Tribes Matter: Build One Today And Watch Your Business Grow Tomorrow

"Tribes are people who share something in common," says Seth Godin. So what does a tribe have to do with public relations, social media -- and particularly blogging? Godin does an outstanding job of explaining why tribes matter in a new age of communication.

I found this video over a Douglas Karr's blog, who, in turn, got it from Jim Schwartz at Smaller Indiana. Incidentally, that's a growing tribe of Hoosiers getting together for business.

By the way, I belong to a few tribes myself:

• PitchEngine
• PROpenMic
• Smaller Indiana
• MyRagan
• and coming soon, Connexions.

While tribes are forming on the web all the time, blogs are playing a unique role in tribe-building. As you blog, and promote your site, people will find it. They'll read it. And if they like it, they'll come back. Over time, and with some effort to cultivate a steady readership, you'll create followers. Essentially you build a relationship with like minded people. What does this mean for blogging for businesses and other organizations? Conversion.

When those people start engaging in your cause, buying your product or service -- even talking about you or with you -- that's a tribe. You've built a relationship. Says Godin, "When you're in a tribe, you've found someplace you belong."