Home : Blogs : Justin Smith | SEO, SMO & Blogging Consultant : Justinnerd's Blog on ActiveRain

The Value of Social Networking Relationships

The Value of Social Networking Relationships from Justin Smith on Vimeo.

Posted by Justin Smith | SEO, SMO & Blogging Consultant on 09/22/2008 10:46 PM

Post is included in group: Blogging & SEO
Post is included in group: Online Marketing Help Center
Post is included in group: Rainmaking - Internet Marketing Strategies
Post is included in group: The Art Of Marketing You
Post is included in group: Real Estate Tomato Bloggers

54 Comments on The Value of Social Networking Relationships

SEP

2008

Cool video ... and great job Justin!

Justin, Good Work on the video! Thanks Tom Davis World Class DE Realtor

SEP

2008

Hi Justin, thanks for the tutorial to use networking to capture an associate's sphere of influence. I have started to visit and comment, wherever possible, on those who visited or commented on my posts, and saw that some of them were doing the same. I am not quite sure about calling some of these associates yet. Your video did provide some good pointers. I hope to use them soon.

Thanks for the video. I will view it soon and I am sure I will use some of the tips.

that is good content. i am a fledgling blogger and am gettingmy feet wet. this is a great tool for communicating why i am doing this to those that dont yet get it.

thanks

chris the implementer

Justin:

The value of social networking relationships as it relates to generating business for us is to hopefully have one of our fellow bloggers link to us in their post. If there blogsite has decent rankings it will in turn help our position in the SERPs. Correct?

Hi Jill,

Absolutely. That is simply an added benefit of networking... building links. We would call that networking with the Linkerati (the population of people on the internet that are building links.

Justin:

I definitely agree that social networking is important to my business...I'm working on it everyday, thanks for the tips. And great VLOG you did here...my husband, Matt, teaches technology to real estate agents and he keeps encouraging me to do the video thing instead of just regular blogging--just got to work up the nerve to speak in front of a camera, lol! You can check him out at RETechBlog.com if you would like.

--Anne Rains

LadyofRealty.blogspot.com

www.TheRainsTeam.com

Justin, thanks for the tips. Sounds like having good original content is important stuff.

Justin - thanks for the info. Nice to see a video blog, makes it much more fun and interactive while helping the viewer get more out of the post. Hope to hear more soon!

--Scott from PP.com

PropertyPreviews.com

PropertyPreviews.com Blog

Very informative and nicely done. You video people amaze me...I had to host a teleseminar online (no one can see me) and I was so nervous! Don't know if I could do the video thing!

It's not just about linking - it's about becoming top of mind. Social networking helps accomplish tht.

SEP

2008

Justin,

Good insight on social networking. I have had a facebook account that (until recently) I paid very little attention to. Well that was until I was invited by a distant cousin. I accepted the invite and found out that the pastor of my church had a page from someone that was my friend a long time ago. I invited him he & he accepted my invite then 5 or 6 other folks that I've known at church invited me. Now I have stepped into a world of photos and happenings that are going on with people that I know but really have never known in depth. There really is only "6 degrees of separation" as the saying goes!

To take this a step further, I belong to a formal weekly business networking group, called Business Network International (BNI). We meet and pass qualified business referrals every Thursday morning. Now I have mentioned that I blog and there is always a disconnect, like blog?! You know that look, it like their eyes seem to glaze over.

Well to bring this comment to a close, I have invited all 20 of my weekly business associates to my facebook to bridge the link between business networking and social networking. My line of thinking is that people want to work with people that they know and feel comfortable with. Facebook can only help personalize each and everyone of us. To that end, I will be inserting you video someplace on my page to help validate what I've been trying to explain to them.

Thanks,

Rick

Hi Justin,

Being as though I'm new to blogging, I'm still tryin to get the hang of it all, but am making progress every day.

Your insight on social networking is amazing and I look forward to getting more blogging or social networking tips.

Pam-NJ

Thanks Justin. I get it and agree totally we need to be outside our RE sphere. I love the rain for the connection with so many talented realtors and that may result in leads and business down the road, but facebook is very compelling also. I have been invited to join BNI and I'm going to look into it and the facebook invites area a great idea. Social networking is definitely the way of the future. How great is it to refer business to someone you actually have somewhat of a relationship, know about because of your online connection?

Justin....as all else have said...great video. I need to have my partner watch it...he's still not getting the hang of who/what/why I am blogging. And hence the delay in my bcoming a Tomato Client.

Never fear...soon I will come over to your side! LOL!

SEP

2008

Great information, I am amazed at the looks that I get when I'm out and I start talking about my blog. People are starting to catch on.

SEP

2008

Hey, Justin!

After all of the classes that I took with you, I finally get to see what you look like and how you feel about things. You're just as cute and smart as I remember! Thank you for helping me become a blogger! I so love it! ~ Twin City Real Estate Chat, Jeanie Hoholik, Keller Williams Classic Realty NW, Maple Grove, MN

Justin,

Thanks for the post and another great tool for moving it forward.

thanks justin,nice work done.great video......I would say its cool post..

Justin - thanks for taking the time to write this post - I am just getting out in the world outside AR - and enjoying it.

SEP

2008

That is a wonderful explanation of social blogging. I never thought I would be a blogger, but found the benefits quickly after checking out Active Rain.

Thanks for the video, it was very informative!

Thanks for the video - lots of good information there

Some excellent ideas here Justin...I never even started thinking about visiting other blogs outside of AR to build networking as well! Duh, where has my head been?

