On tech marketing and being human

When it comes to promoting Bedell Communications via social networking Web sites, I have a difficult time crossing the line between my business and personal lives (even though the line is so fuzzy in real life it can hardly be seen). And yet I gravitate toward entrepreneurs who add a personal touch to their own business communications. That’s why Chris Brogan’s blog post Ways to Be Human at a Distance immediately caught my attention.

Chris offers some great ideas for making your company personal in an impersonal world, and after meditating on his post, I’ve come to realize that there are more benefits to being personal than there are drawbacks. It’s the equivalent of calling tech support and speaking to a live, friendly person as opposed to dialing through menu after menu only to hang up feeling frustrated.

In an industry that is constantly advancing and in which customers must cut through a lot of noise, injecting personality in blog posts and social networking updates can help you stand out from the rest. It allows you to build a rapport with customers outside of the sales cycle. It can create a foundation of trust.

So what does it mean to be “personal” in tech marketing? I think about the contributors that I worked with as a tech editor. Those writers who called it like they saw it, were down to earth, and were honest about their experiences  with technology earned readers’ respect. They took a chance by being transparent about themselves, and our readers rewarded them with loyalty.

I’d like to know what you think. What are your experiences with personalization and social media? What are the challenges you’ve faced? — Crystal Bedell, Freelance Technology Writer and Content Developer