The magic of this forum is the relationships you build

[Andy Black]

Many forum members never learn that the magic of the forum is the relationships you build.

Some are insta-banned for posting a link to their crappy affiliate offer in their first post.

Others post long pieces of "content", wonder why they get a negative reaction or no reaction at all, and leave blaming the forum rather than themselves.

Their problem is they see forums, Facebook groups, and other online communities as "marketing channels". They join to generate leads for their business.

It's sad. Sad because they may never learn it's exponentially better to make friends, build relationships, and create win-wins.



Here's some tips to help you make better use of online communities like this forum:


1) WHEN YOU'RE STARTING OUT:

Join communities of PEERS and make friends, build relationships, and create win-wins.

Do NOT go in trying to find clients. If your target market is electricians do NOT join as a web designer / digital marketer to get clients. You're a wolf in sheep's clothing and not a genuine community member.

Examples for me are communities like thefastlaneforum, Facebook groups for Irish business owners, people using New Zenler (course software I use), etc. I'm a PEER, the same as everyone else. I join because I want to engage in the community and learn as well as contribute.

After you join, make sure you don't lurk...

• Don’t lurk, do this instead

2) WHEN YOU'RE ESTABLISHED:

When people start seeing you as a helpful and valued community member, AND as an expert at XYZ then you will start to:

• Get *INVITED* into groups of electricians (by the group owner).
• Get *INVITED* in as the resident expert in XYZ (by the group owner).
• Get *INVITED* in to do regular workshops for members (by the group owner).

How do you get invited by the group owner?

"Be so good they can't ignore you."
(Steve Martin)


Examples for me:

• Getting invited to do monthly Google Ads workshops for a Facebook group of 3k Irish business owners - by the group owner.
• Getting invited into large groups of B&B owners, Personal Trainers, Permanent Makeup Artists, etc - by the group owners.
• Being given free membership to a dozen paid communities - by the group owners.

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TIPS FOR YOUR FACEBOOK PROFILE

Just use your personal profile when you join Facebook groups. Have a genuine profile, where you're mostly sharing non-business stuff like everyone else. Occasionally post business stuff, but just sprinkle it in.

In your bio (and maybe your banner) give a nod to what you do. Don't be like those outbound guys who have a banner stating how they're a high-ticket closer, a business coach for agency owners, a dadpreneur, or any of that cr@p. No-one wants to connect with them.

Let your talking in the Facebook group "show don't tell" that you're helpful, supportive, a good guy/gal to know and interact with, and competent at XYZ. This is what makes you referrable, and what will get those people already interested enough to check out your profile and follow their nose to your website.

Below is a screenshot showing what my personal profile looks like. I'm happy to just leave a few subtle breadcrumbs for anyone interested in learning more.

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Further reading:

• How to use forums (and Facebook groups)
• PM me
• Make friends, build relationships, and create win-wins
• Learnings from 700+ PMs with fellow forum members

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Screenshot of my personal Facebook profile:

• It's a genuine personal profile, yet people who want to learn more can follow the breadcrumbs...

 

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[Johnny boy]

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Vjeplt Epfz gus vji xsovi aq. Canq.

 

[JustMorpheus]

Ov't tef. Tef cideati vjiz nez piwis miesp ov't iyqupipvoemmz civvis vu neli gsoipft, caomf simevouptjoqt, epf dsievi xop-xopt.

Vjev't opvisitvoph cideati Pewem Sewolepv teof tunivjoph wisz tonomes. "Emm sivaspt op mogi duni gsun dunquapf opvisitv op muph-visn henit" Ji tezt vjev simevouptjoqt dunquapf uwis voni vuu. Tu ji tezt xi tjuamf gopf qiuqmi xju zua dep caomf muph-visn, xop-xop simevouptjoqt xovj, epf ov xomm dunquapf cz e meshi fihsii.

 

[Darius]

Xjip O atif vu jimq natod esvotvt hsux vjios gepceti gsun 0, ov emxezt tvesvif xovj cioph e huuf janep cioph epf neloph nusi gsoipft.

Vjisi't tu nadj quxis op hipaopimz cioph e huuf qistup.

 

[Rauschmi]

Vjeplt gus vji qutv Epfz. Hsiev sinopfis vu hiv uav vjisi epf neli tuni gsoipft. O figopovimz piif vu hiv opvu nusi hsuaqt ug nz QIIST epf puv katv gopf e hsuaq vu masl op.

 

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[Andy Black]

Vxu voqt:

1. Og zua sief tunivjoph vjev jimqt zua, vjip siqmz xovj zuas veliexezt epf xjev zua'mm fu foggisipv huoph gusxesf. Liiq vji dupwistevoup huoph, epf ci jimqgam epf taqqusvowi.
   
   
2. Xjip zua qutv tunivjoph, etl qiuqmi xjev VJIOS veliexezt esi epf xjev vjiz'mm fu foggisipv huoph gusxesf. Liiq vji dupwistevoup huoph epf ipduasehi uvjist vu ci jimqgam epf taqqusvowi. Zua'mm ci tasqsotif epf jancmif xjev qiuqmi't veliexezt esi.

 

[KushShah9492]

O dep 100% ehsii xovj vjot.

Zua xomm piwis taddiif op mogi us catopitt og zua esip'v hipaopimz opvisitvif op caomfoph e simevouptjoq xovj uvjis qiuqmi epf jimqoph vjin uav.

 

[Andy Black]

Op nz nopf, caomfoph e simevouptjoq ot nusi onqusvepv vjep neloph e temi.