Creating Authentic Online Relationships

Social networking is a fantastic avenue especially for Metromoms to connect and form business relationships. The key to being successful is learning how to use it authentically and create relationships that are mutually beneficial.

There are various reasons for using a social networking strategy. First, it allows you to connect or maybe re-connect with friends, colleagues and mentors. It can also help you create awareness about your product or services. Finally, an especially exciting option is the ability to connect in a collaborative way by setting up a special interest group that connects people on a regular basis.

Listed below are a few social networks Im participating in (and starting to experiment with). Use the links to check out my profiles and PLEASE connect with me (as a friend, connection, follower etc.).

The Metromom Entrepreneurs Association http://Metromom.com/JoinUs
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/people/Kim_DeYoung/567774649
LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/metromom
Twitter (Link: http://twitter.com/themetromom
Twittermoms (I recently set-up my own Metromom group.) (Link: http://www.twittermoms.com/group/metromom)


Relationships with Those You Know, Like and Trust

One of the key premises of the social networking sites is the word social. It is about creating relationships. Its NOT just about self-promotion. Social networking sites are vehicles that take time, like relationships. Theyre just another way to be out there connecting with people.

Business is all about establishing and maintaining relationships and most of us do business with people who we know, like and trust. With this in mind, this needs to be your primary goal when approaching social networking. We accomplish this when were authentic in how we communicate and allow our personalities to really shine through so we can attract the right people.

I enjoyed this point made by Mary Pat Kavanaugh, Queen of Marketing, in her Social Networking Profile Guide for Business People.

In the social networking arena you are known by who you are and your business is secondary. Hopefully, you wind up becoming the pursued, rather than the pursuer, and people want to know more about who you are than what you do. As they learn more about you, and you about them, the relationship goes to a higher level and then they want to know about your business, where there might be synergy and demand for what you offer.

(FYI to Gold Members Mary Pat will be sharing more tips on social networking in Februarys Power Call.)

One way to be authentic is by creating a meaningful personal bio about yourself. Write something that gives a sense of who you are as a woman as well as providing information about your business. Heres your chance to let your authenticity shine through. Instead of a salesy approach, provide information that leads someone to say, Id like to go the next step and learn more about her.

Once you start building connections, you can start communicating with them. I like this quote by Flint McGlaughlin, "People don't want to be marketed TO; they want to be communicated WITH. Instead of bombarding your connections with a constant barrage of sales pitches, try sending out a warm letter letting people know what youre up to in your business.

I did this recently when I shared my new Metromom Movie with my online communities. Instead of asking my connections for their business, I approached this as an opportunity to share my Metromom vision with them, and ask for their support in spreading the word.

Social networking is a wonderful way to spread the word. But you might be wondering if theres more to it

Can you really create meaningful connections online?

I believe you can and Id like to share a connection that I recently created. Ive been dabbling a bit with Facebook and Twitter as I try to find a Kim way to use these sites. Im not much of a casual chit-chatterI tend to desire more meaningful interactionsso Im trying to find my own approach to networking online.

For the past few months I kept coming across a woman named Gina. She popped up on my pages and I checked out her site and the groups she was offering. I reached out to her on the phone and we easily spoke for two hours.

After that call, I knew she was the woman I wanted to interview me for a new CD Im offering Metromoms entitled 5 Surprising Secrets Every Mom Entrepreneur Must Know. I just had a great feeling about her. We also discussed ways we could bring our mutual expertise on connecting soulfully by collaborating on a class or product. Its a relationship in the new fun stages.

This meaningful connection is already proving to be very valuable and I know its just beginning. Theres a lesson here Gina stood out from others because she had an authentic approach and the content she was providing had real value.

As women working from home I cant overemphasize how important it is to be up-to-date on these online communities and how they can serve you. Great connections with like-minded women from around the country CAN BE established by participating in social networking.
I will continue to share tips and techniques on how to establish meaningful connections online in future ezines and teleclasses so stay tuned!