Social Media 101: Focus on This One Thing to Maximize Your Social Media Efforts

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Social Media 101: Focus on This One Thing to Maximize Your Social Media Efforts

, // @ Mark Harai // View Comments

Social_media_relationships

The People

People are everything on the social web. And they’re not just eyeballs that you can start barraging with ads and offers.

They’re people you have an opportunity to connect with and build relationships with. If you’re not doing this one thing, in my opinion, you’re completely wasting your time.

The one thing people care about the most is other people. Not just any people, but the people they’ve connected with, built relationships with and have come to trust over time.

NEWSFLASH: This is how “A Listers” got where they are today, it’s how they stay where they are and it’s the only way you can become one. Relationships drive social media; so it’s not what you know, it’s who you know that counts. There’s always room at the top – you just have to make it!

Everybody who is making a name for themselves in social media are leveraging relationships. Period. In order to be even be noticed by people who matter, its through people you’ve built relationships with, who introduce you to other people, and so on…

It all starts one relationship at a time and this opens doors to many others over time. Each relationship leads to the top of the food chain eventually. You just need to keep building relationships, until one day you find yourself at the top of the food chain :P

The Platforms

The platforms are in place; you’ve been hearing and reading tons of information on these like Facebook, Youtube, Linkedin, Twitter, Pinterest and many many others.

What platform is the best to achieve this?

Wrong question – it doesn’t really matter. What does matter is to possess the skills that are necessary to build strong relationships with the people on these platforms; if you possess this skill-set you can win the social game on any platform.

Just remember this; the platforms in and of themselves do nothing – they simply enable people to connect and build relationships.

I know you’ve been told that you must find your target audience and they may not be on one platform or another. I’m not saying this isn’t true to a certain extent; but I am telling you that it’s almost impossible to not find a group of people or conversations that are relevant to your business or interests.

You can connect with other like-minded people on any of these platforms. Just pick one or more that you feel the most comfortable with and start connecting!

The key is how you approach the medium. If you do it for the express purpose of identifying interesting people to connect and build relationships with, then you’re going to be 100 times more productive than most people on the social web because most get started by pitching and selling their wares to anybody that will listen. This is the wrong approach. Let’s face it, being labeled a spammer or douchebag is not good for business.

The long term value of social media is the quality of relationships you establish with people who are interested in the same things you are.

The Content

Nobody cares about your content – PER SE (if you don’t create outstanding content, you need to, or you won’t last!)… The social web has an ocean of outstanding content readily available to access at anytime RIGHT NOW!

So how do you get eyeballs to your stuff?

People and relationships drive eyeballs – and value – and traffic on the social web.

Nothing worthwhile happens, except by those folks who have established the right relationships – that’s what leads to making progress, getting things done and getting paid. Period.

How do you go about attracting the right people to connect with?

Show Us What You’re Made Of - What have you done? What are you doing? Where are you going? What do you stand for? Why should anyone care?

Share ‘You’ Liberally - Contribute your experience, knowledge, feedback, and opinions for the benefit of teaching and learning from others.

Inspire - Move people with your work, your words and your actions with everything you do.

Lead by example - it’s far more effective than writing or talking about it.

Be Generous - The biggest investment you can make in social media is your time; the more you give, the more you’ll earn in return.

Be Helpful – The more people you help get what they want, the more people will help you get what you want; one hand washes the other on the social web.

Outreach – Always be reaching out to people you find interesting and see if there are synergies or ways that you can compliment or assist each others efforts.

It sounds like a lot and it is. It’s called substance. And hard work. Your work must have substance or what you do just won’t matter and it will be lost in the noise that is social media.

OK – I’ve talked way too much in this post. I’m interested in hearing your feedback.

How has building quality relationships made a difference in your social media efforts?

For more insights on social media relationships, check out: Defining Social Media Relationships



Category : Blog &Social Media

  • http://www.thejackb.com/ The JackB

    You are absolutely right- people make the difference. Build and connect so that together you can create.

  • http://www.slymarketing.com Jens P. Berget

    I completely agree with you and @TheJackB:disqus It’s all about people. But what I have been thinking about is if we need to be focused, and focus on a few people at a time. I find it harder and harder to keep in touch with people I have met online and want to keep a close relationship with. And that’s because there seems to be adding new people to the equation every day. And if we focus on everybody, we’ll eventually get lost… at least that’s what it feels like.

  • Anonymous

    Hey Mark,

    As you said when I interviewed you last year (one of the most awesome quotes ever) – in building relationships, there’s no shortcut to get from A to Z.

    Chase the relationship not the sale. As you said, the platform itself doesn’t matter, rather the engagement and spending time to build quality relationships.

    Another awesome post sir!

  • http://twitter.com/Soulati Jayme Soulati

    I. LOVE. THIS. POST.

    You’ve nailed some fundamental learnings we all either get or don’t on this journey. Perhaps I glossed over one more I’d like to add (sorry if it’s up there), and that’s commitment/dedication. No one said you’d be an over-night sensation if you hopped on the interwebz; it takes time engaging genuinely to get where you want to be.

    I’m so glad you’re writing; you share in such a loving way. It’s real, credible and professional. Thank you, my Costa Rica chico.

  • http://twitter.com/Soulati Jayme Soulati

     Hi, The Jack. Tag, I’m it? (OOps; this is Mark’s house!)

  • http://markharai.com Mark Harai

    Awe, you’re too sweet as always Jayme : )

    You’re add is critical here for success in the medium. It takes a while when you first start out to realize the power of relationships that can be established with really cool, smart people on the social web.

