Welcome to the series Sunday Social Networking Tips. The plan is to bring in folks to share their best ideas about social networking. The next person to write up a tip could be you!

Tip:

Spotlight Your Fans

Ego, it’s a large part of what drives us to put ourselves out there on any social network. We love to have our ego stroked. On social networks that happens when we receive comments on our work, it gets shared out repeatedly, and when direct praise comes back along the wire.

Fans feed that ego and your success. They’ll be the ones that shout out about us even when we have dry spells. Your number one fan will share your content everywhere, and draw in even more followers for you. It’ll be your fans that get your work up in lights.

So why is it we ignore them? You don’t believe me, but trust me, it’s likely your fans feel ignored. When was the last time you mentioned one of them in your work? Did you give Sue credit for pushing you through on your last book or song? Was it Erin that drove you to write that post on writing a great title?

Chances are those that give you feedback shape your work all the time. Isn’t it about time you give them some credit?

What happens when you give your peeps some recognition?

• They’ll be appreciative and let the world know about it.
• Better feedback, more honest and more frequent.
• They could become real friends.

How can you shower your fans with some attention and not be like Elvis tossing out sweaty scarves? I’ve got a few ideas.

• Blog about one of them. Do an interview even.
• Share their links. Highlight the thing they are most proud of or the their work that most inspired you.
• Ask them to guest post for you.
• Mention them in your credits or just link out to them on your blog roll.

Some of you are balking. You have plenty of fans and you aren’t doing anything for them except pumping out more content. It won’t last. You’re going to rant and rave and tick folks off and they’ll be gone. They’ll leave because you never shown that you even notice them. They’ll go where they’re visible and recognized.

Do this right now:

• Right a thank you post. List your three biggest fans by name. Link to them.
• Find three of your favorite followers and brag about them. Nothing mushy, but tell us why you love them back.
• Add a blog roll to your blog. Don’t have one? Create a tribute page then. List your favorite folks with links.
• Write a comment now and mention as many of your fans as you know. Tell us something about them.
• Call now and leave a recording on(636) 486-4723. I’ll repost the anonymous recordings here on my blog.

Go, acknowledge, love.

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Around the Valley in 60 Days: Hello to St.Peters, Missouri: “”

My brother-in-law gives us a shout out from his blog. He shares a picture of our twin granddaughters from our visit out there. Jerry also wrote us a nice note.

Thanks Jerry!