As I teacher, I get asked a lot of questions. I’m cool with that – I love to answer questions. It’s part of what helps me to learn – you see, if I am asked something, I need to be able to spit out an answer that makes sense (and often on the spot). That means, not only do I need to know what the heck I’m talking about (mostly), but I need to be able to articulate answers that are actually helpful. That takes practice, and plenty of preparation. But, like I said, it’s fun for me. But one of the other things about being asked a lot of questions is that it’s made me realize that, although I firmly believe there are no dumb questions, there are good ways and not-so-good ways to ask questions. Because, believe it or not, the way you ask questions can say a lot about not only the kinds of answers you get, but about your overall attitude towards things. Here’s an example: Let’s say I’m giving a workshop on social media, and someone sticks up their hand. They ask, “But what if I don’t have enough time to hang out on Twitter and Facebook? Then what should I do?”. Then let’s say in another class, someone else asks, “What are some tools I can use to make more efficient use of my time on Twitter and Facebook?” It’s essentially the same question, right? Both people are concerned about the time it could take them to use these tools. But the WAY the question is asked speaks volumes to where each person is coming from. The first person’s question uses negative language. They start off by assuming they don’t have time for social media. Their question is also pleading, almost desperate. They want me to give them an easy answer, or perhaps they want me to tell them they don’t have to do it, and let them off the hook. Either way, there are a lot of presumptions in the question, and this means one of two things can happen in the answer. First, I could get defensive, and then go to bat for the tools, extolling the virtues of Twitter and Facebook till I’m blue in the face. Unfortunately, this probably won’t convince the asker, because they’ve already made up their minds that they don’t have time. Second, I could fire back, telling them to suck it up and that if they really want to do this, they need to get a grip and just figure out a way. Either response would probably leave a bad taste in peoples’ mouths, and ultimately, nobody really learns anything. On the other hand, the second question presumes the positive. The asker realizes that it is going to be a challenge to find the time for social media activities, but they aren’t assuming they can’t do it. They assume that there is a way, because after all, other people ARE doing it. What they really need are some ideas they can try out. Their question uses active and positive language, and chances are, they are going to glean a positive response as a result. The best way to learn is to ask lots of questions. I’m convinced of that. But HOW you ask those questions will go a long, long way towards not only how much you learn, but how you’re able to put it into practice. So, before you ask a question, be sure to think about what you really want to know. Write the question down as a draft, and check to make sure you’re using positive and active language. You’ll find that much more often, you’ll get the answers you’re seeking. [photo credit: Oberazzi on Flickr]
What It Takes To Do Social Media Well
I swear, if I get asked one more time how to do social media so that it takes the least amount of time and effort possible, I’m going to snap. Here it is, straight up. If you want to do social well, it takes time. And a good chunk of it. There are no shortcuts. The other question I get asked all the time is, “How long does it take to be successful in social media?”. The fact is, there’s no cut and dry answer to that question. What is true, is that it won’t happen fast. There’s no overnight success. What I’ve learned, from watching the most successful people in the social media world, is that it takes months and years of working at it, every day. It takes getting up every morning and just hitting publish. It takes hours and hours of reading and thinking and trying things. It takes doing a bunch of stuff that doesn’t work for you, to find the few things that do work for you. Maybe this isn’t what you want to hear. Maybe you want to hear that technology will solve all your problems, that if you tweet the right way or leverage Facebook just so, or become a blogging superhero, then suddenly the cash will start rolling in and you’ll be able to rest on your laurels as your social media fans worship the ground you walk on at every unconference whose presence you choose to grace. It doesn’t work that way. I’m sorry. Actually, I’m not sorry it doesn’t work that way. You know why? Because, when I was a kid, my parents told me that nobody ever really achieves anything in this life without working for it. And they are living proof that hard work pays off, so I’m going to take their word for it. So, if it’s going to take all this hard work, then how does one start? Well, let’s assume that you’ve already figured out what you want to get out of social media (e.g. more