How to Network Successfully on LinkedIn and Twitter

November 28th, 2012

Photo Courtey gbr.pepperdine.edu

Social media is a great chance to network from the comfort of your computer – no uncomfortable cocktail parties or meet & greets necessary. But, social media can be overwhelming. How do you weed through all of the fluff and distractions to make social media work as a networking tool?

Here are some great tips courtesy of Mashable.com for you to sift through all of the irrelevant content and make it to the good stuff that will open up possibilities for relationships:

1. Seek Out Authors of Content You Read
Do you find yourself reading the same blogs or articles week in and week out? Since these are the people that already influence your business, it just makes sense to reach out to them. Find them on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites. Follow them and request to be their friend or connection. Then, comment on their postings or articles with insightful, thought-out comments. Now, you have the chance to network with someone that influences your industry.

2. Be the Author
Want connections to come to you? Become the author yourself. By writing and posting relevant, interesting content, you become one of the influential thought leaders in your industry. People will want to connect with you and share insights and information, increasing your chances of valuable networking opportunities.

3. Search Twitter by Keyword
Twitter allows you to search by keyword, which is invaluable on one of the most over inundated social media sites out there. Search by keywords you’re interested in that relate to your industry, and you can find relevant conversations to join. It’s not always easy – you’ll probably have some trial and error of what keywords bring up relevant conversations. Once you find the right conversations, make sure to engage. Retweet and share your insights on an article or thought another Twitter user shared.

4. Join Relevant LinkedIn Groups
LinkedIn groups are a great place to network online. Members share articles, post discussion topics, and generally engage with each other about professional matters. Unlike Twitter and Facebook, it’s much easier to ensure you’re finding the serious, relevant professional conversations you’re looking for. Make sure to research groups in your industry before requesting to join to make sure that the group aligns with your goals. If it’s an open group, make sure the comments and discussions are relevant and a good fit for you.

5. Connect with People That Look at Your LinkedIn Profile
LinkedIn now allows you to see who viewed your profile recently. Make it a practice to scan this list once a week and see if there are any relevant people that you might want to connect with. Reaching out will show that you’re actively engaged with your community and that you’re open to connections and networking.

Does LinkedIn, Twitter, and social media networking make your head spin? Contact Incitrio at 858-523-1822 or email us at [email protected]. We’ll help you and your company create a custom, tailored social media solution that will cut through the noise and help you create valuable leads and relationships.

Entry Filed under: Social Media Marketing San Diego