Inside919: Top 10 Community Building Tips

[Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant]

I have been on Inside919 for about a year now. When I joined, there were 800 members, now there are up to almost 2,800.

It has been an incredible journey, and I have learned A LOT about myself personally, as well as in relation to my business. I have also met some of the smartest minds in their respective industries. The greatest part is that many are now beyond colleagues and now trusted friends.

I would like to submit to you the “Top 10 Community Building Tips”, that fellow Insiders encouraged me in when I joined last year.

I follow each of the below items and continue to reap the rewards of one of the most amazing communities. It is my desire that you would appreciate and benefit as well.



Top 10 Inside919 Community Building Tips


1. Be Present

Inside919 is different than other communities – it truly is a “Community of Relationships!” You will find as in any other business relationship, the more you connect, engage and find in common, the easier it is to refer business one to the other.


2. Be Transparent

We all know people (and or businesses) that present themselves one way online, and then in person are a completely different story. Be who you are….all the time. People will respect you more and appreciate YOU for YOU.


3. Engage

Get to know the amazing people on the network. Read a blog you like? Write a note to the author (their Name and Photo are is Linked) and/or comment on the post. This lets the writer know the content had value (good or bad). Also, it shows the other community members that you care beyond yourself.


4. Pull vs. Push Marketing

The nice thing about the in depth profiles on Inside919 is people can learn a lot about you BEFORE they ever read a blog post of yours, see a picture of your product OR meet you in person. They can also see if you have a product / service that they can refer to some of their clients. If they have a question about what you do – they will ask. :o)


5. Be Respectful

This is a large community with many different types of businesses, personalities, talents and understandings. Not everyone is going to agree with every post written by every person. It is okay to disagree – let’s do it in a respectful manner. Remember: part of our online reputation is how others “perceive” our interactions one to another.


6. Ask Questions

Personally, this has been one of the best ways I have met some of the most amazing business owners in the community. When I have a question – I post it in the “How Do I do…?” Forum.

Ask an honest question that you truly want an answer for. It is not in the best interest of your reputation to ask a question, while promoting your own product. We have many helpful Insiders here who are eager to help.


7. Be “Inside Link” for Others

Get to know the new Insiders who join the network. Make an extra effort to talk to the Insiders who are attending the Tuesday Local Coffee Breaks. The powerful thing that happens when you truly want to help others and make connections FOR them, is it builds your reputation as a person. The discussion about what “widget” you sell comes later.


8. Follow Thru with other Insiders

If you have had a beneficial meeting with an Insider, go to their wall and post a quick note about the meeting. It gives people who may visit their Profile later, another perspective of them.


9. Need a (Fill In the Blank)?

No need for YellowPages any more…if you do not have a good resource, for a need that you, a friend, colleague or client is looking for, you can search Inside919!

• Click on the Insiders Tab (top)
• White Box below the Sponsors
• Type in the words you want to search for (for example: plumber)
• All of the people who used the word “plumber” in their profile will pull up.
• You can also click on Advanced Search, for a more in-depth search.

10. Use the Golden Rule.

No matter how old we get, the same truth still follows: “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you”.

As we treat Insiders with the same level of respect, understanding and confidence that we desire to be treated with….this community will continue to grow and thrive.

Special thanks to the initial Insiders who encouraged me in these very tips over a year ago. My business and I thank you!

I hope these tips have been helpful to you as well!

[Michelle Gower-WordPress Mentor]

Glad to hear you see the value of this network! I'm honored to know you, and I wouldn't know you if it wasn't for 919, I feel sure of this. :)

[Martin Brossman]

Very nice! Actually, I can thank inSide919 (and Pat) for meeting both you and Michelle Gower.. So many real people here working hard to keep their business going strong. Also good examples of leading with value. Thanks for posting this.

[Phoenix - Operations Assistant]

Angel, this network brought us together & I'm grateful everyday for the quality this community continuously provides each of us, in content & in relationships.

Because of this community's support, I've gone from a full fledged massage therapist to an ebook designer in a matter of months - all well received and supported enough that tonight... for the first time in 6 years, I did my nails w/silk & painted them a hot sparkly pink.

Thank you for these reminders & your continued input. Always a pleasure to see you & hear from you.

[Heather O'Sullivan (HeatherO)]

Great post Angel! I would not know you, Martin, or Michelle without inside! I consider myself truly blessed to know all 3 of you, and so many others!

This truly is a powerful group! So often times people look for 'what's in it for me'. You are living proof that when you truly look to serve others, without a 'give to get' intention, the rewards are 1000's of times greater than 'the other way'.

I am certain that others would agree that the connections and friendships made here have more than impacted our businesses. We can never truly measure that even. We get advice, information, introductions, etc that lead to another and another... We often lose sight of where that business REALLY came from!
And then there's the truly powerful benefit of simply having the opportunity to know and connect with really cool awesome people! ;)

Glad you're here! You truly are one of the greatest assets of this group.

[Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant]

@Michelle - you were one of the first to ever welcome me. I never forgot that and followed your tb2b.com since then and have not stopped laughing!

[Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant]

@Martin - thanks! I quickly learned "Is there ANYONE who doesn't know Martin Brossman?".... A fabulous example of truly giving....

[Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant]

@Phoenix - I had "heard your name" before I ever joined Inside919, from a previous job. What I loved about 919 is we connected online first, so when I met you and put the great things my friends had said about you, with what I learned online and saw your passion upclose...it was instant! That's the untold power of this network. The true "cream" really rises to the top girl! Thx again!

[Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant]

@Heather - to see you absolutely blossom this past year has been incredible. We laugh now - but those early days were t...o...u..g..h. You never gave up and grew and changed and molded and changed and grew and changed with it.

In my mind Go-Giver = Heather...forever will be

I learn a lot reading, watching the powerful and smart cookies on this network (some I have not even met in person yet). That is the funnest part of all -- connecting all the dots in person!

[Bob Wagner]

Excellent Post Angel and those that apply your words of wisdom will reap the benefits.

Make it a great week!
Bob
http://bobwagner.wordpress.com/

[Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant]

@Victoria! Thanks I am glad this post helped! I merely wrote down what others shared with me when I started....You have "grasped" the power of Inside919...and it only gets better the more Insiders you meet!