business leads, career opportunities, social interaction, etc.). I don’t believe in a magic, one-size-fits-all formula for social media. Everyone’s situation is different. We all have different amounts of time, different levels of motivation, and even different personality traits that dictate, at least to a certain extent, how we approach this stuff. Some of us are writers. Others of us are talkers. Some fit right around the middle. Some of us are shy. Others are happy to shout from the rooftops. So, you need to sit down and take a good look at what you want to achieve, how that fits with who you are, and how you’re going to structure your time and effort to match that. Once you’ve determined how many hours a week you need to spend, multiply that by at least two. Because that’s what it takes to do social well. If you think you can pop into Twitter and Facebook for 10 minutes every couple of days and stay on top of what’s really going on in your communities, then you’ll be missing out on a lot of stuff. If you figure that updating your blog once in a blue moon is enough to get people to really know who you are, then, well, people will likely not notice much of what you’re doing there. Social media is about more than just pushing out content and hoping people show up. “If you build it, they will come” may have done the trick in 1998, but in 2011, it ain’t gonna fly. No, what it really takes to get ahead using social media is one thing, and one thing only. You need to show up. And by showing up, I don’t mean calling it in. Showing up isn’t just hovering in the back of the room. It’s sitting in the front row, sticking your hand up to answer a question. It’s being the one who eagerly participates when the teacher asks for a volunteer. It’s giving someone else a hand when they really need it. And it’s offering something of yourself in every interaction you have. And that, my friends, takes time. So, where are you at with this? Ready to dig in, spend the time? No more excuses. Let’s get our hands dirty, starting today. Who’s with me? [image credit: ladymixy-uk on Flickr]
Ottawa Entrepreneurs Come Out at Night On May 25th
Many years ago, when my business partner and I started our company, we did like many other new entrepreneurs and took a big leap. We jumped off the cliff and into the great unknown. We learned as we went, and made as many mistakes as we did things right. We were in it before the days of social media, when the web was still for the most part, a burgeoning industry. It was easy to feel alone. One thing I wished had existed back then was a way to learn from other entrepreneurs who’d “been there, done that”. Sure, there were some workshops around but they were really focused on the nuts and bolts – writing a business plan, accounting, and sales training – all important stuff, but what I really wanted was to be able to sit in a room and talk with people about the day-to-day things – like refining and developing the million or so ideas we had, using technology to more effectively market ourselves, or simple productivity tips. I wanted a place where I could feel safe, around people who were going through the same things I was going through as a new entrepreneur. Well, I’m hoping that this new group is going to help us all do just that. On May 25th, 2011 from 6:30pm to 8pm, we are launching Nighttime @ TheCodeFactory. For those of you who aren’t familiar, The Code Factory is an amazing co-working space in downtown Ottawa that’s become a real hub of activity, not only for Ottawa’s startup and entrepreneurial community, but for many great events as well. Nighttime @ TheCodeFactory is a place where anyone with a business idea they’d like to develop, refresh, or bring to the next level can come to learn some new techniques and share their experiences, and have a chance to network with fellow entrepreneurs. I’m so thrilled to have been asked to participate in this great new group. The format is simple – three sessions will be offered each evening on a variety of topics of interest to those of us who want to build and grow businesses. Then the last half hour will be a chance for all of us to convene and connect, and discuss what we’ve learned. On the inaugural night, the inimitable Shawn MacDonell from Creativision will be leading us through a session on idea generation and how to recapture your childhood ways when it comes to thinking creatively. The super smart Patti Church from WhyHire.me will be talking to us about some office productivity “gems” that she’s discovered since striking out on her own. I am excited to be showing everyone what the big deal is about social media, especially for entrepreneurs. I really hope you can join us, and as a special introductory offer, Nighttime @ The Code Factory is offering 2 for 1 admission – so, you get to bring a friend and get three informative sessions plus the group discussion for just $50. All the details and sign up info is right here…. http://nighttimetcf-eorg.eventbrite.com – seating is limited, and it’s filling up fast, so book your spots! Let’s do what we can to help each other build incredible things. Hope to see you there!
