Conversational community has been built around content since the days of drawing images on the walls of caves and hills of sand. And we will always have a conversation going on around and about the content we produce and consume.
Content and Community. And Commerce. What, all those drawings were just a hobby? Even if it started out that way, if there was value in what was being said — the community would praise and pay for the continuation of the output.
But what now? What's the natural progression for someone who has been creating and producing in this age of conversational media and consumer generated content? In many cases, the commerce part – or lack of it – can keep us off balance in the exchange.
The three-legged bar stool of balance in this generation (and maybe all the previous ones, too) is the three C's of Content, Commerce, and Community Take one away, and your business won't be stable.
- Content + Community (but no Commerce) = You might have lots of fans and eyeballs, but you won't be able to sustain it without an income.
- Community + Commerce (but no Content) = You'll probably experience a "flash-in-the-pan" growth spurt, but without content (or a product or service), you'll not last.
- Commerce + Content (but no Community) = You'll do fine…if you are your own customer. But with nobody talking to you or more importantly, about you — you'll soon be alone.
Does your business plan have balance? Check the legs on those C's.
Image provided by courtesy of Jodi Krzyzak at VIVE Foundation
Related:
- Content that Works – The Series
- The 3 C's of Social Media
- The Three C's are Still Working
- Web 3.0 = (4C + P + VS)
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