Let yourself go, says Ash Gupta

MarketingSherpa has just published its ‘Marketing Wisdom for 2008′ and once again we’re happy to see that some of Ash’s ‘bons mots’ are included. He’s right in there at item 23 titled ‘Let yourself go’ and it’s all about social networking sites and how to use them to your business advantage.

“For some,” says Ash, “these sites are seen as a threat to the carefully preened and protected business persona or a potential risk to security. The reality is that if you are making waves in your particular field, the interested external observer can track you through Google and has already started to piece together a mental picture of the real you. The time is right to harness the communicative power of the social network sites like Facebook and Linked-In and unleash a real helping of the real you.

“The real you in the round is much more interesting than what we call in Scotland the ‘hudden doon’ business you – you know, the held back, constipated junior lawyer or immigration ober-fuehrer! When you make contact in business you are sized up in milliseconds by the sharp, savvy observer. Next you get to know each other as rounded people and often the colouration of your hobbies and life beyond work adds value to a relationship.

“I have played in rock bands since I was 14 and still do at 40 years on. I make no effort to hide it and last year the president of one of the largest US conglomerates flew my band down to Spain to play at his wedding. We have done much business since 1982! See, no harm done but much deep bonding made.”

Amen to that. Anyone out there looking for a band?