Sticking with 5 Easy & Free Steps to Building Your List . . . find ways to start a conversation.

Here’s a few ways to get the ball rolling:

You have to be real whether online or face-to-face. You can spot a phony a mile away. You might not have body language online, but the language you use and your tone comes across quite clearly. Watch those exclamation marks and caps and the fill-in-the-blanks ——— with words your grandmother would not approve.

Comment on a post you like. It’s good to compliment the blogger, but go further. Tell them why you agree or disagree. Give an example. Tell them how their ideas could be made better.
Remember online etiquette. As an 8th grade teacher said to her graduating class, “Remember, your words have power. Like your favorite super hero, use your powers for good.”

Twitter

• Follow a conversation in Twitter. Go to http://search.twitter.com. Enter the @+twitter name or the #+group name. You can see all comments related to that conversation. Add your two cents. I’m tracking comments from #blog30.
• Send a direct message in twitter. Look for the “direct message” link on the side bar.
• Check out their blogs and websites and let them know what you like about them.

LinkedIn

• Start or jump into a group discussion on Linkedin. I’ve joined a few groups in Chicago so I can keep tabs on the local area.
  • Sign into http://linkedin.com. Go to Groups and then Group Directory. Search for the type of group you want.
• Send a message with congratulations when someone has achieved a milestone, or has accomplished something — wrote a great article, ran a 10K, got a  promotion, made a better mouse trap. Whatever it is, build that relationship.

Facebook

• Update your status daily.
• Start a discussion on your “Like Page” using the Discussion Tab Tweet about it and add a link back to your “Like” page.

Little by little, like anything else, you will learn and grow. Pretty soon you’ll be able to tell someone else how to start an online conversation. Just work your social media tasks into your calendar.

In General

• Post interesting and meaningful content with links back to your blog post, article,  or website.
• Don’t just follow or friend someone. Introduce yourself with a personal message. Tell them why you want to follow them or friend them.
  • Let them know what you have in common. What you hope to gain from the relationship? Be real.
• Keep an updated profile on all your accounts. Let people know how they can contact you.
• Mix it up! Share good stuff from others, retweet interesting topics, tweet about your stuff with links back to Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook.

Important Rule

Others first.