Social Networking – 8 Ideas for Making MORE Connections Online

Posted by Heidi on June 30th, 2009

Social networking woman

… and Developing a Loyal Following by Heidi Richards Mooney

Virtual social networking is a great way to meet people around the corner or around the world. What better way to reach out and touch someone in the 21st Century than the Internet? Heidi Richards Mooney

The Internet has brought about and continues to provide many opportunities for us to network without leaving our office or our home. In fact, almost any form of Internet presence can offer opportunities to network. And the goal of Virtual Networking is to “get noticed,” to meet people and to develop relationships on your own time and in your own space.

Look for groups where people you want to get to know “hang out.” You can start by searching in your favorite search engine (such as Google or Yahoo) for your professional affiliation or business expertise and you may find more resources than you will ever be able to review. They can include associations, schools teaching your topic, online communities, competitors and colleagues, resource sites, job posting sites and publications. Here are a few other ideas for virtual networking sure to get you noticed:

a. Blogging – the ultimate networking tool. It is a great way to expand your social and business universe. You begin to establish yourself as an expert or a highly credible advocate of a subject matter you have knowledge of and/or experience with. Others begin to gravitate within your blog-o-sphere and you within theirs. And bloggers love to interact with their readers. Just read the comments of some of the popular blogs such as LipSticking with Yvonne DiVita or Problogger with Darren Rouse. Check out the latest list of Women Bloggers 2 Watch to get some great ideas and make great connections. I have interviewed several of them and many have in turn started following my blogs. It’s like a mutual admiration society made of people who love to share information and other blogger friends with the world.

b. Forums and bulletin boards– Finding the right forums and sticking with them, “hanging out,” and participating in the discussions, with the same people will, over time help you increase your sphere of influence. Be careful not to be too self-promotional when posting – in most cases it is not allowed and you will find yourself banned from participating. However, you can have a brief signature line with your name and company affiliation (and maybe a URL). I recently found a forum called SAM (Starting a Magazine) a forum created by Magazine Launch. Since I publish WE Magazine for Women – Business & Lifestyle Magazine for Busy Women on the Move, it made sense to join a professional forum of peers ~ professionals who also publish magazines.

c. Chats – Many online communities offer chats on specific topics. Participating in membership-driven chats offer the best opportunities for good exchanges and forming professional relationships. Bryan Person just started the Twitter Community Chat which is a weekly online chat that takes place on Twitter and focuses on the Business of Online Communities. My friend Carol Deckert has an open business networking and relationship building chat “room” on Skype at http://www.runlancaster.com/skype-room/networking . There is also the Unofficial directory of Public Chats which may help you find a chat topic of interest in Skype. And then there’s Biz Wiz which offers a variety of business related topics at http://www.bizwiz.com/cgi-bin/chat.cgi

d. Speaking of Twitter ~ Twitter is the hottest social networking site today! It seems that everyone is getting on the Twitter Bus! Including Me. According to their site: “In countries all around the world, people follow the sources most relevant to them and access information via Twitter as it happens—from breaking world news to updates from friends.” I joined Twitter a year+ ago and in January of 2009 became an active Twitter user. Read my story: The Twitter Phenomenon and see why I am a Twitter fanatic. BTW, If you are not on Twitter, or you are confused about what it can do for you, check out my Tuesday Twitter Tutorials. I offer a one hour hands-on workshop on how to set up your Twitter account, how to find and follow people and how to create a following that will become loyal fans, prospects and customers.

e. Join online business or social networking communities such as RYZE, LinkedIn , Xing, Facebook, ecademy and more. Many of these sites also have subgroups made up of people with a specific focus and similar interests. Or you can join a non-specific group to gain more knowledge, exposure and contacts.

f. Give something of value away, online – The Idea Virus by Seth Godin sold more than a million copies because he gave the ebook away online, and allowed others to do the same by sending it to their own sphere of influence. He sold so many hard copies because people simply had to have their own. He has used this same strategy with subsequent books, with similar results. Seth has met thousands (perhaps millions) of people this way. I know, cause I have contacted him and had a couple of great conversations. Free Works!

