Jan
Kill Them With Kindness
by admin
The world is full of cynical people and with the marketing techniques that have become popular over the years, it’s getting even worse. Not to mention that the Internet has a large percentage of those cynical people populating it. So what ends up happening is people get blown away when they find true kindness. This is not necessarily one of the best ways to say this, but you should take advantage of this and "kill them with kindness."
The problem that most people will have with this concept is that the kindness has to be genuine. You have to truly feel like doing good for your fellow man for them to believe you. Get into that mindset now, especially if you’re just starting off. Get in the habit of giving to any community you join, and if you’re a blogger, you’re automatically in the "community" of bloggers.
A great side effect of this is that you’ll feel great about it. You won’t feel like you’re doing "blackhat" methods of gaining readership, selling products, etc., but in the long run you will gain even more readers and sell even more products than you ever thought possible. Gaining trust takes a long time. So never, ever do something to break that trust once it’s earned or your profits and readers will drop like a (insert cliché here).
Some ways of giving that don’t cost you cash:
- Stumble posts you like. Don’t be stingy with these. If you like them, Stumble them. People watch their stats like a hawk. They’ll know you did it. So no need to tell them. The Internet is not as anonymous as people would lead you to believe.
- Do the same with Digg.
- Comment on posts where you feel you can contribute to the conversation. And don’t feel bad about leaving a link to your site. And don’t worry about "nofollow." So what if the search engines won’t come to your site from that link. The owner of the blog just might.
- Vote for the authors. If there’s a rating system in the community you join, vote for the authors you like. Recommend the authors you like. Act like you’re their campaign manager and get them "elected into office."
- Talk about other sites on your own site. Give honest recommendations for other sites. People will love you for it and every "Thank You" you receive will make you more and more willing to do this more often.
There are many other ways to give. Find some on your own. If you happen to design graphics and pass by a site that you know could use some help, send them a free mock up of a banner or logo that they might like. Be nice about it of course.
See, that’s the key, it was said in the movie "Road House" (I hear the groans already. I liked the movie. Leave me alone.) over and over again in one scene, but it’s the truth: "Be nice." I don’t care if someone just called you the worst person in the world, be nice (You don’t have to Stumble his/her post though). If you get frustrated, go hit a boxing bag. It’s good exercise. But be nice (To other people. Not the bag. Beat the crap out of the bag if you need to).
Remember, the key to this is you have to be truly sincere about it. People smell a fake from a mile away. There’s a difference between being nice and being a suck up. A suck up never disagrees. It’s ok to disagree, but be nice.
Speaking of being nice, make sure to thank Colin for letting me guest post here. It’s been an honor.
Tags: bloggers, community, giving, kindness, marketing
Category Guest Posts |
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I must say that this is a very touching article and I agree with the idea that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Thanks for sharing this idea of being kind to others, I’ll apply this in my activities. Kind regards
Nice Post! It is good that there are still some kind people out there.
A lot of really great points here. I’m just learning the ropes in the blogging community, but I do try to do many the things you mention above… because I know how much time and effort I put into my blog and how rewarding it is when someone notices. I appreciate their kindness and I like to share it where I can. Thanks for offering more suggestions on passing on kindness.
It really is good to keep in mind that the person on the other side of the screen is a real person with real feelings. I find that following the old saying “do unto others” does go a long way. This is simply because, as you said, so many people seem to believe that hiding behind a screen name means that you can say and do anything you please on the net and never “get caught”. However, I believe things we do, good or bad, come around eventually.
This is so true. Most people I’ve come across online are also willing and eager to reciprocate kindness.
I also have a little tid bit to share for those of you who sell products or are also in ecommerce. If you are super nice to customers making an inquiry before a purchase, and they do not end up purchasing from you because they are looking for a different product or something you don’t carry, point them to a reliable competitor.
Crazy you say? why point them someplace else?
Because I’ve done this a couple of times, and believe it or not, the person found what they were looking for else where, but they also posted a favorable review of their experience with my business on their site/blog/forum and mentioned how helpful my business was, which brought me more customers.
Win for my competitor, and win for me with free word of mouth advertising. My competitor also respects me.
Not everything in business needs to be cut throat, and remember your online reputation follows you areound as much as your real life reputaton does.
Nice post and I enjoyed my visit here, I’ll be back
Mike, I think it’s funny that you wrote this post and I would like you to check this one at my site. You will see that kindness really does mean a lot especially to the newbies just starting out.
