Networking as a blogger is sometimes under-valued as an important way to build your blog. Networking now is more seen (by most people that do not own a blog) as a means of getting followers. To have a number of people that are willing to follow you. And that brings up one important question: “Where do they want to follow you to…”. What’s all the fuss about. Networking is what you make of it.
Networking
Networking New Social Media
Once upon a time, there was this little internet experience going on. It was called Facemash. It was nothing more than a ‘Who is Hot’ college based website, containing no more than the information of around 500 fellow students.
Facebook came out of that idea and was born on the campus of Harvard University. Nowadays Facebook is one hell of a ‘sharing’ community and it has around one billion users. Basically Facebook made networking easy for everyone.
But… Yeah there is always a but. Facebook is not so hot anymore. And – important for a blogger – there is a limitation to the people you can add to your network. I worked the boundaries of that and got my wrist slapped by the Facebook police. There is a mugshot of me in their files now. Me, a criminal… 
Now, my favorite is Twitter. The mother of all social networking sites. I have been using it for a couple of years now and is – in my not so humble opinion anyways – the place to network. I am on my third account now, the first two I deleted because I was inexperienced and tried too hard.
How YOU can Engage With MY Community janbierens.com/2013/01/22/how… via @janbierens
— Jan Bierens (@JanBierens) February 11, 2013
What DID I do wrong?
You better get all comfy in your chair now, it’s a long story. But you know what? In the end we can learn from our experiences. Or have a good laugh about my stupidity. In short this is somewhat of a confession. Are you listening, Padre?
Whoa! Suspended!
- I was being a troll. I thought I knew it all and talked about any subject ‘pretending’ I knew it all. I jumped on any discussion, trying to get as much followers as I could. I wanted to be one of the head honcho’s, but I received the proverbial kick in the nuts instead. There. They were right. I was wrong.
- I was taking myself to serious. I was trying too hard.
- I talked to people online on Twitter, but I did not ‘connect’. There was no mutual ‘click’. Gained a follower and never talked again to him or her.
- I was too busy focusing on me, me, me and not them!
- I had trouble understanding social networking is a two way street.
- I started off every sentence with ‘I’ in whatever I was posting on Twitter
- I am doing that again, right now – as we speak!
- I was networking like a blogger. NOT
I did not get suspended from Twitter and I didn’t start off every sentence with ‘I’. This was just for educational purposes only – an example. The Facebook wrist slapping was for real though. I like to walk the boundaries of what I can get away with sometimes…
Talk, Talk, Talk
Communication IS Important
Ok. It’s like this. You can have a zillion followers you never talk to on any social networking site, but when you don’t communicate you’ll be going nowhere. You just have a group of people that probably like what you post but no more than just that. Of course if you’re a little bit like me you probably like it, just because.
Blogging for fun? Blogging for tha moolah? You will be more successful when you connect and keep talking to people you value.
And yes, there will be friends coming and going, but in the end you will have a close group of friends around you. They support you and you try to support them. You will all benefit.
If you are a blogger you tend to connect to bloggers. That’s just natural. Comes with the addiction. It does. No way you can deny that. And you should connect to bloggers. They are the same breed as you. I have seen (and there is scientific proof of that) bloggers and seo experts connecting. If one pollinates the other you’re in for a treat! A Blogging SEO expert. Mix in some Social Media Mogul and you end up with something awfully awesome. I have on-line friends like that! They are friends! Do you think you need people like that? YES.YOU.DO. End of story.
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ya know I love these kinda posts.
i also once loved twitter.
i think i’m in love with google plus now.
i’ve met so many new people there and i swear it so much fun with being able to see pictures and video.
no i’m not knocking twitter.
it’s just that those tweets where there’s like 25 ppl and no room for an actual message tend to annoy me.
i can i say something meaningful that will fit in whatever space is left? or do i knock someone off the tweet, thereby making an enemy who’ll insult me and call me a pollana publicly?
eh. im liking google plus with the extra space and if you weren’t there, i’d drag you kicking and screaming Jan.
and that’s me you described in that last paragraph, right? come on, admit it.
vanita recently posted: The Efficient Zombie
Hi Vanita.
