Working virtually means that we don’t see people face to face every day. We know that we need to perfect the skill of social networking in order to expand our audience and, well, our network.
But it takes skills in order to be able to do this effectively. We can’t just walk into a virtual ‘room’ and greet everyone we know and meet them.
So here are a few tips on how to engage people while exercising etiquette:
Introduce yourself. Soundssimple, but some people just never do it. When you join a group or forum of your potential clients or colleagues, let them know that you have joined.
Introduce yourself and let everyone know what you do and why you joined the group. It’s the best conversation starter!
Tell me how I know you. If you are asking someone to be a connection through your social networks, tell them how you found them. If you belong to a LinkedIn group together, or if you are both interested in the same person’s Fan Page, or if you just really like their Twitter posts, indicate that in your invitation. Nothing is more thought
provoking than an invitation from someone you have never heard of!
Don’t be a windbag. Make your posts brief and conversational. Don’t go on and on in your posts – you will lose people’s attention. Every receives enough email and notifications – be concise in your message or post and you will go much further! (There are groups
out there that are very conversational, but in my experience these are usually personal groups, not business ones).
Contribute regularly. The worst thing you can do with your social networking is pop in now and again. The idea is to set a schedule and hold yourself to it, so you are contributing
regularly, even if it’s just a post every day. Like any relationship, it’s the amount of time you invest in it that will bring you your return.
Don’t overdo it. Only join groups or social networking platforms that you plan to use regularly. It’s not necessary to be everywhere, but rather to use everywhere that you are. You want your networking time to be effective for you, so plan it well.
Everyone has a limited amount of time to connect with other people whether
it’s online or offline. Be sure that you put your proper strategy in place and
then follow these simple tips and you will build an expandable and fun social
networking profile for yourself!
Hello, I hve read your article on networking, it is something very new to me. The tips you have given e.g when networking with people never tell them what I do. But I have been told the opposite. You have taught me something very unique ideas which I never new. Thak you so much for emailing me a great post. I am going to follow all your advices.
Happy new year to you and your family.
Jeena
Hi Jeena, Thanks for sharing – it is a different concept, to NOT tell people about what you do – often I find that doing so really just confuses people. By asking them questions and finding out what they need, then you can actually pick out very specific things that you know/do that might benefit them. It’s a much less painful way to have a conversation. Let me know how it goes when you try it! 🙂 Happy New Year to you too! ~ Tracey
Thank you for sharing these tips on social networking etiquette. They are indeed very helpful. Cheers!
This is indeed a very helpful post. Thank you for posting.
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