Tag: Networking

Why You Should Be Active On LinkedIn

LinkedIn isn’t just another social media platform. LinkedIn is THE business networking platform.

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If you will ever now or in the future need to get a new job, change careers, get advice from experts, build a business, build a following or do just about anything in the professional world, you should be on and active on LinkedIn.

You can connect with people online first or offline first. If you network in person, LinkedIn is a good way to stay in touch with people. If you connect first on LinkedIn, you should try to take it offline as well (whether it’s a call or a coffee visit). LinkedIn is a great tool to keep the conversation going, stay top of mind, and allow you to help as many people as possible.

Don’t let the first or only interaction between you and your contacts be selling. Don’t focus on how you will benefit. Don’t think ‘well if I say hi, introduce myself, and have a few chats, I can sell.” Think about how YOU will provide value.

What would you think of someone that asked a favor the first time they met you. Or someone that you’ve known in the past but recently reconnected just to ask a favor.

The key to making LinkedIn work for you to focus on giving and helping people FIRST. LinkedIn helps you help people first.

Find ways to be helpful to 3 specific people every day or every week. Find out what’s most important to them (don’t ask if you can help them with life insurance or whatever you’re selling — that is selling not helping).

Focus on them. Find out what their concerns are. To avoid a knee jerk reaction, make it NOTHING about what you do. Just figure out a way to help them in some way. If you can’t help right away, interact with their posts. Find something that pertains to their post and direct message them about it (don’t highjack their post either — that’s just poor social media etiquette).

If you have someone that would be a good networking fit, introduce them. If you know someone that is looking for what they are selling, is a good fit for a job opening they recently posted, or maybe a good natural referral partner, introduce them. Don’t introduce them to someone in your network that is just a show-up and throw-up person. Don’t introduce them to someone that is just going to sell.

You can interact with them by liking, commenting and sharing their content. You can promote people that you love and help them get exposure. You can GIVE FIRST!

Build up your network. Help people. Go out of your way to connect people, provide true value, and be kind.

As I always say, GIVE FIRST…AND GIVE MORE!

In Harvey Mackay’s book aptly named Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty, he talks about the importance of establishing relationships long before you need them. He talks about the importance of being seen, being heard, and being helpful.

Just keep in mind: provide your network with what THEY need and what THEY want. Be kind. Be helpful.

Building your network is the right thing to do … and it will benefit you more than you will ever know!

Networking works…

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Networking works.  It works in small markets.  It works in large markets.  But you really have to have your head and heart in the right place.

A few tips I follow when networking:

1) Give first

Have you ever gone to a networking meeting and been attacked by someone that wants to tell you all about their business and throw cards down your throat?  And the only thing that person seems to have on their mind is convincing everyone how great their product is.  Annoying, right?!

You’ve heard the famous saying “People do business with people they know, like and trust.”  How much do you trust the show up and throw up person?  Not much.

So my suggestion is to REALLY and SINCERELY learn about someone’s business.  Find out about them.  And figure out a way to help them (even if it’s as simple as providing them some value about something they like or need).

2) Build relationships

When you are networking, decide to ‘meet friends’ and build relationships.  You can always find someone interesting and amazing.  Take the time to really get to know people.

3) Be Consistent

I’ve had so many people tell me that networking doesn’t work. I ask what they did.  They showed up at a few events and (oh so surprisingly) they didn’t have clients just show up and give them business.

You have to show up and be consistent.  Once you establish yourself as a person that is consistent and reliable, people can start to trust you (but you have to prove yourself trustworthy).

4) Follow Up

Another way to be consistent, is to follow up with every person you meet.  I typically try to ‘touch’ people I meet 2-3 times within a 2 week period of meeting someone.

I send a ‘nice to meet’ note (only if I truly mean it…I’m not a good faker).  I send an email.  I also try to connect with them on LinkedIn.

Following up allows you to start the relationship and begin a friendship. And going to networking events is a lot easier if you can be around friends.