I’ve written before about how I wouldn’t have a site if I were scared of sharing things, so the importance of sharing is not the point of today's post.

Today I’m going to talk about 3 things you should be sharing with those around you. When I say "those around you," I mean clients, colleagues, and yes, even your competitors.

Share who you know

One of the best connectors I know is Chris Lema. If you're with him and happen to mention a problem you're having with your web host, he'll offer to send you the hosting company CEO's email, because they have cigars together when they’re in the same town.

Chris freely shares his contacts with people all the time, and for that people want to stay on his radar. They come to him for advice because he’s able to connect them with greater resources even outside his 20 years in the software industry.

Chris is in no way scared about sharing his connections.

[Tweet "Be a connector, share who you know. People will want to know you."]

Do you know two people who share a love of BBQ? Have you introduced them? Do you know two people who are getting into Grunt, or two people with similar design taste?

Introduce them!

When you do, both parties will remember that you played a role in the connections they've made. That simple action will keep you top of mind whenever they interact with people you’ve connected them to.

Share what you know

This is the biggest thing I share here -- what I know about running a business. The practices and strategies that work for me, intended to inspire you to run a better, more profitable business. You should be doing the same for your audience.

Specifically, you should be sharing:

- insider tips and techniques

- life experiences

- everything you keep learning

Like I’ve said, it’s certainly possible that people will use the information you share to compete with you, but the fact is, no one can package and deliver the content like you will. There are lots of clients out there that fit with you the best, so sharing freely with them is the best way to let them know you’re super awesome smart, and allow them to see you’re the perfect fit.

[Tweet "Share what you know to help others and play the long game of being an authority."]

I recently asked Beka Rice of Sell With WP if she would share with me the top sites she followed for eCommerce. She not only freely shared the list with me, but she blogged about it so all of you could know what they are as well.

That’s ‘insider’ knowledge she freely shared, which could help other eCommerce blogs, even those in direct competition with Sell With WP. But she shared it anyway so everyone could benefit.

Share how you feel

Why should we share how we feel? I mean, who really cares, right?

Our customers care. Are you more or less likely to work with me after I’ve shared with you why I write and build sites?

You’re more likely to work with me, though that’s not why I shared it[1].

Your prospects and current customers want to learn about:

- your compassion

- your empathy

- your driving factors

They want to hear about these things because they show your integrity as a business owner. These things put a human face on your business and helps prospects and clients know you better.

[Tweet "Share how you feel to put some humanity on your Internet face"]

If you can, don’t just write on these topics; but also post videos showing your passion and compassion. So much is lost in text that can better be communicated when someone sees your face and hears you talk.

Don’t be scared

Yes, sharing those 3 things can be scary. People could use your knowledge to compete with you. Customers could go with another service provider if you make an introduction. It feels pretty vulnerable to share personal feelings.

But, sharing is going to help you go further by establishing you as a connector, a thought leader, and real person.

That’s the type of person/company that someone wants to work with. It’s the type of person that I want to be, and I hope you want to be that person too.

- Chalk up my sharing to my need to just write and write and write because I’d explode otherwise. Exploding tends to be messy and my wife wouldn’t appreciate cleaning up an exploded me in our house. [ ↩](#fnref-1)

photo credit: pedrovezini cc