. I won’t ditch Twitter either, because I see it as a friendly place with well known faces. And that’s good! Google+ is one of my other favs (for now). I like the mix of uncontrolled picture posting and meaningful link-posting. I do both. And everything public…
YES to your question in the last paragraph. Stop twisting my arm!
There’s is only a little space to say something meaningful on Twitter, like you said. That’s a drawback and I think Twitter should drop that. It WAS the norm for mobile texting then, but times have changed since 1978. More TweetRoom!
Great post Jan! Twitter is by far my fav social network. Google+ is fine but I don’t get much traffic to my blogs from there. I have noticed a huge pick up in my facebook page traffic. Maybe because I’m interacting more there. Although, Twitter will remain my first love. I can bla bla bla up a storm w/out anyone spanking me for it.
p.s. Love the new look. Very sleek!
Bren recently posted: How to Sustain a Love Relationship
Hi Bren!
Thanks, and I’m not done yet, just piddling around with it… Twitter IS awesome. I have tried some twitter alternatives like HootSuite and Bottlenose, but I keep coming back to the old trusted Twitter. I don’t think you’re a blah blah kind of person Bren… What if – like Vanita said – you would have more space to send longer messages, would you like that?
Jan recently posted: The Importance of Networking as a Blogger
Actually, I’m content with 140 characters. If you make it much larger, it takes away from the quick chit chat and people will be tweeting BOOKS like they do on facebook imo. I use Hootsuite on the web and my phone because of my 2 twitters. Makes things much easier for me
Bren recently posted: How to Sustain a Love Relationship
Absolutely! You use the term “networking”, but I always use the word “community” because in a way, bloggers become their own group. Those who don’t blog can’t understand why someone would visit their blog & comment on it, and I feel sorry for that group because they’re missing out on so much.
Course, I wouldn’t have deleted my Twitter account. I’d have just changed and let my audience change with me if they so chose to. I’m like that.
Mitch Mitchell recently posted: Questioning Links In Comments
Hi Mitch,
Networking is a slightly older term, but calling it interacting with a community is more like it really is. Bloggers – and other ‘groups’ of people sharing an interest – tend to flock together.
Not so long ago wrote something on here about commenting on blogs and for ‘an outsider’ of the blogging community just commenting on a blog can feel awkward.
I know I have met some special people here that excell in being awesome! Thanks for your input!
Jan recently posted: The Importance of Networking as a Blogger
Hi Jan; Twitter is still a fairly new experience for me and I’m trying hard to learn all the ins and outs and keep up with everything, but, between that, Facebook, Google+, reading, commenting and actually writing a blog post, it’s all a little overwhelming. Whew! LOL For me, Hootsuite has been a big help in organizing Twitter, because at least now, I don’t miss it when people mention me or share my posts and I can thank them for it. Am trying to use Triberr more as well, because sharing other people’s posts from there is so quick and easy. Yes, I have met and connected with many great people in a short few months. Awesome world, this Blogosphere!
Debbie recently posted: MY INAUGURAL GUEST POST
Hi Debbie,
I know, I know, it can be hard work sometimes. But you know what? Getting to know awesome people from all over the world makes it worthwhile.
In the process you learn a lot. And it’s a real mind blowing experience to have fun AND learn… I know how you felt when you started out your new adventure. You ave been blogging waaaay before I started and see what you have accomplished now.
Great to have you as my friend!
Jan recently posted: The Importance of Networking as a Blogger
I wasn’t really blogging in the beginning; just piddling around, as a continuation of the old Windows Live Spaces pages. All different now and I’m glad to call you my friend, as well.
Debbie recently posted: WeWriWa 8 SENTENCE SUNDAY; FEB. 10/13
Hi Jan,
Seeing changes again on theme here
Impatient or addicted to change, eh?
I admire learning from experience mate, and it’s easy said than done
I often need to look at myself what I’m missing.
Love this phrase here ~ “You can have a zillion followers you never talk to on any social networking site, but when you don’t communicate you’ll be going nowhere. You just have a group of people that probably like what you post but no more than just that.”
