Over the last year, I've grown my modest online community by over 100% to ~700 on Facebook, 600 on Linkedin, and 150 on Twitter--with very little overlap in connections. Now that I am trying to break 1,000, I decided to do a little research on how to further increase my online audience. A few tips (and I am trying all this stuff realtime):
- Bring social media into the physical world - In Tech Crunch, Kevin Rose, founder of Digg, says "Every time I give a talk, speak on a panel, shoot a podcast, present slides, or hand out business cards, I figure out a way to broadcast or display my twitter account." More...
- Put your handle or profile everywhere - Kevin also recommends that you "Link it [Twitter] on your Digg, LinkedIn, Facebook, blog, email signature, and everywhere else you live online."
- Look to connect with people you know - It sounds simple, but most people don't exhaust their personal contacts online first. Dust off the business cards, pull out your BlackBerry or Android, and search for your connections. See Wikihow and Linkedin Answers for other tips.
- Get involved in online communities - For bloggers and Linkedin.com, joining groups and being "social" online are big parts of building a base. Participate in discussions, find commonalities, follow them and ask them to follow you. See more social media karma tips.
- Have an event or contest - People love to be a part of something--especially if they can win a prize or be recognized. You can organize events or run contests leveraging social media, which can really give a boost to your online base.
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