You are here: Home / How NOT to Network
Todd

How NOT to Network

By Todd on December 21, 2007 | 2 Responses

Just a quick post with a lesson on (what I consider to be) a Very Ineffective way to try to get referrals.

raindrops

I got this message from a MyBlogLog user in my email earlier today …

Hello Todd,

I met you on John Cow Site and We both like Social Network stuff I think, so I gonna tell you this
(link to his yuwie profile)
Enjoy it as I do and You surely will!
It just right for the concept of you~
Merry X’Mas

I don’t know this person.

We didn’t really “meet” on John Cow. I was over there reading about how they got banned from Facebook, and my new “friend” saw my picture in the MyBlogLog widget.

He is right, apparently we do both like social networking. But, if he’d actually taken the time to read my blog, he might have also seen that I’m already experiencing a little social networking overload.

Even if we did know each other, I’m not really a great candidate to join another social network right now (although, truth be told I’m actually already a member of Yuwie)

I did kind of have to smile at the Merry X’Mas though.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to call this guy out or anything. Who knows, maybe down the road we might even have a real chat some day.

It’s just that his method of “promotion” is, unfortunately, way too common among those who don’t know any better.

If you read his email, and it sounds like something you might consider sending to a stranger …

Please reconsider.

Don’t be That Guy.

Keep havin FuN!
Todd

Posted in Tagged , ,
  • http://www.tellinitlikeitis.net Lin

    I’ve received so many messages similar to that one, it’s just not funny anymore. I get some saying “Thanks for stopping by” along with the link to their blog, when I have never ever been to their site or profile page on any social networking site.

    I mean come on already….if you’re really trying to catch someone’s attention, gain readers etc, don’t do what everyone else is doing, spamming the heck out of me and others.

    Actually visit someone’s blog, participate with comments (not spam) on their blog, and send the blogger a private email question or comment through their contact page. I have gained so many more readers to my blog by doing these very things than any other method.

    I’ve been bombarded by so much junk spam on social networking sites that I’ve turned off most of my notifications. It’s gotten way beyond ridiculous.

    Lin’s last blog post..How Much Television Is Too Much Television For Children?

  • todd

    Hi Lin,

    I may at some point do a follow-up post on this topic, about how (I think) these social networking sites can be used. But really, you’ve already hit the nail on the head.

    When we see somebody’s picture in the widget, visiting their blog, and leaving some sort of intelligent comment on one (or more) of the posts, is much more likely to get their (favorable) attention, than simply shooting off a spammy message.

    Especially for those of us with “smallish” blogs; I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that I follow the links to learn more about ALL of the people who take the time to comment here. If you’ve got something you want to promote, do it on a blog with quality content. If you have a good blog, I’m gonna look around and click some links. And if you’re promoting something that I’m interested in, chances are very good that I’m gonna find it.

    Keep havin FuN!
    Todd