The Media is Social - But Are YOU?

Are you tired of hearing about social media yet?You can't escape the internet void without being sucked into articles & top ten lists about social media. Luckily, there is a growing movement of people who are ready to stop talking about the medium and start talking about what it all means.As an introvert, I approach social media in a measured & consistent way to connect with people I wouldn't have the guts to connect with in traditional social situations. Instead of terror, I feel power.But as I grow my social media acumen, I become ever more aware of its limited scope. I can connect with movers & shakers, answer customer questions, and monitor my reputation, but how can I translate those interactions to clients referred, dollars earned, or projects planned?Naysayers would have you believe social media creates barriers to real relationships - those that will move your business forward. I would argue that it is ourselves who create the barriers when we fear turning connections into relationships.

So how can you become more social with your social media?

• Go deeper in each platform. Twitter has direct messages, Facebook has commenting & mail, Flickr even has a messaging system. Use them. Make a connection, allow yourself a few public interactions, and then start up a deeper conversation.
• Leave the platform. Make your Twitter relationships email buddies. Turn your Facebook conversations into Skype conversations. Things suddenly get more "real" when we connect with people in multiple ways.
• Take it offline. Make a concerted effort to meet as many social media friends as possible in the analog world. Set up coffee dates, pick up the phone, or use snail mail. Use social media to break the ice and use face-to-face situations to get things done.

What's your experience with deepening relationships you've started online?

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