I do a LOT of online networking.
Since I opened my online doors I have been active in many groups such as Yahoo, Google+, LinkedIn and Facebook. In these groups I notice an alarming increase in group moderators cautioning against spamming the group.
What does spamming mean?
Spamming is a verb meaning it is an action.
send the same message indiscriminately to (large numbers of recipients) on the internet.
How many of us are guilty of this action? Spamming is not just sending an email blast out to people who have not asked for the information.
How many times have you scrolled through your Facebook feed and seen the same message winding down the screen? Have you seen an increase in your LinkedIn Groups of posts that seem to have no relevant value? You scroll though and leave frustrated at the lack of depth and clarity.
What does networking mean?
Groups give us a great opportunity to network.
interact with other people to exchange information and develop contacts, especially to further one’s career.
For many of us networking is vital to the growth and health of our business. Without networking with our target audience we will not succeed. To be successful we need to understand that our networking is about helping others to grow THEIR business. It is not about me.
When I post I need to make sure that what I am providing my audience helps them to achieve the success they are striving to obtain.
How do I get my message out?
We often wonder how we can get our message out without being considered a spammer. Let’s look at a few tips and tactics.
Give me a reason to read:
If you have written a blog post and have wonderful information to share then give me a reason to read it.
- Give me a brief overview when you post it to my LinkedIn or Facebook group.
- Are there 3 tips that will rock my world?
- Will it take me 30 seconds to read or should I bookmark for a sit down with a cup of coffee read?
I am more apt to pay attention to it if you give me wee bit more information.
Stop and think:
I have been guilty of just putting content out there. Not really thinking about the quality of the post I am about to make.
- Does this link really target the whole group?
- Would it better to wait and post a more relevant link tomorrow?
I firmly believe we need to look at quality over quantity. I recently stopped a number of scheduled social media updates because I felt the quality was not what it should be.
Strategy is important:
Similar to stop and think, but a bit more fine tuned.
- Does your post fit within your social media strategy?
- Is it going to your target audience?
- Will it just become background noise and not add true value?
With so much information available on the internet it is becoming more urgent that we look closely at the content we are providing our readers. Do you agree?
I urge you to comment below. Where do you draw the line between spamming and networking?
I see people that post the same thing four or five times in a row in the same group. I don’t like selling where it is not supposed to be. I use the groups to network and offer tips. Bravo, for doing what you did!