As you sit on your notebook computer, checking all the latest happenings on Facebook or Twitter, it’s easy I suppose to not realize that there IS a mindset conducive to social networking success.
Looking at what you actually get sent by “business networkers” on these sites though, it’s hard to see this success mindset in action.
Maybe I’m the only one in thinking this (I highly doubt it though), but everybody just seems hellbent on pushing their latest MLM business opportunity, their “out of this world” and “make $5000 overnight” business systems or their latest video on You Tube.
photo credit: Richard Pflaume
Now, don’t get me wrong. It’s great to be enthusiastic about what it is you do, but seriously. If you were to attend a real life business networking function, would you just crash tackle one of the people there and say, “Hi! I’m (insert name)! Check out my latest and greatest business at (insert web address)!” and then run off without letting them say a word?
Of course you wouldn’t do that!
But every man, woman and dog online is doing just that.
So far, my foray into the Tweeter world has netted me 461 followers – and it’s only been two days or so. Out of that crowd of people, the great majority of those who have contacted me (with the exception of say six), have just sent an impersonal, template message with the obligatory URL mention. Many just shove their sales page at me to flog an affiliate product they’re pedaling – without the courtesy of even developing a single ounce of rapport.
Is a business-relationship too much to ask for these days? Like I said, we don’t crash tackle at the business networking functions we attend in real life.
So why do it online?
And this gets me to the crux of this article for today: the mindset of social networking success.
You need to go into social networking with the objective of introducing yourself to others from the mindset of you helping them succeed in their business. You have to come to the social networking table with a genuine interest in helping the other person do more business. It’s amazing what this approach will do. The person you Tweet with or network with on Facebook will actually be amazed by this, because next to bugger all people are doing this online! Always ask the question of, “what can I do for you?” and start a dialogue (shock horror to the social networking shortcutter!) with them.
Engage them personally and surprise yourself with the results! You’ll actually develop some real and life-long business contacts – and you might even make a friend or two out of it as well.
Adopt this social networking success mindset today. I dare you!
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Here Here! What you described would be the experience of many people when joining Twitter.
Many of the people described use the shotgun approach to peddle their wares. It may be unfortunate but it does cost them nothing to do so. It may actually be profitable for them depending on the mindset of the recipient.
Twitter for me is to know a person as a person as well as their business/service. It is their opportunity to show me that you have a warm heart, decent personality, and even sometimes show up as fallible. I’m not particularly looking to uncover others faults, rather to see that they are human, just like me.
Of course there are Twitter accounts that are specifically about or for a product and their sole purpose is to promote their services (and so they should).
MLM and get rich quick schemes may be for some and that’s fine by me. Personally I am not into these schemes or methods and will dutifully block or remove a Twitter account that ends up being a nuisance to me.
I don’t run my own business at the moment but I am studying (noticing?) what attracts me to other people within Social Media (and what I could have done better in previous businesses).
My belief is that you need to provide value for another. Show and demonstrate that you know what you’re talking about. Even assist others who wish to improve in the very field your business is in.
I think my next business must focus on allowing word-of-mouth to flow freely by showing people that I provide great value and service. Invest in gaining reputation because reputation spreads far and well.
What’s the best referral for your business? The one that never comes from your own mouth. Build a reputation based on what you offer to others.
This is where MLM and get-rich-quick and instant-$5000-cash incentives just no longer do it for me.
What a ramble! Oh well, it comes straight and not very edited. Hope this adds value to your article.
Oh and if you would like some tech advice regarding Social Media give me a call. You can contact me via http://bit.ly/google-profile-samkatakouzinos.
Regards,
Sam Katakouzinos
P.S. Keep up the great work! I love your articles and your approach. Many people will benefit from your contributions, I can tell
Hi Sam!
Thanks so much for your really detailed response! It’s good to know I’m not the only one who thinks that people are too “shotgunny” (is that a word?!) in their approach to social networking.
For me, I am very much into giving VALUE and doing so in a GENUINE way to my contacts. “How can I help you?” is my networking mantra. When you approach people like this, often, they will reciprocate. When we help others, we often help ourselves. It’s an amazing thing!
I look forward to hearing more from you Sam – I appreciate your insights!
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Thanks Darren, I’ll get back to you on that one! Need to consult with my technical people!
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You may have not intended to do so, but I think you have managed to express the state of mind that a lot of people are in. The sense of wanting to help, but not knowing how or where, is something a lot of us are going through.
There’s one much more great reason not to compete on selling price. Persons typically worth points which can be high-priced. It is a curious factor of human psychology that if we believe some issue is useful, then it’s. Conversely, need to you place a lower cost tag on some issue, folks perceive it as getting junk.