Camera Shy? You Don’t Have to Be.
It’s funny, you know…there was a time that I can remember (because I’m sort of old), when one didn’t have to ever worry about appearing in front of a video camera if they didn’t want to. It was easy to be camera shy, because not that many people had cameras to stick in your face. Nowadays, video cameras are everywhere. I’m looking around me right now and I count six, just in my office alone (ok, I know, I’m a TV producer, but even if I wasn’t I’d probably have at least 3!) No matter where you go, you can pretty much see someone shooting video in some fashion or another. And now, more than ever, people want to point that camera at you. You may even be thinking about trying to point the camera at yourself. Video is part of our culture now, and it’s one of the most effective ways to capture stories. The problem is, if you’re camera shy, the entire thought of going in front of a camera is enough to make you cringe (and possibly run screaming from the room). So what’s a camera shy future Internet maven to do? Well, after 20 years or so in the video business, I can tell you I’ve pretty well seen it all when it comes to getting nervous in front of the camera. And I can also tell you that there most definitely IS a cure for camera shyness. It does take some effort, but if you want to overcome, following these tips, as a start, can help. Look the Part Oh, I’m probably going to get an earful for this one. But honestly, if you want to feel more confident about how you look in front of the camera, you have to pay some attention to how you look…in front of the camera. Now, I’m not saying you need to bust out the Just for Men, or start wearing crimson lipstick when cosmetics aren’t your thing. But being comfortable in front of the camera means you need to be comfortable with how you look. So, comb your hair (or mess it up, if that’s what you do). Wear clothes that fit you well and that you’re comfortable wearing. Make sure the colours look good on you, and avoid anything with loud patterns or fine stripes, as these can be distracting. Don’t go overboard on jewellery – simple is best (in other words, leave the bling in your jewellery box). And most importantly, sit up straight, and smile. How to Talk to a Camera Don’t let anyone fool you – it’s really hard to stare down the lens of the camera and just “act natural” on the first go. The first few times you do it, you’ll likely feel like a complete goof. After all, you’re talking to an inanimate object. The best way to get used to talking directly into a camera is to look right through that little black circle of lens, and imagine that on the other side of it is one of the nicest, friendliest people you know. Get a clear picture of that person in your head. Now just imagine you are talking ONLY to that person. Forget who else might see this video, or who may be listening in live. Just focus on talking to that one person. If you practice with this, you’ll soon find that every time you have to talk into the camera, you’ll feel like you’re just chatting with your best friend, and your audience will feel your warmth and energy. It may not happen immediately, but just imagine that friendly face, and it will get easier. How to Be Interviewed Of course, even if you don’t ever get to the point where you’re talking into the camera, there’s always a chance someone will want to interview you. This can be just as nerve-wracking as staring down the lens. Fear of stumbling or not knowing how to answer a question are the biggest reasons people become a jumble of nerves when being interviewed. There are a couple of ways to become more confident in an interview. Preparation is key. Try to find out in advance what the subject of the interview will be (even if you just have a few words with the interviewer off camera a couple of minutes beforehand). Don’t ask what the specific questions will be, but ask the interviewer what kinds of things they’d like you to talk about. Then take a few minutes to collect your thoughts, or find any details you may need. Then, when the interview starts, just treat it like a conversation. Also, when you’re asked a question, try not to say just “yes”, or “no”. Elaborate as much as possible. Make eye contact with the interviewer. If they’re good, they will give you subtle cues, like a head nod or a blink, to let you know you’re on the right track. Don’t ramble on too long. If you feel like you’re babbling, wrap it up and let the interviewer move to the next question. Practice Makes Perfect Like anything, being comfortable in front of the camera takes practice. If you want to overcome the nerves, then you just have to get in front of the camera as much as possible. The best thing you can do is practice recording yourself. Record a bit of you talking on any topic you want, and then play it back and critique yourself. The first time you see yourself on camera you will definitely cringe. Your voice will sound funny and you’ll notice that cowlick in your hair for the first time. But the more you see yourself, the more used to it you’ll get, and the better you’ll get at presenting yourself. Practice doing interviews with a friend or colleague. Interview each other then play it back and give each other feedback. It’s the simplest and best way to get your story down and get comfortable with having that kind
