All of the link building, the friend adding and messaging in the world means very little if anything at all if people do not like you, trust you, and want to listen to you. The same principles apply online as if you were in a room full of strangers and its easier to harm your own reputation in one click of the mouse.
So what do you want most from me, the internet prospect, when you contact me?
- Visit your website or read your profile?
- to “become” interested in something you have to offer?
- sign up and give you my e-mail or other contact info?
- purchase something?
- to tell my friends about your service or product?
If you want me to do for you, this is what you must do for me!
Do’s
- Show me that you appreciate my time.
- Be thoughtful – be less self-absorbed and to put other people’s needs before your own.
- Be succinct. Your first 10 words mean more than your next 10,000 words. Your next 10 words do, too. Word of mouth depends on the short sound bites! No one will remember a 1,000 word essay on what your business does. This is why being clear, concise, and to the point matters.
- Build rapport! Without common ground you have no reason to be talking to me.
- Get me talking about myself. People LOVE to talk about themselves. People like to talk about themselves. You are no exception to this rule. Do this by asking open ended, non-yes or no questions.
- Ask me questions to gauge my interest and learn my individual hot and cold buttons BEFORE presenting your solution so that you are speaking my language, not yours. Every individual has *different* hot and cold buttons. If your presentation is not tailored to the individual, you are wasting your time.
- Learn a little something about human nature.
- Read the book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie!
- “Sell the sizzle, not the steak” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW6HmQ1QVMw
Don’t Do’s
- don’t burn your precious new contacts by trying to pitch them some business or product without first asking qualifying questions.
- Never pitch your product or business opportunity without permission. I said it, ***PERMISSION***
- Make no assumptions about people. Don’t assume I want what you are selling, but maybe my cousin does, or my co-worker. How will you know if you burn every contact you make?
- Don’t take advantage of any trust you’ve worked hard to build.
- Do not add me just to send me an e-mail with your website link in it. I’m NOT clicking, and I may even report you as a spammer.
So, now you’ve been warned. If you don’t adhere to these principles and you spam me on my Facebook, or Myspace, LinkedIn, Twitter, or any social networking site I am SO hitting the REPORT SPAM button! 
I wish you success! – Laban Johnson
