For every five minutes spent on the internet, one is dedicated to social networking sites. This is what a survey carried out by comScore in October 2011 says and it clearly shows that internet users now consider social media as an everyday tool, just like a mobile phone or a TV set.
Next to the world social media top dog, that is, Facebook with its circa 900 million users, there are other platforms which allow you to build up a network of relationships: from the business-orientated LinkedIn to hundreds of dating websites such as Match, Zoosk, Meetic, eHarmony and Badoo. LinkedIn stands out for the number of different functions the web site provides to communicate with other members. As well as direct messages, status updates and groups, LinkedIn also features a very useful tool which suggests the names of other members you might know and it tells you how many grades of separation there are between you and each of them. Personally, I find it much more effective than Facebook's friends suggestions.
Another platform which provides a vast array of ways to interact with other users is Badoo, a cross between a dating site and a social network, and it's currently booming with over 150 million users. The London-based web site allows its users to see the members who live in their area, follow them in Twitter style or arrange group meetups with them (a’ la Meetup.com) and also offers interactive content and games. Perhaps that's why Badoo, now available in 180 countries, is one of the stickiest websites in Europe, that is, one of those where a single visitor spends more time. In fact, in countries like France, Italy and Spain, Badoo's users have spent an average of 1 hour and 30 minutes per visit on the site, making it the second stickiest site after Facebook (eMarketer - “Western Europe Social Network Usage”).
But whatever platform we use, how can we build valuable relationships through social media?
USE ALL THE COMMUNICATION TOOLS
As mentioned before, nowadays social media offer several ways to communicate. Don't limit yourself to one or two, use all of them.
This means, post your status update, chat, register with groups you like, follow these groups' forums and make comments as often as possible, tag other users and so on.
BE CONSISTENT
Time is a key issue for most of us but when it comes to social networks, concentrating your efforts on one single thing is never very rewarding.
Writing a few lines every day or every other day is much more effective than writing a long and detailed post or giving “likes” and making comments once a month.
DO UT DES
It's just like in real life. You can't expect other users to throw themselves enthusiastically into every single thing you post if you never bother to read, comment on, share or like other people's material.
The Latin saying “Do ut des” (I give so that you will give) is extremely valid in the virtual world.
It might sound petty-minded but, apart from providing good content, the best way to build online relationships is to be generous with them, and often this means “liking/sharing your post so you will like/share mine.
MAKE PEOPLE TRUST YOU
Write about something you like and know well and share your knowledge as much as possible. If you work in that area, let your contacts know it and, if possible, get recommendations from colleagues, ex-bosses, etc on LinkedIn. You can eventually link them to other platforms.
BE PSYCHOLOGICALLY WISE
Write posts about every single achievement you have had in your career or in your private life but do it in a non showing-off way. In brief, inform but don't brag. And always try to find the funny side of things, even if you have just won an Oscar. For example, instead of saying “I won an Oscar because I bloody deserved it”, say: “They gave me an Oscar and I showed up with a wine-stained shirt!”
Last but not least, once you have followed all the previous tips don't forget number one: be real, that is, be yourself. When you pretend to be something you are not, or put on a mask, sooner or later they will find you out.
About the author: Alexandru Rotaru is an online marketing expert who specializes in Social Media and online technology and communication. In the past few years, Alexandru has collaborated with many industry publications for which he’s written articles and marketing-related guides. Follow him on Twitter: @L24alexr
This entry was posted on Monday, June 18th, 2012 at 9:26 AM and is filed under Opinions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed. -->
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
How to build relationships through social media « iMediaConnection Blog #SoulcialMe
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