That's a great video--well done and so professional.

Justin, thanks for a great tip! I appreciate you..

Thanks for posting Justin. This is good information, that I didn't know.

signature

Justin, I think you did a great job on this video. I think a lot of people don't get how relationship can be built on line. I am amazed at the relationships and friendships that I have made on Active Rain. It is time for me to check some outside blogs as well. Thanks for this informative video.

Hi Justin: Thank you for creating this video. While I love reading others posts, watching your video makes your information even more compelling.

I discovered blogging when I discovered Active Rain. Prior to that I thought blogging was some dissapated 20-something up in Portland, telling me about the fact that the milk in his refrigerator had curdled and he was now drinking lumpy coffee. Bummer Dude...Not interesting to me in the least. After being on AR and discovering bloggers like you, who offer so much valuable marketing and business information, I realized that blogging is so much more. My business has grown exponentially because I blog. My web site, blog and business cards are now my main marketing tools - and that is enough to keep my business profitable and expanding at a good rate.

Now I will have to conncentrate more on building a larger sphere of influence through commenting. BTW - You gained me as a subscriber because Marti had featured you in one of his blogs, so this sphere of influence thing really works!

Be yourself. If people like you for you then they're more likely to want to deal with you in the future.
Be professional. Show them you have the expertise to work a deal.

Those 2 things, in my opinion, will help, "along with justin's ideas", to bridge the gap between your goals and your outcome.

Justin, i wholeheartedly agree with everything you said in the video. One thing that should be mentioned as well is giving people incentive to want to link to you or work with you. This all stems back to being giving. As mentioned in Bryant's latest featured post, give and you shall be rewarded.

Speaking of which, i'm going to "pay it forward" as Brad calls it to Justin here for some great ideas.

btw: Justin, i did notice you became one of my mybloglog friends. Thanks. I do take notice of others who affiliate with us.

@Michelle

Thanks for subscribing! Blogging is so important, and I'm glad you're having such great success with it!

@Castellum Realty

I almost went into the value of networking for link building as well on the video, but the beautiful thing with social networking is that link building tends to happen naturally. It's courting the linkerati at it's finest...

Love it- love it - love it - Now I'll be trying to tap into you as well! :)

Justin I loved your video post. I have seen the value of social networking and building the relationships I have built on AR simply by posting relevant blogs and commenting on others blogs. Much of what you said in your video can be related to my recent post about sphere of influence which was inspired by Fran the Title Man. I loved your post and am a new subscriber. I love knowing like minded people and with that being said would love to add you as an associate. ~ Anne Marie

Sorry Trey... had to delete your post man. You can't go putting 30 links in your comment footer. That is spam, and you're on a fast road to being removed from Activerain.

Justin - Thanks for your insight. I feel like I have done a pretty good job of using other sites (Linkedin, Twitter, etc.), but I haven't spent much time trying to develop relationships outside of AR. This is great information!

I've been hesitant to make the blogging commitment since I know consistency is key. Thanks for confirming my thoughts, I'll have to give it a go!

Great presentation!

Nice blog post, I would also add, setting up guest blogging relationships as well. I have started doing that to a very small extent, and it is nice to get a more general article written from someone else's perspective, as content on my blog, and for that I give the writer a few text links back to things he wants people to go to.

James Boyer
www.nj-realestate-agent.com

Justin,

Thanks for the great tutorial on social networking. I love doing it but sometimes miss the hidden opportunities to expand my network. This really helped me with how to build relationships.

Great video on the importance of social networking Justin.

Social Networking is great. Thanks for the insight. I am trying to build up my social networking. You always have great tips. Thanks Again.

thanks for the information...social networking is something I'm working on being bette at....

you know this was an excellent video...I'm great at networking socially and when I'm out and about...I don't really think of networking online but its something I need to pay attention to...thanks!

Thanks for the information; I feel certain I can put much of it into effect.

SEP

2008

Great video and advice Justin. I know one of my challenges is time management, I really need to drill down on those activities that will benefit my business long term and commit to them on a daily basis.

SEP

2008

Good stuff ........Thank you

RESIDENTIAL HOME FUNDING

Bernard Hartigan

195 route 46 West, Suite 1

Totowa, NJ 07512

Cell 973-699-0378

www.myfhahomeloan.com

www.mortgagesforchampions.com (Special Mortgage Program for Police, Fire Department, EMT, doctors, nurses, correction officers or teachers.)

www.moneyforbuilders.com

So good to see you in person after all this time! Great informative video too, keep 'em coming!

Erinn

SEP

2008

Thanks Justin for the great advice. Whack that loan officer up there too. Why can't people understand that links in a comment is a NO NO. The last couple of weeks has just been nuts with it.

SEP

2008

For people like me who just doesn't get it, again and again. Thanks, Justin!

Best.

alain

Justin. What a cool way to post!! Keep up the good work..

OCT

2008

More and more......reporters are turning to the web when looking for resources to do stories. Three times now I have been conctacted by a reporter for a comment regarding a story they are writing. Blog away my friends!

OCT

2008

Great video Justin. Funny, I've read your stuff but this is the first time I've seen a video done by you. You do look like I imagined. Not sure what I imagined, but ya don't look like it! :o)

NOV

2008

Ok Justin,

How the heck do I change blog appearance? Currently on AR I can't change my font size or color and my text is always running right up to the edge of my photos.

Any tips or should I go back to my HTML primer?