Shhh… don’t read this one out loud, it might start a riot. We don’t want to spark a looting spree, now do we?
On top of that, there are gurus who will want to buy me a new pair of shoes – cement shoes – for revealing this secret to getting the most out of social media. This secret will help you develop beneficial relationships that can help you take your website or blog’s community to new heights.
Why is it so important to develop relationships with others online?
I’m not trying to give you the impression that one person can not manage and build a website or blog alone, but having people that you can turn to for help – for increased traffic, for retweets, for insider knowledge – is an unmatchable way to breakthrough the website traffic barrier.
If you look around the internet, the pros have built teams who work together to produce content and promote each other’s work. Those teams may be formal, on-site teams that rotate on a content posting schedule, or it may be an off-site team that works together, informally, while maintaining their own site.
If you want to build a successful blog or website, you’re going to need to build and nurture online relationships.
The #1 Secret to building those relationships: HELP
This four-letter word really contains the essential components to building relationships online.
H
Help and assist others. Answer their questions, respond to emails and comments. Offer tips for improvement – don’t be afraid to share your secrets to success with others. Offer to write for their site or invite them to write on yours.
E
Engage them on your site and on other social networks. Get to know them by responding to their tweets. Show them that you care by greeting them and thanking them whenever they share your content. If you find something you know they might be interested in, be sure to pass it along to them.
L
Link to their sites. When creating a related post, it’s always nice when you can use another blogger’s post as an example or for further reading. You can also write a “link love” post or add them to your blogroll or list of favorite links.
P
Promote their sites. Retweet and Stumble them, share them on Facebook and on any other social networks you belong to. Invite them to join a Google group where they can share and promote their best work.
These are not the only things you can do to help others online, the options are truly endless. What could you add to extend this post from HELP to HELPFUL – any tips?
Kiesha Easley is a technical writer, blogger, and consultant. Read more of her work on We Blog Better, where she aims to teach others how to blog and build stronger online communities. Connect with her on Twitter or subscribe to her newsletter.
