If you think you're a leader and no one is following you, you're actually just going for a walk." - author unknown

When it comes to the make up of social communities, there are three different personalities; Thought Leaders, Engaged (Proactively, Reactively, Passively) and Disengaged. Of these these three personalities, you must become a thought leader in order to have any significant impact inside social media circles.

As a thought leader you have be influential. Shane Gibson and Stephen Jagger say, "...if you sound like everyone else, you're not a thought leader." This means you have to be intentional about your content and figure out how to present things in new and refreshing ways.

You also need to identify and connect with other thought leaders within other communities. If at possible, connect with them in person (offline). This also means you need to figure out how to get noticed by other thought leaders as well.

Source: Sociable!: How Social Media is Turning Sales and Marketing Upside Down (Chapter 2)

Jaylin Fleming: a Basketball prodigy and Biblical Lesson

When I watch the following video of Jaylin Flemming, a 10 year old basketball prodigy, I am more impressed with his parents. The following video gives life to what I think Proverbs 22:6 is really saying.

"Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it."

This is a good reminder to find my children's passion and strengths. It's also a good reminder not to forget my own.

World Wide Rave

At a recent conference, I heard bestselling author of The New Rules of Marketing and PR,  David Meerman Scott speak. His speech was mostly a summary of another book of his World Wide Rave: Creating Triggers that Get Millions of People to Spread Your Ideas and Share Your Stories.

The book shares advice on ways to leverage the global community so everyone will talk about you and your product. There's some good take away's from this short book that even apply to offline strategies.

Here are the "Rules of the Rave."

1. NOBODY cares about your products (except you).
2. NO coercion required.
3. LOSE Control
4. PUT DOWN roots.
5. CREATE triggers that encourage people to share.
6. POINT the world to your (virtual) doorstep.

To simply put it, "You can trigger a World Wide Rave too - just create something valuable that people want to share, and make it easy for them to do so."

It's not as easy as it sounds, huh?

Easter Emotion

Image via Wikipedia

This morning, as I reflect on yesterday's Easter Service at our congregation, I find myself a little bewildered. Mostly in a good way. Yesterday morning, I found myself harboring some strong emotions. I even fought back tears, and I'm not completely sure why.

Some might say it was the Spirit. Maybe it had more to do with the the fact that I miss loved ones who have passed away. Maybe it's the fact that my tradition as a child did not give much emphasis to Easter and yesterday's experience gave me freedom to celebrate. Whatever the reason, I can't put my finger on it.

There is one thing I know. I'm glad it happened. It was an emotion that I needed to feel in a corporate worship setting. It's one I haven't had in a really long time. I don't know what's next, but I trust it will be good, albeit uncomfortable.

I'd like to hear your Church's Easter Sunday service. If it's available online, feed me a link in the comments.