So if you followed the advice in step 1, you now have a place online where people can find you. It might be your blog, a website, or even your LinkedIn profile. Ideally, it is a place where you can control the content and ways in which people can interact with you. But this will also apply to your presence on other social networks like Twitter, Facebook and Google+.
Now that you have a place of your own, how will you interact with people? What ways will they meet you online and offline? And what reaction will they have to meeting you?
Here’s what you need to know:
Your ability to engage with people will dictate their interest in caring about you and your goals in life.
- You need to be consistent. Paying attention to who has followed you, liked your content, shared a post you wrote, or re-tweeted a thought you had. And then responding to them (saying thanks, starting a conversation).
- You need to be authentic. If you are not genuinely interested in meeting people - sharing with them and learning from them – you will struggle to create strong engagement.
So here are some thoughts about engaging successfully:
Get out of the house.
Engaging online is great and should be encouraged. But if you live your life and build your relationships 100% online, you will miss out on the larger value of social networking. So get out of the house. Attend networking events or industry group meetings in your community. Leave your city and attend the big conference in your industry. Doing so adds a whole new dynamic to an online friendship.
Open up and smile.
So many see networking as a chore. They see it as a business function to be avoided if possible. If that’s you, then you are going to the wrong events or going for the wrong reasons.
While there is a business function to many events, there is also a significant relationship function. Creating trust and comfort before you need it. SO when you step into a room or log in to your favorite social network, do so with a good attitude. It will invite people to you and your profile.
Reach out.
It’s OK to ask for help from your network and it’s OK to ask how you can help them. In fact, that is what this networking business is all about: helping, sharing, and supporting your network. It may not seem like it in a world that is often full of spam and self-promoting content. But of you follow the right people and treat them well, you will create a well-formed network.
Ask questions.
One of the complaints I often hear as to why people don’t network is: "I don’t know what to say to strangers." And, yes, introducing yourself to new people can be a challenge if you are new to networking.
But here’s the trick: ask questions. Focus the first part of your conversation on the other person. Get them talking, be a great listener and learn a few things you can use to keep a conversation going. People love to talk about themselves. And, after you’ve relaxed in the moment, you’ll have a chance to tell your story.
Talk to people.
This one sounds deceptively simple. Perhaps it even sounds repetitive. But it is a common problem online. In our rush to connect with, follow, link to and like people and brands, we sometimes forget to talk to them. Using Twitter correctly means that you are interacting with others. Sharing their content, yes, but also getting to know them through questions and fun banter. This is social media after all.
If you do these things you will start actively engaging people. And making friends for the future.
Next month: Start Building Social Credibility (hint: it warms up a cold call)
© Copyright Tim Tyrell-Smith, 2011. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
