How Social Media Marketing Opens Hearts By Janet Callaway | The Natural Networker

Social media marketing is the Law of Reciprocity in action. In Instant Influence: The Pscychology of Persuasion Dr. Robert Cialdini explains that when someone does something for us we automatically want to do something in return.

Quite honestly I don't think I have ever experienced such an attitude of sharing and helping others as I have online. Information and help is readily to anyone who looks or asks for it.

Listed below are resources in different aspects of social media marketing or online marketing who are “go to” people with huge hearts who constantly share their knowledge.

It is only fitting that I begin with Tristan Higbee of http://BloggingBookshelf.com because the content on his blog is what inspired this post. It is the greatest source of blogging tips that I have found. From the basic “how to” to the “secrets,” he shares it all. His free e-book Blog Planning Kit is a must have for all bloggers. You'll enjoy the journey as you explore his blog.

Since I began with B for Blogging, let's go to C for Connections. Probably nobody does it better than Carrie Wilkerson http://www.barefoot-executive.com. When you visit her site, she will connect you with great information. By subscribing to her newsletter, you will receive a steady stream of introductions connecting you with people who will add value to your life. As a coach, I appreciate the introduction to Nicola Bird and her online modular coaching platform.

For aspiring authors, you'll appreciate Donna Kozik and her course on how to write a book in a weekend http://www.mybigbusinesscard.com. Carrie even connects the connectors.

F is for Facebook and Mari Smith, the Pied Piper of Facebook, is the obvious choice. Though Mari has a site which is her name, I prefer connecting with her on Facebook at: http://facebook.com/marismith. When you “Like” her fan page, you will receive an unending stream of helpful updates, tips, alerts and advice on Facebook and other aspects of social media. Click on the Resources tab at the top and you will find exactly that, Resources for all things Facebook.

If you want information on LinkedIn, you want the LinkedIn Expert Viveka von Rosen of http://linkedintobusiness.com. Though Viveka teaches LinkedIn for a living, she freely shares her knowledge on her LinkedIn group Linked Strategies and on Twitter. In fact, it seems that all day long Viveka is answering questions and giving advice, for free, 140 characters at a time. Ask her a question on Twitter, and very soon thereafter the answer will be on its way to you.

Oftentimes you hear people say that they don't “get” Twitter and why should they bother with it. Statistics show that Twitter, used properly, can effectively sell or promote most anything. The trick is learning how to use it. Michele Welch who provides internet entrepreneurs with online business tips and training at http://newbizblogger.com recently posted a blog that will help to launch people into the twitterverse. Her post: “The Twitter Challenge is On” is full of great information and tools. Guaranteed, by the time you finish the Twitter challenge, you will be quite comfortable with Twitter.

One final resource for all things social, online, blogging, techie and more is Kim Castleberry of http://just-ask-kim.com. When you visit her site, you will see “how tos” on a variety of topics—installing Wordpress, breaking news, building a community and ever so much more. Kim supports people helping people. She is a master at building tribes and communities with FollowFridays and TribeTuesdays. I suspect you could ask Kim most anything digital or techie and, if she doesn't know the answer, she will either get it for you or connect you with the person or source who can help you.

Representing different areas of expertise, this list is an example of folks in the online world who are extremely generous of spirit, who have open hearts and inspire others in the Law of Reciprocity.

Any and all additions to the list are welcome. When you retweet this post, do feel free to add another name or two.

As you became involved in social media marketing and online marketing, were you surprised at how freely people shared information and resources?