    It’s the difference between feeling like you’re accomplishing absolutely nothing, to all of a sudden making strategic connections that benefit your personal and professional life significantly. 

    It’s great to hear from you miss : )

  • http://markharai.com Mark Harai

    I’m glad you reached out and connected with me Robert!

    I like the mindset you put out there consistently with your work. The main thing to staying in business and in the game is make money with your efforts. 

    If you don’t do that, all this social stuff really won’t matter. Social media is just one small piece of the puzzle that contributes to an overall effective communication strategy.

    Its about balance and investing your time wisely as you’re laying the foundation of your social footprint. 

    And connecting with people who are working their butts off, making things happen and who have a vision to do something significant and impactful with their lives.

    I can hang with these types of people all day Robert – they’re good for business and the world : )

  • http://markharai.com Mark Harai

    Hey Jens – I know precisely how you feel!

    There are some awesome people connect with, share with and grow with on the social web. Waaay more then we could ever possibly connect with in meaningful ways. 

    You have to make some tough decisions and invest in people you can help and in those who you can learn from. Balance keeps popping up in my mind.

    It’s a balancing act that must be driven by your needs, desires and goals. It may sound selfish, but social media needs to serve you or it will simply suck the life out of you.

    You’re doing brilliant work Jens – keep you’re head down, keep moving forward. You’re inspiring a lot folks out there and because of you, many are believing in themselves – that’s a great gift to pass on to others : )

    Cheers mate!

  • http://markharai.com Mark Harai

    I love that statement Jack – “build and connect so that together you can create.”

    Sorry, but that needed to be repeated!

    There are lots of folks out there having conversations with themselves. That’s a sucky place to be and completely unnecessary, unless of course by decision you’re douchebag or spammer :P

    If you’re not either of these, there are people out there waiting for you to reach out and strike up a conversation with you…

  • http://hajrakvetches.com Hajra

    Hey Mark,

    Echoing what @twitter-22830278:disqus says; I.LOVE.THIS.POST

    So clear, precise and exactly what everybody needs to hear! There are just so many things and just too much in the social media world that we are forgetting what we really is working for us and what is not. And relationships is so important! It is time for genuine! And showing it like you mean it! :)

  • http://websitesgiveback.com/blog/ Elena Patrice

    Right on, right on Mark! You always make me feel like I’m doin’ OK in the world. You can write this post because you live and are the bestest ;) example of this!! Yowza! Nothing but awesomeness from you my faraway friend! Thank you, thank you!!

    Happiness,

    Elena

  • Mithu Hassan

    Interesting article! I enjoyed too much ! 

  • http://markharai.com Mark Harai

    Thanks for stopping by Mithu : )

  • http://markharai.com Mark Harai

    I love your comments Elena – you always uplift me and get me all excited : )

    I appreciate you very much!

  • http://markharai.com Mark Harai

    Our community is loaded with GENUINE, eh Hajra?

    That’s what I love the most about it. 

    It’s awesome to see folks growing, coming into their own and doing amazing work. 

    It’s like an online family to me : )

  • Anonymous

    Likewise Mark, really glad we connected!

    That’s very true, but definitely an essential part of the game! I believe that relationships are becoming increasingly important, particularly as consumers have got fed up with ‘faceless’ corporations.

    Yep, leaving the right footprint is key!

    I can hang around with these people all day too, they also make great company! It’s the doers not the thinkers who are shaping the world every day.

  • http://twitter.com/bdorman264 Bill Dorman

    That’s you bro, that’s exactly what you have done and that is why you had people reaching out to you when you went on hiatus. I see too many people who feel they don’t have to be ‘social’ because they are here for business. If you don’t have time to develop a relationship people will see you are only pushing your product out and you really have no interest in pulling them to you.

    As you know, this is very much my model. Am I making money online? Nope, but it sure works in my day job model. It’s all about trust and credibility….period…

  • http://CrunchDaddy.com/ Dan Bazis

    Hi Mark…

    This article is fantastic and I really appreciate you posting it.  I’ve heard similar messages and struggle to find ways of connecting with people and building these crucial relationships with a broader audience.  I’ve been discouraged by posting items that I believe are “engaging” only to have no one engage!  That doesn’t make me want to quit what I’m doing.  Rather, it inspires me to work harder on those relationships in order to find the “sweet spot” that my audience will respond to.  Your article provides a lot of food for thought (as I try to get my audience to engage about MY food!)

  • http://markharai.com Mark Harai

    Hey Dan, thanks for stopping by sir!

    If you keep reaching out to smart, productive professionals on the social web and focus on build relationships, it will certainly have a positive impact on your efforts. 

    The support you’re looking for will come from people who really dig you and your work. 

    Cheers to you : )

  • http://markharai.com Mark Harai

    You’re a relationship builder Bill – the business you’re in requires this skill-set to be at the top of the game : )

    Helps that share your incredible sense of humor with the community too – that skill is invaluable…

    You’re killing it with this model!

  • http://www.Blake.co.za/blog Sarah

    Some great insight Mark, Thank you. Your point about its not what you know its who you know is so true in today’s society. 

  • http://markharai.com Mark Harai

    Thanks for popping in Sarah… and yes, its who you know that can really get you ahead in the social media game.

    If you’ve possess solid skills to meet and greet folks and build relationships with them, you can go as high and far as you desire on the social web.

    Have a great day miss : )

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