Growing An Online Network & Free Digital Butt Kissing

TweetBrown nosing.

It gets such a bad rap.

Aren’t we all interested in growing a network?  Growing an online network?  Growing an off-line network?

Better learn to kiss a little digital butt, it’s great!  It’s free!

Zero In On The Target Rear Ends

Make a list.  A list of the people that you want to get to know — these should be people that can make a real difference for your business.

Now, find out if they are online.  How?  Ummmm… it’s 2010 — Google their name. 

Here is a statement that is getting more true with each day that passes:

The “movers and shakers” in your industry have a digital podium.  Most likely a blog for their business or for themselves and they are probably using social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. They are carving out an audience within the industry and gaining business from it.

These are the aforementioned butts that should be kissed. They should be on your list because we know exactly what they want — read on.

Exactly How To Grow An Online Network

Pop quiz –

Q: What does everyone want that is publishing content to the web?

A: Attention

Here are some ways to brown your digital nose and grow your network online:

• Links — Link to the person using your own blog or website.  Don’t have a blog yet?  Get with the program, set one up here.  Review a piece of content they created, talk about one of their products/services, etc — then email them and let them know about it — say “I just reviewed your XYZ service on my blog, can you check it to see if you see any changes.”
• Refer them — If you see an opportunity to refer business to them, do it.  Look for opportunities on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn to refer this business.   Make sure it is a quality referral – a win-win for both parties.
• Retweet them — If the person is using Twitter, you should be following them.  Don’t know how to retweet, read this.  Retweeting means you repeat what the person said on Twitter to your Twitter network.  It is a way to spread good stuff around the web.
• Fan them on Facebook — Make comments on their Facebook Fan page
• Comment on their blog — Bloggers love to feel appreciated, they are trying to build a community and you can become part of that by becoming a regular commenter.
• Endorse them on LinkedIn — Write them a recommendation on LinkedIn
• Download their eBook — Read it.  Review it on your blog or recommend the ebook to your network on Twitter/Facebook.
• Ask them questions — People that are looking for attention on the web love to answer questions, it makes them feel important.  I know because I am one of them.  

I think you are getting the idea.

Here is what is so powerful about this — it is free and can be done in about 1/2 hour each day.

I “network” online for about 1/2 hour each day, usually during my lunch hour.  It is fun.  I love it.

What about you?  How do you grow your network online?  What tactics have you found that work or don’t work?  How much time do you spend networking online?

Tagged as: blog, blogging, ebook, facebook, linkedin, networking, retweet, twitter