What’s all that noise about networking?

I am going to relate my own story with networking and social networks. First, note that I used two set of words on purpose: 1- Networking 2- Social Networks. Later I will explain why.

I came to realize my case is not that uncommon after all.

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Over the last 20 years, I have personally shook hands with at least 10,000 people; persons I have done business with, had meetings, solved issues, worked together. Thousands of business cards stacked on my desk from Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, China, Canada, USA, you name it.

A few years ago I got into Twitter thanks to the situation in Venezuela, it was almost the only way available to receive news from the country I love. Soon I realized it was also great to make acquaintances around the world, interesting articles, jokes, art and stories, even romantic tales. I created several accounts for each area (Business, Politics & Opinion, General Life Facts and Nature & Animals among others). Some have over 40,000 followers, others just a few thousands. I learned and developed my own methods of gaining legitimate followers, helped many friends to create their accounts and grow them, facilitated content and ideas to share and grow the followers base. In a few words, by chance, I became an expert on Twitter.

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Not my thing. Instagram? Neither. Tumblr? so, so. Pinterest? Not bad but, I thought, there are so many networks that knowing at least one is OK. On the other hand, getting into Social Networks requires time and I don’t have it, period. Twitter is OK.

Quite frankly and because I really didn’t need them to live, I didn’t care about the use of the social networks for business or for any professional use whatsoever.

With a business booming and having to travel so often, time was very limited so it was my availability to keep developing myself as a social networker.

Then, there was the issue of Stolen Identity, my theory (and I wasn’t totally wrong on that) is that putting out your information poses a great risk.

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I expend 20 years meeting people in person but not really connecting with them, there is a difference. A connection implies a relationship, something more than just a business deal. Despite how intense or how much work required our business, once closed, I lost contact with most of the people. Big mistake which brings me to lesson number 1

Lesson No. 1: Use every contact you make at work or in a social gathering or in the gym or the mall as the starting point for a RELATIONSHIP, connect with them, KEEP CONTACT and don’t let the connection to be lost.

As always in life, we don’t realize that we need to act until something happens, for instance: Career Change. In the professional field, there is a Social Network that I ignored for years. Many people sent me invitations and I just ignored them. I didn’t even take the time to investigate the use of that network and how could I benefit from it. .

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Guess what? I didn’t have my LinkedIn account updated, not even a photo on it. When I decided to change careers, to do something different with my skills and experience, I learned almost immediately about the importance of having a Cyber Trail, an Internet Presence.

Lesson No. 2: It is the Internet Era so you have to be in the Internet, you need to show who you are, what you have done and what are you capable of doing.

It happens that these days, Recruiters, Companies, Business Partners, Customers; Girlfriends; almost everyone checks LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook to see who are you and what your real history is.

Facebook and Twitter may take you up or down; depends on what you have published there. Same happens with LinkedIn, Instagram and so on.

A Resume is a piece of paper where people can cheat or exaggerate; public information like your Career History in LinkedIn or your photos on Facebook are far more difficult to cheat or exaggerate because everyone sees them and they are published over time, not in one document that can be manipulated.

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<v:shadow opacity="22938f" offset="0"></v:shadow> <v:textbox inset=",7.2pt,,7.2pt"></v:textbox> <w:wrap type="tight" anchorx="page" anchory="page"></w:wrap> </v:rect><![endif][if !vml][endif]Are you thinking that by just creating the Account and filling in some information is good enough? WRONG. You need to include a description about yourself, what do you do, what are you good for, your career story, your education and your volunteer activities; sports: everything relevant. Information must be professionally written, complete and truthful. Remember, everyone can look into you.

That is not all. As the name indicates, LinkedIn is a Social Network. It means you are “linked” to other people. People you know, colleagues, others that share common interests with you, influencers, companies.

Lesson No. 3: It is not enough just to create a good neat Social Profile, you need to connect with people, interact; be active.

The best way for others to know who you really are is to read your tweets or your posts in LinkedIn or the “Like” “Don’t Like” in Facebook.

You need to be active. Every day tens of good articles are published in the social networks, go beyond the jokes or the family pictures; look for ideas, information to keep you updated, things to do; make friends, new ones, lots of them. Interact with them, not only connect or follow, INTERACT.

Lesson No.4: INTERACT. Once you Follow or Connect with someone, write to them, ask questions, read what they publish, ask for opinions; sharing information is what builds the Connection. Being a passive networker goes against the nature of a Social Networks. Invite them to connect, answer the requests of others.

If you want to do something new, change Career paths, develop a Voluntary Initiative and even sell something, the real value of a Social Network will reveal itself: you are not alone.

You need buyers to sell; Recruiting Companies to be hired; People to share, people that will not come to you if you are hiding or under the radar. Bring yourself up into the visible area and then be active, make at least one post a day, review 5 from other people and comment; participate in Groups. That’s the real value of a Social Network, the interaction with the other members.

Being social pays off, I have tested it myself. It makes a big difference to be isolated versus being connected. If you wait to find people until you need people, it is going to be very difficult for you. Begin Now.

Internet offers a world of possibilities, puts knowledge right there, you just have to type a question and thousands of answers will pop up in your screen but, still, COMPUTERS ARE IMPERSONAL, they are a conduit, a tool but not an objective. They don’t smile or have feelings or shake your hand; they certainly don’t buy stuff nor offers jobs to people.

What you need is PEOPLE, real human beings that will listen to you, buy your ideas, hire or partner with you.

Lesson No. 5: Networking is not complete until you interact with real people, those that make decisions. Social Networks are one tool to get in touch with people and their ideas but they alone, are not enough.

Sometimes is so easy to sit at home looking at the screen of our phone or laptop and typing, sending images, texting; gosh, you don’t have to get dress or shower or drive, no traffic; so practical.

Staying home just being a social networker is as bad as having a beautiful LinkedIn account with 0 interactions: you need to go out and meet people. That’s what networking is about: meeting people, developing relationships, connections; those are the ones that can help in case of a project you have, to get funding, a new job, or a contract: PEOPLE

The power of Social Networks is that you can connect with a person in India while you live in Argentina; you can become friends, exchange great ideas and even develop projects together. Without a social network and the Internet, that would be almost impossible. Then, you can chat with a colleague in London or even conference with another one in Mexico.

Social Networks are Global, a great tool to meet people, to gather information, to connect with others, to initiate new relationships but the final objective is to meet with real people.

Now, where? Do you just walk around the grocery store introducing yourself to everyone in the diary aisle? Well, maybe but no.

There are many ways:
Professional Association Memberships
Social Activities such as a concerts, a bar, a company grill (yes, you must network also inside your company)
Volunteering
Sport events
Political party volunteering
Trade shows, Job Fairs

and so on. It’s a matter to turn on the switch inside your mind and spirit and begin talking, selling yourself, knowing people, reading papers, collecting and keeping organized business cards.

It is almost standard these days: I look for people in LinkedIn (for instance) either to find new useful connections or to verify people, before or after but I look. Be truthful in your profiles, make them neat, complete, positive, exciting; tell your story, what you are and what you want, what you can offer; check spelling, format. Carefully think and prepare the message you are conveying because that’s what others will see of you.

I had to polish my profiles, organize, make them accurate and reconnect with people in a rush because I didn’t do it on time, as a daily routine. Don’t wait, do it now. Maintain your contacts, build connections. Send Holiday Greetings, Post Comments, Share articles, be active.

#Networking #LinkedIn #Facebook

What’s all that noise about networking?

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