Mention you have a friend that you met online, and some folks react in a way that suggests there’s something a bit off about the relationship. Fortunately, today, most people “get” that leveraging the power of social media demands ability to develop relationships online. So, more people are making the effort, albeit with varying degrees of success.
Actually, the fundamentals of successful networking apply online as well as in face-to-face situations. This was brought home to me powerfully when I attended #tbash, the book launch party for Shel Israel’s Twitterville: How Businesses Can Thrive in the New Global Neighborhoods, held in Silicon Valley – an event where the only people I knew were people I met online.
Given a terrific invitation to this event, I went – despite my initial concern about flying across the country to get together with people who, to that point, showed up for me exclusively in an online community. Still, I went. And I had a wonderful time! In reflecting on my experience, there are six networking lessons that were reinforced for me – the first of which is don’t let your apprehensions keep you from meeting new people. Here are the others:
Look for the people you know. Whether you’re networking online or attending face-to-face events, first connect with people you know. Take real-life relationships online and interact there; at face-to-face events, look first for people you know or have interacted with online. Don’t know anyone at an event? Find the host and introduce yourself; he or she will often introduce you to new people.
Introduce yourself. Make sure you’re prepared to introduce yourself in a natural way. Forget the elevator pitch! Just give your name and ask for the other person’s name. Keep the conversation moving by asking a relevant question. Be prepared with a short statement of what you do, if asked, and offer your business card. If they want to know more, they’ll ask.
Take an interest in others. Sure you have your own goals in meeting new people, but pushing them should not be the reason for attending. Frankly, networking is best when it's simply about meeting people and growing relationships. So, take a genuine interest in others; ask what they do or why they’re attending the event. You’ll increase the chances they’ll take a genuine interest in you. A comfortable and enjoyable conversation can often uncover areas of mutual interest or new learning for each of you.
Connect others. As you get to know people, think of people they may enjoy meeting and introduce them. You can do this at the event, or by following up later. Helping others make interesting and mutually beneficial connections is one of the most powerful ways to give to your network while creating good will for yourself.
Show gratitude. Let people know how much you appreciated meeting and speaking with them. If you’ve uncovered mutual interests, take initiative in letting the other person know you’d like to stay in contact and determine the best way to follow up.
Of course, there are countless other considerations for networking in online communities as well as face-to-face situations. Still, I believe that sticking with basics will not only enhance your success but also your enjoyment! I certainly enjoyed myself, as you can see here, here, and here.
It was a terrific event, and I would be remiss not to say a special thanks to Shel Israel, whose Twitter Bio speaks volumes: “writer. speaker. nice guy.”
Cross-posted at Threshold Consulting.
If you can, try to secure your own name as a domain name. I originally hosted my website/blog at Typepad and was able to point my own domain name at the http://www.kristenjacoway.typepad.com domain name. It makes a huge difference if you don't have to give someone a long URL--they won't remember it and therefore, driving traffic may be difficult.
networking platforms, your email signature, your business cards (online -like 
when I could expect new content kept me from wanting to visit the website. Even if you can only commit to blogging twice per month, choose dates like the 15th and the 30th of the month (even might add in your blog post--"In the next post coming up on the 30th of this month, we will look at....).
relevant and popular topics into your blog. For example, I read many blog posts about the personal brand of Michael Jackson in the weeks following his death. People are searching on those keywords, so from time to time, this is a strategy that will help your blog get noticed.
your blog post (see "
I launched this Blog with one objective - to provide unique insights and practical advice for using the power of personal branding to achieve your goals. It’s dedicated to those who want to be wildly successful by maximizing what makes them unique, relevant and compelling. 