How To Blog Every Day
This might be kind of a funny post coming from a gal whose blog has been known to go dormant for 2 or 3 weeks at a time, but perhaps this is a post as much for me as it is for you. I spend a lot of time talking to my students about the virtues of blogging. Not only can it make you a better writer (I’ve improved a LOT in the 4 years since I started writing here), but in my opinion, it’s one of the best ways to build a devoted audience that will follow you no matter where this wacky online world takes you. I’m trying to get serious about taking my own advice here, so I’m working hard to come up with some ways to be more consistent on this blog. My goal is to write here every day, but I realize that simply having a goal is one thing – doing what it takes to meet that goal is entirely another. Here are a few things I’m experimenting with in order to be a better blogger. Maybe it will help you too, and maybe you have your own tips you can post in the comments. Let’s do this together, shall we? Read, Watch, Write The number one thing I hear from my students and clients when it comes to blogging is, “I don’t know what to write about”. It’s true, there’s nothing more daunting than having a blank page in front of you and not knowing what to say. Everything I’ve ever learned about blogging I’ve learned from watching, reading and experiencing things. All the ideas I’ve ever gotten have been sparked, even in a small way, by things I’ve read, seen or done. My blog is simply my take on things, as yours should be too. It’s a sandbox where I can play with words and ideas, and where I can share things that I hope are of value to you. If you want to be overflowing with ideas for your blog, you need to get out and see things. You need to read voraciously. You need to meet people, and have experiences. Read every single day (and not just Twitter and Facebook updates, either). Be infinitely curious. And you’ll never be at a loss for things to blog about. Keep an Idea List We all know that inspiration is all around us, but how many times have you been inspired and then forgotten to write it down? Then when you get back to your computer, the idea is gone. Find a way to keep an idea list with you all the time. You can go old school and use a notebook and pen, but I prefer to use the device that is on my person 99% of the time – my phone. You don’t need any fancy apps, but it has to be an app that only takes you one or two clicks to get to where you can write out the idea. Use a simple note app (the default one that comes with your phone is great), or a simple to-do list app (I love Wunderlist for this). Click, type, save, repeat. The point is, you need an easy way to write out ideas when they come to you. Sometimes I have mini idea generation sessions – where I’ll just sit for a few minutes and brainstorm ideas. I can easily come up with 6 or 7 good ones in a few minutes (because I’ve read, watched and done, as in Step 1). Having a running list serves two purposes; first, it allows me to incubate on ideas…once I’ve got the basic concept, I can think about it while I’m walking the dog or cooking dinner, and the post practically writes itself in my head. Second, it gives me plenty of fodder, so when I sit down to blog, I can scan the list and write about whatever tweaks my interest at that moment. The list is critical – so get yourself going by taking 5 minutes today to sit quietly and write down 6 or 7 things you’re interested in writing about. Consistency is Key This is the one I have the hardest time with. But I’m learning that the secret to blogging consistently is to find the time to do it every single day. It has to be in your schedule, part of your routine, and eventually it will be a habit. When you blog doesn’t matter, what matters is that you do it every day. You don’t have to publish every single day, but write something – a partial post, a post you can bank for later, that’s fine. But write. Something. There’s no rule except you just need to write some every day. Then you’ll never be at a loss for the next step. Just Hit Publish This one gets a lot of folks. How many partially written blog posts do you have sitting around right now? Are they partially done because you’re a bit nervous to put them out