g. Find people to interview – The Women’s ECommerce Association, International hosts 3-4 monthly teleconfernces and webinars and interviews women from around the world. Members of the association are invited to attend and bring along friends to the events. They are highly interactive and many a good business deal has been created.

h. Host a radio program (or be a guest) – Very similar to the idea above except that the event is transmitted online either live or in an archived file to be heard later. Blog Talk Radio is a perfect venue for being a host or a guest. I have several friends who host regular radio shows. Beverly Mahone hosts her weekly Passions Show, Lorraine Cohen hosts Powerfull Living. And Pat Lynch, who I consider the trailblazer in online radio has hosted an Internet Radio show for years called Women’s Radio show. You can look at the archives for a list of more than 1,000 radio shows. In addition to these listed above, I have also been a guest on Webmasters Radio, By For and About Women, Women’s Avenue, Product Sellers Radio and dozens of others. It’s a great way to meet the media gain traffic to your website and establish yourself as an expert in your field.

Here are a few other tips for virtual networking success:

• Be careful when posting the same message to several groups. Ask the moderator of each group for permission first otherwise you will be considered a “spammer,” and be banned.

• Keep your cool. If you become angered over a post, take a deep breath and consider your reputation before responding. If you must respond to a post in a negative manner, it might be wise to send an email directly to the source instead of for the “whole world” to read. I have seen moderators quit and reputations ruined because people lost their cool.

• Don’t lurk. Lurking is hanging out, reading posts and never participating. It is okay to lurk when you first join so you can get a feel for the content and the people. However, in order to make any kind of impact, you have to get involved because people do business with people, not names on a list.

• Be brief – keep your messages short and to the point. I have seen many a long post that could have been edited down to a short paragraph or a few sentences. Some people just like to see “see themselves speak.”

•Practice common courtesy, be polite and friendly. Be generous. If you have knowledge that could benefit the group, share it. Givers get more than takers.

“Virtual” social networking is a great way to extend your reach beyond your local community. The Internet offers all of us the opportunity to go international if we so desire. You can meet people around the corner or around the world. What better way to reach out and touch someone in the 21st Century than the Internet?

Feel free to follow me on the following social networking sites:

Facebook
LinkedIn
Xing
Twitter
RYZE
ecademy
MySpace

It would be an honor to connect with you! Feel free to share your social networking links in the comments section below.

BTW, if you have not yet read the book Twitter Success Stories, I highly recommend it. You will find out how 17 entrepreneurs (myself included) have used Twitter to Promote Business.

Heidi Caswell said,

July 4, 2009 @ 1:34 am

Great tips! I spend my time with blogs, facebook, ryze, yahoo groups and twitter. Sometimes LinkedIn.

I’ve tried several of these and they do work! Just have to manage time.

Heidi Caswell’s last blog post..“We the People”

Beverly Mahone said,

July 5, 2009 @ 8:31 pm

Heidi,

I know, firsthand, the power of social networking and, as you have indicated here, it can provide many wonderful opportunities for your business as well as making new friendships.

I can’t tell you the number of times Twitter connections have gotten me out of a jam when my regularly scheduled guest didn’t show up for my radio show.

Thanks for your keen insight and I look forward to learning more from you during the All Women’s Social Media Summit in October.

Beverly Mahone’s last blog post..What Do Your Colors Say?

admin said,

July 5, 2009 @ 8:54 pm

Heidi and Beverly,

Many thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I consider both of you consumat social networkers so it delights me to know that my advice is worthy of leavign a comment.

Wishing you a terrific social networking year ahead…and then some,

Heidi

Debbie Stevens said,

July 6, 2009 @ 6:56 am

The words, social networking, have really become a huge part of my online presence, and with each new Social group, comes ideas, suggestions and wonderful lessons!

Your post here, proof to the growing phenonemon and appreciated your own input, always ‘on-the’ball’!

Cheers!

Debbie Stevens’s last blog post..FEEL TEAL

Diane Stephenson said,

January 2, 2010 @ 10:47 pm

Great post, Heidi. Jam-packed with good tips. I’m on quite a few networks and I blog, so am kept rather busy. Like Heidi Caswell, I need to learn to manage my time online. It can become overwhelming. Thanks for sharing.

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