It can be extremely overwhelming the first time you make a concerted effort to start social networking online. It’s so different from networking in person. And though everyone makes a few rookie mistakes, here’s how you can avoid the most common ones.

If your social networking efforts are struggling and you’re not getting the kind of results you want, here are some common mistakes you should avoid making:

Having A Rookie Profile

You may be new to social networking, but your profile shouldn’t give this away. Don’t just pull an old photo off Facebook and throw up a patchy job history. Take the time to develop a professional profile, including your photo, work summary, and job history. Paying for  professional head shots can really be worth the money here. Your photo is the first thing people see and they will start developing their opinion of you from that photo before they ever read a word about you.

Another big mistake many new networkers make is filling their profile with professional sounding platitudes. Anyone viewing your profile can spot these for the “frosting” they are.

Gaining Followers Without Building Relationships

Rookie networkers often make the mistake of thinking that the number of followers they have makes any real impact on their social networking success. The quality of your followers is vastly more important than the quantity. Just 5 followers that you have taken the time to build a real professional relationship with will take you many times further than 500+ names on your list that you have never talked to. Take it slow and make time to converse with the contacts you make. If they are not interested in taking the time to talk to you, then they are definitely not going to take the time to help you.

Asking For Favors Too Soon

Yes, networking is all about eventually helping each other out, but you can’t rush to that point. Asking for professional favors or recommendations before giving someone a reason to trust you can ruin any chance you would have had down the line to benefit from their contact. As a rule of thumb, you should always try to offer a favor yourself before asking for one. This can be as simple as sending them lunch when they mention they forgot theirs or as big as getting their niece a job in your office, but make sure they have a reason to want to help you.

By implementing the above tips, you can ensure that your networking efforts bring you the business you want. If you have any questions about social networking, please feel free to contact me.

If you enjoyed this article, you may also want to check out these others:

How to Get Business Referrals at Face-To-Face Networking Events
3 Tips To Strengthen Your Brand: Patience, Passion and a Catchy Name
4 Ways To Grow Your Business Using LinkedIn
How To Amp Up Your Visibility With Facebook
4 Ways Business Blogging Helps Build Trust In Your Business
Grow Your Business With Email Marketing

This article is published by Will Sherwood | The Sherwood Group |Website Design | Graphic Design | Marketing Communications: The Sherwood Group has over 30 years of experience working with all sorts of companies, small and large. Our clients range from entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 firms, in nearly every business sector, from across the street to around the world (and yes, even Europe, China, and South America). Our goal is to create advertising,  graphic design, website design, and marketing communication that still looks fresh and relevant 10-15 years later. Our mission is to stir your imagination and leave your competition shaken and wondering,  Now what do we do?”  We are located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

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