Why Batman would be fantastic as a Web Strategist
This is another guest article by John Russell, a Cloud Consultant for SalesE2E, Director of CloudBaseMedia and author of Living with an Illness – 10 stages to dealing with your illness – an e-book that he’s made available for free.
Welcome John Russell.
You’re probably wondering how on earth Batman fits into Web Strategy…
Recently I was having a discussion with a mate of mine @adamregnart about how he can build his online profile as a writer using content marketing. I said to Adam, “Think of yourself as Batman”. While he assumed I was joking I went on to explain myself with the following justification:
‘The Batman Approach’
Can you remember when everyone first started using the internet? They couldn’t stop raving about free information websites and the good old MSN Messenger. Bring it forward a decade and we are drowning in an ocean of advertisements and pop-ups. While Facebook and Google – two of the most visited websites in the world – pocket millions each year, businesses all around the world are sitting around wondering how to best use web strategy for themselves.
I think that: “If you want to be the best, you have to learn from the best.” The most obvious lesson one can learn from the above examples is that they both serve an important place in our daily lives. We need these websites as much as they need us. We are currently in the information age, where the buyers are stronger than the sellers, and the only way to play the game is to play nice. Give information. Give it until you think you’ve given too much, then give some more. This is a very simple approach to content marketing.
A great example of this is the team at Bluewire Media. Their BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) is to be the ‘Google of Web Strategy.’ My understanding of this is that they would like to provide quality free information and tools for the general public to use. They only plan to make money on a small component of their offering (just like Google).
I like to think of the above as the Batman Approach. Why? You are helping others at your own expense. You pay someone to write an article, or you spend time personally to develop a template – either way you are being unselfish and helping people, just like Batman. You are creating a hub for people far and wide to use your website as a trusted information provider and service. You are not thinking about the money, you are focused on the opportunities being a ‘Good Online Samaritan’ will create.
5 Reasons Batman would be a Great Salesman…
I have thought about this long and hard. While I don’t often draw life comparisons to Super Heroes, this example was far too tempting to resist and the truth is that, in theory, Batman would be a fantastic salesperson.
1. He is confident
2. He has a great reputation for helping people
3. He puts the customer before the sale (i.e. himself)
4. He never asks for a thank you card, and
5. He doesn’t care what villain or critic gets in the way
Apply the above 5 traits to any salesperson and you have a winner!
HAPPY ENDING?
At the end of the day we all know that good always defeats evil. This is no different when it comes to business. A company that is genuinely out to help people and make a difference in society will always prosper ahead of those out to make a quick buck. My advice comes from the great Gandhi – “Be the change that you want to see in the world.” Or if that’s too hard, be Batman.
What does everyone think?
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Thank you John Russell. You can connect with John on Twitter @JohnRussellAus or by email – [email protected]
