People are always talking about how great social media is (including myself). It’s all lollipops and gumdrops and how social media has changed our lives. And, that overused phrase gets thrown around: “You get as much value in social media as you put into it.” Granted, it’s true.

But, how do we get value?

The one thing that can never ever be underestimated in social media is the power of authenticity. Be available. Be present. Be real with people.

You’re not reaching people if you fake it; there are too many genuine connections happening these days. And, yes, you can make authentic connections online.

So, the question is: how do you make authentic connections online?

Here are some of the things you can do to make genuine connections with people:

• Don’t have insincere motives. If you want to connect with people in order to pursue your own agenda, you’re going to lose. Connect because you like building community and if you don’t like building community, you shouldn’t be the person championing a social media effort.
• Take an interest in people’s lives: Do they have a blog? Go to it. Comment. Subscribe. Do they tweet about something specific a lot? Engage them about that. Ask their opinion on it.
• Be yourself. Be honest. And be helpful.

With the onslaught of social networking sites and so many opportunities to connect online, the way to stand out is to be authentic. Take the time with people; social media works when you are making genuine connections.