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Stefan Thomas
No Red Braces
79
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BAMPTON
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  • Posted: 26th Jul 2011 - 18:55
  • Quote

 

I was originally going to make this 10 Top Tips but reckon other people might have more to add.

These are my tips for getting the most from the 4N forum.

These are just my opinion, based on what has worked for me and others I have observed, but I hope they help.
  • You have to be there - sounds obvious but if you only post a few times, it simply won’t work for you. The 4N forum is a community and, whilst welcoming of new members, you do need to get stuck in and allow people to get to know you.
  • Let us see you, use a photo of you - the old adage that people buy people may or may not be true, but it certainly makes a difference on here if people can see who you are. Forums, and the internet in general, can feel a bit anonymous, having a photograph reminds people that you’re a person.
  • Get your sig sorted - Every time you post it tells people who you are, what you do and, most importantly, how to contact you easily.
  • Don’t just sell - You wouldn’t do it in any other community, so don’t do it here. It isn’t effective at all. If you do just sell in other communities, that is why nobody is listening to you. The same applies here. The more time you spend in the other forums, the more people will look at your blatant ads when you do post them.
  • Don’t just start threads - participate in other people’s conversations as well as starting your own. Think of the forum as a number of conversations, rather than simply an opportunity to broadcast.
  • Remember the forum is fast moving - If you post a Can You Help, or Blatant Ads - you need to check back pretty regularly for replies.
  • Don’t expect a prospect to do the work for you - If somebody posts a Can You Help and your product or service is what they’re looking for then please make the contact, rather than posting “We can do that, call me”.
  • If you ASK for feedback, expect to receive it - If you ask people for feedback on your website/leaflet/brochure/blog/logo then don’t be surprised if you receive it. And they will be honest.
  • Join it up with social media - keep those relationships going with Twitter and Facebook. Tweet interesting threads you have seen. Follow the people you like from 4N.
  • Join it all up with ‘real life’ networking - meet the people you have already met on here. Use the forum to build your national profile and use the breakfast meets to have 121s with the people you have connected with.
Just my thoughts and opinion, as I said earlier, and I know there are other ways of using the forum, particularly for SEO which I don’t take advantage of at all.

Any other tips?
 
Graham Smith
Graham Smith Business Services
5
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30th Jan 2008
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Witney
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3057

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  • Posted: 26th Jul 2011 - 18:59
  • Quote
  • Just be yourself - don't try to make a persona up, in the long run it will show through
  • Try not to get into arguments - there can be no winners
Graham Smith Business Services

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Julian Wellings
Expertise on Tap
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4th Sep 2007
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01242 696728
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  • Posted: 26th Jul 2011 - 19:04
  • Quote
  • Be generous with your time and knowledge to help others. They will remember it.
  • Raise "expert status" by commenting on threads relating to your area of expertise.
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Denise McCallum
Detective Denise
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  • Posted: 26th Jul 2011 - 19:07
  • Quote

Enjoy it :)


Area Leader for Harrogate, Northallerton and Leeds Bradford Airport Groups

 
Member Since:
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  • Posted: 26th Jul 2011 - 19:08
  • Quote

  • Join it up with social media - keep those relationships going with Twitter and Facebook. Tweet interesting threads you have seen. Follow the people you like from 4N.
  • Join it all up with ‘real life’ networking - meet the people you have already met on here. Use the forum to build your national profile and use the breakfast meets to have 121s with the people you have connected with.

 

pretty much agree with it all but above two points are vital imo - twitter has played a vital role for us in driving traffic to certain threads - while the people you interact best with imo are those you have met in real life both on here and other socialyawnmedia outlets. 

 
Stefan Thomas
No Red Braces
79
Member Since:
19th Oct 2007
Telephone:
01993 768292
Location:
BAMPTON
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15065

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  • Posted: 26th Jul 2011 - 19:13
  • Quote
Quote:

Enjoy it :)

Denise takes two words and a smiley to say what I failed to get across in 500 words! Thumbs Up

 
 
Denise McCallum
Detective Denise
17
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  • Posted: 26th Jul 2011 - 19:20
  • Quote

No lol, I had nothing intelligent to add, you'd already said it all.