there? That’s perfectly natural. I get nervous every time I hit the “Publish” button. But I do it anyway, because if I don’t put my stuff out here for the world to see I’m not respecting myself and the time I’ve spent thinking and writing. If I don’t make myself a bit vulnerable to whatever the reaction to my thoughts might be, then I’ll never grow as a writer or a professional. So just write something. Read it through for grammar and spelling and clarity. Then just hit the darn publish button, already. (Or I’ll come over there and push it for you.) Your Homework Hey, I’m a teacher, I can’t help myself. Here’s what I want you to do. Go open a new document right now, or turn on your web cam. Spend a few minutes reflecting on the things you’ve read, seen, or done in the past few days. Pick something. Start writing (or
Random Thoughts About Relationships
I’ve been thinking about relationships a lot this week. Mostly because I’ve spent a great deal of time in the past few days with some very special people – people that I don’t see face to face every day, or even every year, for that matter. These are relationships that have been mostly forged in the online world. In a post earlier this week, I talked about how getting to know people online really helps the in-person time to evolve more quickly…small talk is out of the way, and the whole process of getting to understand someone’s story is expedited through things like blog posts. But I think there almost always comes a point in any relationship where you cannot take it any further until you can see the other person in front of you, look them in the eye, and hear their voice. I met a few people this week that, until the moment we saw each other in in person, we had only ever communicated via text. We already knew plenty about each other, so the meeting was automatically comfortable. There were abundant hugs. Smiles and laughter filled the space between us. And we walked away from the moment feeling more connected, a connection that is now cemented firmly in our relationship. We are now somehow different. With friends I’ve met in person previously, it’s different again. In the big scheme of things, I’ve only really ever spent a few hours with them. However, we have spent countless hours communicating with one another online. It’s how we’ve gotten to where we are in our friendships. So when we do meet, and we have an opportunity to breathe the same air for a while, it moves us forward yet again. Then we walk out of the room and back into the online world, but we feel closer to each other because we have been able to share each others’ company for a bit. I guess what I’m realizing is that as much as there is tremendous power in building relationships online, and as much as one can grow close to others in this way, there is really no replacement for face to face time. I think that’s because, as my wise friend Liz says, it takes the relationship experience from your head to your heart. And after this week, I think my heart is at least twice the size. Thank you, my friends.
The Spaces Between
When I was in high school, I had the best art teacher. He not only allowed us to explore and express our creativity in myriad ways, he also spent a good chunk of time talking to us about what art really is, and what to pay attention to in order to make our art better. One day, as we were doing a class on drawing techniques, my teacher told us that “drawing is not about the lines and shapes you’re making. It’s about the spaces between the lines and shapes. If you pay attention to those spaces, you’ll be a better artist.” Well, I never did get very good at drawing, but his lesson has certainly stuck with me. Too often in life, we spend all of our time focused on the content of everything. We sit in a room full of people and focus more of our time on judging them than listening to what they have to say. We rush through our days from one thing to another without really noticing anything. Then we wonder why we don’t fit in, or why our life seems like a blur. Try this: Look up from this screen and at something around you, preferably out a window. Instead of looking at the objects, (“I see a car”, “I see a man in a green jacket”), look at the space in between the objects. Do it now, for a few minutes. I’ll wait. What do you notice? At first, you’ll probably see nothing. But keep looking. Just observe the space without judging. It’s hard, but eventually you’ll see it. The space between is what connects everything. And the minute you spend more time focusing on the space between things – whether physical objects, experiences or moments in time – things will no longer seem like such a blur. You will no longer habitually pass judgement. And many things will become much more sharply in focus. Life is art, in more ways than we expect.
