Social Branding

A few days ago, The Viral Garden posted an interesting blog on the future of business and branding. The basic statement was that the sooner businesses could immerse themselves in social media, listen to their customers wants and needs, and involve their customers in the development and marketing of their products, the more successful they will be in the future as more and more people flock to online social networks to find community and information about products.

Well, this got me thinking about church. In the blog, More on the Future of Business, Company A was mentioned as the company that "continues to attempt to tell its customers what they SHOULD think and feel about its products" ('products' here being the 'church' and 'customers' being 'church attenders'). On the other hand, Company B "and its customers create its brand together."

In other words, so many times church leaders/people get caught up in telling people how church should be done, instead of taking the time to listen, ask questions and talk to the people who are the church.

I am no expert, lets get that on the table. But one thing I have learned is to love and seek out the thoughts, intricacies, and desires of other people. The reason is because I have found that their ideas so many times lead me to better ideas and a richer view of the overall picture.

I hope we can all learn to truly listen to what others have to tell us. The kind of listening that goes against my preconceived notions. The kind of listening that challenges me to change. The kind of listening that isn't followed by an immediate answer....

Of course...I'm working through all this, too.