How can I get more followers?

I hear this question a lot, and it is the perfect time to cover it on Social Media Week. If you are using Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Flickr or others, you know that having a lot of people follow your work can result in opportunities for growth and jobs. Today we cover some great ways to attract more people to you.

Today’s Episode Timeline

• 0:45 – ContestReminder
• 1:40 – Newsletter announcement – How to write an email to an “important person”
• 2:30 – Focus on the cause not the effectto get more followers
• 3:20 – Make sure you take care of the people who are currently following you
• 4:40 – Buying followers – please don’t do it
• 6:45 – Be as active as possible
• 8:00 – Holding contests is a great genuine way for people to want to follow you
• 9:10 – Make it easy for people to follow you. We Pheature a great way to do this
• 10:30 – Use exclusive content to draw people to follow you
• 11:30 – Example of content anyone can do
• 12:10 – Be Real
• 13:30 – Share what you know!

Focus on the cause, not the effect

Most people I meet are focused on the amount of followers they have, but that is working backwards. You get followers based on the fact that you are doing something worth following. Focus on creating great consistant content, and people will want to follow you.

The best thing you can do to be successful with this and any other thing in life is to bring real value to people. Add to people’s lives in a positive way, and you won’t have to convince anyone to be your friend. They will line up on their own.

Take care of your current followers.

When I was younger and still living with my parents, I expected them to buy me new clothes once and a while. Every new school year or birthday when I wanted something new, I would ask if it was time to get some new clothes. Like most kids, I was pretty messy, and a lot of my clothes spent most of their time on the floor.

“I am not going to buy you new clothes if you can’t take care of the ones you already have” My Mom would always say.

She was totally right (Moms always are). If you are not taking care of what you currently have, you don’t deserve to have more.

Buying Followers

Is this real? Can you really buy followers? Yes you can.

If you are desperate for that number next to your name to go up, you really can pay to do so. This is a lot like putting very nice wheels on a POS car, just don’t do it.

Be More Active

If you are doing exciting things, it is a great idea to tell people about what you are doing. Often. People are very busy, and tend to only pay attention to whatever is in their face at that moment. If you want people to pay attention to what you are doing, you will have to stay in their face.

Just remember to stay classy about it. Don’t be the bully on the playground. Be the friend who calls every now and then just to see how you are doing.

Contests

You don’t have to give away a camera every time you have a contest. You have something of value to offer people, even if it is a phone call. Holding a contest will help people to engage with you. It provides them with a real world incentive for interacting with you.

BTW- We have a contest at Phlearn right now. PLUG.

Make It Easy For People To Follow You

Every time someone has to work to do something, the chances of them actually doing it go down. If someone may want to follow you, but you have not provided an easy way for them to do so, you are losing out.

Adding buttons and links to all your content will help people to follow you if they feel so inclined. Don’t forget your email signature.

Every person you interact with is a potential relationship. We have all heard the saying “Its not what you know, its who you know.”

Release Exclusive Content

If people think they can get your content everywhere, they are not going to have an incentive to follow you. Make them feel like they will be rewarded when they follow your Facebook Fan Page

For instance, when you sign up for our newsletter at Phlearn, you receive content not available anywhere else. Things like videos, Photoshop brushes, actions, articles and more.

Be Real

It is ok to post promotions every now and then, but no one is going to connect with you that way. Think about celebrity gossip. No one really cares about what movies people have been in. They care a lot more about a girl gaining 20lbs. Real. Personal.

What have you learned?

Have you noticed something that works for you? Share it with the Phamily, and we will all grow together!