Once upon a time it was the Market Square, or the Church. Today we a have simply moved from 6 degrees of separation to just ONE! In the past you might have a network of relatives, friends and casual acquaintances that might add up to perhaps a few hundred. With the arrival of broadband connectivity you can literally be linked to thousands directly, each of whom is linked to thousands.
The result is that your message can be spread virully in a matter of hours to literally millions of people. (Assuming your message is compelling enough for anyone to care!) Am I exaggerating? On the contrary, the above numbers are conservative. Remember Susan Doyle? Someone uploaded a 5 minute video to Youtube of her performance on UK Idol and within 7 days it had been seen by upwards of 30 million viewers!
Social networking ensures that there is no reason to feel isolated anymore. whatever your interests, proclivities, age, race, creed and peculiar interests, there are probably millions online that you can identify with.
How do you find this rare breed of individual?
Twitter. There are people similar to you twittering daily about all mannar of both interesting and banal subjects. Start engaging and responding.
Facebook. This doesn't need to be the preserve of generation Y, and isn't. If you think you don't have anyone who's be interested in following or befriending you, I guarantee you're wrong. all you've got to do is to start requesting acceptance to other people's Twitter or Facebook networks. How?
Well what interests you? For example gardening or recreational fishing. Google the subject. Jump on a few websites. Leave a few comments. Most of them will have a Facebook or twitter icon for you to click and connect on. Once you've been accepted, start leaving the ocasional responses to their comments. Before long some of their connections will start requesting to be you friend or follower. Because of the fact you have similar interests.
The label 'friend' is a bit of a misnomer. It's more of a loose connection that can over time be developed into a meaningful contact. Friend is a warmer label however.
Ezine Articles. Not so much a social networking forum, but if you start throwing together some 400 word articles on your topic of interest, regardless of how obscure you will attract views many of whom, yes you've guessed it will want to 'follow' you on Facebook or Twitter.
Youtube. For the marginally more adventurous. If you have a camcorder, it's pretty easy to do a 2 minute recording of your dog fighting with the cat, or a cool sunset, or a brief introduction to your town, upload to Youtube with a link to your Free blog or Twitter account, (or website -if you want to be fancy! LOL) and potentially drive thousands of people to check you out. it's called engaging.
Like most things in life however you've got to give before you get Start being interested ie comment on other people's blogs, twitters, youtube channels etc and after awhile many will reciprocate. it's human nature.
I have only touched on a couple of mediums here. There are numerous niche networking sites including friends reunited, and hub pages, I didn't mention My Space. But if you make a start with the above examples plus perhaps a little Blogging (see my previous article: "How To Build A Blog" before long you'll be as engaged and connected as much as you choose to be.
Thanks for stopping by-I welcome you to RSS me on the side box or connect on Facebook or Twitter!
Cheers Kiaran
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