Why FIR is so important

… and just to demonstrate how these things pass on from one to another…

Dear Lee, what an eloquent and generous post. I don’t want to start a barrage of blogger backslapping and podcaster praising but – as yet – I’m neither blogger nor podcaster, so I can write this safe in the knowledge that it will stop here.

So Mr. Hopkins, yours was the first blog I subscribed to when I wanted to bring myself up-to-date with what was happening in the world of business communications before returning to work from a year’s maternity leave early this year.

That quickly led me to your podcast and the snowball effect began. I’m now a podcast junkie and a frequent contributor to several shows and blogs, not just in our field of work.

Until recently, I realise that I and some of my colleagues have been, what David Phillips termed in one of his recent contributions to FIR, a ‘stranded evangelist’. Working within large blue chip corporations as an internal communications specialist and selling the benefits of social media to your leadership teams is an exciting experience, but it can be frustrating too.

So, I hope you’ll permit me to tell you why I think what you and your podcasting partner Allan Jenkins do is also very important!

* Finding Lee and Allan’s podcast was like finding two ‘virtual’ allies. Their commitment and honesty has provided the information and support I and my communications colleagues have needed to get the social media discussions started at the companies we’ve worked with

* Lee and Allan are never afraid to be controversial, always provoking stimulating dialogue and lively exchange

* Lee and Allan take what they do seriously, but are never too serious about it. In fact their warmth, good humour and sense of fun are what keep me tuned in

* Lee and Allan are always quick to credit others when they have learned something new from them, directing listeners/readers to other useful resources

* Lee and Allan actively seek input from their community, don’t appear to moderate contributions and respond graciously and intelligently – even to the odd discourteous comment!

* Lee and Allan have never introduced a whiff of ‘plugging’ into their conversations. Every post and every podcast is delivered in a genuine spirit of openness and cooperation

* Lee and Allan’s websites are truly outstanding and they have introduced me to some fantastic web tools that, as a business communicator and busy working mum who likes to stay connected, have proved to be absolutely invaluable. Among many others these include: GreatNews RSS Reader, Second Life and Skypecasting

* Lee and Allan have also introduced me (though they don’t know this yet) to a global network of incredibly smart marketers, communicators, bloggers, podcasters and thought leaders from whom I have drawn great inspiration and encouragement, either on or off-line. Fantastic blogrolls guys!

So, Lee and Allan, in case you’re still wondering whether your audience reach is “small”, as you discussed on one of your recent podcasts, here is some evidence to the contrary.

Even reaching just one or two of us means ‘touching’ many more. For example, though only a few of the many communicators I associate with are regular subscribers to your feeds (the others are missing out say I), we are the ones taking the lead in bringing our network together in small groups over a series of lunches to share what we’ve learned from you.

After that, we hope you’ll see some of us ‘joining the conversation’ on a more regular and interactive basis, whatever form this takes.

So, Lee and Allan, for your encouragement and for inspiring us to action…

Thank you, thank you and thank you again!

Samantha (London, UK)

Oh Sam!

I am TRULY flummoxed and flabbergasted! Me – speechless?? Hard to believe but true!

Thank you SOOOO much for your unbelievably kind comments; I am so proud I am going to print them out and hang them on my wall for the next time I’m wondering if the effort is worth the trouble. You have convinced me it is — thank you!

Wishing you and your colleagues a phenomenal 2007.