SEO and social networking

Think of any topic and you'll probably find a group online with express views, news, and gossip on this topic. Gossip? Yes, of course, when two people meet don’t you gossip, just to get over the boredom? You do.

Just as office parties with clients, meetings of chambers of commerce, specialist institutions like that of mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, and so on, there are today available on the internet a much, much larger, which defies imagination, audience you can reach out to get news, views, problems, solutions, experiences all for the asking. Your profile has to be perfect. And you should be very going with your words.. and not point direct to your website. A hint here or there like “You know, folks, I went for a walk, yesterday, and guess what I saw?” It’s all here (put in your web link). Something like that.

Since there are so many of these social websites, obviously the networking is of a very high order, given the size of the participants in that website, blog, or what have you. Just as in any fraternity meeting apart from catching up with your old friends, you make new ones, and learn much more from these sites. And you contribute your learning, adding to the fund of knowledge to which that website you are a member.

So how many should you sign up for? Since it’s all free, the impulse is to sign in to as many as you can. And since you provide a mail id, you find that when you waken up and open your system, there is a string of notices, and mails from ALL of these sites you signed up for! And by the time you even scan all of them, half your day is gone! Did you bargain for that? No.

If you are a newcomer, yes, of course, you might be tempted to see each and then decide what to stay in and stay out of. Even those who are experienced in these website signs-up, forget to log on, thus earning themselves a bad name. It works just like the party your neighbor threw, and you said you would come, but didn’t turn up! Well, he is going to ignore you when you ask him to come over. It’s the same on the net social group.

When you sign up, and you should choose those you want to, you must see to it that you are at least visible fairly often. Fairly often is difficult to define. I would put it this way. If I get two invites from the same person, I would at least make it to one, and then, take the second set of invite and show up. And yes, you contribute to the conversation at the party. So too it is on the social site. You can see the signs posted, the problems posted, the answers given, and the chats taking place in the Lounge. You should sign in, and if you know a better way of solving a problem, contribute your penny. It does not matter whether it is taken or not. Contributing to the site is an important signpost for the others that you are a serious participant, and you can ease into the gang, as they say.

The rules are the same as in personal gatherings. The more you are seen, the more people recognize you and more recognition mean better recall when you need it most. If you are a techie, there are chances that the buzz you are moving with in the social site, you may land up getting a better look at your abilities. And if you are good, well, then, certainly, the gossip mill is going to work overtime in your favor. And if you don’t do well, then… you can guess there will be silence, until someone asks “hey Paul, how did Joe solve that problem?”

So be prepared for that as well.

Choose sites you really belong to, whether in terms of skills set or social set, and above all whether it suits your personality.

As for the ones you don’t want to continue, well, you should write to them politely pulling the plug. That will always be appreciated. Remember just as you are a member of three/four or whatever you can handle, others too are likely to be there also. So it’s best to clean and clear.