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Thanks for re-affirming something I felt strongly about. These words you use are easy to understand and follow if, and it's a big IF, people can take their ego out of Twitter and stop focusing on how many followers, and more on who is following and how are you communicating to them. Very sage advice.
I have been thinking about becoming more connected with the people I've met on Twitter, and learning specifically what their needs are and how I can help. With a little more planning on my part, and thanks to this post, I know I can do it.
Thanks Chris, you've blown me away again. :)
Kimberlee
I've been trying to figure out a way of creating the connection and I now I have a possible way to set it up. It's always been about how I can join with those who follow me, and how we can work to mutual partnerships.
Communicate and connect.
Karrie Ross
I do believe in the power of the network and I do believe in learning how to utilize the network to the best of my ability. So thank you for the information.
Re: #5 - i wrote about my experience in asking questions to followers. I get the impression that the number of responses is directly related to the street cred of the person asking the question. A good way to get responses is to get a RT from more well known tweeters and then follow up with an @ message to the responders.
From what I've observed, people appear to want a servant-leader to get things rolling. Being willing to step into a facilitative or leadership role within your network(s) to the benefit of the members of your network can have a powerful impact. I'm still learning, but it seems to be true online or offline.
I'm sure you'll have no problem at all building your network into a powerful force...
Cheers,
Walter
These kinds of posts are really inspirational for guys like me that are late adopters. Thanks!
My first visit to your writings and of course I will now follow your work. You've hit
on exactly what we discussed tonight in Conference - the ability to reach out and actually connect with like minded people doing business online. The simple plan
you laid out so very easy to use. We must just do it. Thank you.
Maybe this is a way to turn twitter into a resource with a tangible goal.
As someone just starting, this is completely invaluable. Thanks for the great post!
What you decide to do with it, that's the magic.
If you could communicate value to your ideal client, what would you say?
If you could respond to the needs of your ideal client, what would you hear?
if you could be both awesome at something and fill a need for someone else, how would your business relationship evolve.
Stop trying to please 1000 people and communicate your authentic value to 5 people that you have an affinity with by listening and understanding their needs, and matching your gifts.
In a recent podcast with you Chris, we chatted about the need to bridge the digital divide. Here are thousands of people who get it. Have high speed internet and know how to communicate with it.
On the other side of the divide are hundreds of thousands of people who don't get it!
Why might they want to get it, and how could you help them?
Dollars will follow.
cheers,
@toddlucier
Developing more meaningful relationships online, reaching out to people, helping others, and working together... It's no secret anymore that this is the way to work these days and to accomplish your goals.
Hey thanks for the post!
That is a great idea to connect the community for assisting each other before the 'turnaround'. I much prefer the long-view of our current situation, ie "we have been here before and survived' mentality. The mainstream media would have us believe that everyone is losing their jobs, but in actuality, many segments are still hiring!
How about sharing our skills with the twitter-verse, who may have a position open at their company that would be ideal for a person with your skills?
The power of the tweet is awesome and easy!
Respectfully,
Nicholas Chase - 'the video guy' at BlogWorld Expo
All best,
Woody Lewis
I have been following your blog for a few months now and your Tweets for a few weeks.
I really loved the last post on networking and this article as well.
My business went under at the turn of spring/fall this year and, rather too late, I tried to salvage something of a network out of the remains. The outcome has grown into my new business which I hope will really take off in 2009.
I have plans to allow members of the public membership in order that enterprise members may be able to communicate directly with them, or vice versa. Another idea that I had is to add a jobs page where members can list jobs available and jobs sought. The main platform for this will be the forums I expect, with myself, or another member of the team posting these to the main site.
The ideas that you have set out are excellent and can only improve our plans were we to implement them, which I'm sure we will given time. Networking takes up all of my time now as it is the crux of my business. That along with most of the other admin stuff that I have to contend with.
I hope that this is OK with you, that I add this link to my comment and apologise in advance if I am being somewhat presumptious. However my networking web-site can be found at http://www.fullworxnetworking.co.uk
Thanks for the excellent advice, hints and tips that you give away so freely, yours is truly an excellent service.
Forever Grateful
Alec G Bell
THANX
Yet ANOTHER project that will keep my fingers on the keyboard over the upcoming "break."
