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<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2degreesmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/not-listening.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-29" title="not-listening" src="http://2degreesmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/not-listening-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Though hundreds of millions of people are streaming into online engagement (aka Social Media), one of the most common mistakes they still make is they talk way more than they listen.  It's an easy trap to fall into.  Let's face it, we find ourselves pretty interesting and important most of the time, don't we.  We might not make that statement outright (though some might)  but inside we feel we have something to say.  And, for the most part, that's what makes online engagement interesting...interesting people making interesting observations or sharing interesting perspectives or facts.  However, have you ever been in a place where everyone is talking at once.  NOISE.  Pure and simple noise.  And, no one leaves that environment better than he entered.  Isn't the real gem of social media in the ability to ENGAGE with others?  That word connotes two way communication.  Someone sharing, someone listening.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I encourage clients to spend their time at least on a 3:1 listening to speaking (writing) ratio.  In other words, as you scan the online content for what others are saying in your particular sphere of interest (city, hobby, affinity group, church, ministry, job, friends, family, et al) take three times longer to read, comment and share others content than you do putting out your own stuff, events, etc.  Keep track over a week and even journal how many times you have listened and engaged (retweets, likes, comments, links, etc) compared to simply blurting out what you think others need to hear, see or do.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Try that and I bet you find yourself enjoying social media and being able to listen through the noise!  And, ultimately, you will be much more successful at getting others to listen to you when they know you care to listen to them.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">That's today's 2Degree social media tip.</p>
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