So Who's a Social Networking Badass?

Hey Tosh,

I'm not going to proclaim myself a social networking guru or any kind of guru for that matter...but wanted to reply to your thread.

I'm not sure what kind of business it is that you're involved with, but my best advice for getting started with Social Media and Networking comes from experience in doing this with a few different companies including my own.

1) Get a blog. If you don't have one by now, this should be one of your biggest priorities. Let me explain my reasoning why if it isn't obvious.

In my opinion, a company's blog is the HEART of any Social Media campaign or networking. It should act as the center for you to bring people into from
your social networking efforts. Your blog posts and content should always be created in a way that makes the reader say "Wow, this is exactly what I was looking for. I have to SHOW MY FRIENDS!!"

If I could recommend 1 widget that you absolutely must have, its the "Share This" widget that will enable readers to easily send your post to friends, or post it on their own social networking profiles or accounts like facebook, digg, redit, etc....

Another good idea if it applies, which it usually does, would be to also include some kind of "Friend Me" type category of your blog where readers can easily follow you on Twitter, Facebook you, or any other kind of social network that you ACTIVELY participate in. Notice the key word is ACTIVELY...as in regularly and consistently.

Which brings me to my next point..

2) If you decide that you're going to do social networking...go all the way...not half-assed.

What I mean by that is if you're going to try to market to a specific community, don't just start a profile, friend a few people and then say "social networking doesn't work..."

I'll use Twitter and Facebook as an example of how you should be participating.

Ok...so you have a hot new linkbait (link-bait: a piece of content that will make others want to reference because of its shear quality or controversial approach) You know your market is going to want this hot link-bait, so you contact your list/subscribers first and foremost if you have any...and then you go over to your social communities that you, again, ACTIVELY participate in....

Twitter- Once you go to Twitter, you're going to want to create some kind of catchy one-liner that's going to make your Twitter friends click over to your link (which will take them to your blog....hopefully your "sales funnel)!!!

Be creative with this title...if you need inspiration, check out some of your
always eager-to-email you Guru Newsletters you get in the mail and check out what kind of "subject" title they have....

One of my favorites was by Frank Kern on Twitter...I don't remember the exact wording but it was along the lines of:

---"Check out my new video: Possible Nudity"...Tinyurl.com/abcdefg (not real)

Now...I know there wasn't going to be nudity, nor would I ever want to see the kind of nudity that Frank would produce...but you can see how that's a catchy title for the point I'm trying to get across...have fun with it but make it relate.

Now..another side note of Twitter.

You ever see those people's accounts who have like 40,000 people that they're following, but only like, 50 people are following them back?

Don't be that person! See, Twitter should act as a gradual way to get readers by being consistent on your end with your posts and link-bait, there's no point in following a bunch of people that don't know who you are and why you're following them....

Only Follow people who relate to what you're trying to accomplish and start COMMUNICATING with those people!! If you're not hip to Twitter, you can send direct messages and comment on other people's comments by simply writing the "@" character (shift+2 on pc) and then writing the username such as @warriorforum

If you're in the fishing equipment industry and you've done some research and are following other Twitter-ers who are fishing-enthusiasts, comment on some of their posts. If a guy posts a great article to his blog, comment on it! Add to the conversation the same way you do in the Warrior Forum! Respond to him publicly on twitter after commenting by saying:

"Hey @fishloverguy that was a great blog post! I loved the part about pink hooks" ...I obviously know very little about fishing, but by making "friends" on Twitter, it will make you more genuine than the guy following anyone he can.

When someone follows me, and I see they have 40k other people that they're following...I immediate reject it....that kind of fake stuff is obvious, ya know? Be too legit, like MCHammer....who also happens to be a huge Twitter Member believe it or not!

You never know when someone who has 10,000 followers is going to read one of your AWESOME blog posts and decide to give you a public shout-out, and before you know it, you have hundreds of new followers reading your threads and checking out your blog....again....hopefully into a Sales Funnel.

OK..

Facebook

I remember back when I was a freshman in College, 5 years ago, and I got into Facebook about a year after it had been created and was still only available to college students.

If I knew then what I know now....

Facebook has obviously completely blown up since I first joined. It's seriously the All-in-One complete social network for you to have a field-day with in terms of marketing and building relationships if you use it the right way.

Again, with what I said with following people on Twitter, be-friending people on Facebook follows the same guidelines...Don't just friend everybody. Start off with people you know...family, friends, school mates, co-workers, etc....

When you have a "base" of facebook friends and you're ready to add more, use the "Profile Search" to pinpoint the kind of friends that you want to have and communicate with. When you friend them, send them a message telling them why you added them as a friend and what you're all about.

