If you didn’t know, this past Monday (January 25) was Community Manager Appreciation Day (or CMAD, for short). It was a chance for people and companies to celebrate folks like me — social media managers and others who work so hard every day to grow our businesses and organizations by building stronger relationships with customers, clients, and others using blogs, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and other social channels (and offline means as well). And to learn from each other as well.
As part of the day, a social media company called Zoomph reached out and asked me to share a quick tip for building stronger online relationships. I was happy to do so. That video is below.
Really, it comes down to this, whether you’re an individual or a brand: Just be social. Use content to start conversations, not to create more noise. (There’s way too much of that already.) Connect and engage person-to-person. Talk with people, not at them. And be a friend. That’s what’s worked for me; it’s allowed me to build a community of friends I talk with every single day and hang out with offline when I travel. Yes, it’s a strategy I’ve brought to my job as well.
CMAD happens the fourth Monday every January, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait a full year to build stronger online relationships — or, for that matter, to celebrate your community manager (hint, hint). Think long-term relationships, not short-term networking, and you’ll enjoy using social media so much more all year long.
What is YOUR secret to building stronger online relationships? I’d love to know. Share your thoughts in the comments section below, or tweet “at” me: I’m @martinlieberman.
Martin's Musings 
Seems so simple when you spell it out, but so many people see stars in their eyes at the prospect of broadcasting via social that they overlook the power of true relationships. There are no tricks. Just be a nice person and make friends. Glad to count you as one of my friends.
Right back at you, Josh! Thanks for the comment. 🙂