Networking

It’s all very well having lots of followers but the trick to growing them is to be part of the few that everyone wants to follow. It would be exhausting trying to round up everyone. I say:

Be part of the few. The masses follow the few.

So how do you do this?

Finding Content

A good way to identify key influencers is by finding content created by them. Unless you are using a premium social media monitoring tool a good way to do this is through RSS feeds of search results which you collect in Google Reader.  Most search engines allow you to subscribe to results via RSS feed. There are many you could use, just look for the RSS logo on the results page.

• Goole Alerts
• Socialmention
• IceRocket.com

For this example we are using Google Alerts. Set up a Google Alert and receive it via RSS Feed into Google Reader.

To summarise, once you have the search results coming into Google Reader you simply need to identify the authors, decide which are key influencers and then seek to engage them.

See Which Content Gets Shared Most

By using the PageRank extension on your browser – I use Google Chrome – you can see which blog posts are getting talked and shared about the most. Look for the mid to high scoring blog posts as an indicator of who is most influential.

Use The Author Name To Find Social Profiles

Click on the authors name and see where it takes you. Often there will be a profile page.

Look for links to Twitter and copy their Twitter name

Visit PeekYou.com, Pipl.com and finally Google to search on their name and username

This will show you the channels where you can find more content and connect with the author.

Find The Most Influential Bloggers

Once you have someone’s Twitter name you can see who is the most influential. Again by using extensions in your browser this is easy. Add the Klout and PeerIndex extensions and you will see people’s scores against their names.

Connect and Say Hi

It is rare that people actually tell you when they follow you. I recommend you send them a personal message whatever network is it on and tell them why you are following them and that you are looking forward to reading more from them, speaking with them or even meeting them. A good way to do this is to actually leave a comment on some of their other content and then tell them;

Just left a comment on your great blog about Going To The Moon. Looking forward to reading more. Would be great to connect.

Comment and Share Regularly

No relationship is ever established instantly. If this person is high profile they may get lots of people connecting and following them. You need to show over time that you are interested in them and that you can offer value back to them. You will do this by consistently commenting and sharing on their content. People don’t use social media or write blogs to stay anonymous. You noticing and contributing is an asset to them and over time a relationship will be established. In order to do this you need to stay aware of the latest content and updates. Put your key influencer targets in a Twitter List of Google+ Circle. Add RSS feeds of their content to your Google Reader and put them in a separate folder. Now you can promptly comment or refer to their content. If you are worried about looking like a stalker, well judge for yourself where you are adding value or where you are simply hunting someone down. Consider it flirting!

A consistent approach to this method will ensure you are able to engage key influencers. When these people talk about you or with you all their followers will get introduced to YOU.

Have you got such a strategy? What tools and tricks do you use? Feel free to share them in the comments.

You have got a website for your company, now what? I will be looking at this question and introducing social media as a marketing channel at the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce networking lunch on Wednesday September 9th. Full details are here.

For those attending the event, get yourself a Twitter account and bring your laptop – there will be free WiFi for all.

As an introduction watch this great video from Socialnomics09. And, if you need help signing up for Twitter watch the How To guide at the bottom.

(I’ll do my own Twitter intro to accompany my Twitter For Business event on Sept 16th. Register now)

This is the first of many events that I will be running in Kent. I’m making it my goal to bring social media to businesses and entrepreneurs in Kent. Of course the rest of the World will follow shortly after and you are welcome wherever you come from.

These events sell out fast. If you want an early bird notice and discount put your details below and you will be the first to know about them.

Twitter for Business Success and Networking event
Russell Hotel, Maidstone, Kent on Sept 16th 2009  1-30pm to 5.30pm (map)

Internet marketing goes way beyond your website now. Don’t get left behind. Attend this event to learn the basics of Twitter and understand how to create a social media marketing strategy. All the details are below. Register now for full information.

Event Details:

Twitter is a business tool.

You may not have realised this. If you thought it was for kids and celebrities to tell each other what they are having for lunch then you are missing out on an opportunity to propel your business forward. If you are an entrepreneur, business owner or looking to raise your profile then you need to know about Twitter.

Get your ticket for this event today. Click the register button above.

Twitter is a communication tool.

Just like other social media services such as blogs, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn people are using it to grow their business. The world has shrunk un-imaginably and you have the power at your finger tips to broadcast yourself, your services, your products and your expertise in amazingly interesting ways.

Twitter is a social media marketing tool.

This introduction to Twitter and social media will give you an understanding of what it can do for you. You will learn how your internet marketing goes way beyond just a website. More than that it is a practical workshop that will set you up on Twitter, will explain the basics and have you Tweeting – that’s sending messages – to the other local business men and women who will be with you at the event. Bring your laptop, there will be free wi-fi for all.

Networking

The event will be attended by other forward thinking entrepreneurs and local businesses. At the end of the workshop there will be a networking opportunity to share your thoughts and establish contacts. This is the power of Twitter in action – you meet online, then you do business in the real World.

Do not wait. Click the register button below and get your ticket today.

Who should attend?

• Business owners and professionals
• Entrepreneurs
• Anyone with a website
• Marketing managers
• Sales managers
• Anyone wanting to raise their profile
• Celebrities
• Authors
• Coaches

Register now for full information

One of the most powerful elements of any digital marketing is how quick you can evolve and improve it, based on feedback and stats.

Measuring and analysing website traffic

I’ve set up Google Analytics on this site to measure traffic and to see which pages people visit. It is also possible to see how people got to my website and which page they were on when they left. All this is powerful information helps to improve the success of your website and to help target your marketing efforts.

User feedback gives valuable insight

What better way to find out if your website is liked than to ask the people who have visited it. This is particularly important when doing anything new. People love to feel important and they love to give their opinion. Use email marketing to ask your existing customers and use social media to engage with new people. Ask them all for their feedback. The changes they suggest could make that extra difference between you and the competition. If you are selling from your site it could be a vital part of the buying process that you had not spotted.  The best bit is that when any changes have been made it gives you another reason to tell everyone about your new website and acknowledge those people who made the suggestions. The people will probably share that with their friends to ‘show off’ what they did – because we all love to show off!

Please give me your feedback

So, have a look round and please give me your feedback. I’ve built the site using WordPress and WPremix theme. I’m not a web designer by trade so its more about how I’ve got my information across to you. Use the comment box below…