Sowing friends on social media: Why is it important?
There are numerous small businesses, organizations, and groups trying to cultivate an online audience. Many of these business owners are using social networking sites, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, to develop a following online.
For now, setting up business pages and accounts on these sites is free and relatively easy. If membership and visibility on social networking sites is a priority, friends and contacts are also a major success.
Like any social activity, participating in the conversation is essential to win friends and become popular. Therefore, the more relevant the “chatter” posted on social media accounts, the greater the interest in your company, organization or group. Posting regularly is important to nurture the contacts you already have.
It is also possible to increase the popularity of friends on social media sites through some proven methods. These days there is a lot of cross pollination between email contact lists and social networking sites.
Q. What is Friend Seeding?
A. It is a geek speech to increase the number of friends and associates on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Q. What is the most effective way to plant friends on Facebook?
A. The main way to get more friends is to allow Facebook to see all the email accounts and contacts associated with that account. If you have multiple email accounts and one is reserved for business correspondence, please use business email. For business pages, generate friends from the email addresses of other employees. Facebook will automatically generate your friend requests via email contact lists. Currently, Facebook is configured to work with Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL, Comcast, SBCGlobal.net, Verizon.net, and even Skype. It will also work with other email services.
Additionally, Facebook encourages options, called “Other Tools.” It will track computer-resident email programs such as Eudora or Apple Mail. Facebook will also search for contacts already on Facebook, from past high schools, colleges and universities, and past and present employers. Facebook has stored this information in your individual or company profile, so it simply relates you to other people with parallel information on the list. Typing an email address into the Facebook search bar is one of the easiest ways to find someone.
Q. What is the most effective way to make friends on Twitter?
A. Twitter has developed a different spin on planting friends than Facebook. You can view Twitter suggestions. In these selections, Twitter tries to link you with the friends of the people who follow you. On Twitter, you can also search for interests by large categories and be more specific with keyword searches. Find Friends will search for email contacts and generate automatic messages for those contacts inviting them to follow you on Twitter. Find Friends will also search for a LinkedIn account if it exists. Twitter, like Facebook, allows you to expand your following by typing in your email address.
Q. What are some ideas about expanding contacts on LinkedIn.com?
A. LinkedIn allows members to import contacts from the email account connected to the LinkedIn account. Business referrals are common practice. LinkedIn encourages these types of business networks and offers an online forum for it. LinkedIn allows the member to invite connections from their own network by contacting others through existing connections. LinkedIn groups are also a great way to expand your contact lists. Join LinkedIn groups related to a profession or industry and start actively chatting and posting in groups instead of just ‘stalking’. Often times, group members will be interested in what you are saying and want to connect with you.
Q. Are there other ways to find friends besides private email contact lists?
A. Yes. If you have a strong email list built for your business, try uploading this list to Facebook or Twitter. Check individual sites for appropriate file formats. Using an effective email list of clients, business contacts, and prospects will go a long way in expanding business in the world of social media. These lists can be uploaded to sites and automatic requests will be sent from friends or contacts.
It is quite obvious that there are many ways to expand your contact and friend lists on social media websites. If the seeding of friends is done correctly, the presence of a company or organization on these important social networking sites can be increased dramatically.