Last week we discussed segmenting Friends Lists on Facebook, to allow you to accept friend requests from people who you are not in-real-life friends with, without jeopardizing your privacy concerns… this week, I wanted to expand on that topic to include networking tips. Unfortunately, a big issue with Facebook is that there are a LOT of spammy people out there – and often times it's an issue of ignorance… If you behave on Facebook the way others are behaving – there is a possibility that you will pick up some bad habits – which could have lasting negative effects on your business. I don't want you to be the spammy sally that other people are complaining about!
One of the most important lessons I learned by joining my local chamber of commerce, was that you don't attend networking events to gain clients… you attend to find referral partners… and the same is true of Facebook. Referral partners are of a much higher value because they can mean way more business than you'd ever earn on your own – word of mouth IS the most effective marketing, after-all. SO, first, I challenge you to shift your perspective when you are sending or accepting friend requests… you're not looking for clients – you're looking for referrals. But, don't be pushy… as I will share, building authentic relationships will lead to those highly valuable referrals! Now, let's dive into some tips for optimizing your Personal Profile for networking, plus some best practices and things to avoid!
- People do business with people they like
- Build relationships
- Be personable
- Share a little about what you do
- DON'T DO THESE THINGS
- PM people about your opportunity
- Request that people Like your business page the instant that they accept your friend request (I do this monthly)
- Expect ANYTHING from your new friends.
- we are all busy people – we are all in different places – we all use FB differently — if someone does not reciprocate your wave, or message, or post… don't take it personally.
- Optimize your Personal Profile for networking
- Profile pic – YOU
- Header – anything else
- Intro
- Business Links – jobs vs. “manages PAGE”
- Featured Photo
- LINKS
- Username
Remember, it is against Facebook's terms of service to use your personal profile in place of a business page, but as an entrepreneur, business IS a part of us. So, sprinkle your business into your personal content lightly, while focusing more heavily on building relationships. The hard sales tactics will push far more people away than they will ever attract people to you… but when you build authentic relationships and deliver value where it's requested, you will find your network increasing in quantity AND quality.