The Unique Differences Between Social Networking Sites And In-Person Events
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The Unique Differences Between Social Networking Sites And In-Person Events
Whoever you are, you've probably heard about the new social networking craze aka Web 2.0 or Social Media Sites. Everybody is Tweeting on Twitter, getting Friends on Facebook or linking on LinkedIn or one of the hundreds of other social networking sites available.
By: Darlene Willman
Whoever you are, you've probably heard about the new social networking craze aka Web 2.0 or Social Media Sites. Everybody is Tweeting on Twitter, getting Friends on Facebook or linking on LinkedIn or one of the hundreds of other social networking sites available.
By: Darlene Willman
Creating an online presence is extremely important when it comes to establishing your credibility. Every place you visit online leaves behind a footprint or mark that you've been there. Your goal is to dominate the internet with your name and what you offer.
Stop reading this right now and go Goggle yourself.
What did you find? Did you discover more links than you thought? I'm sure you even found places you've purchased things like on Amazon or eBay.
The reason I wanted you to do that is to see how you leave bits and pieces of yourself all over the net which conveys a message to people you want to network with. You're either building your credibility or damaging your reputation with every entry you make so think twice before hitting submit.
If you meet someone at a networking event offline, traditionally you have a limited amount of time to actually talk and share who you are. It's up to you to approach the person, ask open ended questions, get their business card and then take time to follow up with them. If they are a total stranger, you start at ground zero. It's up to you to share bits of information to slowly educate them on why they should choose you to give their business to.
The one advantage of meeting in person is if you already have a respectful reputation and people have already heard of you, this instantly gives you the slight edge over your competition.
When you're networking online in some social communities, there are some similarities and definite differences. If you're new to a social site and just barge right in and disrupt conversations, it's considered rude just like if you stepped in to a conversation in public.
The same goes for doing a sales pitch right off the bat when you first meet someone. This applies either online or off. Don't assume they want to know all about your products and services immediately because it might actually push them away instead of pull them closer.
You'll still spend a little time getting to know them but if they have their profile complete it actually speeds up the process. You can learn a lot about a person from the types of books they read, their activities, other groups they belong to, their credentials, etc. It's especially good to read their blogs and comments. Is there substance there or just smoke and mirrors? Do they come across as knowledgeable and experienced or do they lack confidence?
There are some great advantages of meeting people online such as flexibility of time, less preparation, spontaneous responses, convenience, expanding your market, better communication, etc. Not to mention the number of people you can meet online in less time is far superior to any networking event you pay money to attend.
Don't get me wrong, meeting people face-to-face has worked for me for years and continues to be an important part of my life. People will continue to meet at networking groups for years to come. However, the newer generations will be more likely to utilize the technology of the internet to do most of their networking.
The biggest difference is it offers a level playing field where everyone has the same opportunity regardless of status or position. People want to connect online for a variety of reasons but mostly to promote themselves and their products or services.
Another advantage is you can learn more about a person either by searching for them or by being a part of their audience and receiving information like newsletters, articles, videos, blogs, etc. I would highly recommend you create an email opt-in to your ezine (email list) so you can direct people to your site and add them to your sales funnel. It's all about information online so make sure to provide valuable content not just sales info. Rule of thumb is have 80% educational and 20% your sales offer. Make sure to include a call to action so they know what to do and make it as easy as possible for them to do it.
The process is much more tedious and slower when networking face to face but can ultimately pay off over time. However, if you're ready to approach a new audience and be a part of the Social Media Movement, get ready for a whole new adventure!
See you online!
Stop reading this right now and go Goggle yourself.
What did you find? Did you discover more links than you thought? I'm sure you even found places you've purchased things like on Amazon or eBay.
The reason I wanted you to do that is to see how you leave bits and pieces of yourself all over the net which conveys a message to people you want to network with. You're either building your credibility or damaging your reputation with every entry you make so think twice before hitting submit.
If you meet someone at a networking event offline, traditionally you have a limited amount of time to actually talk and share who you are. It's up to you to approach the person, ask open ended questions, get their business card and then take time to follow up with them. If they are a total stranger, you start at ground zero. It's up to you to share bits of information to slowly educate them on why they should choose you to give their business to.
The one advantage of meeting in person is if you already have a respectful reputation and people have already heard of you, this instantly gives you the slight edge over your competition.
When you're networking online in some social communities, there are some similarities and definite differences. If you're new to a social site and just barge right in and disrupt conversations, it's considered rude just like if you stepped in to a conversation in public.
The same goes for doing a sales pitch right off the bat when you first meet someone. This applies either online or off. Don't assume they want to know all about your products and services immediately because it might actually push them away instead of pull them closer.
You'll still spend a little time getting to know them but if they have their profile complete it actually speeds up the process. You can learn a lot about a person from the types of books they read, their activities, other groups they belong to, their credentials, etc. It's especially good to read their blogs and comments. Is there substance there or just smoke and mirrors? Do they come across as knowledgeable and experienced or do they lack confidence?
There are some great advantages of meeting people online such as flexibility of time, less preparation, spontaneous responses, convenience, expanding your market, better communication, etc. Not to mention the number of people you can meet online in less time is far superior to any networking event you pay money to attend.
Don't get me wrong, meeting people face-to-face has worked for me for years and continues to be an important part of my life. People will continue to meet at networking groups for years to come. However, the newer generations will be more likely to utilize the technology of the internet to do most of their networking.
The biggest difference is it offers a level playing field where everyone has the same opportunity regardless of status or position. People want to connect online for a variety of reasons but mostly to promote themselves and their products or services.
Another advantage is you can learn more about a person either by searching for them or by being a part of their audience and receiving information like newsletters, articles, videos, blogs, etc. I would highly recommend you create an email opt-in to your ezine (email list) so you can direct people to your site and add them to your sales funnel. It's all about information online so make sure to provide valuable content not just sales info. Rule of thumb is have 80% educational and 20% your sales offer. Make sure to include a call to action so they know what to do and make it as easy as possible for them to do it.
The process is much more tedious and slower when networking face to face but can ultimately pay off over time. However, if you're ready to approach a new audience and be a part of the Social Media Movement, get ready for a whole new adventure!
See you online!
Darlene Willman, aka The Sassy Networker, is a keynote speaker author and coach, specializing in small business networking and referrals. She provides resources, connections and support to entrepreneurs, small business owners and other professionals that have a strong desire to promote their companies through relationship marketing. She will show you how to build an incredible network of people who refer business to each other plus so much more. You can start receiving her eZine, The Networking Focus by visiting www.SassyNetworker.com
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