Tonight on Twitter I was reviewing profiles of new connections made throughout the day. I always check out profiles of those following me, and read their tweets before following them. I generally try to RT at least one post for each new person that I follow. I came across this one tonight:
And to that I say...
Really! SOCIAL Media... Say that again... SOCIAL Media. Be personal - be social!
I have to say, I'm very much enjoying really digging into Twitter and getting to know some really fabulous people! Once you engage others in conversation and take a genuine interest in what other people have to say - rather than what you can get out of it - you'll be hooked!
I almost feel bad - I seem to get out of it, more than I feel I give, but at the same time, others are ReTweeting my goodies, and I got some great shout outs today for #followfriday! It's humbling and so very much appreciated. I only hope I can give back ten-fold!
I really don't know what I have to offer, but I know that I enjoy chatting with and listening to what others have to share. I'm finding the more I listen, the more I am heard. Amazing really.
Your personal touches can go such a long way in Social Media, so long as they are sincere. Insincerity in social networking is spotted a mile away! Maybe you do have something to sell on Twitter, and that's okay - but that will come in time if you are passionate about building real relationships - those relationships will build your brand and drive your business.
A few points I struggle with that I have run into in Social Media networks:
--> You follow me on Twitter, so naturally I want to learn more about you and what makes you tick, and perhaps what I might be able to share with you - but your Tweets are blocked? How the heck am I supposed to get to know you?
--> On LinkedIn... You have a public profile on a business networking site, but when I express a sincere interest in networking with you, I'm told "I only accept connection requests from people I've already done business with" - Now to me that defeats the entire purpose of LinkedIn and Social Media.
--> On Facebook... I send you a friend request because perhaps we work in the same industry, we have a similar interest, or common connections - and am told "I only connect with people I have met face to face". Again - Facebook with 160,000,000 users... I use FB for personal and for business. And I purposely do not keep those profiles separate, after all I am a person, so my personality is personal, and I am who I am personally and professionaly and they are the same person! Make sense? Why would you NOT want to connect and get know a potential information sharing source?
I understand the privacy thing - but in some regards, and on some networks, it defeats the purpose of SOCIAL MEDIA.
I will continue to remind everyone to #payitforward in all you do (Twitter and beyond)! Give more than you want to receive and you'll get far more than you ever imagined possible - but BE SINCERE!
Thanks for the inspiration @joelcomm - I truly look forward to following you!
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