Social Networking Basics & Etiquette
MyPage: Robert Mesa
If one wants to improve his or her position in network marketing or any business, social networking is one of the keys to success. But before you can actually build your online reputation through social networking you first need to know what it's about and how to get started with it. Here are some basic social networking and etiquette tips, to get you started.
Contribute
As you create your member profile, keep in mind that you are offering your services and products in a subtle way. Your "profile page" should contain informative articles, images, videos and other content that you think might provide other members with some idea on what you can offer.
Participate
You should make sure that you increase your visibility by participating in group discussions and forums. This will show the other members your sincerity in trying to establish connections. Some may disagree, but for the maximum potential of a network, you should only join profiles that cultivate the same interests and preferences you have and whose members will immensely benefit from your services.
Offer Help and Receive Help
Whenever the opportunity to help other members arrive, you should try to be as helpful as you can. You can provide expert opinion based on your own experiences. Aside from offering your help, you can utilize these profiles to ask for help if ever you or your business encounter some problems. With such interaction, your expertise is not only established but you will also be seen as someone who is trustworthy.
Share
One of the benefits of social networking is being able to share with other members your experiences. The same way you expect your network to be interested in whatever is going on in your professional life, you should also show the same courtesy by reacting to their experiences.
Respond
You should not be surprised if visitors will go to your site asking for your help or opinion based on the expertise you have established. You should make sure that you answer them with a high level of professionalism. You can also try to do some soft selling if what these people need is among the services and products you offer. You can also establish long-term relationships by visiting their sites.
Social Networking Etiquette:
1. All Social Networking profiles should be appropriate for future bosses.
2. Your Social Networking profile should represent you in a positive manner.
3. Your Social Networking profile should be realistic.
4. Sharing your personal life is fine, however make sure your photos, content and conversation are rated “Group Appropriate”.
5. Your profile should be complete, accurate, detailed and thorough.
SNTIP: “Think of your online presence as part of your resume. If there is anything up there that you would not want a boss or co-worker to see, take it down. It's fine to share photos and events from your personal life, but be discrete and “PG.” Monitor what other people write on your walls, comment boards, and elect to keep some parts of your profile private.”
6. Focus on Relationship Building. Relationship building is the foundation for success in social networking. When you meet someone online, you want to focus first on learning who they are. It's not about saying "Hi" then sending them to a sales page.
7. Don't Abuse Signature Lines. In internet marketing, you're taught to make the most of every piece of real estate on a page, especially your signature line. When you sign your social networking messages with links to your opt-in page or even your blog, then you're perceived as being pushy. Pushy people are the party crashers, and don't make many lasting relationships!
8. Comment From the Heart. One way to build relationships with others is to offer genuinely helpful comments on their pages. A bad habit carried over from the traditional internet marketing world be to use the comments as a place for self-promotion.
SNTIP: These social networking basic tips & etiquette will allow you to utilize the potentials of Sta.rtUp.Biz to the fullest. Basically, it all comes back to the golden rule, respecting other people in order to be respected.
NOTE: Coming Soon SNSTAR (Social Networking STAR) a Sta.rtUp.Biz Group, and a place to share and learn to become a Social Networking Star.
Continued Success,
Robert Mesa
SiliconPost.Com
If one wants to improve his or her position in network marketing or any business, social networking is one of the keys to success. But before you can actually build your online reputation through social networking you first need to know what it's about and how to get started with it. Here are some basic social networking and etiquette tips, to get you started.
Contribute
As you create your member profile, keep in mind that you are offering your services and products in a subtle way. Your "profile page" should contain informative articles, images, videos and other content that you think might provide other members with some idea on what you can offer.
Participate
You should make sure that you increase your visibility by participating in group discussions and forums. This will show the other members your sincerity in trying to establish connections. Some may disagree, but for the maximum potential of a network, you should only join profiles that cultivate the same interests and preferences you have and whose members will immensely benefit from your services.
Offer Help and Receive Help
Whenever the opportunity to help other members arrive, you should try to be as helpful as you can. You can provide expert opinion based on your own experiences. Aside from offering your help, you can utilize these profiles to ask for help if ever you or your business encounter some problems. With such interaction, your expertise is not only established but you will also be seen as someone who is trustworthy.
Share
One of the benefits of social networking is being able to share with other members your experiences. The same way you expect your network to be interested in whatever is going on in your professional life, you should also show the same courtesy by reacting to their experiences.
Respond
You should not be surprised if visitors will go to your site asking for your help or opinion based on the expertise you have established. You should make sure that you answer them with a high level of professionalism. You can also try to do some soft selling if what these people need is among the services and products you offer. You can also establish long-term relationships by visiting their sites.
Social Networking Etiquette:
1. All Social Networking profiles should be appropriate for future bosses.
2. Your Social Networking profile should represent you in a positive manner.
3. Your Social Networking profile should be realistic.
4. Sharing your personal life is fine, however make sure your photos, content and conversation are rated “Group Appropriate”.
5. Your profile should be complete, accurate, detailed and thorough.
SNTIP: “Think of your online presence as part of your resume. If there is anything up there that you would not want a boss or co-worker to see, take it down. It's fine to share photos and events from your personal life, but be discrete and “PG.” Monitor what other people write on your walls, comment boards, and elect to keep some parts of your profile private.”
6. Focus on Relationship Building. Relationship building is the foundation for success in social networking. When you meet someone online, you want to focus first on learning who they are. It's not about saying "Hi" then sending them to a sales page.
7. Don't Abuse Signature Lines. In internet marketing, you're taught to make the most of every piece of real estate on a page, especially your signature line. When you sign your social networking messages with links to your opt-in page or even your blog, then you're perceived as being pushy. Pushy people are the party crashers, and don't make many lasting relationships!
