As some of you already know, I use Twitter; the micro-blogging tool, to keep in touch with some friends, clients and contacts. I have three thousand followers and really enjoy interacting with them; they are a BRILLIANT bunch of people! However, I know that many of them find it hard to get new followers, so I decided to do something to help!
My idea
I wanted to develop a list of my followers, who were all interested in networking – so people could build their Twitter follow lists. I sent my followers a Twitter message (called a Tweet), asking them to send me their name and their username, if they wanted to go on this list.
Only around 70 of the 120 or so replies I got were actually usable. The remainder were sent without a name, or were emailed to me via the blog, without a Twitter user name! Obviously, because so few of the messages were usable, it became way too time consuming for me to continue and the list has been closed.
Two important lessons I want to share with you
Firstly, Twitter is a wonderful tool, but it is limited. It only allows you to post 140 character long messages. This means it’s great for getting short, direct messages out, but lousy for explaining things. I’m sorry for not being clear enough with my request – But that’s NOT the reason I’m writing this!
There was a second, far more valuable lesson here!
Around a dozen of the messages I received were borderline abusive or very abrupt. So, as a marketing man, I wanted to know how that kind of online networking attitude was working for these people. Here’s what I found….
I decided to take a look at their websites or blogs, using a few of the well-known online research tools – just to get a very general idea of how many people they were attracting to their sites. Not one was registering even average traffic numbers. Then I took a look at the blogs of those who had blogs, and saw very few comments or signs of reader activity. Finally, I noticed that none of them had more than a handful of followers on Twitter either.
Whether building a network of clients online or offline, it seems the same rules apply:
People are attracted to attractive people
- and they are repelled by repellent people.
.
When I talk about being an attractive person here, I don’t mean physically attractive – I mean attractive in relation to one’s personality and actions. Even ugly, bald guys like me can be attractive as people ya know!
The way we interact with people online is REALLY important. If we try to help people, speak well of people and focus on delivering quality to people – we will attract the help and co-operation of others. However, if we speak ill of people, are abrupt with people or focus too much on ourselves – we will attract very little positive response.
What have YOUR experiences been with online networking?
Do you have any tips you would like to share with your fellow readers? If so, please leave a comment below.
Hi Jim,
Thanks for your insight! You are quickly becoming one of my favorite blogs to read. Having responded to your call, without the right details I may add, I find that keeping current with Twitter has its challenges. I 100% agree that this is all about Law of Attraction, one of my favorite personal topics. I did find you through one of my first Twitter friends, @LisaHoffman, who wrote a beauty of a blog post about you! Kudos to you on that, you are so generous and a good model to follow. That Lisa is something else
). But you are right, good people are attracted to good people. I’m trying to find the balance of sharing valuable info with keeping pace with conversations and doing actual work to keep the boss happy. Thanks for all you do.
I just started following you on twitter and already have learned a LOT. People have lost the art of good customer service which should extend beyond face-to-face encounters. Whether someone is paying you or just interacting, whether they are on the phone, behind the wheel, or online, the benefits of being kind are returned ten-fold. Thanks for the great info!
Hello Juliann,
I am glad you find the blog useful and that you have taken time to contribute.
Comments are REALLY important, they are what make a blog so valuable. The ability to get so many different perspectives; not just the person ‘behind’ the post.
Yes, Lisa was very kind in her post about me:
http://newmedialisa.com/index.php/online-networking-secrets/
Keep in touch!
Hello Iris,
Thanks for your comment and for following me on Twitter.
Customer service is extremely important and yes, it starts WAY before anyone spends any money.
Thanks!
Jim,
I recently began following you on Twitter and have been very impressed and grateful for the quality and content you are providing for free. There are many of us who can benefit from your expertise. Thank you for being so willing to share. Those negative people have no idea what they are missing out on! Cheers!
Virginia
Hello Virginia,
Thanks for the comment – i’m glad you have found the ideas here useful.
TIP:
Read the comments from the readers – there’s some VERY smart people commenting here!
Wow, I’m shocked to hear how people acted when you were only trying to help. I thought your idea was great but I guess some didn’t feel the same way.
I truly believe that ‘like attracts like’. For myself, I only want to surround myself with positive people. There are enough negative nellies in the world without me inviting them into my circle.
Thanks for posting Jim!
-Kelley
Hello Kelley,
Thanks for the comment. I agree; like attracts like!
Hi Jim,
What a great post. I have to confess to being a Twitter virgin and I’m staying that way for the moment because I don’t need another excuse to be distracted from the day job!
What you say about being positive and giving a good vibe is so true though – the Buddhist idea of good and bad karma for the actions you take today coming back to you later on are very clear to see.
