Building Community

It's interesting to see how marketing has changed over the years. Because of the Internet, companies are spending more time and more dollars creating community and giving customers their own voice than they used to. A perfect example is PumaTalk. This online community is a place for people to talk about the latest in Puma gear as well as a Puma Photoblog with all kinds of shots from all around the world.

I've been talking with some friends lately about this trend and how people want to be part of a community of others with the same values even if they don't always agree. To start a dialog without pretense and just see what happens. Is it possible to connect with someone about shoes and then as that relationship develops, other bigger or dare I say higher issues come about that actually have purpose.

The world is looking for places to connect. I'd encourage you to engage people. Find out what they are about... what they have to give... find a common place and start there. You never know what could come from it... even if it starts with just shoes. Cool shoes... but just shoes.