Since we have a lot of discussion on this, I wanted to add some insight to some subtle mechanics of these groups.
The Syndication groups we run through SA are mostly mixed groups. That makes them Tribes with Training Wheels! They’re a good place to get your bearings and to help everyone get up to speed. Some of our groups also have themes or focuses and are more niche specific or have other requirements.
Later, once you understand the simple mechanic that is a “power hour” or a “syndication hour”, you will want to get AWAY from mixed groups with individuals that are not as far along in business/organization development as you are. You want to be teaming with true peers OR mentors. You want to be driven to grow and held accountable for that growth. These “semi-permanent” tribes can also exist on the SA board, with restricted access defined by whoever starts them. I have set this community up to be a resource for that and it is fairly easy to accomplish.
If you have not had any hands on involvement with a syndication power hour, you may find some pointers useful.
1. Bring a new, high-quality, fresh piece of value content (blog post) weekly to syndicate within your tribe.
2. Keep your value-post to money-post ratio very high, for example 9:1. You’re tribe mates will syndicate your money posts AFTER they’ve established that you are providing value to their followers. You’re blog should be doing this anyways. You’re twitter stream should be a LOT of @reply names, a LOT of RTs, a LOT of value content, and a rare (let me say that again RARE) money post. These are principles of attraction marketing and if you struggle with that, I suggest you pick up Mike Dillards “Magnetic Sponsoring” ebook (of which myself and many others here have affiliate links for).
3. The SA tribes, while more than happy to walk you through the immediate basics are not a substitute for high caliber teaching and training. There is some hand-holding but remember these people are your colleages, not your instructors. Be sure to take personal responsibility for your growth. You’re off to a great start on blogging with Jodie, and there are other great classes available too, which anyone here can recommend.
For the step-by-step mechanics of what happens on a power hour, this may help:
Four to Six people arrive on skype and get into a group chat or chat/call. They each post their most recent value blog post that they wish to have syndicated. Everyone is going to syndicate everyone, so the steps below are repeated for each member.
When I go to a blog…
(1) look for anything I can join (google friend connect, fan page, networked blogs) and join it (not autoresponders)
(2) leave a QUALITY comment (yes its hard while we’re all talking, some folks comment later)
(3) retweet the post, preferably customizing “spinning” it and adding a comment
(4) facebook share the post, on your wall or page, with a good comment and a tag to the author of the post
(5) social bookmark the page with helpful tags (onlywire if you have it up)
(6) if there is video involved, right click the video, select view on youtube, and rate and comment there on the video (have to sign in)
Wash/Rinse/Repeat
More
Three final actions are that later that day, or the next day, on facebook, all of the posts that tagged you, go comment on. Often these were posted on your Tribe Mate’s fan pages and they need the activity boost to help them gain traction for their page. It massively helps your exposure as well. Be sure to thank all of your @reply mentions on Twitter. You’re doing this daily so this isn’t new I hope. (You’re also talking to and getting to know your followers). Then go back and reply to all of the comments on your blog post. Yes I said reply. Remember this is social media, not a “talk at” stream, you need to engage your commenters and reply and dialog and BUILD RELATIONSHIPS if you wish to be able to monetize that relationship later.
Bonus points:
Bonus activity that will help you and your tribe mates.
(1) During the week, Tweet and RT their material several times. Be sure that their material is getting into your tweet stream regularly during the week.
(2) Maximize the new Facebook RT (via) feature by sharing neat things your Tribe Mates post on Facebook with your fan base. This doesnt need to be their material (no need to double post), but you let their name start showing up by using the share to show “via” who originally posted it.
(3) Check your Tribe Mates blogs mid-week for new posts, and to reply-to-replies on comments.
(4) Brainstorm with your tribe what niche each of you has that does NOT directly overlap, something SUPER-narrow usually, and make a habit of each sharing business with the other in those micro-niches. By referring the other, you build their credibility and more importantly your own.
