Today we are going to talk about something very important that can make or break your business, and that is a tribe.
What is a Tribe?
A Tribe is a group of your social media friends who have banded together over nothing more than a particular shared interest. That interest could be to support a cause, to promote a band, to make money, or what ever else they want to do. Basically, the Tribe bands together to help other members out.
My Tribe consists of other home based business owners that want to make a difference in this world as well as make some money along the way. My Tribe understands that in order for us to be successful in our own personal lives we must help other people be successful first because when they become successful we too will be successful. It’s just how it works…and it DOES work!
So what we do is promote each other’s content. PERIOD! There are some “Tribal Leaders” that say, “Well, I will promote their educational content but I will not promote any of their money making products or services because if I do that I will be putting money in their pockets and none in mine.” This is a totally wrong way of thinking and if you are A Tribal Leader that thinks this way you may have your Tribal members for a while but you will eventually lose your members because they are going to see that you are not fully committed to their cuase or mission.
Like I said, build other people up, help them succeed, and you too will succeed and rise to the top!
Now a Tribe is different from a Community. Here is how Michael Dell explains the significance of a Community. He has what’s called the “3 Cs” which is Content, Commerce, and Community. Michael Dell said that in order for you to be the leader on the internet you need to have Good Content. You need to offer something of value to the people. Then you need Commerce. You need to sell something that people want or need. But nothing will happen if you don’t have a Community of people that will support and follow you.
The Community won’t happen until you get with a few good Tribal Leaders that will help you promote yourself and your product or service. The Tribe comes first, the Community will follow. But the great thing is that the community will not only follow you, they will follow all the members in your Tribe because you all will be promoting each other and be seen as “The Elite” or the leaders and experts in the field you are representing.
How do you form a Tribe?
All you really need to do is just ask a few people if they would be in agreement to start promoting each others content (educational and fancial). Normally you want to seek out people that have similar interests as you do.
From that piont you will be promoting their content on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace, and where ever else you can. Naturally they will be doing the same.
What if they don’t keep their end of the bargain?
For me it’s a two step process. First, I would send them an email to see if they are OK, having problems, stuck on something, and to see if I can help in any way. If they say they are good, but still don’t promote your content then I would just drop them and find someone else out there that is more reliable. Believe me, there are pleanty of people out there that would be willing to partner up with you.
Things happen in people’s lives, circumstances change, and people change. Sometimes people are all gung-ho when they first start then lose their momentum if they get frustrated. That’s OK, this business may not be for them. So just find someone else to take their place, but the important thing is to make sure you hold each other accountable. You need to keep your end of the bargain and they need to keep theirs.
Once you start your Tribe and everyone is putting out each other’s content you will soon see people wanting to correspond with you and wanting to know what you’re all about. The more valuable content you put out the faster your community will grow.
So that is a brief summary as to what a Tribe is and how a Tribe can help build your business fast!
My challenge to you is if you do not have a Tribe yet seek out a few people and start your own Tribe.
Now I want to leave you with a short video of Seth Godin talking about the importance of Tribes. Enjoy!
If you like this please comment and retweet! I greatly appreciate it!
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Michael
Great post!
I couldn’t agree more with your advice. Having a tight tribe can make all the difference. It is all about paying it forward and helping other people out!
To your success
Melissa Collins
Melissa Collins´s last blog ..Setting up a new ONLINE MARKETING business? Are you feeling OVERWHELMED or in INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
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Great Job Michael! It really is about understanding that we are not in competition…we are all in this together trying to make a difference in our world! If we have some great things to share from our own hearts it will be different than what anyone else has to contribute. In that way we can work together to help everyone succeed! Blessings my friend!
Bruce Backman´s last blog ..Fly Fishing…a slice of life!
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Michael, Great article on tribes. I like your solution to those who don’t keep their end of the bargain. And you’re right, it’s all about valuable content. Also love the video. It’s one to watch over and over.
Keep up the great work and the great content!
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Hey Michael,
I was so glad to see you write this one up! Very well said and it was great to hear in all out loud as we saddle up on this adventure together.
I’m amazed by the caliber of people that are connecting with others and supporting each other on the social media sites. This is a wave that can do a lot of good if the right intentions are in mind…
Looking forward to more of your insights and leadership!
Kary´s last blog ..I Was A *Clueless Marketer* Without The Online MLM Mastermind System
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Hello Michael,
Those who are committed to others, who are willing to give of themselves, and thus prove their worth and value as leaders almost always rise to the top.
You clearly are that type of individual, leading, helping encouraging and staying committed to your tribe!
It’s a pleasure being one of your tribal members.
Thanks for sharing some of Seth Goodin’s insights with us.
All the best,
Joe
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Hey everyone! Thanks for the great comments! I really appreciate it and agree with you all! Tribes are where it’s at and it’s where we are going to grow our business!
Let’s do this together!!!
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It sounds like tribes promote win/win marketing instead of win/lose marketing. That is a great quote from Michael Dell.
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Michael Feil Reply:
August 8th, 2009 at 4:06 PM
Chuck,
Tribes are one of the best ways to help grow your business. My business grew super fast once I started hooking up with my tribe members.
If you don’t have a tribe yet I suggest you get with a few people and put together a great plan how you each can support each others business.
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I think this is right on and so many groups can use this concept. Collaborative efforts are not only more powerful naturally, but rewarding as well. Relationships and team building on the internet can be done anyplace, anytime and is very relevant to today’s socialnomic trend.
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Michael,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts here. Many can already see the effectiveness of applying the fundamentals you talk about. I am one of them. Thank you to our pal, Kary, who pointed me to look at your stuff today.
Now that I’ve read this, I’m going to pass it along to some of my closest contacts to explore our own application of the very things you share.
Thank you again! I still look forward to meeting up with you face-to-face as we talked about recently.
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this is a great article Michael,
I have just learn’t this over the last few weeks,
that the synergy of a group and helping one another is very powerful.
it helps building a network so much easier.
its important to get with a tribe.
jean´s last blog ..“How to Back up your Word Press Blog Autamatically”
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Thanks for sharing Michael!
You can really see first hand in the medium of internet/social marketing that helping others succeed FIRST and being a GIVER naturally brings you success.
Happy Holidays & Fabulous New Year!
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Hi Michael,
Thanks for sharing this post. The tribe movement is, indeed, very powerful. It can also be discouraging if the members do not support each other. You are right that if a member is not responsive or helpful, that you should just move on and find others who are. There are too many people in the world craving what we have but have not been shown the opportunity yet. Loved Seth’s video, too.
Theresa Moss´s last blog ..Quick Marketing Tip – Time Limited Bonuses
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Ok so I get it, we all want the same thing…Peace, Freedom, Financial Power, etc…but please realize that if we are only thinking of ourselves, we are in it for the wrong reasons. In the meantime we will make it so much harder on ourselves. So do we want the best path with the least resistance or are you going to choose the path with the most resistance? Your choice, but the faster you figure this out the easier you will make it on yourselves. Thanks for helping us see the POWER of teamwork!
Emmie
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Great information and a powerful video. Thanks for sharing!
Kitara R. Wilson
Kitara R. Wilson´s last blog ..My Original Welcome Message…Sorta
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