Steve Woodruff talked last week about is social media circles: audience, acquaintances, friends and intimates (inner circle) and what they mean for business. He explained that each of the levels serve a certain purpose, and that we need all four to really get the most out of our social channels. Of course, as you go down in levels, the people do become more important. For example, it would be better to have high quality intimates than just a bunch of audience. His final thought in the article (which is a great one) is that we need a way to filter these people more effectively…being able to separate them out and monitor them all differently would make connections and conversations much easier.
I know that I have all of these levels, but I have never really thought a lot about who exactly is in them. If I were forced to answer right now, I could probably name 30-40 people in my inner circle. Would it be all of them? No. Would some that I mentioned not actually be in my inner circle if I really thought about it? Yes.
And I think this needs to be remedied. I need to know my lists, I need to understand who I can trust, and I need to know that they can trust me too. I need them to know that I think they are part of my inner circle. We need to be on the same page because not knowing where you stand with someone can be dangerous. What if I think someone is on my inner circle, and I share with them a business idea that I have. They love it, we chat about it, share lots of details and brainstorming. Then a month later, I see them using my idea without asking me. Why would something like that happen? It happens when you don’t actually know your relationships – when you think someone is inner circle and they don’t.
Today, I want you to take some time and think about your inner circle. Who do you trust with your business ideas? Who would you turn to if you needed help promoting something or a new client recommendation? Once you have determined your list, I want you to send each person that you believe is part of your inner circle an email. Let them know why you have chosen them, and what they mean to you. It doesn’t have to be long, and it doesn’t have to be over the top. Make it simple and straight to the point.
After you have sent the emails…come back here. Don’t share your list (as that is a little personal) but please share your thoughts and experiences in building that list. Was it easy? Did you find people you thought would be inner circle that really weren’t? Did someone you expected to respond not respond? Were you greeted with any especially surprising results?
Discuss.
Related posts:
- How to be a better social media-er
- The eleventh way to crank out a killer post
- What has twitter taught you?
Kirsten
it's quite impersonal in some respects to be selective of the people I would put in my “inner circle”. I wouldn't not trust anyone and everyone I meet, I find professional relationships work much more efficiently when you don't think “Oh, I don't know. I've already got X as my web designer, and I really trust them, so I don't need this person”.
People who you meet for the first time deserve an equal chance.
I definitely agree with the fact that people deserve an equal chance and am not suggesting that your inner network can't grow and change over time, in fact it absolutely should! I think that you can meet new people and add them to your inner network whenever it makes sense to, but the fact is, you need to have that network.
yeah, your overall opinion is very valid.
Hi, Kirsten! I love your action-oriented approach. Thanks to SM, my inner circle is expanding in terms of those trusting me with with their business ideas, asking for advice and help but I'm not certain whether the relationship is mutual. I just may take you up on your excellent assignment as a way to test the waters. It sure beats asking for a quid pro quo in order to identify where the relationship stands or is going.