Friends I’ve Never Met
Tonight, I’m going to get into a car with three people I’ve never met and drive to Wisconsin. 10 years ago…heck, 5 years ago, this would have been a ludicrous statement. It would have raised all sorts of questions, especially from my Mom. “You’re getting in a car with WHO?” “What do you mean you’ve never met them before?” “You’re just going to drive to Lord-knows-where with a bunch of strangers? Are you nuts?” Of course, the people I’m driving with are not strangers. I know them from the Internet. That in itself may seem a little nuts to some…but not me. I live online. Sure, I have friends that I see every day, in person. I DO spend a lot of time with people in the offline world. But I have a LOT of online friends too. Some I’ve had the joy of meeting in person. Others I haven’t yet, but I will be soon. Still others, I may never meet in person. But that doesn’t make them any less my friends. This is a new era. When the telephone was invented, most people didn’t use it. They didn’t see the point of “calling” someone, to only hear their voice on the other end. It was far more effective to be in someone’s presence. One couldn’t possibly maintain a relationship (personal or professional) with someone only via telephone. The in-person was critical. Nowadays, of course, we couldn’t live without telephones. The telephone connected our world. Families traveled more. Businesses expanded their reach. It was the dawn of a new era of communication. The Web has created an entirely new era, and there are some key differences between how the Web connects us and how the telephone does. The first is the Web’s randomness (or serendipity, as I prefer to call it). In the olden days, you wouldn’t just pick up the phone and start dialing random numbers and striking up conversations with people. But on Twitter, that’s exactly what we do. The randomness of online social tools allows us to link up with people we would otherwise never have met. I mean, before the social Web, it would have been unlikely that this Canadian TV producing girl would have ever had the chance to meet and become good friends with a pastor from Indiana, right? The second thing about the Web that makes it different from other forms of communication is that it leaps us forward quickly. We become closer friends faster, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, we get the small talk out of the way, in many cases 140 characters at a time, so when we finally meet in person, we are already past the “getting to know you” phase. We are no longer just acquaintances…we’re friends. Secondly, we get to know each other a lot better in the online world. If I read your blog and follow your tweets regularly, I will get a really good sense of who you are; the things you care about, how you interact with others, and others’ impressions of you, too. These things go a long way to help me get a sense what you’re all about, so when we meet, we already have a rapport and a dynamic. This evening, I look forward to good food, lots of laughter, and friendly faces, as I travel the road with friends I’ve never met.
The Lull
I’ve been in a lull the past couple of weeks. They happen sometimes. I used to despise lulls; they made me nervous. You see, being self-employed, I figured if I wasn’t continuously swamped-busy working 16 hours a day on 20 different projects, then my business was doomed to failure. And if the dreaded lull hit – you know, that point in time when you’re finishing up these projects and waiting to start these other ones – then I felt panicked – like I was missing something, or like business was drying up. Do you ever get that feeling? The lull usually happens for me around this time of year. My classroom teaching at the college has wrapped up, and I have a break for a couple of weeks while my online courses refresh for the summer session. Typically the client projects we started late last year are finishing their cycle, wrapping up or transitioning to the next phase. All in all, things get a bit quieter for a couple of weeks. Nowadays, rather than panic about the lull, I appreciate and embrace it. I look at the lull as an opportunity, a gift. In fact, the lull can be an extremely productive and satisfying time. Here are a few things you can do with the lull: Spring Cleaning I’m not just talking about cleaning your physical office or desk. That should be done too, but for most of us, that’s an afternoon project. I’m talking about doing a cleanup of your systems and processes. Start with your email inbox, because that’s where so many of us get hung up. Clear out the old messages, file what you need to keep and deal with anything that needs to be dealt with. Then move onto your computer files. Go through your folders and archive any items you don’t need cluttering up your dropbox or portable hard drive. Make sure your filing system is working for you, and re-organize files and folders as needed. Meet with your team and review some of your collaborative tools and processes – what’s working? What’s not working? Figure out how you can improve communication and collaboration (Hint: there’s always room for improvement here). Using the lull to get on top of your systems again will only serve to benefit you when the day to day picks up to full speed again. Focus Inward One of the best features