You’ve noticed the smooth party goer, the one everyone gravitates toward, has the crowd laughing or silent and hanging on their every word. Sound a little like how you work a room at an event? Not relating even in the slightest? Do you fall somewhere in the middle? Or do you avoid the party or event like the plague because you’d rather sit in the comfort of your own home or office? Just you and your computer.
If I’ve done this correctly, no matter where you see yourself in the scenarios listed, you’ll pull a few worthwhile tips from what I’m about to share. See, I like to share. I do believe it is an art form. I admire others who share, pay it forward, appreciate what you’ve shared. For me, it is fundamental to social networking. Networking should be natural. For many, maybe even most, it’s not.
People don’t engage with one-way sharing. Jump out of the me box.
1. Make the SOCIAL more prominent in your networking
Think about what gets you excited. What do you feel you know about well enough to feel confident sharing? People typically don’t identify with facts and charts all day – all the time. Online networking should mirror in-person networking. Type with a smile, or with a frown – depending on the message you’re trying to convey. Choose words which allow the reader to feel your excitement, frustration, interest. Pick an emotion. Now try to express that knowing people can’t read your body language or facial expression(s). Hopefully they can at minimum, envision that you’re saying it. Which leads us to the next tip.
2. Keep it real
Choose a photo of yourself, that shows you, not a character or a caricature of you. Choose one you already have or have one taken, and update it when something has changed. Cut your hair? Don’t use a photo featuring your long, luscious locks. Or one in which you’re wearing glasses if you always wear contacts. The primary reason I think it is important, even necessary to use a photo is two-fold. Look back up at tip number one. People need to feel as if you’re speaking with them in order to encourage true engagement/conversation. Secondly, a current photo (no matter how much you may want to lose a few pounds or have that mole removed) is your identity. An exception. If you’ve created a ‘persona’ it’s okay to go in character. Just don’t expect people to recognize you in person. If that’s what you’re after, success! A natural progression to tip #3.
3. Take it offline
Once you’ve established or in many cases, reestablished relationships in your online circles, get out from behind your computer screen and meet with your network. In person. For real. In real life (IRL). Go to tweetups, Facebook events, networking gatherings sponsored by some of your groups on LinkedIn or professional development meetings and conferences. Your online community will thank you for it. If you’ve not yet done this, if you do nothing else I suggest in this post, for the love of the internet, go to at least one event in the next threemonths. If this makes you uncomfortable simply schedule a coffee meeting with an online connection or two. Once you arrive, if you’ve been using a current photo of yourself it will make it a lot easier for your network to find you, know who you are. Slowly allow yourself to open up to meeting your network in the flesh. You’ll be amazed at how much more interesting and dimensional your conversations will become the next time you sit down with your keyboard.
4. It’s not all fun and games
Successful social networking takes time. In many cases, it takes a lot of time. It requires an impressive amount of reading. And listening or observing others online. Sharing content, not just that of your own, is crucial to your credibility. You are your brand. Even if you have nothing to sell or market. Take the time to define your online and offline networking goals. Use your voice, your true voice to achieve those goals. Do you want to find a job? Get a new job? Gain new clients? Find new readers for your blog? Make new friends? Reconnect with old friends? Sell something? Buy something? Learn something? You get the idea. You must invest the time and go to where the most important network is to help advance your goals. Be cautious, though. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Don’t sign up for accounts and then let them sit idle. It’s okay to devote your time to just one social network at a time.
I have considered my Facebook, twitter and LinkedIn accounts and the feeds I generate on each my micro-blog. I’ve been active for nearly five years on the first two forums and nearly seven years on LinkedIn. I may not have realized it at the time, but my strategy of online networking has led me here, my personal blog. It’s still shiny and new. But I’ve built my networks, slowly, organically and hopefully they are all filtering in to ‘have a look around.’ This takes us back to credibility. My network knows I share. I converse. I promote, yes, but I am not constantly shoving my work in their face. If I do, I give you all permission to call me out for it.
5. Invest
I believe in the 15 minutes a day theory. At least for beginners. Scratch that. For everyone. If you can’t invest at least this much time a day, then networking, especially online, may not be a good fit or work for you. This is for both in-person and online networking. Once it becomes more enjoyable to you, and with time, your investment should will increase. Following the 15 minutes, break down your networking into reading (five minutes), sharing (five minutes) and replying/engaging with others (five minutes).
Read your own feeds on twitter, updates/posts on Facebook and LinkedIn. If you bore yourself, why would anyone else take an interest in what you are sharing? If you laugh, ponder what you’ve written, or you are moved to action, you’re a click away from being shared online. Sharing is good.
6. Pay it forward
I believe in twitter chats. I use them for professional development as often as I can. Swap expertise. If you’ve never checked them out, do this as soon as you finish reading this post. Type in a search for terms that interest you. For me that includes public relations, social media, building a brand, humor, writing, journalism, media – the list is vast. Follow the hashtags and see what is out there. Jump into a chat, introduce yourself. Read, share and engage (see tip #5 again).
I’ve picked up the best followers using this method of online networking. When I say best, I don’t mean number of, I mean followers who share, whom I learn from and laugh with often.
Are you a few clicks away from your next business deal, a job offer, a slew of friendships, the best meal of your life or a book deal? Hmm, that might make a good tweet. I’ll be back in a minute.
OH. I almost forgot. When you read online, take a minute to leave a thoughtful comment. Even if you disagree with what you’ve read. Comments are good sharing, plus it puts you out there.
I’m off to Google myself. You should do it too. Dang. Another tweet!
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About Rajean Blomquist:
My undergraduate degree is in communications with a focus on broadcast journalism. I honed my skills in a television newsroom back in the days when smoke from ashtrays filled the air (yes, inside). I have more than a few decades of experience in my chosen career field of public & media relations.
I feel my graduate degree has been in parenting four children and studying social media. Not in that order, I don’t think. I mean, I do think. That makes me laugh. Most days.
You can read more from Rajean by visiting her blog at: http://www.rajeanblomquist.com/blog/ Mommy Meeting is very excited to have her join us for a featured contributor spot throughout the year!
