With nearly every internet marketer jumping on the bandwagon of social media, it is becoming more and more difficult to stand out from the crowd.
We all know the value of using social networking sites is to present our marketing message to the largest number of members. So how can you get more social media followers? Let’s consider the possibilities.
Social Media Followers Via Automation
The quickest way to find the largest number of social media followers is to use automation software, such as SocialOomph, TwitFriendFollower, Facebook Friend Adder and the like. These powerful programs allow you to list keywords and find users with related content and profiles.
You can set these services to automatically send a friend invitation or begin following everyone on the list, too. With a Twitter program, you can also set it to return the favour by following anyone who follows you and also send them an automated direct message if you wish.
Some of these programs are free, while others charge a monthly subscription fee or offer an upgrade for access to additional features.
Social Media Followers Via Manual Search
Automation software is not perfect; there may be times when you want to perform a manual search and see what you can find.
Facebook allows you to search for people via your email program contact list, the places you have lived, where you went to school, and organisations you worked for. Facebook also provides suggestions for new friends based on relationships with the people in your current list of friends. Check the suggestions each time you log in and add these people – even if you don’t know them, this increases your contacts.
LinkedIn allows the same type of searches, although it is stricter in terms of proving a relationship prior to inviting another’s connection. You may want to make a list of all the people you have worked with and for during the course of your career and look them up by personal name or company name.
Manual Twitter searches can be performed on your email contact list, personal or company name, and via suggestions based on topic of interest. The Twitter advanced search function is also very handy for finding people of interest.
Social Media Followers Via Content
What you post as far as content in your microblogging is a key way to attract new followers or friends.
With Twitter, use trending topics, designated by the # sign immediately in front of a keyword. This allows any user, regardless of whether or not they are currently following you, to read what you’ve written. Your posts are also likely to be retweeted, a great way to gain notice from followers of someone else.
Any social networking site is more likely to be effective for your internet marketing purposes if you post often, and post interesting or informative content. Users will want to follow your posts if you gain a reputation for always having something interesting to say.
Social media provides a true online networking opportunity essential to the internet marketer’s efforts. Take the time to find the maximum number of friends or social media followers in order to achieve the best results from this form of marketing.
About Sean Rasmussen
Social Media is such a powerful tool, I have really only just scratched the surface and getting some good results, it really is an essential part of any successful business now. So you either jump on the social media bandwagon or get left behind.
Belinda
Great to hear you are enjoying results from your social media activities Belinda. If you have only just scratched the surface, imagine the potential when you rip right into it
I’ve never heard of a lot of these tools – look at that, you’ve taught me something
I’ll certainly be checking into most, if not all, of these.
We are all learning all the time Sarah, glad that I could give you some beneficial tips
Hi Sean,
Social Media does offer huge networking opportunities. I think it’s a great way to build relationships. More and more I feel like I have a passing acquaintance kind of relationship with some people.
Slowly but surely I think I’m getting the hang of this.
I have a suspicion you are getting the hang of it as well Jazz. Good work
Exactly Jazz… building relationships. I just got on my high horse & posted a comment (see below) and I couldn’t agree with you more. The important thing is BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS. Some idiots out there use it to be an annoying spammer… God forbid (& who knows these days) people who have been hired by multi-national companies to scout info.
Don’t start me on my conspiracy theories….
Hi Sam,
The spammers drive me crazy too. I think they’re most offensive on Twitter. It seems like every new follower I get sends me an automated DM.
The automated DM is fine; it’s just the spammy message within it. It really colours how I see people when they do this. So, I can’t say I’d do business with anyone who did this to me.
Hi Sean,
before I learned about the benefits of Social Media I was very suspicious, but now I think it’s great fun and offers great opportunities. I have to be careful not to spend too much time on the networking and neglect my blog, but I will find that balance, I am sure of it. And I have seen the feedback (visitors) on my sites already.
If you can have a bit of fun and enjoy some benefits at the same time, it’s a win-win situation
Social Media rocks!
Hi Sean
I agree Social Media is one area you can’t pass over, the benefits are without a doubt impressive, when done well.
I have “met” so many others who are also getting results, by using Social Media.
Social media is sooo important. It really does connect you & give people a real sense of who you are as a brand as well. Also, you can share snippets of ‘stuff’ – for me I use humorous pics & similar things, create a bit of fun. Twitter is a great exercise in brevity – and reaching as many people as possible. I have seen some interesting things happen – I got retweeted… I think it was a fluke & therefore would like to test my theory (the rubber is burning as the little tyres in my head are turning) on what I think may be the catapult on that one so then I can repeat that.
Important thing is not to take it all too seriously – keep it fun & not be a bloody spammer!! I don’t know about anyone else but I have had a few people who keep using the same line “saw you thru an internet marketing site… let’s learn internet marketing & social networking together.” And I had another annoying FB person spamming my profile page with their link. So I got rid of them quick smart!!
