Facebook, Ryze, LinkedIn, Myspace… what’s the point?

Can social networking REALLY work to get you clients? Or is this just a way for wily webmasters to bring hits and attention to THEIR websites, so they can pull in more ad and membership revenues?

Last week, a fairly new copywriting client asked me the above question. Then he said to me, “I emailed you to work on my project because I remembered you from Ryze.”

I was active on Ryze… oh, three years ago? And yet this person remembered me after three years, sought me out, and here we are doing a website project together.

This is not the first time I’ve gained a new client due to having “put in my time” on the social networks.

In my humble opinion and experience, I would say that the more of a standout social networking experience you create, and the more you put into making your profiles professional… the more thought you give to creating posts that add value and meaning to others’ professional lives… the more you’ll get out of social networking.

It’s true that social networking is becoming more competitive as more people learn what it is and how to use it. And it’s true that at times during your networking adventures, it seems like all people want is to suck you dry of all your knowledge and never actually pay for your services.

But you must be patient, and you must view this as a situation where you give now, so you can get back later. If you’ve got virtually no online client base but you want to start somewhere, I assure you that social networking is it. It’s the time and effort you put into helping other people, and being genuine, that will work in your favor in the future. And likewise, those who help you along the way will also stay in your mind as people to trust and refer to others.

It’s all about trust, really.

Clients whom you meet via social networking may take much longer than you might feel you have the patience to convert. (Some may never convert at all - they function more as a connection to other people who can benefit from your services - and that’s okay.)

It’s worth pointing out that these clients are much, much different than the ones you find on Elance.com or Craigslist. These are the people who truly value your expertise and treat you like a real person. These clients come by to read your blog and sign up for your monthly newsletter. They’re the kind who sometimes toss you a freebie just for knowing them.

And they’re the kind who pay you on time, and what you’re worth.

It’s a different caliber of relationship. And it’s really one worth having, when you think about all the other slobs out there who don’t understand how important people connections are to having a healthy and happy business.

So how do you do it? How do you get clients by social networking online?

Well, it’s been a while for me. Knock wood, I’ve been on the web for five years and my business is thriving to the point that I don’t have the time or the focus to devote to social networking. (I try to keep up with LinkedIn, but even that’s hard!).

But what worked for me in 2003, and still seems to work for others today, is to position yourself as a leading authority, there to guide, “coach,” and answer questions that people have about your field of expertise.

For example, when I was on Ryze I created several networks that I ran very professionally and enthusiastically, about how to market a business with articles. One was called AMM - Article Marketing Mania (tacky name, but it had great pull!). The other was a network based around developing high quality content. Many people who had participated in my first network came back for the new incarnation - and together we created Web Content Awareness Day. Now that’s a constructive way to turn relationships into information people can use!

I really threw my whole energy into helping others get exposure by publishing great content on the web. I was there to answer questions and model an approach that worked. I cheered for people. I wasn’t afraid to ask questions or “experiment” when I didn’t have the answers. My networks grew to a decent size, and everyone there was a helpful contributor in their own right.

What ended up happening was that I attracted the friendship and professional cameraderie of a group of highly intelligent and motivated new business owners just like myself. They became my “contacts” - and I didn’t realize it at the time, but many were to later become my clients, or if not actual clients, recommenders of my copywriting and article writing services to people who they knew.

(Are you starting to see how social networking works slowly, over a long period of time?)

Now again, it’s been some time since I was highly active in the world of social networking, but I do try to stay in touch with those who I met in that circumstance - because they’re great people, worth knowing and worth keeping up with.

What I’m seeing today, in 2008, is that the people who are finding creative ways to position themselves as social networking leaders, will likely have the same results as I did. For example, you have online “celebs” like Peter Schankman who put their own creative spin on Facebook networking. Peter started a PR-based social group there which grew to epic proportions - and it’s since forced him to relocate his group to http://helpareporter.com.

So that’s it. Join many groups, sure, if you have time to create the profiles. It’s worth having the strength of high-traffic, high quality sites pulling your links higher up on Google.

But then, what you’ve got to do is really be a leader. Just throw yourself into helping other people reach a goal. The goal of course should be related to your area of expertise. Devote a healthy amount of time per week to growing and tending to your network. Make it exciting and worthwhile for people to be there - offer value.

Once you decide it’s time to spread your wings and fly, be sure to “take” your contacts with you before you go.

Have you had much success with social networking? Feel free to share your stories.

- Dina at Wordfeeder.com Copywriting and Marketing

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Email Dina@Wordfeeder.com for a copywriting or website marketing quote today.

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