How to Become a Social Networking Magnet
Last Updated on January 18, 2011 by Wong Ching Ya
The long awaited week has finally arrived! *Drum roll* Let’s meet our honorable guest of the month – Chris Garrett! Chris had influenced me a lot about the importance of authority blogging. I’m proud to have him here for the first time and talk about how to become a social networking magnet. The stage is yours, Chris!
When I coach my consulting clients the conversation always comes around to networking. I would say having a strong network is vital to any business that wants to succeed online, and is certainly a vital asset for getting ahead in your career today.
We have all these tools, but still people struggle to make good connections.
People say to me “Chris, how do I reach influential people?” or “Chris, how can I get better opportunities to come my way?”, and most popular, “Why is my network not growing?”.
There is a simple answer to ALL of these challenges.
Want to know what it is?
The Simple Networking Secret
People have networking, and especially social networking, backwards!
Somehow people have gotten the idea that we should seek the benefits before putting in any value of our own. That we can take, take, take before we give.
Think of the most selfish, self-centred and greedy person you know. Do YOU find that attractive? Would you want to recommend them to others?
No?
Rather than think what your network can do for you, why should THEY have you in THEIR network?
How do you look from THEIR perspective?
See how simple it becomes when you turn the equation around? OK, so what you need to do become simplified, it doesn’t necessarily become easy.
Add Value Without Taking
When you start networking with a ‘take’ mindset you turn people off.
Instead you should be building up your value to them.
Ask how you can help. Share what you know. Introduce people without asking for anything in return.
Get known as useful and generous.
What happens is more people want to get to know you, people feel like someone they can introduce to others, and most of all you build a positive reputation.
Summary
Instead of seeking out people who can help you right now, or trying to get on the radar of influential people, work on being the most useful, approachable and well-connected person in your niche. Become known for making great contributions and introductions. Over time your reputation will spread and networking will be a matter of responding to invitations rather than hunting down prized contacts!
Chris Garrett is a blogging and internet marketing consultant. He is co-author of the famous book ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income and the founder of Authority Blogger course. Learn more about Chris Garrett and his blog here. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter @chrisgarrett and facebook too!
Thank you so much Chris for this wonderful message. And for taking the time to drop some valuable advice here on Social @ Blogging Tracker, can’t thank you enough! 🙂
It’s too easy to fall into the trap of ‘speedy results’ and large numbers of followers/fans when it comes to social networking. I have been asked many times about the ‘BEST’ and ‘FASTEST’ way to drive traffic to a blog/facebook page – a few clients are not convinced about ‘quality’ networking but rather on overnight traffic influx. I hope this post can be a good guide for them, willing give first before force-feeding audience with spammy posts and emails.
Well, great post. I have to agree that it is more about giving than taking. And this is what gets you more popular across social networks. You have to get evolved with people, make them feel good and most importantly, you have to be interesting enough to generate buzz. This way you can certainly have a much better rapport in social networks thus finally making you a social magnet 🙂
Hi Chris,
You’re right many people do have it backwards. I don’t think it’s because they are bad people, it’s just that they don’t realize you honestly get more results from helping than any thing else. What’s wonderful is that the more you aim to help, the more others will be eager to help you. So instead of asking someone can they tweet something for you – try retweeting some of their work first.
Love it!
Hi Chris,
Finding ‘like-minded’ people is what it’s all about.
It’s hard to support others if you don’t share the same values.
I’ve become more selective with whom I network for different reasons.
The saying, ‘people judge you by the friends you keep’ is worth remembering when developing connections.
It takes a little patience but the rewards are longer lasting.
Regards,
Ivan
Top tips Chris, but how do you do in reverse if necessary also…I tend to give away the farm. lol
Hiya Ching Ya,
Nice guest of the month and Chris has reiterated some very valuable information. Modern society has resulted in persons who are far too self-involved, extremely superficial and dare I say not helpful at all.
It’s no wonder that those who are the exception to the rule, those who are the most giving will be those who are rewarded.
Well said, Deidre. I think it’s a great time to be reminded that social virtues are to be cultivated. Try to think of others first before putting ourselves in the center of the universe. 🙂
Hi Chris:
Awesome advice! I totally agree with you on this statement: “work on being the most useful, approachable and well-connected person in your niche.”
This is something that I am working hard at accomplishing!
Kevin
Glad you got Cris to do this Ching Ya. You are always such a cool positive person. And you breathe life into what your doing.
Thank you so much Darren. 🙂 What a pleasant surprise to see you here. Read your post earlier and impressed. Kindly keep up the great work too!
Forgive the delay in reply. Keep making great things happen because you are heading in the right direction 🙂
Hi Chris,
Excellent advices and I’m firm believer on giving and giving more than taking.
This is the karma law on blogging because all your shares of useful information without any second intentions, will be back rewarded and amplified.
Really a magnetic article Chris and Ching Ya 🙂
All the best,
Gera
Thank you Gera, I see you have always practiced the ‘giving’ virtue – you weekly link love posts to readers. 🙂
I completely agree that social media is about adding value and not expecting people to retweet, like or promote your own stuff. Spend your time providing information and promoting others and you will build two way relationships that benefit all.
WoW..
Really cool my friend. We both comes from the school of ABF (Authority Blogger Forum). This is a great testimonial that Chris Garrett really follow his own recipe here. Awesome 🙂
I am following the principle of giving 100% and keep on asking ‘How Can I Help You?’. Read the book The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann and you will really learn what Chris says here.
Keep up rocking 🙂
Cheers.. Are
Thanks for your comment, Are. 🙂 It’s always exciting to invite the ‘teacher’ to do a free but meaningful lecture, isn’t it? Sometimes it’s more than just taking notes – being practical. Keep up the great work, my friend.
I love your summary, Chris. I often wonder how easy it is to see through our efforts to promote others when our driving motivation is really promoting ourself through an expected reciprocity. I know I am guilty of this more often than I’d like to admit. Your post nailed it though. The only way it really works in the long run is to give without the expectation of having it returned.
Hi Chris, I saw your post on Ileane’s Facebook page and hopped over here. I didn’t realize that I wasn’t following you myself. (I am now.)
I am on the same “page” as you when it comes to networking online. To me, it’s about adding value and sharing. I think you sum it up best when you said “Get known as useful and generous” – words to live by!
Hi Chris,
Thank you so much for the wonderful tips. It’s essential to me especially since I would be opening a Social Media company soon 🙂 I love to see myself being generous by helping others when I network online. Obviously it would be for genuine reasons. It’s not always about taking, as you said 🙂 Givers are winners too!
Great post Chris and Ching Ya, this is my first visit to your blog. Great content and Chris you are SO right. I am all about how can I help you and it’s really helped me so much. I love to tell this story so I hope you don’t mind me sharing.
I had a guy send me an email on Facebook asking me for some advice on affiliate marketing. I sent him a response and told him to ask away, I’d be more than happy to help. He replied back saying that he had sent a message to 10 other people and I was the only one to respond. Because of that, he went directly to my site and purchased my product. Now that’s what I call giving back. I continue to stay in touch with him and help him along his journey.
Thanks for sharing this Chris. I will be back to visit again.
Adrienne
Great tip Chris! Sometimes people want to get instant benefits from social networking not thinking that they have to put effort first and give before they get the result that they want.