8. Comment From the Heart. One way to build relationships with others is to offer genuinely helpful comments on their pages. A bad habit carried over from the traditional internet marketing world be to use the comments as a place for self-promotion.
SNTIP: These social networking basic tips & etiquette will allow you to utilize the potentials of Sta.rtUp.Biz to the fullest. Basically, it all comes back to the golden rule, respecting other people in order to be respected.
NOTE: Coming Soon SNSTAR (Social Networking STAR) a Sta.rtUp.Biz Group, and a place to share and learn to become a Social Networking Star.
Continued Success,
Robert Mesa
SiliconPost.Com
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Debs on -
Hi Robert,
You have raised some really interesting points here.
Especially food for thought is the one about abusing signature lines. It would be interesting to know how people do feel about someone adding a link with a few words pointing to their site, at the end of an otherwise useful / friendly contribution?
Does it make a difference if the link is added to a post that is offering a genuine welcome or some useful comments about the receivers page or does that still make the commenter look pushy?
I just recently left a greeting comment on your page with a link at the end funnily enough before reading this lol :) - hmm looks like I shall have to rethink that one in future...
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Permalink Reply by Robert Mesa on -
Hi Debs,
Social networking should be more about relationship building. Having said that there is an element of salesmanship (how can I help you, or you help me). The points being made with regards to social networking environments, it is a softer sell. Referring back to the signature line, I've seen some with 4 or 5 links banners and more. That would be considered pushy, and end relationships. I saw your post on my page, and it is fine. SNTIP, Don't start a SN relationship with a sales pitch, if you ease into a relationship first, your sales pitch will be welcomed more readily without seeming pushy. Hope this helps.
Robert
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Permalink Reply by Debs on
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Thanks for the reassurance Robert. I was hoping that was what you meant. I enjoy the relationship building aspects of social networking, likewise I tend to frequent mainly the type of forums which encourage this as well, rather than simply ad posting forums (although we all want somewhere to advertise, I generally tend to click on ads of people I have come to know in those places)..
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Permalink Reply by Robert Mesa on
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Hi Debs,
I'm glad the information was useful. Please allow me to explain why I said your signature line was appropriate. Your post started off with a nice welcoming graphic, which put me at ease (thank you), followed by a signature line, and you followed rule number 7 (don't abuse signature lines), yours was subtle. Not only do you have good Social Networking skills, these are also good people skills in general.
Robert
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Permalink Reply by SUp.biz, CEO on -
Robert, I enjoy watching people grow their businesses and thrive, and your valuable insights will help more people do so through improved social networking techniquies. Thank you for that.
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Permalink Reply by Robert Mesa on
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Hi StarLawyer,
Thank you for your kind comments. If I may expand on your comments "grow their businesses and thrive... through improved social networking techniques". Personally I think Social Networking is a blessing in disguise. If we follow Basic Social Networking Skills it takes the hard edge off salesmanship. There's nothing wrong with salesmanship. But who likes a pushy salesman? I've found the softer sell results in longer relationships (customers for life). In relationship building, people are more receptive with your approach in business and in everyday life.
Robert
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Permalink Reply by Joyce Sanders on -
Hi Robert,
This is a great article!! I really enjoyed reading it. Some people seem to think because they are on the internet they can throw their manners aside. Not true!! We should always treat each other as if we were sitting next to our friend on the couch.
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Permalink Reply by Robert Mesa on
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Hi Joyce,
Thank you for reading my article and your nice comments. Did you happen to see:
-> Tools to monitor your website
I hope it too is usefull.
Have a great day,
Robert
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Permalink Reply by Alkebu-lan on -
I must say, that is some of the most beneficial information I have received in a while. If I learn nothing else on Sta.rtUp.Biz I've learned more than enough today. I was aware of offering my services in a subtle way. However, without a web page, and waiting on some products, I dare not. I especially liked the part about making your profile appropriate for future bosses. I will end with a question. If you are targeting a particular market, for example a particular religious group, a certain nationality, or a certain political interest group, who will buy your products, do you make your web page respectful of the whole or just your targeted group? For example if your product is Hip-Hop. Should you make your page socially relevant and incorporate something everyone likes so more would view your page eventhough you know they don't have any intentions of buying. However, you do want them to view your page because you could learn from each other the area of handling business.
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Permalink Reply by Robert Mesa on
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Hi Alkebu-lan,
Thank you for reading my article and your kind comments. Interesting question you posed. I would consider target marketing as you would practice social networking, by building relationships. A website can be designed accomplish two things:
1.) Give your presentation (about you or your organization).
2.) Provide information to your targeted group.
Here is one strategy. Consider your website to have a front office, and back office. The front office will be your welcome, who we are presentation to all comers, (with your offer to build a relationship). The back office, when visitors step in, will contain the information (products & services) for that targeted group. With this approach you would provide good will to all visitors and target your specific group. In the process hopefully gain the interests of those outside the target market.
To answer your last comments above:
"Valuable information can be gained from all walks of life. How you reach out and present your message will determine the diversity of your visitors, and the relationships you build."
I hope this helps,
Robert Mesa
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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Beasley on -
Thank you. I will be posting this (with your permission) in other places where I network, like in my Adland Pro forum. Very informative and well put together.
Rebecca Beasley
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Permalink Reply by Robert Mesa on
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Hi Rebecca,
Thank you for taking the time to read my article. I hope it was useful information. You are welcome to post this article where you like as long as you include a link-back to my Profile Page here on Sta.rtUp.Biz.
Here is my Profile Page link: http://sta.rtup.biz/profile/RobertMesa/
Continued Success,
Robert Mesa
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