{EAV:f3a3850e6b3e495e}

Photo source: Cebu Social Media Day Facebook Album

During Cebu’s version of Social Media Day, I had the opportunity to discuss a very interesting for me that is well worth more than 20 minutes. It’s on how to increase your online influence through social media.

Digital natives know that almost everything is vying for their attention – friends, family, brands – it is but important to get ahead of the noise and be the signal to your own community.

Brands are actually taking shortcuts and looking at services like Klout to help them find the influencers who could well become their brand ambassadors. It’s questionable how they call it “influence” when in fact it is merely a person’s “potential” to influence others.

And yet, as digital citizens, learning ways to increase your potential to influence can actually become helpful if you have  a role to play with your cause, your community, your brand.

Here are some quick questions to ask with tips on increasing your influence:

1. Increase your Reach.

Are you popular? If so, where’s your social proof?  Build  your  tribe.  Add  friends.  Gain  followers.  Gain  likes.  Show   the  numbers.  Blog  frequently.

Where  are  you  located? You  won’t  reach  communities  not  located  near  you unless you extend your reach to those regions, you are only limited to your sphere of influence.

Did  you  invest  in  goodwill  with  me  as  a  part  of  your   community?   Be  generous.  Reciprocate.  Engage  in  conversation.  Comment  on other  blogs.

2. Stay Relevant.

Are  you  an  authority  in  your  topic?   Show thought leadership. Tweet  more!  Post  more  updates!  Focus  on  a  topic!   Don’t  spread  yourself  too  thin.  Write  content  worth   sharing.

Are  you  trustworthy?  Reliable?  Do  I  believe  in  your   ability  or  strength?   Be  helpful.  Give  recommendations.  Share  what  others   need  to  know.

Do your readers  sympathize  with  your  cause?   Vary  the  medium  of  the  same  message:  Use  photos,   videos  if  need  be.

3. Resonate with your readers.

How  often  do  you  talk  about  the  topics  your readers care  about?  Be  consistent.  Adhere  to  a  posting  schedule.

How  long  is  it  visible  on  your reader’s  stream?   Post  often.  Time  your  updates.

Are  other  people  talking  about  the  same  subject  too?  Talk  to  other  in?uencers  to  extend  your  in?uence  to  new   groups.  Get  retweeted,  liked,  reshared  by  them

Below is my deck and I hope you will find it helpful.