The Three Golden Rules of Networking on Social Media

My first foray into social media was in 1998, when I worked with the record industry trolling chat rooms and bulletin boards trying to get college kids not to rip music illegally via sites like Napster. Social media has evolved significantly since then, but the fundamentals of how to behave, and more specifically, network online, have not. I’ve outlined three golden rules of networking on social media below. Feel free to add your own in the comments section.

1. Listen before you speak. If you’re looking to make meaningful connections to move your career or business forward, you can’t afford to misstep right out of the gate. Do your homework and get to know communities and individual influencers/targets before reaching out. Understand their communication preferences, hot buttons and needs. I can’t stand when people message me on Twitter with an irrelevant question or comment about my day or the weather. Show me you know me and be unique and remarkable to foster engagement.
2. Provide value. The key to developing lasting relationships is to create value early in the relationship. Instead of sending a generic LinkedIn connection, customize it with an observation, question or piece of valuable information that clearly indicates you’ve taken the time to understand your audience in order to differentiate yourself from the pack early on. The power of reciprocity is well documented, so providing something of value increases the likelihood your target will respond. A vast majority of interactions I have in LinkedIn consist of vendors soliciting my business without providing any credentials, relevance or value. #fail.
3. Nurture the relationship. Networking takes time and good networkers understand their network requires care and feeding. Making a new connection is just the start. Execute a plan to maintain regular communications, ensuring quality and value consistently over time. Add value at every touch point and watch your efforts reap great rewards. As the founder of pdxMindShare, I run the largest LinkedIn Group in Oregon, which gives me a unique view of a group of networkers. I’ve noticed a significant number of members in the group are self-promotional or generally engage only when they want something, rather than making a consistent effort to engage and build their reputation, credibility and karma. Don’t fall into that trap.

By following these three golden rules, you will grow your network and enhance the value of your relationships on social media. Feel free to share your additional golden rules in the comments section below.

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