Denise


Area Leader for Harrogate, Northallerton and Leeds Bradford Airport Groups

 
Carl Nixon
Excel Expert Ltd
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  • Posted: 26th Jul 2011 - 19:24
  • Quote

 

Be prepared to accept that your advice may work for you and your business but might be useless for someone else. Also someone’s advice maybe good for them but useless for you. In the world of business there is no black and white answers to a problem. So if someone gives you advice that you think is rubbish, remember it was given with good intention based on the givers experience.

Excel Expert
 
Stefan Thomas
No Red Braces
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19th Oct 2007
Telephone:
01993 768292
Location:
BAMPTON
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15065

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  • Posted: 26th Jul 2011 - 19:26
  • Quote
Quote:

 

Be prepared to accept that your advice may work for you and your business but might be useless for someone else. Also someone’s advice maybe good for them but useless for you. In the world of business there is no black and white answers to a problem. So if someone gives you advice that you think is rubbish, remember it was given with good intention based on the givers experience.

^this I like

 
 
Veronica Pullen
Word of Mouth Local - Social Media Training
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  • Posted: 26th Jul 2011 - 20:19
  • Quote
This applies to all online networking - social media included

Keep a mental tally to ensure your posts are 80% give and 20% take. Don't just create noise but be helpful, reply to questions and requests posted by other users 4 times more often than posting your own requests/questions
wordofmouthlocal.biz
wordofmouthlocal.bizlike my pagefollow me on twitterconnect on linkedinvisit my youtube channelwordofmouthlocal.biz
 
David Morris
Star21 Ltd
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  • Posted: 26th Jul 2011 - 20:23
  • Quote

... you don't have to agree, but that doesn't mean you can stop being polite!
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Paul Smith
Word Gets Around
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  • Posted: 26th Jul 2011 - 20:31
  • Quote

Great post Stefan as always and some great add on points. I would add:

Remember there is no tone of voice with threads so think how you word comments. The way you intended something as friendly may be taken in the opposite way.

I think the key ones are be true to yourself, offer help, share ideas and treat everyone the same, unless of course they are selfish and mean.

Word Gets Around
 
Richard Bull
The Federation of Small Businesses
0
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6th Jul 2011
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  • Posted: 26th Jul 2011 - 20:37
  • Quote

Hi Stefan,

Thanks for your tips, I'm relatively new to all networking sites, so I need all the help I can get and your top tips are very much appreciated.

Regards

Richard Bull

Federation of Small Businesses (North Staffordshire)

Visit the FSB Website             

Richard Bull

Federation of Small Businesses

North Staffordshire

07966 008610

richard.bull@fsbrecruitment.org.uk
 
Richard Bull
The Federation of Small Businesses
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6th Jul 2011
Telephone:
07966008610
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36

My Links:
  • Posted: 26th Jul 2011 - 20:39
  • Quote

One question, how can I get my logo to come up when I reply to a post.  Everyone else has their company logo come up, but mine just says Federation of Small Businesses.

Thanks in advance

Richard Bull (FSB)

Visit the FSB Website             

Richard Bull

Federation of Small Businesses

North Staffordshire

07966 008610

richard.bull@fsbrecruitment.org.uk
 
Stefan Thomas
No Red Braces
79
Member Since:
19th Oct 2007
Telephone:
01993 768292
Location:
BAMPTON
Posts:
15065

My Links:
  • Posted: 26th Jul 2011 - 20:44
  • Quote
Quote:

One question, how can I get my logo to come up when I reply to a post.  Everyone else has their company logo come up, but mine just says Federation of Small Businesses.

Thanks in advance

Richard Bull (FSB)

http://www.4networking.biz/Pages/Support#b5

 
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