of the lull is that the phone will not ring as often, and the email inbox will not fill up quite as quickly. The lack of these common distractions leaves you more quiet time during the day….time that can be used for any number of inward-focused things. It’s often a great time to form a new habit, such as planning more healthy meals or getting daily exercise. It’s time for you to be able to sit, and reflect on your career, your business, your personal life, and the balance of these things. It’s the time for you to get your head on straight and make important decisions you’ve been putting off. It’s time for YOU. Take advantage of this time – it is fleeting. Before you know it, you’ll be back to the mayhem and your focus will be forced to shift. Do it NOW! You know all those things you never have the time to do when you’re crazy busy? Well, no time like the lull to work on getting some of those things done! Remember the blog you have been neglecting? (Guilty!!) How about the book outline you’ve been dreaming about working on? That writing for the Web course you’ve been meaning to take? With the lull comes the time to actually work on some of those things you’ve been putting off. And the cool thing about getting started on something is, once you’ve got the momentum, you won’t be able to stop, even when things pick up again! Plot, Plan and Do Of course, the lull is the perfect time to do some planning. Review the goals you set at the beginning of the year, and make necessary adjustments. Figure out what you’ve achieved and what you have left to do. Is there a phone call you can make, or an email you can send today that will get you a step closer to your goals? Now is the time to figure out what work you can do, and then actually get going on doing it. The lull is the perfect place to get some real planning done. After all, you don’t want to the lull to last too long – so use this time to determine where you want to get to, and then take action that will get you closer! My lulls are actually some of my most productive time now. I find it a time of rejuvenation and focus. And it makes me stronger and better prepared to face things once the lull ends and I am back at full steam ahead. How do you make use of your lulls? [photo credit: Daniel*1977 on Flickr]
MarketSharing: A Different Kind of Daily Deals Site
I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting tools and sites. Many of them get featured on the podcast I do with my friend Stefan Halley (@LostInSweden) on I Can Haz Podcast, and I’ll often post some of the neat ones here too – especially the ones that are of particular interest to entrepreneurs like myself. It seems like daily deal sites are a dime a dozen these days. Everyone is getting in on the action of offering serious discounts based on a certain number of users signing up for a particular deal. It’s big business, and the average consumer is cashing in on some cool new products, and companies are getting big marketing bang for their buck. Everyone wins, and that’s why these types of sites are so successful. Personally, I don’t derive a lot of value from those sites – I’m not much of a shopper, online or off, and although I like a good bargain as much as the next person, I am not inclined to seek them out unless it’s a product I really want. However, my sense of getting a good deal changes when I consider if it’s of value to my business. And that’s where I think MarketSharing is onto something. They are taking the tried and true daily deals concept and applying it directly to the B2B world. In other words, they are seeking out deals that matter to me as a business person – things that can directly have value to my business, like deals on conferences, office supplies, that sort of thing. But they have some other cool features too – in addition to the “deal of the day” site, there is also a membership option for businesses, and a loyalty-based option for employees of businesses. This is intriguing to me, because it makes the relationships between the vendors and the companies the most important thing – and if you ask me, that’s far more valuable than a one time 50% discount on copy paper. I’m very interested to see where things go with MarketSharing, and social daily deal sites in general. I think over time we are going to see a shift from just focusing on saving a buck here and there to finding clever ways to really build consumer loyalty and relationships between various different types of businesses. If you’re interested, MarketSharing is currently offering a special introductory deal that I think is worth checking out. They have a half-price ticket deal for the Silicon Alley Insider Startup Conference in New York on Tuesday May 10 in New York. To access the deal AND get a $25 credit to use on MarketSharing with no expiry date (open to first 1,000 people to redeem the code, just go to the MarketSharing website and register with your email address and the code BLOGVIP (not case-sensitive). This will allow you to check out the daily deals on MarketSharing, as well as purchase the half-price ticket for the Startup event (and get $25 credit into the bargain). What do you think about daily deal sites, and particularly those geared towards businesses? Is it something you’d consider using? Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.