WebProNews

Tag: Third Tribe

  • Do You Know The Difference Between a Tribe and a Business?

    “Blogs and other social media are a brilliant way to build a ‘tribe’ around your point of view, but at what point does that become a business?”

    This was the question raised by Sonia Simone, CMO of Copyblogger, and Chris Garrett, Online Business Coach during their session at the Blogworld Expo. During their session, “What is the Difference Between a Tribe and a Business”, the duo discussed the joys, challenges, and pitfalls of building a business around a tribe.

    If you’re unfamiliar with the term “tribe”, Simone stated, for her, a tribe was unified by one thing – passion. Essentially anything people can get fanatic about / excited about, there is a tribe for that. She states, “We are complete internet marketing geeks. there are fitness tribes. celeb gossip tribes. there are tribes around SEO. Anything people are really jazzed about. there is a fountain pen tribe. ‘those people are whacked’.”

    If you’re interested in creating a tribe, they suggest you start with something free: blog comments, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc. Any free place where people can discuss similar things. Garrett goes on to say:

    “It’s getting harder and harder to have a free community where you can keep all the bad guys out. if you have just a one dollar fee, it’s amazing the difference it makes. It can become a full time job just taking the crap out. there’s a huge tone difference when you raise the barrier for entry. As soon as you charge, people have some investment in getting some value out of it. Free is awesome, great for attention, but you can’t build a business around it until you start charging.”

    If you find your tribe is gaining popularity, you need to ask yourself… when does a tribe become a business? Simone and Garrett lay out some tips on what people would be willing to pay for.

    – Increased access
    – A way to escape the trolls
    – Advanced training
    – A better format for the tribe

    Transitioning from a free platform to a paid service can be quite daunting, and there are numerous up-hill battles you’ll have to face. But, if you tell your audience where you’re going, and are up front with them, then you’ll get less backlash. Anticipate the drama, “it’s not all unicorns and rainbows”, as Garrett but put it. Certain people will always be a pain in your ass, no matter how you handle matters. You must step up and be the Sheriff, and take control… you are the rule maker, and be clear about that.

    Three things to remember when thinking about your tribe:

    1.) Your tribe starts with you, your passion and how you go about framing that passion. Don’t overshare anything, especially anything that could be construed as “stupid stuff”.

    2.) You are the leader, so act like it. Set the ground rules that will support your tribe. (Roadhouse Rule: Be nice until it’s time to not be nice.)

    3.) You CAN move from free to paid, when you find out what your tribe is willing to pay for.

    For 5 years, WebProNews has partnered with BlogWorld and New Media Expo, the world’s first and largest new media conference, in an effort to broadcast how new media can grow your business, brand, and audience. Stay tuned to WebProNews for much more exclusive coverage.

  • Changing the “Used Car Salesman” Perception of Selling

    When you think of selling, what do you think of? If you’re like me, you totally think of the sleazy used car salesman like in the image below. It’s not, of course, that all salesmen are like this, and even all used car salesmen for that matter, but that type of stigma is just naturally associated.

    Can this perception of selling be changed? Let us know in the comments.

    For salesmen, overcoming this obstacle is an obvious challenge. It’s also a challenge for people trying to start a business because they don’t want to be connected to a group of people that are known for taking advantage of people. This sales association has had such an impact on society that it even discourages some people from pursuing their goals.

    According to Johnny B. Truant, an outspoken blogging coach, there is a way to change this perception. He told us that he struggled with this issue but then realized a way around it. As he explained to us, both parties involved in a sales transaction should be happy. The customer wants/needs what you have, so you’re helping them. In turn, they are helping you because they are buying from you.

    “It’s definitely a better way to do business for somebody like me because I don’t feel like I’m taking advantage of everybody,” said Truant.

    Truant runs a different type of business and one that Sonia Simone of Copyblogger calls a “Third Tribe.” Simone coined this term to bridge the gap between the two groups that largely make up the Internet marketing crowd. The one tribe consists of marketers that are focused on selling, and the second tribe is the social media crowd that is primarily concerned about connecting.

    Simone felt that a lot of people didn’t fit into either of these categories, and, as a result, Copyblogger has built an entire brand about the concept of “Third Tribe.”

    “[It’s] the idea that the best connections lead to the best customers and so forth, and the best customers come out of creating true connections,” explained Truant.

    He went on to say that he doesn’t abide by a lot of the standards that people think are necessary for business including SEO and social media.

    “I’m really bad at SEO,” he said. “I don’t even attempt to make it work.”

    It’s not that he thinks these methods are ineffective, but it’s that he has found other ways to do business successfully. He believes so strongly in this method that he encourages others to embrace it as well.

    What do you think about these unconventional business practices?

    WebProNews is partnering with BlogWorld and New Media Expo, the world’s first and largest new media conference, in an effort to broadcast how new media can grow your business, brand, and audience. BlogWorld takes place November 3-5 in Los Angeles. Stay tuned to WebProNews for much more exclusive coverage.