I shall continue to watch Twitter and perhaps one day may dip my toe in the water. Until then, blogs are enough for me
Cheers,
Lee
Hello Lee,
Glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for stopping by the blog and taking time to comment.
Hi Jim,
Us follickly-challenged guys need to stick together! Thanks for making me feel welcome,
Lee
you ask for shared comments. i am new to – well, just about everything. i have always been ahead in technologies, been blogging and twittering for some time, same for other SM and social networks. I think i am covered across all the social sites that are worth exploring.
alas, when i first came to twitter took me sometime to get my arms around it, understand the value, the best way to work with it, etc.
so, here is my only piece of advice to someone just starting (actually two in one):
listen to tweets before you jump in and never hesitate to ask for help
lots of nice people out there… any one would love to help you. and, trust me, once to start looking for people to follow – you can go crazy very rapidly. make sure you set aside some time to do it right…
ok, more like three things… and i can probably keep going, so i am going to stop now.
(ps – also, make sure you have a purpose for tweeter, facebook, linkedin, etc. before you start… and make sure you have value to add. promise. no more.)
Hello Esteban,
Thanks for your 2,3… whatever suggestions. The more the better!
You are so right — in all areas of life, Jim. We get what we put into relationships, online and off.
Support others and work hard and chances are, you will feel better about yourself and those around you. It will show, regardless of where you do your networking!
Hi Jim,
I missed your tweet and am sorry I missed the opportunity you were so kind to share.
When I first was active on Twitter (January), I limited the number of following so I could read every post. Then, I decided that it was respectful to follow back. Today, I can’t read every post. I join in for coffee breaks and check DMs and @s to me and scan a few pages. I always find something interesting and reply to those tweets.
My point for Linda, you won’t get an answer from many of your followers because they just didn’t see the tweet, unless you directly sent the question to them. You need massive amounts of followers to get answers. And then, you may not get what you expect. I have been treated so kindly by my Twitter friends and also been treated badly by some meanies, which makes no sense to me.
Peace to all,
Jeanette
Hello Gail,
Thanks for your comment. I like the approach you have to relationships!
Hello JeanetteJoy,
You make an interesting point about Twitter.
Once you are following more than 500 people, it can be challenging to see everything that’s sent.
I use the @replies tab most of the time, so that whenever something is sent to @jimconnolly I get to see it.
Jim Connoly is also one of the few people who always finds time to respond to a tweet. Just an observation.
Social media, when used correctly as Jim suggests can be a very powerful marketing tool.
I am researching it currently and there are a lot of people getting amazing results.
Props for sharing this Jim.
A simple observation clarifies the power of Jims post.
The post and indeed his blog, are attractive. The blog gives away volumes of free information, without being filled with affiliate links or sales pitches.
According to my screen, I am the 45th person to comment here.
This suggests hes attracting a lot of targeted traffic WITHOUT a sales pitch.
Interesting?
Thanks Jim X
Kyle,
Thanks – I always try!
Shannon,
In my experience, people LOVE to buy things, but they HATE being ‘sold to!’
Paul,
Thanks for the kind words.
at last a marketing guy thats not churning out the same old trash. A marketing genius! First marketing site ive seen in ages thats got original content. Why aint jay abraham sued seth godin yet? Been ripping him off for years and renaming it.
When you help others succeed, you will also succeed. A principle of: when you water, you will also be watered. Character is what others come to know of you. It’s just as important online as offline. Who wants to follow negativity, we’re all here to learn and learn from those willing to give of time/energy. Thanks for the great posts/links, I’ve been learning some great things from your blogs!
Hi Jim I totally agree with you on the issue of helping others. I have been helping others for years and my online marketing business has grown and grown, I practically invented search engine marketing and have been so busy I have not got around to doing enough blogging.
But recently I have found my feet and picked up the bug and really started up again – for myself – meantime we have been doin it for clients – but it was like coblers shoes!
Come over, tell me what you think…
I came across your blog from a tweet and I end up keep on reading your other articles here:)
Being online -using the internet- it’s just a ‘tool’ in getting connected with people, thus similar when we’re networking in the real world, apply the same rules: sincere, offers help & solution to solve people’s problem, having fun & enjoy meeting & interact with people:) I’ve been enjoying myself making friendships around the globe using Facebook & it really opens up my mind to a different & bigger ‘world’. It’s truly enlightening when we can share with others & learn, as to grow together, although only by online. Internet is only a tool to help us, the most important thing is, how we present our true-self with the world.
Thanks Jim, I enjoy reading your blog here & keep up the great work!
All the best,
Eri