Mom, the blog is in the mail. (learning to LOVE the learning curve)

My mom is dying to see my blog. She's been nagging me to "send" it to her for a while. Never mind the tricked-out computer I bought her a few years back. Forget the AOL account I've subscribed her to for over 2 years (from which the only e-mail I've received is the test one I sent myself during the training lesson I gave her). She's convinced people "send" blogs to each other all the time. I explained a blog isn't a greeting card.

Still, mom can't get over why people I've never met--much less people who didn't give birth to me--get my blog and not she. So I printed the damn thing out and sent it to her priority mail. While eagerly awaiting my snail-mail blog, mom heard that people "send blogs everyday"...and asked when I will be sending the next one. I've only myself to blame.

Lesson learned: Whenever we marketers think a "quick fix" will quiet our markets, we only serve to create a long-term problem for ourselves. Tedious as it is, be patient with "old world" constituencies, it will only strengthen your relationships--and serves to make you look like an expert. I know it's annoying when people don't get it, but they will. And they will a lot sooner if we learn to love the learning curve.

Don't give up, just give them some extra attention. For the price of buying a few extra books for clients, I've re-upped accounts. And for the time it takes to send prospects some articles or blogs of note, I've solidified entirely new relationships. All because I took a few extra steps when other marketers marginalized them (btw, my bank account thanks you for blowing them off).

As for mom, I'm going to try a new incentive and tell her a "full-color version" of my blog can only be accessed on the computer ("color" is a hot button of hers; she fondly recalls getting her first color TV). Regardless, I've stocked-up on postage.

What tactics are you leveraging to migrate your markets--or your mommas--to this new medium?

Comments

[karl long]

haha, great post, try getting a whole UK family on skype :-)

Here are my mums first attempts at leaving me a voicemail with my dads help:
http://blog.experiencecurve.com/archives/london-calling-mum-leaves-a-voicemail-on-skype

Mind you they have come a long way,

Karl

[Ann Handley]

"Learn to love the learning curve..." is great advice, CK. And funny post, to boot. It's not just Moms who don't get it -- as you point out. One of my closest 40-something friends recently listened to me go on and on about my blog, nodding appreciatively all the way. I'm psyched she's getting it. Finally, she says, "...so, you aren't writing anymore... just blogging?"

Beware the nodding head...it STILL may not be getting it!