The Secret To Social Networking

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BE A STALKER!

Seriously, push the envelope between being an active participant in the conversation and a creepy stalker!

Everyone has their own rules for participating in social networks like Twitter and Facebook.  One of the continually running themes or rules is “be part of the conversation” and I agree.  Don’t post Tweet after Tweet about what you have for sale on eBay or just a re-posting of your latest blog posts.  Join the conversation!  Contribute!  Give me something of value!

However, to be really successful in the social media space, you must become a stalker!  Follow everyone you think might be of interest to you on Twitter.  Add people as friends on Facebook, not because their really your friends, but because they interest you or you think you may be able to provide value to them.

Once you’ve followed someone — CONVERSE WITH THEM!  Don’t be the wallflower and ignore a Tweet or status update that interests you or pushes your buttons, RESPOND!  Then, push a little further — engage the other person in conversation — get them wondering, “Who the hell is this person?”  The more you push, the more interested people become in who you are and what you’re doing — BE PREPARED for this — in the online world, people can find out just about everything about you, including getting a 360* view of your home from Google Maps.

Obviously, I’m not saying you should be a real stalker.  I’m not condoning aberrant behavior.  But you do need to “put yourself out there.”  You have to be willing to test the waters and get soaked!

In the last few years, I’ve made more friends online just by interacting with them, whether I knew them or not.  How else are you supposed to determine if you have similar (or dissimilar) interests?  How else can you determine if you can help them with your business or vice-versa?

Additionally, you can’t be intimidated by position.  John Chow is a blogger, just like me (well, OK, maybe not exactly like me — John will get here, someday — haha), but the fact that he’s JOHN CHOW doesn’t prevent me from interacting with him on his blog, on Twitter, in Facebook, and when I’ve met him in person.  I’d miss out on fantastic networking and friendship opportunities if I sat back, in fear, and refused to interact with people due to their status or position.

I could say this has contributed to my business, because it has, but it’s more than that — it contributes to your life.  You expand your horizons, meet people from all over the world, become friends with people outside your “network,” and grow as a person!

So get out there and learn to BE A STALKER!

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