But too great NOT to do.
Thanks as always for your positive, "you can do this" attitude, as well as your nuts and bolts "howto" tips.
I have just started a documentary about the Brazilian snowboarders and our story, based on Youtube for research and a blog for the interactive screenplay.
I guess I need to add the twitter portion now ;)
Anyway, congratulations on your idea, I believe your thoughts are in tune with how we should deal with the new reality on Planet Earth.
Cheers,
Leo, from Rio
Your point on, "The trick is this- don’t make me or anyone the hub. Lead. Find your groups. Reach out. Set group goals. Execute. Move to a new group. Fluid." Exactly, don't follow, execute, lead and be the Director.
Cheers from Portland, Oregon
@davidcmolina
blessings,
Wendy
Twitter: WendyMerritt
Just forgot to say that I found you thanks to Allen @centernetworks
Cheers!
Leo
This approach makes a lot of sense and takes us back to the fundamentals. In short, the key is developing reciprocally benefiting relationships.
Matt
ty!
I set out to take action and tweeted appeals for others to join me and started a FriendFeed Room (http://friendfeed.com/rooms/twitter-connect), and did have a few people join the room, but since have had no dialog or conversation and nobody responds to my appeals to activate the things on this Template. Maybe I need to regroup and try something else to get participation? Maybe starting up a Ning group would work. I also wonder - do people quickly move on to the next thing and forget about it? I feel like I'm floundering around aimlessly and don't know how to make this work by myself.
Thanks for sharing!
Ria
Does your niche play a large role in how successful you are at building a network? I've often thought that my niche is not the best for creating relationships, let alone a business. Is there a point when you just sit down and say, "I'm wasting my time. Should I try something else?"
I understand it takes time. I get that impression from everyone here as well as from Chris. I have taken it all to heart and have begun reviewing my goals for the new year. Google Doc has been created. Now I need to start making new connections.
I suggest that you both post your goals in a comment here and then we (the community of readers on Chris Brogran's blog) can see if we can help you! Perhaps, if we understand your needs better, then we can help you accomplish your goals and maybe you can help us accomplish ours.
Matt
http://webstartupgroup.com
P.S. We are currently building a small powerful network at WebStartupGroup.com
I'm interested in hearing your take on my question regarding niches and the role it plays in building a network. My niche is cars. There's definitely a treasure chest of car sites out there, thus my difficulty at generating traffic. It's difficult to compete. Since my niche is so overdone, is building a network based on it pointless? It goes to my earlier question as well, "Am I wasting my time?"
Or is the size of the niche insignificant because you don't need a network of thousands to help you accomplish your goals?
Hopefully others will chime in, too... but, here are my thoughts...
I think your niche is too broad (at least the way you described it is). As you yourself say "there are a treasure chest of car sites out there" --- this is completely true. You want to separate yourself from the pack. What can you hone in on that perhaps isn't receiving as much coverage? Somehow, it sounds like to me you need to narrow your scope.
I just went to your site, and it appears you have some great content (e.g., nice pictures, clean layout, nice entries). After looking at your site, it appears you could definitely benefit by finding some fellow car-lovers to help build your community (and you theirs). You might ask them to guest post on your blog or offer to guest post on their blog.
In summary, define more specifically what your focus is and then reach out to other people that share your passion about cars. Lastly, if cars is your passion, then you aren't wasting your time and there is money to be made in that area.
Lastly, if you (or anyone else) would like to post a short blog entry sharing your successes and failures of building community around your blog, we would love to hear it at on our blog WebStartupGroup.com where we discuss these issues.
This post provides some nice actionable steps I've had around the idea of building your personal network. I've already shared this post with a few folks and am working on building up my network too!
I've sometimes thought that one's network is like a whole operating system for accomplishing the things you want to do in life - except it's wonderfully powered by people, kind of like a hive mind, but without the creepy overtones.
"Community As Your Operating System" is a post I wrote about it:
http://www.memeshift.com/2008/11/17/community-a...
As i think about it i believe this sort of effort takes some lead time or time up front where you are active and involved ... for me it's helped to shape my thinking on what i want to get out of using the tools, how i want to build my network, who the key folks are i need to link up with, etc ...
http://twitter.com/frasnswaa