Don't send the message, "I see you like making money...check out this affiliate link...." That's just stupid and shouldn't have to explain why.

Tell them you saw that they interested in networking with people who sell Skateboard Wheels (???) and that you happen to be interested in that too or that you often blog about the best kinds of skateboard wheels....hopefully you don't blog about that, but that was the first thing that came to mind...weird.

Another thing you should do for your blog/site/company is create a Company Profile Page/Group in addition to your personal profile where you can post events, downloads, links, and build a facebook following around your company.

You never know who is going to be interested in that niche you're in, and by providing a facebook page outlining your business, it will give your facebook friends and others the chance to see what you do..and eventually find they're way to your blog...sales funnel....share with their friend....etc...

In addition, you can also broadcast the members of your group everytime you make a blog post or are running a promotion...

3) Show that you're a real person and not a business robot....

This goes hand-in-hand with the whole consistency/being genuine thing I'm trying to convey...

Whatever social network that you're going to get involved in, make sure to fill out as much info about yourself as possible. And when you do this, don't just write what you think people want to hear...

Write that your favorite magazine is Playboy if thats what it is. If you're favorite movie is "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"...it shows you're kind of weird. Ironically, weird things about yourself in these communities = being normal.

Post pictures of yourself so your prospects/readers can get a better sense of the type of person you are so that you can eventually surround yourself with customers who know you and like the kind of person you are..

If someone see's that your profile says that your favorite music is 50 cent and they don't like that....you don't want that customer anyway...creating a business where your clients already like you is so much better in the long run..so make sure to be real from the beginning!

This is just a short reply and I hope it helps you get started because there is so much to gain from Social Networking and Web 2.0 if you really get involved.

Best of luck to you!

-Dan

Hey Tosh,

I'm not going to proclaim myself a social networking guru or any kind of guru for that matter...but wanted to reply to your thread.

I'm not sure what kind of business it is that you're involved with, but my best advice for getting started with Social Media and Networking comes from experience in doing this with a few different companies including my own.

1) Get a blog. If you don't have one by now, this should be one of your biggest priorities. Let me explain my reasoning why if it isn't obvious.

In my opinion, a company's blog is the HEART of any Social Media campaign or networking. It should act as the center for you to bring people into from your social networking efforts. Your blog posts and content should always be created in a way that makes the reader say "Wow, this is exactly what I was looking for. I have to SHOW MY FRIENDS!!"

If I could recommend 1 widget that you absolutely must have, its the "Share This" widget that will enable readers to easily send your post to friends, or post it on their own social networking profiles or accounts like facebook, digg, redit, etc....

Another good idea if it applies, which it usually does, would be to also include some kind of "Friend Me" type category of your blog where readers can easily follow you on Twitter, Facebook you, or any other kind of social network that you ACTIVELY participate in. Notice the key word is ACTIVELY...as in regularly and consistently.

Which brings me to my next point..

2) If you decide that you're going to do social networking...go all the way...not half-assed.

What I mean by that is if you're going to try to market to a specific community, don't just start a profile, friend a few people and then say "social networking doesn't work..."

I'll use Twitter and Facebook as an example of how you should be participating.

Ok...so you have a hot new linkbait (link-bait: a piece of content that will make others want to reference because of its shear quality or controversial approach) You know your market is going to want this hot link-bait, so you contact your list/subscribers first and foremost if you have any...and then you go over to your social communities that you, again, ACTIVELY participate in....

Twitter- Once you go to Twitter, you're going to want to create some kind of catchy one-liner that's going to make your Twitter friends click over to your link (which will take them to your blog....hopefully your "sales funnel)!!!

Be creative with this title...if you need inspiration, check out some of your
always eager-to-email you Guru Newsletters you get in the mail and check out what kind of "subject" title they have....

I personally have the newsletters of Frank Kern, Rich Schefren, StomperNet, and John Carlton.

One of my favorites was by Frank Kern on Twitter...I don't remember the exact wording but it was along the lines of:

---"Check out my new video: Possible Nudity"...Tinyurl.com/abcdefg (not real)

Now...I know there wasn't going to be nudity, nor would I ever want to see the kind of nudity that Frank would produce...but you can see how that's a catchy title for the point I'm trying to get across...have fun with it but make it relate.

Now..another side note of Twitter.

You ever see those people's accounts who have like 40,000 people that they're following, but only like, 50 people are following them back?

Don't be that person! See, Twitter should act as a gradual way to get readers by being consistent on your end with your posts and link-bait, there's no point in following a bunch of people that don't know who you are and why you're following them....

