If you want to know where to get reliable social networking instructions, go to the experts - those who have been there, done that. And here’s the key – they’re still there, doing that.

They’re not a flash in the pan marketer who tossed out a few lenses or created a few HubPages and then vanished from the face of the social map.

You want social networking instructions from the people who understand the entire concept of social networking with an emphasis on how you can achieve your marketing goals.

When you’re looking for help on social networking sites, regardless of the specific site – Twitter, Squidoo, Google Knol, Facebook – whatever, pick people to learn from who know what they’re talking about but also people who have the analytical skills to guide you because they understand how people connect in a web 2.0 environment.

For reliable social networking instructions follow these six simple rules:

1. Look for someone who’s been around a while and has a successful track record. You want leadership from the person who doesn’t just speak the lingo, but can walk the talk. With the advent of the Internet, it’s too easy for anyone who wants to create a website to do so and then claim they’re successful enough to give you reliable social networking instructions, when they’re not.

I’ve seen people launch Squidoo tag software when tag lists are basically useless now (not tags in your content, but the tag list). I’ve also seen them launch lens building software and teach others to use it when Squidoo staff have said they’re on the lookout for this to shut down accounts – GREAT advice (not)!

2. Check out their site and follow up by looking at their page ranking. You can do this if you download the Google toolbar. Once you download it, you’ll see a bar that will give a 0 to 10 PageRank. You can also use checkpagerank.net and check out a site. Does a lower page ranking mean the site is one to avoid? Not necessarily. But it can help verify their credentials if it’s a claim they’re making.

3. Look for the marketers who are within your niche, someone who specializes. You don’t want to take advice from someone who’s promoting every item under the sun. Specializing in one or two products or services makes for a better expert in that field.

4. Ask yourself if their content is consistent. Do they update regularly or is the information months or years old? It’s very tedious but I update my Squidoo eBook several times a year and yes, I’m about to do another to reflect the new workshop on the lenses (grumble grumble).

5. Do a Google search on their name or the name of the web 2.0 website. Add a plus sign to your search and type in the words “complaint” or “scam.” See if their reputation holds up under scrutiny. When you’re looking for social networking instructions, you don’t want to get them from someone who’s not on the up and up.

6. Talk to other marketers in your niche. If there’s a bad apple out there, word does get around.

I know it’s hard to know who to trust. That’s why it’s your responsibility to do your homework before you get started. Reputation and proven success are key factors in knowing who to get your social networking guidance from – and who to avoid like the plague!

Tiff

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