This is another in our series of She Said, He Said posts.
The term “Twitter Tennis” is being borrowed from Michael Josefowicz during #printchat, which we participate in regularly. We love Twitter chats because they tend to focus the conversation in on a particular topic and it’s fun to watch ideas being bounced back and forth.
At the time of this writing, we are on a business trip and we decided to co-write this while on a plane. The concept of Twitter Tennis fits this writing style well. Humor us as we toss some thoughts back and forth for your reading pleasure.
Jim: Our friend Michael made a great point when he said Twitter is like tennis with ideas being tossed around. After several months of our #shehechat, I continue to be amazed at how the general topics we throw out can turn into conversations involving ten or more people sharing ideas. Sure social media can be pure fun, but it can also be a place to learn and test thoughts and ideas.
Shelby: I think social media is most fun when ideas are being shared. Don’t get me wrong. I love the general conversations too, but social media isn’t just a hobby for me. It’s an environment where I can gain knowledge and tools that I use in everyday life; both personally and professionally.
Jim: As long as we’re talking professional, during a meeting yesterday one of our clients mentioned having read a recent blog post. Since I don’t interact directly with many of my customers in social media I often forget that you don’t really know who is reading what you put out there. Google yourself and check what comes up. I guarantee your customers and employers do so from time to time.
Shelby: I think it’s pretty cool that our clients read your blog posts. I also thought it was cool at Graph Expo when people at the show were interacting with me on Twitter. At the same time people who stopped by the booth talked with me about the email newsletters we sent out each day that week. Just like people lurk during #shehechat, a lot more people are watching our tweets and reading our emails and/or blog posts than we realize.
Jim: In his first book Crush It! (Amazon affiliate link), Gary Vaynerchuk introduced me to the “audience of one” concept. Gary makes the point that only one person needs to read our blog post, if it’s the right person. So, write each post, tweet or update some other status like it’s meant for one person. Be human and keep it real.
Shelby: Weren’t you going to lend me that book about 6 months ago? I’m still waiting… Anyway, I agree with that concept; especially with blog posts. Many times in social media, you can direct your conversation to specific people. But in blog posts, you’re writing for one person with the understanding that it’s also for the masses. I am sometimes impressed that you’re able to keep to a five-day-a-week schedule on this blog. I know it’s not easy.
Jim: You’re welcome to read Crush It! on my phone any time. I only own it as a ebook. I honestly try and tune the masses out when I write. There is a tendency as this blog grows in popularity that I sometimes try to write for the masses. That seldom if ever goes well. Some of the most successful posts I’ve ever written were answers to a question from a single reader. Oh, and it’s easier keeping to a five day schedule when I only write four days a week. This Shelby person contributes one post a week here.
Shelby: Oh yeah, as you would say, there is that. I’m a bit surprised that you’d offer to loan me your phone after you tweetjacked me this morning. I owe you one, ya know. Anyway, by and large, I agree with you on the rest of it too. Sometimes that one person you did reach is the only one that matters. I love that we have some growth in #shehechat lately, but when the numbers are smaller, I can reach out to each person individually a lot more easily.
Jim: Okay, we should wrap this up since most of Shelby’s last lob over the Twitter tennis net was a huge inside joke. But hey, that’s the fun of reading us every week and following along on #shehechat. Tomorrow we’ll share the topics for Thursday night’s 8 p.m. central #shehechat over on Twitter. I speak for both of us when I say we hope you have enjoyed this format. Leave a comment and let us know if you’d like to see more posts like this.