I like to engage over social networks Jan
I like the basic idea behind social networks before some turns into business opportunities. Anyway I like being surrounded by people I know or getting to know, instead of experts or successive figures that never really talk to others. I do enjoy Social Networks in that way 
Bloggers always need to think beyond posting and replying comments, if they wanna have a wonderful community which eventually some folks would be very close friends. Else when we retire as a blogger, we just left with some bunch of content and comments + may be money for someone to spend
Cheers…
Mayura recently posted: What is Google PageRank?
Impatient, Mayura… Impatient…
You are right, one of the best ways to learn something new is to just do it! Ok, you might not get things right the first time, but you learn as you go.
You like helping people and are really good at that, plus you enjoy doing that. That’s the way to go. Helping someone can be one hell of a good experience, both for yourself and the person you help.
You know you’re one of the awesome bloggers, don’t you?
JanBierens recently posted: The Importance of Networking as a Blogger
Jan,
There is no better way than to learn from our mistakes. I commend you for sharing yours here on your post and I am sure many have made the same mistake!
As bloggers, it is never about us, it is about our readers. Especially on Twitter, it is so easy to press a button and share a tweet.
With being a “newbie” on using the Twitter platform, I joined Triberr. Now I’m making new friends every day. Not only am I pressing buttons, but go the extra mile to read a few posts a day on my Twitter Tribes and connect with them on their blogs and other social sites.
So far so good. We need to connect and not be so automated. Not that I’m saying a little automation is a bad thing, but what I do mean is that it is a useful tool to use, but we must connect.
Engagement is everything!
Donna
Hi Donna!
You are right, engagement is everything. That’s why (depending on the kind of blog you have) the commenting area of a blog is so important.
Not only for the blog’s owner, but for the readers too, because that’s the place to see other bloggers and connect with them – the ‘bar’ inside the blog, so to speak.
I don’t know, I just love people! Connecting through Twitter is “to the point” because the limited messaging area, hard work to get a message through “the right way”. But my experience is the longest lasting connections are built there – on Twitter…
JanBierens recently posted: The Importance of Networking as a Blogger
Hey Jan, I am too lazy in expanding my social network. As I am a university student, so I put my available time for writing my blog and learning SEO in forums. Although I receive good traffic from search engines but most of my visitors don’t bother to leave any comment. I realize that this is because of my less interactivity with visitors. I’ve set my next goal as “EXPAND SOCIAL CIRCLE”. Lets see, what happens. Keep teaching us
Thanks for sharing
Rehmat recently posted: 6 Don’ts Which Delay Growth of Your Blog
Hi Rehmat,
Welcome.
I believe the amount of interaction you get from your visitors has to do with the kind of blog you have.
If you would blog about refrigeration as an example, you would not get much interaction going. What you could do is end a post with some sort of ‘action trigger’ for your readers. For instance ask them a question: “What do you think about this…” That can get the conversation going!Good luck on expanding your social network!.
JanBierens recently posted: The Importance of Networking as a Blogger
Hello Jan, interesting post. The one I like the most is Twitter because you don’t see all the personal stuff on there like you do Facebook.
I rarely use Facebook and when I do it’s to just post maybe articles I have written or upload a new videos.
We need social networking sites to help promote our content and truly we won’t get very far with out them. There’re so many social networking sites popping up everyday it’s sometimes hard to keep track.
Thanks so much fr the share Jan.
RobG recently posted: How important is it to Display Leadership Online And Share Strategy Tips
Hi Rob,
Like I said, Twitter is my fav. It’s to the point and direct, maybe because of the limited space for messages. Did you eve try Bottlenose? It’s a really cool tool and has a ‘sonar’ like display mode and built in url shortener. It’s a little bit geeky, but maybe that’s why I like it.
Right now I like to roam around on Google+ but maybe that’s just ‘a thing’ for me now… I always keep coming back to Twitter, Must be the nostalgic feelings… Heh.
JanBierens recently posted: The Importance of Networking as a Blogger
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I am a beginner blogger who is really passionate about obtaining traffic and I would like to say that this article has really spoken to me making me to understand the importance of valuing the audience you get.Thanks bro.
Jude Ashitey recently posted: LOVE IS PATIENCE
You are welcome! I hope I could be of help.