picture credit to java2s

I’m sure you’ve seen those internet marketers who pop onto Twitter every few days to plug their product, then auto-tweet the same thing to every one of their social media accounts. These people are everywhere and while they might catch a few unsuspecting folks in their wide net, they will never benefit from the real purpose of social media, interaction.

You see, we humans are social creatures and we enjoy being with other people. Even if our interactions occur online, there are certain things that make us more likely to pay attention to someone. We trust people we know to give us good recommendations, whereas we are automatically suspicious of strangers pumping hyped up products.

By forming actual relationships with your followers and friends on social media sites, you’ll not only increase the conversion rate of your links, you also boost the probability of forming a lasting partnership. You never know when someone you talk to on Facebook might end up being the co-author of an ebook or help you out with guest posts when you’re sick or unable to write.

There is a never ending stream of ads on social media sites, so we really notice when someone is being real. A major way to prove that you aren’t just into self promotion is to chat up other people. You can pass on links from other people’s blogs and status updates, comment on their posts, and ask questions.

If you are following a lot of people, it can be quite time consuming to answer everyone, so you’ll need to budget your time. However, it’s very important that you do respond to people so they know that you are paying attention. They will also pay attention to you! The next time you need a hand spreading the word about something they will help you by passing the links on, blogging and even recommending you to their friends and followers. This can be a pretty big deal, particularly if you are hooking up with some big names, but everyone matters when it comes to social media!

What can you do to make sure you’re connecting with people, particularly when you are just getting started? Here are a few ideas:

  • Respond to people’s general questions.
  • Ask specific people questions.
  • Ask general questions.
  • Don’t forget to thank those who respond to you.
  • Share links that others have posted and let them know you appreciate the resource.
  • Share links that you find online, even if you aren’t connected to the person, people will appreciate the resources you provide, too.

What are your tips for making sure you’re being sociable?

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