My name is Jerry, and I'm a Geek. Maybe I'm not the best person to be telling business people how to mind their manners. I'm compelled by a recent announcement from a LinkedIn Discussion Group manager, "...please - no ads or self-promotion! "'
I'm no business etiquette expert, so I'll leave the discussion of online manners to my friend Lydia Ramsey in today's blog post, Know Your Clients Preferences. I prefer to focus on professional social networking.
One Size Does Not Fit Most
In a rush to capitalize on the promise of social networking, business owners have decided to use the same approach for every social networking platform. They publish the same message everywhere whether it fits or not. Even worse, it's all talk, no listen. The cure for being hard of listening is not to increase the volume. In his book, The Seven Levels of Communication, author Michael J. Maher says it's time to shift from the Ego Era to the Generosity Generation. Maybe, just maybe, you should consider investing time learning the differences between social networking platforms, the intended audiences and what really works.Seven Steps for Savvy Social Networking
- Define the Goal - Start with a clear understanding of why you want to join a discussion group. Clarify what to you hope to gain as well as what you're willing to contribute before you launch your social engagement.
- Choose Wisely - Are you looking to connect with peers or prospects? Members of peer groups enjoy a casual environment with less rules. Most discussion groups have formal rules prohibiting marketing to prospects.
- Lurk, Don't Jump In - Invest time picking up social clues and cues as a new member of a social networking group. It's the unwritten rules that often trip you up.
- Add Value - Once you have identified the lay of the land, engage the members. In the words of success coach Mark LeBlanc, "Listen carefully, respond appropriately". Me, me, me, is a NO, NO, NO.
- Earn Respect - Members of most groups will tolerate initial ignorance, but not arrogance. The ultimate punishment for this offense is you'll never know why you're being shunned.
- Get to the Point - Think of your contribution to the conversation as adding spice to the intellectual meal, instead of trying to be the main course.
- Keep Score - At least track your progress. Are you an A-lister or are you the last to be asked? There's is nothing quite like beening invited, even if it's no more than "What do you think?"