How Kevin Bacon Can Help Your Business

Social Networking is a very much misunderstood phenomenon. Some people, particularly poor internet marketers, see Social Networking sites as nothing more than a way to get more customers. Others see them as a way to pass the time. Some people even view them as a complete waste of time and effort.

Whatever Social Networking is, one thing is for certain; it’s not going to go away. Much like the internet, it’s here to stay. This being the case, why not make the most of it?

What are the social networking sites that I’m referring to? Well, there are dozens of them and new ones are being created EVERY MONTH, but at the time of writing, they are sites like YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and so on.

The best way to view social networking is to imagine each of the sites as a party. If you think about it, each time you go to some kind of social event such as a party, you are there primarily to have fun. You want to meet people, you want to enjoy their company, you want to learn from them and you want to relate some of your stories to them.

Trying to SELL some of your products at a party (be they books, audios, software, memberships or video-tutorials) would certainly NOT be considered appropriate. Some people would call it downright rude (and I would be one of them). Let’s face it; you really wouldn’t do it, not if you have ANY sense of propriety that is.

Likewise, while on a social networking site, you shouldn’t try to sell people your products. If you tried, you’d be ignored at the very least and at worst, you’d be ridiculed.

However, if somebody at a party asked you how you managed to look so fit, you might tell them of a fitness club that you belong to; you might even offer to take them along the next time you visit your ‘invitation by member’s-only’ club. This would be the complete OPPOSITE approach to selling them something. In this case you would actually be HELPING them, by offering your advice and your contacts.

Like any good party-goer, if you add value to the other people’s experience, you will be considered more valuable. You’ll also be invited to MORE parties, where you can make more friends and acquaintances, who will in turn expand your network of friends even further.

At a party, you would show your value by firstly listening to what others have to say, and then (and ONLY then) contribute to the conversation with stories of your own and recommendations when they are asked for.

Too many internet marketers see the social networking sites as little more than a hunting ground for potential customers. This is the very WORST way to approach social networking. Rather than do that, always endeavor to CONTRIBUTE to the network. Make other people’s lives better for knowing you.

The best tool you can have while you are networking on the social sites is your blog. If you don’t have a blog yet, you really should get one.

Your blog is like your house. When somebody has invited you to their house for a party, isn’t it polite to then invite them to YOUR house? You can also tell them to bring some friends along with them.

You see, even though the people you invite directly to your blog may not be interested in what you have for sale on your site, they may know somebody who IS interested in what you have for sale.

In 1994 three students at Allbright College in Pennsylvania, came up with a social game whereby they found that they could link anybody in the world to the actor Kevin Bacon in as little as six connections, one person being one connection.

Also, a recent study has now shown that because of the internet, this number has now been reduced to just FOUR. That means that for any person on the planet, you can connect him or her with ANYBODY else through just four other people, each of whom knows somebody who knows somebody.

Another recent study showed that a person’s luck (i.e. the number of positive events that happen to a person) ACTUALLY improves with an increase in the number of people that they know. This increase in “luck” can be attributed to simply having more social connections.

So use the social networking sites for your pleasure. Find new friends around the globe and perhaps one day, your new friends will become your customers.

By: Luke Hawthorne

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Luke Hawthorne has been writing for over 13 years. His interests include making money, flying airplanes, skiing, scuba-diving and paragliding. www.explosivesocialtraffic.com/ You can read my blog at www.lukehawthorne.com You may publish this article anywhere you choose so long as you include all the information in this resource box.