The BlogJam post that really hit me today has been Tom Asacker's 15 minutes post.

Which would you rather have? 15 minutes of fame or be famous to 15 people? In today's marketing world, the answer has to be

the 15 people.

I've achieved a small cult-following as a result of my blog and of the marketing manifesto that was featured on Change This. (the manifesto being the 11th most downloaded on the site, thank you very much) Neither has been mentioned on traditional marketing sites or in any major trade journal...but, in my case, the blogosphere has picked up on them and created something larger than I could have....all from "15 people".

Viral marketing takes those 15 people and makes them more powerful than the old way of being famous. Those 15 talk to their friends and become 30, who become 60, who become 120, etc. In this way, you can have a conversation with your entire base of fans and become even more intimate with them which, in turn, inspires even greater loyalty and more viral word-of-mouth.

The problem, of course, is the problem with all inimate relationships...the chance of being hurt. When you make the decision to "NARROWcast" rather than "BROADcast" to the people who are your fans, it's not a decision that is made just for this quarter or for the next year. It's a commitment you'll have to live up to for the rest of your life...or destroy your brand from the inside.

Think of the 10-year-old waiting on the sidelines for an autograph of his hero...only to be passed by becasue the athlete is now "big time" and too busy for the autograph. Want your customers to continue to love you? Love them back...and don't get too big for them.