Are You Connected to Your Connections: A Few Tips on How to Do Just That!

To take a quote from social scientist and author Brene Brown, “Connection is why we’re here. It gives purpose and meaning to our lives.” If this weren’t true, social media wouldn’t be as popular as it is today. Connections are more than the number of likes or followers you have, but are based on relationships that you’ve established and cultivated over time.

By definition, social means seeking or enjoying the companionship of others. Social means interaction. Social media isn’t just a place to promote what you’re doing or how great you are. (That’s a little selfish…) Social media presents each of us a unique opportunity to make a connection that may have never been made and establish relationships that may have never existed. When those relationships are built, you can ask for what you want, and you’re more likely to get what you need.

So, how do you build relationships? Glad you asked. Here are a few basic tips that I’m sure you already know, but have forgotten about…

Blogs and articles. Read and enjoy, but don’t skip out on the check. Leave a comment for goodness sake. Try to find one or two blogs to follow and post comments regularly. The authors will begin to look forward to hearing from you and they just may sign up to follow your blog, too.
Twitter. Follow the writers of some of your favorite blogs. They all have twitter accounts, I promise. Share their content and mention them by name in your tweets. Retweet. Use the Favorite button. Use hash tags when it makes sense to. Respond to Direct Messages. It’s just good manners to follow someone back if they follow you, so do that too.
LinkedIn Do something in groups other than post your content. Speaking from experience, I almost got kicked out of a group for doing that! If you’re on the discussion tab, do just that, discuss. Participate in the conversations. Go one better and start a conversation. Get in the conversation and stay in it until it begins to die.

Being a good social player takes a little time, but is well worth the effort if you can build something that keeps on giving. Every comment you post, tweet you send, discussion you like or participate in puts your name, business, and expertise in front of the very people you want to connect with. Given a little time, others will appreciate your efforts and kindly return the favor.