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How To Create Great Profiles For Social Networks That Attract Quality

Now that you know how social networks can help track business relationships, this article will share tips on how to establish a presents that attracts qualified business relationships. The strategies presented here will also help you strengthen existing relationships with these new tools.

If you haven't already selected a social network to involve yourself with, consider Christopher Allen's evaluation of a few social networking services, he covers Ryze, Tribe.net, LinkedIn, and Friendster. Select the network most appropriate for your industry and relationship objectives. If you have trouble choosing, at least consider LinkedIn or Spoke they are best for the professional executive.

Guidelines for creating a social network profile that attracts quality contacts:

• Include a professional photo appropriately dressed. Soften your profile by providing a recent picture. Appropriately dressed means attire that reflects the way prospects expect to see you. Use a media style head shot.
• Demonstrate the value you offer in your profile. Visitors shouldn't have to contact to learn how you can help them, your profile should save them the trouble. Give a list of reasons why you should be contacted.
• Don't enter any information that isn't publicly available. You don't have control over who reads your profile, or accesses your address book, it's important not to include anything that isn't public. Keep unlisted phone numbers or special email addresses in your private contact manager.
• Use your profile to differentiate yourself or company. Present your unique value to the reader of your profile. Talk directly to your target prospect, ideal strategic partner, or prospect employee. Each reader must understand why you're unique.
• Establish a clear objective for community participation. Your profile should clearly define your reasons for participating in a social network. The clearer the message, the more qualified the contacts.
• Keep your profile short and to the point. Your profile should focus on a few points and provide enough information for someone to make a decision to contact you. Give enough to generate interest, if you tell your whole story in your profile why would people need to contact you.
• Mind your spelling and the nature of your language. While this should be a given, use a professional jargon free language that will be understood by readers of your profile. You aren't trying to impress anyone, but instead are inviting qualified readers to contact you.
• Focus on what you want and what you have to give. Let people know what you are looking for and what you have to offer in exchange. When you tell people about the solutions you seek, you save time searching for answers.

Change your profile as your needs change and you'll find people returning to fulfill your needs. Consider other network participants are looking to make new contacts to extend their own networks. An accurate up-to-date profile is necessary to promote the most qualified contacts.

To create new, strengthen old, and improve existing business relationships with social networks, do the following:

1. Create a strong profile that clearly outlines your objectives.
2. Connect with peers and associates to share good news.
3. Connect with customer and prospects to solicit feedback.
4. Share leads and referrals by matching needs with wants.
5. Make each contact purposeful and of value to both parties.
6. Cultivate joint ventures that advance mutual objectives.
7. Be selective about passing along referrals.
8. Give endorsements to individuals who have earned them.
9. Introduce yourself only when you have something of value to offer.
10. Bridge live networking events with social networking to strengthen bonds.
11. Use social networks as the first place you search for new resources.
12. Strengthen relationships before you ask for endorsements.

Social networking software saves you time in tracking new relationships, but seek quality over quantity. Seek to build value in existing relationships first, use social networks to make others aware of what you are looking for, and use these simple strategies to make the most of social networking software.

/ executive-relations | relationship-realms /

By Justin Hitt at December 4, 2003 7:37 PM  Subscribe in a reader