Social Media – Building Successful Relationships

I often find myself talking with those who went to school before PCs and calculators were invented and they tell me they are hesitant to get involved in the world of social media. They fear that time has passed them by and that they don’t have the necessary skills. But as you’ll see, there’s nothing required of on-line relationships that isn’t required off-line. Sooner or later, as Nick Tadd keeps reminding us, people will realise that there is no clear distinction between life on-line and off-line. The skills required if you are to succeed are the same for both.

For example, from my observation of those who are successful at using social mediato network and build on-line relationships, I’ve distilled the following list.

Social Media is 2 Way Communication

Successful relationship-builders make themselves easy to find and to communicate with and happily engage in two-way communication. They recognise that social media is not about broadcasting. They are often very good at asking the right question at the right time to move things on. They believe that it is important to understand a situation or a person before stating their own needs. Gary V, for example, still tries to answer every e-mail he gets, a wonderful example from one of the social media greats!

Social Media is About Giving

Successful relationship-builders are givers first, takers second.  They understand that the key to success in social media is no different from anywhere else; it’s about helping others to meet their needs. In the words of BNI, “Givers Gain”.

Be Positive

Successful relationship-builders know that they will get criticised, that sometimes others just wont accept the truth in what they are saying. They refuse to let other people’s negativity become their own. They know that what they post on the various social media platforms is pretty much there for all time and choose most of the time to accentuate the positive.

Inspirational

Successful relationship-builders have something important to say, believe in their message and can back it up. Their inspiration is contagious, leaving other people highly-inspired and motivated.

Social Media is Not a Sprint

Successful relationship-builders know where they are heading and what it takes to get there – they don’t allow themselves to be distracted from their purpose. They know that building relationships is a process that takes a while, as Gary V is forever saying, social media is a marathon, not a sprint.

No Fast Fixes in Social Media

Successful relationship-builders are not afraid of hard work; they refuse to buy into the concept of a fast fix or a quick buck. There are a lot of scams in social media but most of them will only, at best, give a short term benefit. Long term, Google and the other authorities will find you out. Fast fixes fly in the face of what the social media rockstars know – you can’t scam someone and be a trust agent.

Resourceful

Successful relationship-builders are highly-skilled reframers, capable of looking at challenges from a number of different angles until they find the solution. They will accept responsibility for their actions and will work hard to make something work whilst at the same time refusing to engage in games of blaming others.

Connector

Successful relationship-builders are happy to connect someone with just the right person in their network who has the knowledge, skills or experience to be able to help.

Social Media’s Naked Emperor

If you are looking at the above and think that this is nothing new, that the relationship building skills are the same as they have always been, you are absolutely right. The emperor is naked! Social media may offer new platforms but the skills of networking remain as they have always been.

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