Connectivity has many definitions these days, from cell phones and wifi, to business marketing and satellite dishes. In this case I'm talking about the human kind. Creating authentic connections takes time, even in the digital world. In today's market writers have to find a niche where they can serve the needs of their audience, entertain, inform and build trust.
Connections can turn into support and a solid following if writers are willing to do a few keys things online.
1. Be consistent. Decide on a day that you can commit to and blog, Tweet, email, and Facebook every week. Your fans will appreciate hearing from you on a regular basis. They will start to look forward to your posts and will come to rely on you as a trusted source of information, tips and entertainment.
2. Be authentic. When you write, make sure you find your voice and use it. Don't try to sound like someone else, be who you are, like what you like, and back up your opinions with facts, articles or blog links. Don't feel pressured to be funny, just be yourself and people will become your fan because of who you are and what you have to say and share.
3. Be specific. Research your niche and narrow your blogging, posting and comments to your specific field in order to build a niche network. Creating a network is the basis of connectivity in online marketing. As you build a fan base of interested, like-minded people online, those fans will share your work and tips with other interested, like-minded people, thus growing your network.
4. Be interesting. The key to being interesting is being interested. When discovering your niche you should be focusing on what makes you excited, happy, enraged, or motivated. What effects you will affect others, share it.
5. Be connected. The more you share with people the more opportunities you create for authentic online connections. These connections will lead to sales, guest blogging, virtual book touring, exposure and marketing opportunities.
Being connected is the key to online marketing and it all starts with your willingness to put yourself out there in a consistent and authentic way. Your hard work will pay off, but it will take time. Keep your expectations realistic, remember the rule of AAV (always add value to people's live through informative and useful links and information), and expect things to take longer than you think they should. If you put in the hard work and make authentic connections you will see the pay-off and your network, along with your sales, will begin to grow.
For anyone interested in my workshop who could not attend, it is now available on DVD, CD and in digital format. Please email me at emacram@gmail.com, or on Facebook at Erin MacMillan-Ramirez or Twitter me @doitgirl365 for more information. I'm also planning more workshop dates for October and November, more details to follow soon.
