This post is the 1st of a 4-part series on the how-to’s of niche social networking. Most of the focus will be on young entrepreneurs because my experience has shown that they are the least equipped to benefit from social networking.
There a many social networks out there. Everyone knows about networks like Facebook and Myspace. Those networks are fine, they serve a purpose and set a framework for social networks. However those networks don’t have any type of focus, they do a very bad job at creating any type of value. How many times have you used Facebook or Mypsace to really advance your career or meet someone new in your field? More recently many niche networks are beginning to pop up. There are networks for just about anything you can imagine from cat lovers to successful business owners. Once again these networks have not done a good job at creating value or keeping people’s attention on the network. Many people join them but then never come back because there just isn’t much of a reason.
Well now that is also changing. Social networks are starting to pop up that look to create valuable content one being Under30CEO.com. These new types of networks can be a huge resource for anyone, with young entrepreneurs being the focus for Under30CEO.com. There are steps that can be taken to ensure you benefit and move closer to your goals when you join a niche social network. A lot of this will have to do with the founders and the atmosphere that they create but if you use a network properly you can almost always gain something.
Part 1 – The Profile
Whenever you sign-up for a network the first thing you will be asked to do is make a profile. This is 1 of the most important things to COMPLETE WHEN YOU SIGN-UP. Don’t sign-up and then say you will finish the profile later. If that’s the case wait to sign-up when you have time to complete everything. The Reason being that on many networks there is a place where you can see the new members that have joined. This is a huge opportunity to get your profile in front of many people. If it’s blank people won’t make any effort to contact you or friend you. I’m not saying that when you leave that most recent members page no one will ever see your profile again, but your profile will get viewed many times and you never know who may be looking. Could be that contact your business or career needs! Later in this series of posts we’ll look into getting people to your profile after you have been on the network for awhile.
Now some steps and tips for your profile. Might differ from network to network, these are assuming a business oriented network.
1. Use your full name
No nicknames or just first names. You are looking to connect to people right? You wouldn’t put a nickname or partial name on your resume or business card. Your full name will allow people to find you in other places such as your company website or just to research more about your work. It’s all about trust and the more someone trusts you the more likely they will help you.
2. A picture of yourself
To many people sign-up to a network and don’t upload a picture. I never understand this, these same people are on Facebook or Myspace with their pictures up but think that for some reason it’s not needed on a meaningful niche network. This is where it’s MOST needed. If you don’t upload a picture of yourself most people will pass right over your profile because it looks like you aren’t involved with the network. Also make it a real picture of yourself not some animation or a picture of your dog, once again you wouldn’t do that on your resume if you could.
3. Provide as much information as you can
There will usually be a series of questions or places to add info about yourself. Every question doesn’t always apply but far to often even the basic ones get over-looked. You want to make it as easy as possible for someone to connect with you. By providing all the info possible there’s that much more of a chance someone will read something that makes them leave a comment or want to talk to you further.
Remember your profile on a niche network is just like your cyber resume. You try to provide all the info you can on a resume to make yourself stand-out so do the same on a network.
Here are some examples of great profiles on Under30CEO.com
4. Put up your links
Many networks will also let you add links to other profiles you have online. It could be your blog, site, linkedin, facebook whatever it is DO IT. Add as many as you can this not only lets people connect with you on other networks but also helps with the whole trust thing. As they connect with you in various places they will begin to remember and trust you.
5. Customize with care
You will usually have the option to customize your profile page to a point. Now this is great to help you stand-out but don’t over-due it. Remember that you are here to connect and hopefully work with people not to show-off how many colors you can fit on your profile page. You want people to remember what they read and learn about you not how crazy your page is. So be reasonable and you should be just fine.
Young entrepreneurs check out Under30CEO.com to start putting these skills to use!
Part 2 – Getting Acquainted – Groups, Forums, Events, Introductions
