Blog: SmallBiz Marketing

I used to be a social snob. I used to think I didn’t need to follow those that (I now realize) had graciously followed or friend requested me. I would like to say that my enlightenment on this topic came years ago or even better, that I was always intuitively dialed in like some of my more capable counterparts seem but sadly this is not the case. Just like countless local businesses I see everyday on Facebook and Twitter I didn’t get it until Trey Pennington hit me over the head with it a couple months ago while speaking at a social media club function. I am paraphrasing but he told a story of being invited to speak in another country on social media (Germany maybe?) and he had gotten the gig through a Twitter follower (from Mexico I believe.) His point was you never know where that next valuable connection (or sale) might come from. Most people are active in social media because, on some level they want be be heard. If following a seemingly random person from halfway around the world might be the connection that one day helps me in some way why wouldn’t I have an open follow policy? Let me be clear, I’m not advocating you open your Twitter feed right now and start following every Tom, Dick and Lady Gaga but if someone deems your feed worthy enough to follow a curtsy follow back (kind of like hollaback but not as cool) is appreciated, and many times noticed… So do it! You are there to connect anyway right?