Just as early man needed a band of friends and family in order to survive in prehistoric times, today’s internet marketer could definitely use the power of online networking for successful online survival.
And just like those Cro-Magnons, a tribe is still defined as a group of people with a common goal; however in the modern online lexicon it refers to a group of members who meet in an online forum or on a website.
Your tribe could consist of IM contacts, website subscribers, Twitter followers, or MLM partners. But no matter how you define your tribe or what you call it, there are some key concepts that every internet marketer needs to remember.
The Company You Keep
It is a solid fact that we are judged by the company we keep. Think of the term “thick as thieves”. Criminals are known for forming gangs, a network of comrades adept at thievery.
The same principle holds true when it comes to the type of people you are associated with online. Join a community of internet marketers who have a bad reputation for using black hat techniques, and even if you don’t do the same, you will suffer from the association.
Online Networking – Strength In Numbers
Forming a tribe of members, subscribers, customers or the like gives the internet marketer great strength. If you own a blog, you know that the larger number of subscribers you can lure, the better the chances of getting blog comments and your posts being spread virally through social bookmarking sites. This also provides a good amount of daily traffic, great for optimising the site.
Two Heads Are Better Than One
And a hundred heads are even better… It pays to become a member of a site where you can network and brainstorm with others trying to accomplish the same marketing goals. Leave the competition mindset at the home page and enter a forum to gain fresh ideas, new methodology, and expert advice. This is the place where you can stay current with Web 2.0 trends and perhaps even find places where you can build high authority backlinks.
Extend Your Sales Reach
A tribe is a necessary component of an MLM business. You have to keep bringing fresh faces onto your team and exhorting them to do the same in order for this scheme to be profitable. Create an online space where all members of your tribe can get together on a regular basis to interact, share information, and talk about their successes. The more your partners feel like they are part of an exclusive tribe, the harder they will work to make the business successful.
The Social Tribe
Your company needs a strong tribe on it’s social media sites, too. The tribe members are your followers or friends; people you can interact with directly and those who are interested in keeping up to date on your business and its products or services. Keep adding to your social tribe and it will greatly enhance marketing efforts while extending reach.
The modern tribe is a virtual concept composed of real people. Use the strength of your online networking tribe to build your internet marketing success.
See you at the top of Google!
Sean Rasmussen
SEO Australia Pacific
AussieSEO.com © 2007 - 2010
Sean, great post about having an online tribe. This is especially necessary when building an MLM business online. Social media and bookmarking sites can really help one to achieve this.
Thanks for the post,
Wendy
.-= Wendy Boon´s last blog ..Day 36, 37, 38 and 39. Lazines… =-.
We can all use a little help Wendy. The great thing about networking online is that it is a win-win situation in most circumstances, help others and they will help you in return
Hi Sean,
There is a lot of power in networking online. There is nothing better than being part of a small group of people who are willing to work together. As internet marketers it can make a huge difference.
I can only share my blog posts so far. As part of a group where we work together to share each others work, my blog post can be shared many times over. If you run into a problem, at least one member in the group will have a solution.
There are a lot of benefits to online networking. It definitely pays to spend the time building relationships.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Learn and Earn – It’s a Marathon Not a Sprint =-.
Networking in an online tribe is invaluable. I love being able to present my problems and no there will be help available and vice versa, I hope I can help others. Being able to help each others online ranking is also a bonus with sharing and commenting on each others blogs. It makes you feel your not alone while sitting in front of your computor screen.
.-= Jackie Stenhouse´s last blog ..Anxiety Separation in Children =-.
Hi Jackie,
You’re so right. Networking online is invaluable. It’s great knowing that if I have a problem; someone out there will be able to help me out. Online friends are just as good and sometimes better than those in the real world.
After all, online friends don’t come over and drink all your wine.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Internet Marketing Success – Make It Happen =-.
I think the biggest risk we face as online marketers who work from home or alone is the feeling of separation, real or otherwise.
With online netwroking we need to create a social tribe as Sean has stated above in which we can contribute to. It would be great fun to swap information, help each other and be a part of a larger network where we can all share our talents.
Having your “online networking tribe” is just as important as having your offline friends if you want to succeed.
The tribe helps you to virtually reach everybody (think 6 degrees of separation) and gives you support through like minded people at the same time. You can improve on your original ideas through brainstorming and make sure your product or post is the best it can be.
I love my online tribe
.-= Renee´s last blog ..Sean Rasmussen – Australian Internet Marketer =-.