(Due credit: I first saw the phrase social currency on Aaron Wall’s blog, SEO Book, which is really worth a visit.)
First, listen to the audio. That’s where the meat is.
I don’t think it’s a secret that, over the past several months, my traffic has increased tremendously, and that my income has been increasingly earned online. So I wanted to take advantage of what I have learned to help others build trust, or social currency, online.
Social currency is the raw essence of relationships. In an economy of abundance (aka, a post scarcity economy) such as the web (aka, “there’s always enough to go around”), none of us are playing a zero-sum game; if I send some visitors to you, it doesn’t mean I’m losing traffic, links, or listeners. In fact, it’s often quite the contrary.
The idea that, once you have placed a significant amount of your reputation and resources online, it is no longer necessary for you to deal in real dollars– that dealing in relationships is now the key to your success.
Honestly, this was a very difficult subject to write about, so I ended up having no choice but to record audio to express it, which I suggest you check out (just click the link to download or listen).
[audio:http://inoveryourhead.net/audio/file0149.mp3]So what’s the lesson, what’s the point of this post? As I see it, one thing, and one thing only. I invite you, dear reader, to stop thinking in terms of earnings through your blog or podcast– stop thinking about sponsorships, AdSense, or anything else, and start thinking in terms of relationships. I believe the rest will take care of itself.
Other relevant links: Social capital, Post scarcity economy, Google economy, Content as a medium for interaction. Additional: Anji recommends Why Paris Hilton Is Famous.
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