The Connected Brand with Maria Elena DuronOn a recent call, someone recommended that you join every group possible to get your name out there in the online world. I respectfully disagree.
To join every group is like the social butterfly who walks into the networking event collecting every card imaginable with the intent to spam or stalk them to the point of a pressured sale or a pissed off person. Or, it’s like the person you see at the networking even wreaking of ‘commission breath’ hungry for the next sale and hoping that they’ll make it right there at that event.
The first rule of networking still applies, “be interested in order to be interesting”. It’s more important to be interested in the people you are making a connection with.
No, I don’t have “the most” Twitter followers but I know my Twitter followers. I read their bios, visit their websites and engage in conversation with them. I’m re-tweeted, recommended as a person to follow and re-tweet those who say something that would be helpful to my network. We are networking just not racking up Twitter follower points.
No, I’m not this mega LinkedIn link who has thousands of connections yet I do know my connections. I answer questions, help make connections, deliver knowledge and engage.
And, on Facebook and my blog, I comment back to people who make comments or post on my wall. I engage in conversation which is important for people to have the opportunity to sample who you are.
So, why do people think that online and offline networking require different rules. After all, online is just a “tool” to communication…nothing more.
I get frustrated when I hear people talk of their Twitter strategy, their LinkedIn or Facebook strategy. Why? Because how many of us knew of these sites, terms or used them five years ago? Twitter didn’t even exist five years ago and tweeting and our tweeple were not ever terms used in any of our conversations two years ago.
While the tools will change (who knows what 2010 will hold), the fact that we are engaging and connecting with people remains the same. How we do it and the time and place we do that will inevitably evolve. Yet, people are still people connecting, doing business with, working and communicating with people.
Really, would you ever create a “hammer strategy” or would you rather have a strategy as to how you would repair your fence and maybe a “hammer” is one of the tools you use (or maybe even a staple gun for that matter) – is it really the tool you are strategizing about?
Author:
Maria Elena Duron is chief buzz agent & identity coach of buzz2bucks | a personal branding + word of mouth firm. and blogs about connecting your personal brand and SMART Connections. She is also the creator and moderator of brandchat: a live streaming branding discussion on twitter. Follow her on Twitter for daily updates or connect with her on Facebook.
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2 comments:
Hi Maria,
I found your article to be interesting, but there are a few things I'm not sure I agree with. Perhaps I misunderstood you. Are you saying that we as networkers should not have a strategy when it comes to social media tools?
It sounds like you are saying that we should be able to truly connect with each and every person that comes into our social media circle...however, in my world, that would be considered one strategy. Which would make this your strategy? Yes?
On one hand I agree...but not on the other hand. I run a company called NetworkingPhoenix.com and I teach people about strategy all day long. I think sometimes it makes sense to be an 'open networker' and sometimes it doesn't. It all depends on the business and the end result. For instance, I'm an open networker because this allows me to get more people to find out about our company, our calendar and our events. The more people that know about us...the more people I can help. For me, it's all about STRATEGY.
I think how you use the tool to build the fence makes a big difference! If you use the tool improperly...well then you are just wasting time.
Anyway, just wanted to share my thoughts :) Great blog!
Gelie
NetworkingPhoenix.com
Hello Gelie!
Thanks so much for your comment! I always appreciate hearing from a reader.
I recommend that people have communication strategies, community building strategies or contact development strategies that integrate a host of tools. What I was referring to in the post, is that it's a mistake to have "just a Twitter strategy" or "just a Facebook strategy", etc. What happens is that you get a disconnected and unfocused brand. What you're looking for in your strategies is consistency, constancy and clarity. Today, Twitter might fulfill that need, tomorrow Plurk and who knows who will invent what in the next few months or year.
The "poken" is a great tool that many networkers are utilizing now. And, while I'm a lover of new technology, it's important that fits into the overall strategy for either communication, connection, business development - or in whatever avenue you plan to utilize the tool. It's more looking at the tool as "this is a great tool to execute on this" as opposed to "what a COOL TOOL! How can we start using this. Let's make it fit." If there's a natural fit with the current strategy and the niche, then I say...go for it!
I appreciate your thoughts!
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