The Beginnings of the Word "Conversologist"

When I coined the term Conversologist, it started as a means to align with my company’s branding.

I thought what would be a good word to use when I do my elevator pitch? What’s that word that will let people continue the conversation with me? And that was about, I don’t know, five, six years ago. I mean, it still works to this day and definitely a great conversation starter during networking.

And it opened up the discussion around social media, which I believe was truly about engagement and community.

You know, that’s why I love this space, not because it was the in-thing well at the time, or it was a way to broadcast to many people through algorithms we have no control of. I mean, I go on social media networks daily not just to spy on friends or family or maybe to share my latest lunch, but mind you, I still do. But in my own nerdy way, believe it or not, is to observe and analyse how people use the technology.

Even before I move to New Zealand, I was immersed in this world of organic posting, experimenting how commercialism was at work, where communities started to thrive or even die. Seeing how it’s used to sell the magic formula of becoming a millionaire, the art of spamming, advertising, broadcasting and how it became a tool for change both good and bad.

As years have gone by and with the work that I’ve done around customer service, training and digital marketing, with the new technologies and how our behaviours have changed or have been changing, still is, with the new generations that are coming in, this word, for me, Conversologist, has definitely evolved.

It is now bigger than just a conversation starter. It’s even bigger than just a word that can connect to my company’s branding. It’s definitely more than that. Knowing how things change so fast with technology. And, you know, we try to keep up…us being overwhelmed with all this input and signals. One thing remained the same. Genuine and meaningful conversations have proven to be a long term solution to a good digital experience.

Unfortunately, a lot has lost sight of this simple fact.

Truth be told, I’ve been taken away from this belief so many times just to cope or out of desperation. What I’ve noticed is when I’m away from my so-called zone or element and in this belief, I’m actually miserable.

How has it Evolved?

So, OK, what is the new and improved Conversologist? Right. So how has it evolved?

The new and improved Conversologist is an advocate. I’m going to use that word strong enough as I can. I think it is a strong word as it is. A Conversologist is an advocate of bringing the customer’s experience to a positive level within. Of course, as you all know, us marketers would know the customer journey through conversations.

So it doesn’t really matter what you do, whether you’re a social media manager, CX writer, digital marketer, chatbot designer, marketing automation specialist, web developer, analyst. I can go on and on or a leader of your own organisation.