Folks with your years of experience have seen time and time again that when we are more likeable, more folks want to be around us.
And it’s not just the number folks but also how long someone will want to be around us.
Online is not much different. Rather than liking someone from physical encounters, it will be happening virtually.
Here are some tips that can help you increase likeability in the online space.
LIKE OTHERS
How can you expect your potential customer to like you if you don’t like them?
Folks will know when you don’t like them. They can sense it. Even online.
And people will notice when you take the initiative to like them. They will see the sincerity and appreciate it.
IF YOU DON’T HAVE SOMETHING NICE TO SAY
This is something my Grandma used to say to us as kids. And this may be a bigger problem online than off so keep an eye out for it.
Putting folks down is no way to get folks to like you. It may seem funny at times and may even get some to agree and respond. But it’s not the way to get folks to like and trust you.
It’s ok to disagree with a competitor for instance (is actually a really good idea to disagree on some things) but don’t put her down. Your potential customers are watching you.
BE AN EXAMPLE
Most, if not all, of you will be building authority on line. With that, folks will look up to you.
So set good examples.
And at the same time, make sure you are seen as a normal person. Someone your audience can relate to.
INTERESTED FIRST
This is another lesson you have probably learned offline. It’s best to be interested before trying to be interesting.
Make it about your audience. Be interested in who they are. What problems they have. What their lives are like.
Folks will be drawn to you when you take an interest in them. It might be subtle, but they will subconsciously want to connect with you more often.
Your interest doesn’t even have to be about major things. The small things are just as noticeable. Like responding to a tweet about a favorite restaurant.
BE DIFFERENT
Most folks conform to societal norms. That’s expected and “normal”. But it’s not going to help you succeed in business.
Showing that you are different will help your likeability because folks can respect that you see things differently. You give a different point of view.
I’m not saying everyone will be receptive to this but you are not trying to target to everyone. Only your target market.
BE GENUINE
Genuine. Authentic.
However you call it, folks will pick up on others who are fake or not true to themselves. Especially as time goes one.
So folks will recognize and appreciate it when you are genuine with them.
This is an obvious tip to remember but I include it because it’s sometimes easy to emulate others as we are trying something new for the first time.
Know the difference between learning and pretending. On a regular basis check in with yourself to make sure you are be authentic on line and not trying to be someone you are not.
INTEGRITY
All of these tips are fairly simple.
But integrity may be the most important one, especially when it comes to online. Having integrity online is usually key to getting someone to like you and then trust you.
With so many scams and self and image-centered people, lack of integrity is usually an automatic deal breaker when it comes to creating professional and business relationships.
You’ve seen folks lack integrity offline and it probably eventually caught up with them. And the catching up often happens quicker online due to the nature of the internet.
The Know, Like, and Trust trifecta is so important for marketing online. And each piece needs to be worked on.
Here are some books that speak to “like”. And because I sincerely believe we can leverage skills and techniques in many different ways, some of these suggested books are pre internet.
How to Win Friends and Influence Folks
How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age
The Likeability Factor: How to Boost Your L-Factor and Achieve Your Life’s Dream
Introvert to Extrovert: Speaking Up and Instant Likeability for the Socially Awkward
People love stories. It’s in our genes.
