Networking Success

Would you walk up to a total stranger at a networking event and….with no prior introduction whatsoever…say to them, “I would like to add you to my professional network”?
Of course, not. Yet people do that online every day. Is that the best way to start a relationship? Why would they want to accept?

Social Media makes it easy to quickly connect with a high volume of people around the world. Racking up huge numbers of Connections, “Friends” and Followers is a point of pride for many people. But guess what; Networking is not a competitive sport.

Build your online network as strategically and thoughtfully as you do your local network. Use the same “let’s help each other develop business” approach outlined here. At the very least, write a personal note indicating that you read their profile and why you were intrigued enough to reach out.

Quality Trumps Quantity

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The above is an excerpt from my new book Face-to-Face Networking Skills in a Social Media World. In the book I didn’t say what I REALLY wanted to on this subject; Which is a bit of a rant. You have been warned. Here’s My Two Cents:

Last year, in response to the high volume of impersonal default invitations I was receiving, I put this note as the first line of my LinkedIn Profile:

“***Note:*** I welcome your invitation but *Please* read “Contact Settings” at the bottom before extending an invitation…Thank you!’

If they take the time to follow through they will find this:

“I welcome new contacts & new invitations BUT if we do not currently have a working relationship, I will not respond to the generic “I want to add you to my network” default invitation. Please tell me why you believe a connection would serve us both. Can we be of mutual support and “help each other develop some business”? That philosophy is at the *core* of my trainings. No relationship begins by getting…it begins by giving. I will start…tell me how I can assist you in your networking endeavors and I will help in whatever way I can.”

Call me old fashioned, but is it too much to expect people to… at least, read my profile before inviting me to connect?