Colin, I wrote a thanks to you also. Same post.
The problem with the internet is that people can become self centered. They don’t realize helping others in turn helps themself.
Great post Saphrym. I guess I am doing your number 3 after doing #1 already
I love your post. I am fairly new to Blogging, have three sites , and have found the same thing about the internet in general. Cynical! I prefer to take your approach. Everywhere I go, I try to Stumble, Digg, or leave a comment, click on ads, or all the above. Even, when people don’t reciprocate. I feel that whatever kindness I put out there will eventually come back to me .
Thanks for your post…
Thanks for the kind words everyone. It’s nice to know that kind people exist, even on the Internet.
I applaud you for a beautiful post. Kindness trully exist from someone who recognizes it. It’s great that there are people like you who does
Great post. Basically, what goes around comes around. I comment where I would comment anyways and stumble what I like and every now and then, SU hits start flowing in.
You are right about commenting where nofollow is used, especially on the bigger blogs. You can get a stream of traffic just from the people following that link.
Thank you everyone for your comments on this great post by Mike, and thanks Mike for dropping by to respond personally
No problem Colin. Glad everyone liked the post.
Great post, and you are so right! Sometimes I have sat back and watched, some people do mistake kindness for weakness as well, and will ride that out to the end of the track to come in first. So, sometimes you have to walk cautiously.
Although there are other times, that it is just what it is…
We had a new saleswoman start about 2 months ago, there were two of us who willingly helped her out and upon the signing of her first contract, she brought both of us a thank you gift, that was totally unexpected and unnecessary, but truly something that I will forever remember. It mattered to her, that our kindness helped her.
Kill Them With Kindness…
This is a fantastic eye opening article about the value of kindess, if more people would put the kind face forward and be willing to help others, our world would clearly be a better place. Don’t mis-represent it though, and realize it’s value.&…
As a proud recipient of ARK (acts of random kindness, which I plan to write about at some time), I enjoy reading this kind of stuff. Too many people, although they may mean well, act in such a way as to be perceived as anything but nice.
@Sue: I agree about it being taken for a sign of weakness. Some people just take you for a fool and then get REALLY upset if you ever say no.
@Marshall: True sentiments and thx for the Zoom
@RT: A sheep in wolves clothing?
I also agree with the sign of weakness, however that’s why I added this: “There’s a difference between being nice and being a suck up. A suck up never disagrees. It’s ok to disagree, but be nice.”
I’ve had to turn people down on things before. I’ve just done it in a very nice way. If people take it wrong and start getting upset, I stand my ground, but I’m nice about it.
@RT - Ooops. You caught me. I secretly hate everyone. Ooops. Did I type that out loud?
This is great Colin. I always do comment, link, and stumble. Not necessarily all 3, or in order. Kindness makes this blog world goes around.
@Mike: Ha! We’re on to you now…
@Rudy: As long as we do something without trying to manipulate or expect something in return we all grow.
Kill Them With Kindness…
the key to this is you have to be truly sincere about it. People smell a fake from a mile away. There’s a difference between being nice and being a suck up. A suck up never disagrees. It’s ok to disagree, but be nice….
i am learning lately so i am doing now here what i don’t do before, commenting. I do believe that comments make the blogger appreciated and recognized.
so this is an affirmation that this post is the kind that I would like to read, reminder of how blogger should be more humane in appreciating other people’s blogs.
bravoooo…
@Peter: Well done
You absolutely must comment on other’s blogs, you get backlinks and encourages networking.
This is a great post. So many easy ways to be kind to others, and it really only does take a few extra minutes.
What I find is that when you are genuinely trying to help others, it comes back to you way more anyway. I think that’s cool
@Heather: Karma in action
[…] This month I guest posted at EntreCard Forever. I also had Mike (Saphrym) guest post here with Kill Them With Kindness. If anyone wants to guest post here, the doors are open. I am also available for guest […]
Nice Post! Colin, It is good that there are still some kind people out there. thanks for sharing information.
Been “internet marketing” for about a decade now and have never had as much fun as I do now blogging! In a world of “what’s in it for me?” blogging allows you to escape into worlds that you never thought you had the time for before, but wouldn’t miss now for anything! Been in a people helping people mode since my first “ezine” and it’s great to entrecard my way to a site doing just that
Sorry I ramble, but I enjoyed myself!