I’m buying my friend a cardboard box for Christmas.
It’s cheap, it’s not sold out and it defines his view of his profession…provided he chooses to live in the box. Which, in a way, he already does.
You see, the other day, I asked him who he follows online.
“Follows?” he asks.
“Yeah,” I say. Who do you follow to learn new things, to see what people are saying about your industry, to find people to learn from, network with and make money with. Who do you follow?”
The blank stare I received said enough.
“Ok,” I said. “Do you network in-person with anybody in your industry?”
Same stare. I induce loud coffee slurping to pierce the silence.
It’s a fact that there are people (at least in the creative field) who don’t “follow” other people online. Yet, it’s so easy to and is such a huge source of information.
But to be fair, not everyone has a job, or works in an industry where staying on top of trends and new innovations is necessary. I mean, I’m a copywriter so I follower bloggers, other writers and anybody else who says something I think is worth listening too. Others do their following in real life through in-person networking, etc. But the fact remains that there is a vast world of knowledgable people online just waiting to be followed by you.
And by following, you become a better leader. I know I have.
Who do you follow? Someone on Twitter? Facebook? Got a blogger you love to read all the time? Or are you itching to get into a conversation that will help you be a better leader in your field.
Are you looking for some new people to follow? Some new conversations to join? Sign up for Twitter and get in on some coversations. See what blogs people are talking about in your industry and get involved.
I’ve learned a lot in the time I’ve been on Twitter and have made some great connections. If you need help getting started, just let me know.
Jason Pedley is a professional SEO content copywriter based near Raleigh, North Carolina with clients around the world. Contact Jason Pedley today – mail@jasonpedley.com or (860) 886-3455.
