Visualizing The Tipping Point

This one goes out to Scott + Eric. 

The Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen help fuel the growth of the Social Media Network (shown behind).  Each type of individual possesses a complimentary quality that when combined, creates an infectious momentum which spreads rapidly.

From wikipedia:

* Connectors: Those with wide social circles. They are the "hubs" of the human social network and responsible for the small world phenomenon.

* Mavens are knowledgeable people. While most consumers wouldn't know if a product were priced above the market rate by, say, 10 percent, mavens would. Bloggers who detect false claims in the media could also be considered mavens.

* Salesmen are charismatic people with powerful negotiation skills. They exert "soft" influence rather than forceful power. Their source of influence may be the tendency of others, subconsciously, to imitate them rather than techniques of conscious persuasion.

Note: based off Malcolm Gladwell's book, The Tipping Point

Comments

[Asi]

David,
The last two posts are incredibly important and raise some serious questions. It is extremely relevant to our climate change experiment.

We have to realise that we are still in the very beginning of the revolution. And indeed we have to bare in mind that some times we tend to lose proportions as to the volume of our conversations.

I believe that social change and the tipping point in this brave new world can potentially happen faster and cheaper.

Take a look at this brilliant post: http://www.marketingbabylon.com/2006/04/20/events/the-tougher-side-of-the-conversational-middle/

So to go back to Eric’s point—”what will it take to transform this emerging community into a viral marketing network beyond the blogosphere?”

Its time, patience, and more people like yourself, Eric and Mack, to name but a few.

Keep up the good work

A.

[Eric Kintz]

Love the graphics!!
Eric

[Lawton Chiles]

David, this is very interesting b/c it raises the question, of what is our roles, and how do we... well, let me back up some.

1. What are our roles?
2. How do we figure out which role we are?
3. As Malcolm Gladwell pointed out, these things are shaping our world, and will have an affect on The Tipping Point & World is Flat, and The Long Tail.
4. In these new times, how does one figure out their strengths and use that to create something unique?

I think that is the challenge we all face.
I'm adding you to my Yahoo rss thing.

Lawton

[Peter Kim]

Great diagram. Would love to hear your thoughts on where a regular blogger like me fits in. Will the marketing blogging community truly be long tail, or just gravitate towards highly influential bloggers of the three Gladwell archetypes? Is activating the 99% a myth or real possibility?

[DA]

Peter,

If I knew the answer to that question, I'd be much, much more than a Creative Director.
:)

I have no idea. But I'll offer up this observation as a blogging newbie. As more mavens, connectors and salespeople do their jobs—that 1% could turn into 5% and possibly continue from there.

Maybe it's not so much an activation of the 99% as much as it is a broadening of the influencers with different levels and degrees of infuence.

I've only been blogging for five months and yet Eric labels me a "salesperson"—so maybe there is no such thing as a "regular blogger" anymore. Maybe once you become part of the Social Network—you become a small moving part of a much bigger engine.

That all said—I really don't know. All I know for sure is that there seems to be something very powerful to this movement—and it causes people to become highly engaged. And, it's contaigous.