Most professionals know that effective networking is vital if they want to be successful in what they do. Some may have years of experience and training of networking in person but be daunted by the world of online networking. Others are a whiz at social networking on the web but enter any face-to-face networking event with extreme trepidation. Many professionals don’t network well at all. This is dangerous: get it wrong and at best you’ll lose out on opportunities; at worst you can severely damage your professional credibility.
Many professionals fall into the trap of thinking on-line OR face-to-face networking, rather than combining the two different types of networking for maximum effect. Did you know that LinkedIn and Twitter are fantastic tools for keeping in touch with people after meeting them at an event? Did you know that you can normally use LinkedIn & Twitter to make contact with someone at a face-to-face networking event, BEFORE the event? Thus, increasing your chances of actually meeting your prospect?
With the typical demands clients place on their professional advisors, it is not always possible to get to a physical networking event. However, it is always possible to indulge in some online networking in the odd 5 minutes of the day.
Many professional advisor are fantastic at gaining opportunities via social media and so have discounted the possibilities that face-to-face networking can bring. Face-to-face networking doesn’t have to mean attending a formal networking group. Do you have your networking hat on when at social events? You never know what possibilities a hen or stag weekend may offer… When attending training events, have you got your networking hat on? Who on the course list would you like to stay in touch with after the event?
Our conclusion is to use BOTH on-line and face-to-face networking in your networking strategy and plan. It’s the most efficient way!
What’s your thoughts?
Heather Townsend is the driving force behind The Efficiency Coach and a co-founder of 'the executive village'
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One Response
Networking
Definitely use both. I often follow-up a face-to-face meeting with a LinkedIn/Twitter connection; I follow-up online discussions with personal emails, some lead to specific conversations, then on to face-to-face.
I am a member of more than one face-to-face networking group which all have LinkedIn discussion groups – some more active than others. I am a member of a number of LI groups with people I’ve never met – we swap ideas, discuss issues and, sometimes, lead on to a specific 1 to 1 discussion.
I think this takes some getting used to. Some people only connect online with people they’ve met face-to-face and others find it easier to connect online (less personal) than face-to-face. Some are simply "better" communicators F2F/online than others.