Audience, visitors or people?

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Karen Swim is a wonderful person in my opinion. First of all she is a helpful lady, she is (add an undefined number of positive adjectives here), and she learns from everything.
Plus, she has similar views to mine, which is always a plus in your friends.
Now, in her last post she learned about business on the internet. Says she. I think she just got reaffirmed in her strict belief.
You see, everyone gets all these messages in his mailbox, on twitter, on websites

The secret to build a huge audience for your blog!

5000 visitors a week!

I have to admit that they are tempting offers. My blog has about 5-8 visitors a day, so the logical thing would be to rush to the offer. But, frankly, I don’t care that much about visitor numbers.

Karen quotes Steve Woodruff’s tweet on the subject and adds her own comment

“How I built a Twitter network of ___ in ___ days.” Sheesh. How about, how to build relationships and add value over the long-term?

To that I say, Amen! I read articles, posts and tweets on how to build subscriber numbers, how to drive traffic to your website and how to build an empire on a social media network, but are we missing the true value of developing relationships with real people?

I don’t know how many people read Karen’s blog, but I know that whenever she gives her opinion, asks for help, shares her worries, there are a lot of comments, offers and friendly messages.
I know how many people read my blog and I am sure that I did not trick them here with some arcane tactics – actually, based on the number I am absolutely sure that I could even name them, tell you their birthday dates, what they are doing as a hobby and so on.

You can argue that business does not need this relationship, for which I say that’s nonsense. If I ever need a copywriter in English, or someone to help me with my resume I know where I will go. If I need advice about building a new fence, to design a business card or a website, I know where I will go.

I will go to the person I know and trust, and not because I expect a discount, but because I know they will do a good job, and won’t shove their sugar coated junk down my throat.
So yes, Karen said it really

We do business with people, not numbers to be manipulated into clicking our junk and buying our stuff. Instead of screaming to be heard, quietly listen and allow those human beings to tell you what they want and need. You may be pleasantly surprised at just how pleasant business becomes when you make it personal.

And I say, Amen to that.

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