Comments on: Trust Agents 7b: Building an Army http://blog.ourchurch.com/2009/11/13/trust-agents-7b-building-an-army/ A look at how trends in communication technology impact individuals and organizations. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:59:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: OrganizedArtist http://blog.ourchurch.com/2009/11/13/trust-agents-7b-building-an-army/comment-page-1/#comment-186901 OrganizedArtist Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:46:54 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/?p=1032#comment-186901 I've recently seen the "giving product away" technique in action in a very smart, strategic way. Several creative types recently decided to start a tribe of church artists who are responsible for planning their church's Christmas services. The folks at http://www.ourshirtsdontsuck.com are a part of this group and to get interest stirred in group participation they offered a free t-shirt to the first # of folks who contributed suggestions to the group. I can't speak for everyone in the group, but I can tell you that when I needed to look for a supplier for custom print marketing materials, they were on my short list for bids. I can't speak to whether they have gotten orders out of this technique, but it is doing a great job of getting their product and services on the minds of people who can use it. I’ve recently seen the “giving product away” technique in action in a very smart, strategic way. Several creative types recently decided to start a tribe of church artists who are responsible for planning their church’s Christmas services. The folks at http://www.ourshirtsdontsuck.com are a part of this group and to get interest stirred in group participation they offered a free t-shirt to the first # of folks who contributed suggestions to the group. I can’t speak for everyone in the group, but I can tell you that when I needed to look for a supplier for custom print marketing materials, they were on my short list for bids. I can’t speak to whether they have gotten orders out of this technique, but it is doing a great job of getting their product and services on the minds of people who can use it.

]]> By: Paul Steinbrueck http://blog.ourchurch.com/2009/11/13/trust-agents-7b-building-an-army/comment-page-1/#comment-186898 Paul Steinbrueck Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:59:29 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/?p=1032#comment-186898 Susan, I think the discussion about giving away product is extremely important. I think we all believe it's better to give than receive, and genuine giving is done without expectation of receiving something in return. The challenge is that most of us would like to be able to have things like food to eat, clothes to wear, and a place to live. A person can't give everything away for free (unless you make your living from sponsors, advertisers, or other work). One way or another you've got to do things with the hope that it's going to earn you an income. Ultimately anyone who leads a tribe, does it for a reason. It could be a very selfless reason like feeding the hungry, but a tribe never exists just to serve its members. It exists to accomplish something. I think the key is for the leader to build the tribe with people who want to accomplish the same thing he or she does and then serve them in a way which enables them to accomplish that goal. Susan, I think the discussion about giving away product is extremely important. I think we all believe it’s better to give than receive, and genuine giving is done without expectation of receiving something in return. The challenge is that most of us would like to be able to have things like food to eat, clothes to wear, and a place to live.

A person can’t give everything away for free (unless you make your living from sponsors, advertisers, or other work). One way or another you’ve got to do things with the hope that it’s going to earn you an income.

Ultimately anyone who leads a tribe, does it for a reason. It could be a very selfless reason like feeding the hungry, but a tribe never exists just to serve its members. It exists to accomplish something. I think the key is for the leader to build the tribe with people who want to accomplish the same thing he or she does and then serve them in a way which enables them to accomplish that goal.

]]> By: Susan K. Stewart http://blog.ourchurch.com/2009/11/13/trust-agents-7b-building-an-army/comment-page-1/#comment-186897 Susan K. Stewart Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:31:40 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/?p=1032#comment-186897 In an online writers' group there has been a debate about giving away product. The discussion boiled down to "what can I get out of giving away my product?" This thinking is contrary to what Brogan and Smith, and others, are telling us about our new audiences. Giving is more important than getting. Ultimately we will receive back in a greater, but maybe different, way. Isn't this what the concept of serving others is all about? Slightly off topic: Is anyone else working through the Action lists? I'm going slowly through them and have found most valuable. In an online writers’ group there has been a debate about giving away product. The discussion boiled down to “what can I get out of giving away my product?”

This thinking is contrary to what Brogan and Smith, and others, are telling us about our new audiences. Giving is more important than getting. Ultimately we will receive back in a greater, but maybe different, way.

Isn’t this what the concept of serving others is all about?

Slightly off topic: Is anyone else working through the Action lists? I’m going slowly through them and have found most valuable.

]]> By: Phillip Gibb http://blog.ourchurch.com/2009/11/13/trust-agents-7b-building-an-army/comment-page-1/#comment-186894 Phillip Gibb Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:12:14 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/?p=1032#comment-186894 This kinda brings me back to Seth Godin's book Tribes. What is a Tribe? Correct me if I am wrong .. A group of people with a shared interest lead by someone who champions that interest. Building a Tribe in the context of Social Media and the Web is probably what differentiates the Kings of Social Media from the paupers (note that the King reference comes from Chris Brogan's post that Content is NOT King). A good King looks after his 'Tribe' This kinda brings me back to Seth Godin’s book Tribes.
What is a Tribe? Correct me if I am wrong ..
A group of people with a shared interest lead by someone who champions that interest.
Building a Tribe in the context of Social Media and the Web is probably what differentiates the Kings of Social Media from the paupers (note that the King reference comes from Chris Brogan’s post that Content is NOT King).
A good King looks after his ‘Tribe’

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