Start with one – Social Networking 101


Listen to the 2 minute audio above. It’s great advice.

Most folks joining Twitter or Facebook today, they’re advised to follow a bunch of folks. Likely these aren’t folks they are not only direct contacts with in the physical world, but not even a friend of a friend.

This sounds like fun until that newbie drowns in the messages, messages with no meaning. Sure, they might make one or two friends out of that mess, but likely they’ll initially just be frustrated.

In the end, the recommendation to follow a bunch of strangers is just bad advice. There’s no relationship building going on. It’s like trying to make instant bake success.

So what works? Organic one relationship at a time growth of contacts. Instead of focusing on stratospheric numbers, focus on one new contact at a time.

How to do this?  Best advice I’ve received is to watch who your friends engage with. Listen in on those conversations. See what those folks who do interact have to say and how they say it.  If you see something you enjoy, friend that person.

New contacts you add, be sure to let them know how you found them. Be sure to mention the shared connection, and considering adding a note about one of the new friends messages. It lets them know you’ve been listening.

In summary, build your network one valued connection at a time. Give them your best. Your network will grow fast enough.

 Start with one   Social Networking 101



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@redshoegirl Twitter is for listening.
I so enjoy listening and watching for good stuff to roll by.
I do that when I'm working other tasks. That first column, Friends, in tweetdeck, is never covered.
Exploring via your friends and the people they engaged is definitely the most fun way to find new tweeps.
There should be a Twitter application that shows those branching out relationships and how people you already know perhaps connect to one another.
Cheers,
Todd

@UrbanBacon relationships can grow on Twitter.
I believe it's all about connecting for connections sake. If you do more, more power to you I say.
Just start talking. <- bad Nike take off but oh so true.

@redshoegirl Twitter is for listening.
I so enjoy listening and watching for good stuff to roll by.
I do that when I'm working other tasks. That first column, Friends, in tweetdeck, is never covered.
Exploring via your friends and the people they engaged is definitely the most fun way to find new tweeps.
There should be a Twitter application that shows those branching out relationships and how people you already know perhaps connect to one another.
Cheers,
Todd

@UrbanBacon relationships can grow on Twitter.
I believe it's all about connecting for connections sake. If you do more, more power to you I say.
Just start talking. <- bad Nike take off but oh so true.

Wait? This whole Twitter thing is about building relationships? I'm kidding obviously:)

It seems like like simple advice, but it's great. Focus on one relationship at a time. We are so hooked on instant gratification, that the idea of only having 100 followers bums us out. Bottom Line: It takes work...just start talking.

Thank you for these simple tips!

Agree 100%. It was so much easier to listen in on a friend's conversation with another in the earlier days of Twitter. If I recall, it is how I began to follow you! I also find it interesting when someone I do not know RTs something I post. That signifies a possible relationship to explore. The key word is 'relationship' -- it takes effort to make it a good one. Cheers.

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