Only Follow people who relate to what you're trying to accomplish and start COMMUNICATING with those people!! If you're not hip to Twitter, you can send direct messages and comment on other people's comments by simply writing the "@" character (shift+2 on pc) and then writing the username such as @warriorforum

If you're in the fishing equipment industry and you've done some research and are following other Twitter-ers who are fishing-enthusiasts, comment on some of their posts. If a guy posts a great article to his blog, comment on it! Add to the conversation the same way you do in the Warrior Forum! Respond to him publicly on twitter after commenting by saying:

"Hey @fishloverguy that was a great blog post! I loved the part about pink hooks" ...I obviously know very little about fishing, but by making "friends" on Twitter, it will make you more genuine than the guy following anyone he can.

When someone follows me, and I see they have 40k other people that they're following...I immediate reject it....that kind of fake stuff is obvious, ya know? Be too legit, like MCHammer....who also happens to be a huge Twitter Member believe it or not!

You never know when someone who has 10,000 followers is going to read one of your AWESOME blog posts and decide to give you a public shout-out, and before you know it, you have hundreds of new followers reading your threads and checking out your blog....again....hopefully into a Sales Funnel.

OK..

Facebook

I remember back when I was a freshman in College, 5 years ago, and I got into Facebook about a year after it had been created and was still only available to college students.

If I knew then what I know now....

Facebook has obviously completely blown up since I first joined. It's seriously the All-in-One complete social network for you to have a field-day with in terms of marketing and building relationships if you use it the right way.

Again, with what I said with following people on Twitter, be-friending people on Facebook follows the same guidelines...Don't just friend everybody. Start off with people you know...family, friends, school mates, co-workers, etc....

When you have a "base" of facebook friends and you're ready to add more, use the "Profile Search" to pinpoint the kind of friends that you want to have and communicate with. When you friend them, send them a message telling them why you added them as a friend and what you're all about.

Don't send the message, "I see you like making money...check out this affiliate link...." That's just stupid and I shouldn't have to explain why.

Tell them you saw that they interested in networking with people who sell Skateboard Wheels (???) and that you happen to be interested in that too or that you often blog about the best kinds of skateboard wheels....hopefully you don't blog about that, but that was the first thing that came to mind...weird.

Another thing you should do for your blog/site/company is create a Company Profile Page/Group in addition to your personal profile where you can post events, downloads, links, and build a facebook following around your company.

You never know who is going to be interested in that niche you're in, and by providing a facebook page outlining your business, it will give your facebook friends and others the chance to see what you do..and eventually find they're way to your blog...sales funnel....share with their friend....etc...

In addition, you can also broadcast the members of your group everytime you make a blog post or are running a promotion...

There's like a million other things you can do with facebook by participating in other
groups, placing image-ads, making applications, etc...

Make sure whatever it is you're doing is genuine and has a purpose.

3) Show that you're a real person and not a business robot....

This goes hand-in-hand with the whole consistency/being genuine thing I'm trying to convey...

Whatever social network that you're going to get involved in, make sure to fill out as much info about yourself as possible. And when you do this, don't just write what you think people want to hear...

Write that your favorite magazine is Playboy if thats what it is. If you're favorite movie is "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"...it shows you're kind of weird. Ironically, weird things about yourself in these communities = being normal.

Post pictures of yourself so your prospects/readers can get a better sense of the type of person you are so that you can eventually surround yourself with customers who know you and like the kind of person you are..

If someone see's that your profile says that your favorite music is 50 cent and they don't like that....you don't want that customer anyway...creating a business where your clients already like you is so much better in the long run..so make sure to be real from the beginning!

This is just a short reply and I hope it helps you get started because there is so much to gain from Social Networking and Web 2.0 if you really get involved.

Best of luck to you!

-Dan

Wow!

That is a great bunch of information you just gave me, and I appreciate it very much. A bit more information from my side, I don't want to learn social networking and sit and work at it all day. I am at the point where I want to create a partnership with someone who is already capable.

You were a freshman in college 5 years ago, I was a freshman in college nearly 20 years ago I made nearly $1mil last year and I know that there are millions more out there, but I'm looking to partner up on the marketing side rather than do it myself.

If you or anyone else is interested in hearing more, drop me a PM and Ill share IM info.

Thanks again for taking the time to comment in such depth.

I'm pretty hooked on to Facebook. I think its a great way to interact and make new contacts. Its very informal, it would definitely help people with new business ventures to build contacts.

I guess I'm still looking for someone to take the reigns here.

I couldn't help jumping in.

I'm big on automating everything (or outsoursing it), and I'm finding more softwear or these sites every day.

For facebook you can automate getting "friends" with Facebook Friend Bomber. For myspace you could use friend blaster pro, and tube blaster pro for youtube.

I'm sure there is much more software than this, and you would need to try more of a soft selling technique with facebook for sure.

I'm not an expert, just my 2 cents.