Picture the following scenario.
You go to a party where you have never met the people there before.
As soon as you walk in the door, you immediately start shaking hands with people, saying hello and then telling them what you do for a living and how they should check it out now, join you, and make lots of money.
BORING or worse "what an a$%".
If you actually did this, what do you think would happen? Would you personally enjoy going to a party and having someone come up to you and introducing themselves to you this way? I mean, seriously think about it.
Yet, people do this every day when they join social networks.
They join and start spewing their business to everyone and anyone who is willing to actually read their message.
So, what should you be doing instead? You want to get your message out to the masses and you want to do it quickly.
But, you also don't want to alienate yourself before you even have had a chance to get started.
Well, for starters, the last thing you should do is talk about your business.
Probably the second to last thing to do is talk about you.
Those 2 topics make for quick NFL status - no friends left.
Keep in mind that no one likes to be sold to, even if they are in a buying mood.
No one likes to hear about YOU either, unless they are a hired therapist.
And, people LOVE to talk about themselves.
So, first and foremost, get a conversation going that gets people talking about themselves, their dreams, interests, desires, etc.
Find out what motivates them, what they like, what they hate, what they fear, and what they desire.
Move slowly and make a new friend and find out how you can help them, if they need help, or how you can be a friend, if they want a friend.
Let the conversation take a natural progression without being forced or force fed.
Eventually, hopefully sooner than later, the conversation will lead to what you do and that is when you can discuss your opportunity.
But, as it leads to this, don't take that as a sign to then jump all over them about joining you and being your new best friend.
Be casual.
Be cool.
Be helpful.
Offer to give more than you are willing to receive.
This is going to be the case in any network that you join, whether it's Facebook, Myspace, DirectMatches, Twitter, etc.
When you join a social network, you are going to set up a profile.
The first thing you should do is write a bit about you in that profile, your likes and dislikes, how you got started, what you can offer others beyond what the company you represent offers.
Add your picture as well.
People will be more inclined to want to get to know and work with people who are open, present themselves as real, genuine and caring.
NEVER, ever lead with your opportunity.
The opportunity is secondary to the YOU that you are trying to present.
Try it next time you are meeting a new person on that social network you joined.
And, if for some reason, you run into someone who starts off their conversation with you by presenting their opportunity first, don't get mad, don't delete their message.
Instead, turn it around.
Ask them to take a look at your opportunity in exchange for looking at theirs.
Then, don't do anything.
Wait until they have written back to you and they have truly looked at your opportunity.
Then, take a look at what they have to offer.
And, start to build a relationship.
As the comfort levels increase with more back and forth exchanges, you can give them a few tips for the future on how they can best present themselves to others and not make the same mistake again.
They will thank you for it and you will have a friend for life.