The Rules of Engagement - Winning At Social Networking

[mjtaylor]

If you want to make social media work for you, you have to work for it – and you have to do it in a style that is gracious, informative and polite. If you want to attract followers, friends, likes, gain credibility and influence people, you have to put your focus on what your audience wants and not what you want to sell.

It really can’t be all about you.

So, let’s look at some of the rules of etiquette that make you most likely to win at social networking -- and please note , I define social media as not just Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, but other social platforms such as forums like this one, blogs and any other online venue where more than one voice is heard - where there is an opportunity for conversation or dialogue - and for establishing a relationship.

1. My Number One Rule is the One in Ten Rule – I learned this in a free Twitter webinar offered by Red Hot Copywriter Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero (http://redhotcopy.com/redhot/about/) . The 1 in 10 rule says share only one self serving Tweet in 10. The other nine Tweets should be purely informational – perhaps RT’s of others’ content or information you’ve found on the Internet you feel is of interest to your followers or friends.
   
2. Credit Where Credit Is Due – this reminds me to acknowledge my sources as I did in Rule Number One, and it also reminds me to say thank you! Every time some Tweets my content or in some way promotes my material I need to say thank you – and a lovely way to thank someone is to return the favor. I thank all new followers and follow them back if they are folks I hope will stick. If I am really pleased to have a new follow, I will immediately look for something of theirs to ReTweet.
   
3. Help Someone – Retweeting falls into this category – so does taking the time to answer questions on a forum like this one. Look for ways to be of service and you will have all the friends and followers you want – online and off.

What rules of engagement or etiquette can you add to this list? I think I've left a few important ones out. ;D Please share your winning engagement style with us.

[mjtaylor]

I would also like to remind those who read this thread that we have a sticky called: Follow Me, Follow Me! Tell Us Why We Should Follow You in which V7N members are encouraged to share their Twitter accounts so that we may all continue our engagement on that platform, too.

[Cricket]

I could not agree with you more.

I don't know if it would be considered a "rule of engagement" but I would add that people truly love personal interaction and they can tell if it is sincere or not. The personal touch for me has made all the difference in the world.

FWIW, as far as social networks go, I am still horrid at figuring out Twitter. I honestly just can't fit what I want to say in 140 characters or less. LOLOLOL

[mjtaylor]

Originally Posted by Cricket

I could not agree with you more.

I don't know if it would be considered a "rule of engagement" but I would add that people truly love personal interaction and they can tell if it is sincere or not. The personal touch for me has made all the difference in the world.

FWIW, as far as social networks go, I am still horrid at figuring out Twitter. I honestly just can't fit what I want to say in 140 characters or less. LOLOLOL

I believe you ...

And it was a challenge to me, too! I do find it easier now, though I am often frustrated by it.

[ptvraj]

Going social is really good but that doesn't work for all the websites(business). If I run a resort, hotel or similar business, my social network will give me good response but if I have websites something like industrial equipment etc., its really hard to get traffic from social network. Most of the social contacts will stay until you are entertaining them, if you are talking business, they are not at all going to help you. Twitter *was* good for me but doesn't work well for some websites.

[mjtaylor]

Originally Posted by ptvraj

Going social is really good but that doesn't work for all the websites(business). If I run a resort, hotel or similar business, my social network will give me good response but if I have websites something like industrial equipment etc., its really hard to get traffic from social network. Most of the social contacts will stay until you are entertaining them, if you are talking business, they are not at all going to help you. Twitter *was* good for me but doesn't work well for some websites.

Good point! You have to be really good at targeting your market. Excellent rule of engagement:

Know your market!

And you have to be really creative. Of course, any business is still a business, and you can perhaps tailor your Tweets to motivational quotes or organizational ideas. Then you have the attention of your market when you have an announcement of a new product or promotion.

[Carrieli]

If you want to attract followers, friends, likes, gain credibility and influence people, you have to put your focus on what your audience wants and not what you want to sell.

Yes, we should pay more attention to what the users want.

[Ghost Eyes]

I agree with Cricket as well, personal interaction will set you apart. Thank people for RT's, comment about a pic they put up or day they had. BE SINCERE!

I would like to add just plain interaction just for fun. I have done things like exchanging favorite songs, quotes, lyrics and even commenting on a show people are watching at the same time. A twitter "conversation" if you will.

I believe people are on social networks to be social so give them what they want on a personal level while keeping your eye on building authority. Love the 1 in 10 rule.

[TechUpdates]

Nice Thanks for sharing... Interacting with the follower base requires dedicated approach.. better enough if one can provide practical solutions to the problems!

[WriteProvider]

I totally agree with the personal touch.

I built a twitter following of around 1500 people who were all interested in football and they were a very active crowd (especially on game nights). The fact that I had 'real' personal interaction at the time means that when I retweet one of my posts from other twitter accounts, they often get lots of retweets despite them not being in my target market.

My business twitter accounts have tens of thousands of followers, but I often get better reach with retweets from my lowly personal twitter account.

I know the tweets are not targeted, but I think it helps with the validity of my business accounts because they are shared more than those that have no access to an active crowd of real twitter accounts.

[mjtaylor]

Originally Posted by Ghost Eyes

I agree with Cricket as well, personal interaction will set you apart. Thank people for RT's, comment about a pic they put up or day they had. BE SINCERE!

I would like to add just plain interaction just for fun. I have done things like exchanging favorite songs, quotes, lyrics and even commenting on a show people are watching at the same time. A twitter "conversation" if you will.

Also agreed re: personal interaction. I love what you are talking about here.

However, when I click through to a new Twitter profile if all the Tweets are dialogue I sometimes feel there is no place for me to engage.

I want to be engaging, but not so chatty that you can't see your way into the conversation. And not so focused on some friends that I haven't offered you information or something to hook you into the flow.

[mjtaylor]

Originally Posted by seosailor

Hi
One of the good irritations of recent technology is that when some new development has created my life palpably worse and is continuous to seek out new and other ways to bedevil it, i am still allowed to complain for less than a year or 2 before the peddlers of coolness begin telling me to urge over it already Grampaw--this is simply the approach life is currently.

Thanks

SEOSAILOR

I like your name, matey! I'm not quite sure of your point, are you sailing with the wind or against it? [Welcome aboard V7n. ]

[ClarkLorraine]

What I really found helpful on social networking sites is asking the fans/friends what their opinion is on something. Also taking requests from them as to ways to improve my site also helps. They feel more involved and I get to hear the pros and cons of my site directly from the source.