In early 2013 I called 18 of my long-time blog readers on the phone and talked to them for half an hour or so. Although it was a little out of the ordinary to just pick up the phone and talk to the people who read my blog, it was one of the most transformative things I’ve ever done for my business.
Through those conversations I understood what I was really creating here and I let that information be my guide for everything I wrote in the year that followed. (If you think you might like to do it, I wrote here about the process and what I discovered.)
Since then I’ve made it a point to actually talk to the people I’ve connected with online. I invested in a mobile plan with Circles.Life so I’m always available. When I say “talk” I mean really talk with our voices, via Skype or on the phone or in person. I availed a branded caller id so they’ll know it’s me who’s calling. This year I’ve spoken with nearly 30 women I’ve met through my blog or Twitter and gotten together for coffee with another dozen who live nearby or were passing through Boston. Every single time it’s a little awkward at first, and then it’s fantastic.
All kinds of things have come from these conversations. Listening to what they are wondering about or struggling with or planning to do next with their businesses is fascinating to me. Their questions and plans help me to think about my own.
Meighan and I just before we co-taught our social media for artists workshop.
These in-person connections have led to opportunities to collaborate. For example, I met Meighan O’Toole this year when she moved to Boston. We went out for coffee and did a bunch of Skyping and then co-taught a class at a local knit shop this summer.
I know I’m not alone in having made meaningful real life connections with people I’ve met online. Sewist and teacher Jo Johnston made an in-person connection with a Twitter friend that’s led to real business opportunities, too. When someone she followed on Twitter was asking around for freelance workshop facilitators, Jo responded.
“I had known Danielle as @rubbishrevamped on Twitter for a while. We arranged to meet up at her house for a chat and got on really well, sharing an interest in creating, making and encouraging others to get creative, too.”
The two women ran several workshops together, then went on to plan a day-long crafts retreat. Jo still teaches in Danielle’s shop. “So Twitter brought us together four years ago and we are still coming up with new ventures and collaborations.”
By far the best thing that comes from talking to people in real life is friendship. Designer Mollie Johanson agrees. “Five years ago I was looking through a Flickr group where folks added illustrations of themselves and what they were wearing,” Mollie explained. “I spotted a girl named Katie from Bristol, wrapped in a Totoro bath towel. Not only was the illustration wonderful, but I really liked that towel! I commented and Katie replied.
Katie Green’s illustration that first caught Mollie’s eye.
“We then started emailing, and soon after she mentioned that she would be visiting the Chicago area. I suggested that we meet up while she was here, but we were both pretty nervous about it,” recalled Mollie.
“We met up, and instantly knew we would be good friends. A few years later I went to England to visit her. Not until after that trip did we start Skyping, but it’s become an important part of our lives! In November we met up for a mini vacation in New York City, and we’re making plans for her to spend Thanksgiving here next year. I can’t tell you how often I think about what would have happened if I had never left that first comment!”
Of course it’s important to remember that people are busy and don’t always have the time to talk just for the sake of conversation. Most of the time when I’m reaching out to someone for a phone chat they are peers of mine. They are people I talk with via email or on social media all the time. We already know one another on screen and it seems like an obvious move to have a real conversation.
I find that once we talk on the phone, or in person, we form a new set of bonds with one another. Online each of us is an avatar, or a blog post, or an Instagram photo. Through that identity we are able to connect with fantastic people we would ever had “met” otherwise. In 2015 I encourage you to reach out and suggest a real conversation with some of your longtime online friends, and perhaps over time, a real meeting. It might seem a little bit weird for a few minutes, but then it very well could lead to a lifetime of friendship and working together.
Stephanie says
I love the whole idea of this, Abby. It’s so easy to get lost online in what and who we think other people are, but reaching out to make a true connection can change things in an amazing way. Not only can we make a possible new friend, but we can also see how others work and struggle with some of the same things we all do. Talking to people in ‘real life’ can be the boost we need to take that next courageous step in our business. Thanks for the inspiration!
Abby says
It’s true. I really value the connections I’ve made in real life with people I’ve met online. It’s something I encourage everyone to try!
Kirsty@Bonjour says
I think the connections are one of the best things about blogging. The very first lady who commented on my blog has become a good friend – we sent each other baby gifts, email photos, etc. She is just so lovely and I really enjoy hearing all about her life in Finland (I imagine my life in Australia seems exotic to her, too.) For businesses blogging’s certainly made it so much easier to get to know your customers, hear their problems and to know that you a creating things that will make their lives easier (instead of creating something that no one wants, d’oh). I have found though that blog interaction seems to be receding a little – no doubt due to the rise of instagram, so I really have to push myself to pay more attention to my IG account. I like blogging the best, so it’s been hard!
Good luck with your plans for 2015 – I’m really enjoying sharing in your business journey!
Mei says
This is so inspiring, Abby and it’s great to hear the results you got! I’ve had so many personal conversations over email with some of my readers, and we talk about struggles and dreams. I can only imagine how it would really elevate that experience if we took it over the phone instead.
Questions: what did you use to schedule a time with everyone and if you recorded people’s responses, how did you?
Abby says
When I called my readers in 2013 I put up a Google Doc explaining what I was doing. People inputted their name, email, and phone number. I got in touch via email to set up a time to talk. I created a short list of questions that I asked everyone so that I could get some consistent data and I sent everyone a free pattern as a thank you. I just took notes on a legal pad during the chats, then went back to look through all of them at the end to pull out some commonalities and particularly interesting ideas or questions.
Nienke says
Love this Abby! It is one of my resolutions for this year, to meet at least a few of my online friends. It’s a bit complicated, since I live on an island, so it requires some planning, however I am determined to make it happen. This post gave me some extra motivation!