If you have an internet business, social networking should be at the top of your list as a way to personally connect with your readers and followers. This is not all about business, it's about being personal too.
This sort of hit me the other day while watching one of my favorite movies, 'You've got mail", there was a line in the movie that got my attention with regard to my own business.
It's about making your business personal.
As Meg Ryan fights to save her business by telling herself that the fight is not personal it's business, she ultimately realizes that her business is about being personal. She asks "What are we if we're not personal?" So true.
Social networking is the same thing, it's about getting personal. That doesn't mean posting every nitty gritty personal detail of your life for everyone to read, but we have to put enough of ourselves out there that our readers and followers can see that we're more than just someone trying to make a buck online, that means we have to walk the talk and put our customers, colleagues and followers first. Often easier said than done.
If you're trying to sell your 'lose weight fast' e-book for example, you're limiting your success if your only goal is to make money. Selling on the web requires a mindset. It's about putting your potential customers first by giving of yourself and demonstrating your enthusiasm, your interest, expertise and excitement for your topic. That's what attracts buyers and followers.
Getting personal starts with social networking. Offer advice on forums and blogs, if you're a weight loss enthusiast be an optimist for someone that is fighting the weight struggle, in other words make it your daily passion to get involved with everyone and anyone interested in losing weight.
Here's a plan I use for getting involved:
- Make getting personal part of your daily routine. Block out about an hour a day to this task.
- Spend your first day finding blogs and forums related to your topic. Register for each one and keep the list handy to use every day.
Using Google use these to find blogs and forums: (replace 'keywords' with your keyword or keyword phrase)
allintitle:keywords blog
allintitle:keywords forum
- Comment on all the blogs and forums that are popular and have a good following. Don't limit yourself posting only to sites that follow your links, real people read your comments too and will click your link if they find your content valuable. Of course commenting on sites that do follow your links will generate back links to your site so the best plan is to do a mix of both.
If you use Firefox add the Nodofollow plugin, you will be able to choose the nodofollow by right clicking your mouse. Using this option will highlight all the links on a website, blue means the site follows the link, red means its a Nofollow. It's perfect for finding sites that follow links and it's super easy to turn off if you don't need it.
- Become a regular on your list of sites and offer real information. Posting things like 'great post', love your site or 'thanks for the info' won't help you, in fact most sites delete those comments as spam. Post information that people will be impressed with, give them a reason to click on your link.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
a very important networking.
i like it.
your blog is very interesting.
i don’t have any money to do this biz plz help me out.
This isn’t a business per se, this is a form of marketing but tell me what kinds of things have you considered for a business and we’ll talk through it
Social Networking is a key aspect of any business. I agree with everything written in this article. Another piece of advice I would give is to build a relationship with as many business owners you can find.
I love learning different internet marketing skills day by day just by reading blogs such as this one. I am familiar with how to detect do follow blogs with the help of blog readings too that’s why I am very happy that through continuous learning, I can increase my backlinks, now my page rank in google is very impressive and I must say I am very grateful for those who share their knowledge through blogging.
Hey Delores, So glad I could help and so glad you’re giving it that hour a day, I think it will make a difference for you if you stick with it
Bula (Hullo) Ms Liz.
Thank you ever so much for the wonderful and creative information regarding Social Networking. I built my site in October 2009 and so far have not got a response. Reading your article has given me the boost to start socializing with networking and blogs, chee, never thought of that – thank you. As a working mother, I will make it my business for 2010 to give one hour a day to socializing and building my website. Again thank you. You are a God-Send. Here’s wishing you all the best for your 2010. Kind regards – Delores Tuibua