Great insights, but I think you are misunderstanding me a bit…

And just to clarify something, Eben and Frank happen to be very close friends of mine. I’m fully aware of what they’re doing and ‘why.’ In fact, I *am* building something I can sell, it’s called Income.com, my company.

My post is in regards to ONE-TO-ONE communication online. When you are interacting with other individuals in some form of conversation. I’m not talking about promotions, advertising, or any other form of marketing. I’m talking primarily about COMMUNICATIONS online.

Yes, you use a Twitter name that’s more about what your company does, and that’s fine. However, I’d bet you anything that your Twitter efforts would yield better results if you posted as an INDIVIDUAL instead — and that’s my primary point. Prospects have a stronger bond with individuals and not things or company brands.

Do we buy from Virgin America and not Richard Branson? OF COURSE. But if Virgin America tried to effectively use Twitter for their marketing, they’d be better off doing through A *REAL* PERSON that ‘represented’ Virgin America; and no it wouldn’t have to be Richard Branson himself. But prospects would feel ‘closer’ to VA if they could bond with an actual representative from the company. A good example of this is Matt Cutts the “Google Guy” that is very involved in online discussions on behalf of Google.

It’s also ironic that you mention large companies. Do you know who the largest “figure head” personalities in the world are? CEOs. CEOs are carefully hired to be that personal representative on behalf of a large company to Wall Street, the media, and to large clients. Why doesn’t IBM just hold earnings report conference calls with a disguised voice and just a big IBM logo? Because of the HUMAN ELEMENT. People want to hear from the CEO. That’s who they are connected to when dealing with that component of that company.

And, no, I’m certainly not saying that all consumers are worried about connecting with the CEO of a company they buy from. But my point is, in any ‘personal’ communication it will ALWAYS be 1,000 times more effective if it’s truly PERSON-TO-PERSON. Human beings want to interact with other human beings, not ‘things’ company logos/names, etc. And that’s why EVERY successful company has REPRESENTATIVES that communicate with the market, the media, and with their partners.

It’s no different online. (And this has nothing to with asset structuring and being able to sell a business.)

-John Reese

And I’m not fat, I’m big boned…

And Screw you guys!

No really…