On social media strangers often want to connect with you out of the blue.

For me this was even more prevalent during my heydays when I was somewhat influential.

• People follow me on social media like Pinterest, LinkedIn or X/Twitter and expect me to follow back!
• Some people want me to promote their content right away with no engagement whatsoever or worse by spamming me.
• Most just lurk while others try to send me their articles or images without ever engaging before.

It seems they want to get free publicity from me and my community and tribe.

This is not how it works. Are you engaging enough to join a tribe?

What is a tribe and how does it work? By engaging!

Usually I don’t use buzzwords but when it comes to joining a tribe you have to engage first!

In case you want to join an active tribe you at least have to know what social media is and how it works.

What is a tribe? On the Web a tribe is hard core group of people who are usually very actively participating in a community.

Usually there is a 90-9-1 divide on social media.

• 90% are passively consuming or inactive
• 9% are occasionally actively contributing
• and 1% is hyperactive and doing most of the heavy lifting

The 1% are providing the majority of contributions and content.

So who is the tribe? I’d argue that only the top 1% are. They are the hard core of any community.

The 10% are the community as they share common things among them (content e.g).

The remaining 90% are merely the audience or not even there.

Ideally you talk directly to the top 1% and connect with them regularly!

When possible you form a tribe of people who are mutually supportive without viewing it as a way of barter or trade.

Such engagers and supporters care about you and the others and thus form a tribe-like group.

Early on I created a tribe for this blog and its community. To some extent is works even though it was many years ago.

Do you want to become part of an existing tribe? Read on.

How social SEO helps you to join a tribe

The SEO 2 or “social SEO” philosophy is about true empowerment!

It works on social media and using it for the benefit of the

• services
• readers
• and marketers alike.

To keep the explanations simple:

You can’t use a place for your own reputation and advancement when you mess it up.

This will hurt the image of all people from the tribe. I’ll be the first to report you, dislike you or call you out.

Do you want to be part of a tribe?

Want to join a community with people in it who have been engaging for years?

Then consider the basics of human to human interaction:

1. Use an actual real name.

Use a down to earth user name!

Do not call yourself seoexpertwhatever.

2. Add a short snippet about what you do instead of just writing “SEO services” or other keywords as your description.

3. Do not solely self-promote!

Do not share only your site/s as your updates.

Show that you’re not an ego-king!

Prove that you’re able to find content!

Look for things that might be of actual use and interest for others.

4. Do focus on quality.

When sharing on social media share only the best content.

Especially when you automate sharing using Buffer etc.

Do not treat the tribe as a link dump.

5. Stay away from the “get more followers” crowd.

It’s not about how many people follow you but how actively they engage.

Others might tolerate it but I see that all of your low quality posts get zero shares.

Socialize with real users you share interests with instead of befriending every noob as some kind of exchange.

6. Comment on some stories first.

Engage before trying to become part of the tribe.

When you push crap the same rule applies as in #3: You’re not an engager and nobody likes self-promoters.

7. Add a meaningful avatar.

Let us know that you are serious about creating some value!

Dropping in without even investing 3 minutes into your profile?

No, thank you! Be a real human being with a photo.

8. Give first before receiving.

When joining a community contribute first!

Empty profiles are usually a sure sign of a bot account.

Below 50 shares you’re not even really on a social site yet.

9. Use the same name!

Get the same handle you use elsewhere on social media!

Thus I know who you are and what kind of involvement in social media I can expect from you.

10. Understand social SEO!

SEO 2 is about sharing, value, reputation and authority not quick gain.

Do you just look for a shortcut to organic reach? Then you’re wrong here.

Is being helpful too much for you?

Nobody will pollute their tribe or group with people who do not care for anything else besides their own website and business.

When you have nothing to give do not expect people to embrace you.

A tribe wants helpful members. Those who come from outside to exploit it are not welcome.

When you aren’t Web and social media savvy enough to fulfill these very basic requirements you are probably wrong at SEO 2!

You should try learning SEO basics instead for a few months. SEO 2 is about advanced social SEO.

It’s about combining blogging, social media and search to help people!

In social SEO we make the Web a better place. Are you with us? Then prove it!