Car roof frost. Espoo, Finland 12.10.2011

Photo: Car roof frost. Espoo, Finland 12.10.2011 (SOOC except for watermark, CC BY Tiina M Niskanen)

A kind business partner sent me an email with season’s greetings and a question: “By the way, do you have any literature reference about how to network using Twitter and Facebook – like creating followers, etc.”

Below is what I thought to answer, since there’s so much information available online already (I’m sure there are books, too, but the most recent changes in social media you can’t find in them).

First thoughts about utilizing Twitter and Facebook that came to my mind (in no ranked order):
  1. Create quality content.
  2. Follow those, who you wish to follow you (“first give, then expect reward”).
  3. Participate in relevant discussions sharing your insights and expertise.
  4. Talk the language of your target group, without sounding phony or condescending.
  5. If you have money to spend, try out Facebook’s targeted ads.
  6. You’re probably not only after quantity (big but passive audience), but after quality (engaged quality following) – act accordingly.
  7. Community management requires time and thought – done well, even more so.

Now that I think of it, I’ve been thinking the question from the point of view of a brand or business. Most ideas apply to personal networking, though – just leave out point 5 and replace “community” with “relationships” in point 7.

Any thoughts?

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Related:

WikiHow: How to Use Twitter, How to Network on Facebook

Social Media Examiner: Top 20 Social Media Marketing Articles From 2012

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Edit 16.1.2013: Statistics on Google url shortener http://goo.gl/aeguG+

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