Online Relationships

Some of the biggest challenges in relationships come from the fact that most people enter a relationship in order to get something. They’re trying to find someone who’s going to make them feel good. In reality, the only way a relationship will last is if you see your relationship as a place that you go to give, and not a place that you go to take. ~ Anthony Robbins

I’ve been in the “social media world” for almost two years now.  I joined Facebook and Twitter back in September of 2008, and during that time, I’ve met some really AWESOME people.  People not only from Colorado, or even the United States…but also people that live half way across the world, like the Philippines (Anie Iglesias), Australia (Dr. Joe), Singapore (Gabriel Valo), South Korea (Albert An), New Zealand (Sarah Buchanan), and Malaysia (Ck Tan Kevin Lpa) just to name a few.  When I first started, I decided I wanted to present a gift of friendship, letting my new found friends know I valued them, and the feeling has always been reciprocated.

Just like friendships in the real world, it’s important to value your online relationships, and nurture them.  So here’s a little tidbit of advice to those of you who are just starting to get your feet wet in online marketing and social media.  ”Don’t push yourself, your product, or your business on people without first getting to know them.  Find out what their needs, wants, and desires are…and build a relationship/friendship with them.”  After all, people like to interact with those with whom they trust and feel comfortable.

Just my little tidbit for the day…

Technorati Tags: relationships, Social Media

Overwhelmed by #FollowFriday?

#FollowFriday is a fun day of the week.  It’s the day when we find new peeps to follow and we also recommend to others the people that we enjoy following.  However, it can be a little overwhelming.  The lists pass through the Twitter feed at high speeds (if the Twitter API is cooperating that is…) and sometimes it’s hard to keep up!

Therefore, I’ve come up with a solution for my own followers.  I will now be keeping a list of the people I’ve recommended for any particular Friday.  This will allow my followers to come back to my blog, when things are little less frantic, and take a look at the people I’ve recommended they follow each week.

Please note that I send out a different list each week, based on my interactions that week.  We meet new people – but of course there’s still some lists that will only continue to grow – such as my list of “favorite peeps” – and of course the “GREAT Tweeters.”

Therefore, I welcome you to visit this posting each week – so that you can catch up and not feel so overwhelmed with the excitement of #FollowFriday.  So what is #FollowFriday and how does it work?

Here’s my recommendations:

• April 17, 2009
• April 10, 2009
• April 3, 2009

Technorati Tags: #FollowFriday, Social Media

It’s that time of the week again…#FollowFriday – Whew hew!

So what is #followfriday and how does it work?

Well, it was started by a guy here in Boulder, by the name of Micah Baldwin (@micah) on January 16, 2009.  On that morning, Micah sent out the following tweet:

Basically, it’s a way for Twitter users to find other people to follow, based on recommendations from people they are already following.  In many cases, if you enjoy someone’s tweets, then you’re sure to enjoy your “peep’s peeps.”

For example, I personally keep a list of peeps that I enjoy “twalking” with…whether they are helpful, interactive, or just plain fun to follow.  Then once #FollowFriday rolls around, I post my tweet like this:

Some of my Favorite peeps: @Adesoji @SteveGarufi @AceConcierge @tommytrc @shellykramer @BillBeavers @RickBakas #followfriday.

Make sure you use the #FollowFriday hashtag, so that your recommendations can be found via the Twitter stream.  Hashtags you ask?  Once again…another blog post subject.

It’s also useful if you state why it is you’re recommending them for #FollowFriday (e.g.: “some of my favorite peeps”).

So what if it’s not Friday and you’re still not sure of where to begin your follow?  Then I suggest you check out  my other posting on “Who should you follow on Twitter?”  This post has a list of my own recommendations.

For even more information, check out Mashable’s “The Anatomy of a Twitter Trend” article or Micah’s own article, “Follow Friday. Oh My!”

I hope this answered your questions regarding #FollowFriday, and if so, please pass this along to your peeps and/or leave me a comment.

Go to the bottom of this page for a list of my weekly #FollowFriday recommendations.

Thanks & Happy #FollowFriday!

Technorati Tags: #FollowFriday, Social Media

I received a request yesterday from @moredollars4u.  He asked me to send him the name of an interesting person to follow on Twitter.

Well that was easy, for me, I immediately suggested @Adesoji.

The reason I made this recommendation was because @Adesoji is a very positive and inspiring individual, and one that often makes me **SMILE**.

We each have our own interests, hobbies, passions, etc., and so we tend to follow those that share those passions.  As for me, I enjoy inspiration and motivation, social media & networking, web design, real estate investing, sharing thoughts and ideas with other United First Financial agents, and even more importantly, building and maintaining friendships.

Therefore, there’s several people that I follow that share my same interests.

So who should you follow on Twitter?  Well, I guess it’s really for YOU to decide.  Determine your passion and start searching for others like you…

One source that I do recommend to use in finding these people is the http://wefollow.com Twitter directory.  It’s powered by US – the Twitter users!

But I don’t want to leave you hanging…here’s my own personal list of people that I’ve used in my #followfriday recommendations. #Followfriday you ask? What is #FollowFriday and how does it work?

• Gr8 peeps who interact: @MARCOME @Blanquis26 @DenvTweetGuide @lonniehodge @NancyPerez @RandomReTweet @tommytrc @HemalRadia @RickBakas @TheEntertainer @markdavidson @j5freedom @payshel @AllBimmerDOTcom @barrykw @RetiredTeacherD   @LatinaLeader @THEDIAMONDCOACH

• Helpful people: @MiaChambers @ayat @SuccessGenie12 @gregoryadam @LJP26 @stevepohlit @CourtneyEngle @Java4Two @robertstevenson

• “Understand the concept of #followfriday”: @FreddieScott @micah (the creator) @ChrisSpagnuolo @mayhemstudios

• Great #Women2Follow: @Blanquis26 @svetok @Java4Two @AceConcierge @NancyPerez @getsmartwomen @BuzzEdition @SherryinAL @modishplum @ginidietrich @prosperitygal @MARCOME @Kimi267 @sillycows @synergyblog @ZnaTrainer @HeshieSegal

• Some of my Favorite peeps: @Adesoji @SteveGarufi @AceConcierge @tommytrc @shellykramer @BillBeavers @RickBakas

• The “GREAT” tweeters: @AlohaArleen @zaibatsu @WarrenWhitlock @jim_turner @prosperitygal @joelcomm @RobMcNealy @barefoot_exec

So tell us…who should we follow?

Technorati Tags: Social Media