Social media is very much in the news thee days and there can't be many people who haven't heard of Twitter or Facebook. Everyone is Twittering these days (me included), whether just for fun or to keep in touch with friends and family.
So why do we do it? For a business - it's another form of networking ...
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Following Up
Networking is about getting to know people, making contacts and building relationships. Once you've made contact, that's only the start. It's not a one-touch, one-way process. It's something that will develop over time.
Many people go to networking meetings - just gather up the business cards, put them into a pile, may or may not add them to their mailing/spamming list but that's probably the last contact they have until they meet them at the next meeting.
So, in order to make your networking more effective,
DO ...
... send a personal message, talk about something you discussed when you met or something they mentioned, share some useful information.
... arrange to meet up and find out more about each other's business and what you can do to help.
DON'T ...
... send a generic message to every attendee - with a sales pitch.
... add everyone to your mailing list by default without asking first or giving them the option to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Network, connect and re-connect ... often.
Many people go to networking meetings - just gather up the business cards, put them into a pile, may or may not add them to their mailing/spamming list but that's probably the last contact they have until they meet them at the next meeting.
So, in order to make your networking more effective,
DO ...
... send a personal message, talk about something you discussed when you met or something they mentioned, share some useful information.
... arrange to meet up and find out more about each other's business and what you can do to help.
DON'T ...
... send a generic message to every attendee - with a sales pitch.
... add everyone to your mailing list by default without asking first or giving them the option to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Network, connect and re-connect ... often.
Finding Followers On Twitter
One of my Twitter followers recently asked me how to find new people to follow.
Here's a few of the ways I find them.
Personally I'd say DON'T autofollow - you may end up following people you really have no interest or connection with or those who are just interested in numbers or have one-way traffic.
AVOID the 'get more followers' or 'find hundreds of followers' schemes - for me, they're the equivalent of junk mail. You'll get lots but how useful or interesting will it really be?
Here's a few of the ways I find them.
- Check your own followers followers - you might either find someone you already know but didn't know was on Twitter or come across someone interesting to follow.
- Look at Twitterholic and find other Tweeters in your location - town, city, area, country. Great if you're focusing on a particular location.
- Look at your Twitterstream - you'll see snippets of conversations with people you're not yet following. If they have something interesting to say, check out their Twitter profile and follow them.
- Check out the #followfriday tweets from your followers - who are they following and recommending.
Personally I'd say DON'T autofollow - you may end up following people you really have no interest or connection with or those who are just interested in numbers or have one-way traffic.
AVOID the 'get more followers' or 'find hundreds of followers' schemes - for me, they're the equivalent of junk mail. You'll get lots but how useful or interesting will it really be?
How To Be On Time For Meetings
Get rid of the SatNav ... yes, really. At a recent meeting I went to one of the attendees turned up nearly half an hour late. He'd got lost. The reason - he was using a SatNav! :)
Now, I'm not saying SatNavs don't have their uses but more often than not people blindly follow them without having a clue where they're going and haven't got a clue what to do when they go wrong or it takes them down a wrong road.
We've all heard stories of lorries getting stuck down narrow dirt tracks, stuck under bridges, drivers ending up in a completely different place to where they intended.
I arrived half an hour early (but then I'm just a smart alec). Here are my tips to arrive on time (other than getting rid of the SatNav).
If coming from a long way away, set off in good time and plan to arrive half an hour early - giving some leeway incase you get delayed.
Check where you're going on Streetmap the day before. This will give you a pretty good map and reference to where you're going.
You can check timing and distance on www.theaa.com Route Planner. Add a bit if you're going to be travelling at peak times.
Now, I'm not saying SatNavs don't have their uses but more often than not people blindly follow them without having a clue where they're going and haven't got a clue what to do when they go wrong or it takes them down a wrong road.
We've all heard stories of lorries getting stuck down narrow dirt tracks, stuck under bridges, drivers ending up in a completely different place to where they intended.
I arrived half an hour early (but then I'm just a smart alec). Here are my tips to arrive on time (other than getting rid of the SatNav).
If coming from a long way away, set off in good time and plan to arrive half an hour early - giving some leeway incase you get delayed.
Check where you're going on Streetmap the day before. This will give you a pretty good map and reference to where you're going.
You can check timing and distance on www.theaa.com Route Planner. Add a bit if you're going to be travelling at peak times.
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