A big part of social media is the fun side of it, you are on the right track Samantha
I’m still getting the hang of all the social networking – I often feel I’m not managing my time very efficiently, finding myself jumping from site to site with limited time during the day.. Or looking at the clock & realising I’ve just had 6-8 hours of time disappear into the voids of FB, Swom, Twitter & the like.. *whoosh* GONE!!
Definitely need to automate/aggregate my efforts as much as possible!.. I really enjoyed your tips on microblogging Sean, I’ll be checking out FriendFeed, etc.
Spending lots of time of social media sites is very easy to do Mel and something that can get quite hard to manage. The main thing is to try and make the time spent on each site beneficial to you, while having a little fun of course
. This article on managing your microblogging may also be of help to you.
Yes I need to really step out of my comfort zone and get on with the Social Media! FB is a freind now, still navigating Twitter and exploring the others! I’ll get there, especially with all of this fantastic info you provide
Thanks
Like Mel, I too spent way too much time on social media, but mine wasn’t productive as I felt I was just “swimming around”. Learning how to use the social media tools can be so beneficial in getting the word out there. Thanks for letting us know about socialoomph. I had never heard of it before and will definately be checking it out.
Hi Sean,
I have for over a year now been building up followers on Twitter and friends on FB including other social media sites and including AdlandPro. I have not really though thought about taking it to the next level and becoming acquainted with people on Twitter. Facebook is a little different where I have had chats and met people. I know a few people personally also in FB.
I will need to spend more time on Twitter and make an effort to make connections with people to get to know them.
Thank you for the list of those automation tools which I will go and check out. I must admit I like the idea of doing things manually but sometiems an invention comes along making things more efficient with better results. Cheers.
Very helpful info about ‘how to get more social media followers. The automation tools are the way to go!
I can see how it would save a heap of time allowing you to be more productive. Thanks
That is how I got so many followers on Twitter. They were returning the favour by following me with an automated direct message. However, I am still unsure as to how to take advantage of this…to capture the attention of people when there is so much information on all the time.
Hi Sean
It’s terrific how you are teaching us all these wonderful ideas on how to connect up with various social groups and to expand our connections.
What I keep seeing over and over in your articles that really stands out is in your comment ‘Users will want to follow your posts if you gain a reputation for always having something interesting to say.’
I think that is probably the most important component of growing a large following, and the most challenging.
As always, great information. Thankyou.
Blessings
Elly
Blessings
Social Media really is an powerful networking tool, not only is it great for keeping in touch with old friends, is great for finding new friends that are like-minded.
I have only scratched the surface with Social media but can really see the benefits, and best of all its fun to use…
There are so many ways to get social media followers. I have heard about all of these, but I am just scratching the surface when it comes to capitalising on them. Reading articles such as this one really helps me learn how to go forward.
Thanks for the information, Sean.
Regards Cathy
I am just starting to use the social media revolution for a more business approach rather than just for fun. With such a massive market online it is sure to attract alot of affiliate marketers..who was it that said ” this social media thing will never take off”
Hi Sean,
Thanks for the tips on how to get more followers, I have noticed that there are a couple different styles that Internet marketers use for example I see that some people have a lot of followers and they follow around the same amount which I assume is via automation & others follow very few but have a larger following.
I would prefer to only follow a select amount of people I am truly interested in so that my timeline is not clogged & I think it is a bit more authentic but then how would I increase my following… or is it really that important… I guess I will have to figure that one out lol : )
Ads on Facebook can have a great impact in terms of number of likes/fans. Also, there’s something to be said about having a fewer number of followers on Twitter who care and are active than just trying to run up your numbers.
Social media is something I have not used much until this competition and Sean you certainly reveal the pros for this media. Some great tips here.
I have in the past been a bit hesitant because of all the bad press that social media has attracted. At least you have help me overcome this hesitancy somewhat.
Another area that will assist in becoming a successful internet marketer.
Hi Sean,
Great information on how to build social media base, thanks will use heaps.
Finding manual followers is a lot more time consuming, however the conversion rate for them to follow is probably a lot higher. It is a pity that Twitter has cracked down on some twitter follower sites over recent months. I really like using Social Oomph and Buzzom to find new people.
Thank you Sean,
You are the most unbiased, friendly, helpful, intelligent, generous, trustworthy and a very honest man I’ve ever known in this field while learning internet marketing.
You’ve taught us great tips for free and yet some of these very people commenting above should be learning something from you right here in this internet marketing blog of yours.
I followed someone commenting above here on twitter in the hope of learning something from her tweets and the direct message I got was “I’m more than 3 dimensional, I’m more than what you see. I’m myself, a mother, an author and marketer. Who are you?” and just reading her comment above here makes me wonder if she really meant what she said above?
Sean you are one of the greatest souls and a legend who ever lived on this planet!
God Bless your heart.
Cheers,
Rose