Over and over again, we hear that Facebook is for personal topics and LinkedIn is the social media hub for business. This is true in most cases. But, segmenting these networks is like saying you would never take a job lead from someone at church or from your buddy who you play softball with on Wednesday nights. Networking for business should not stop at the Facebook login page.
So, what is business networking? The book Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi, describes it as building mutually beneficial relationships with others. This book is a guide to networking in a socially healthy and mutually beneficial way, although it avoids the word “networking” on the cover (instead using the subtitle “And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time”). His approach is not to “friend” as many people as possible; instead, it’s a much more humane tactic involving building relationships. This actually appealed to me, as the image of the shifty networker really turns me off.
As the book opens, Ferrazzi reveals a big secret in the first section:
Real networking is about finding ways to make other people more successful.
In other words, building a bigger friend list is not the key to success – it’s helping more people. Why is that? If you do something to make someone else more successful, they’re more likely to value your relationship with them; the more valuable relationships you have, the more valuable you offer your community (your employers, your clients, etc.)
With this in mind, if the secret is to help others be successful, your friends and family on Facebook would be a great place to start. Your Facebook friends may be the link to your next big sale, career change or business idea. Think about it…Many of our Facebook “friends” lists are populated with long-time contacts, high school and college buddies and others who really do “have our backs.” Where better to look than a group of people with long-term relationship investments when we think of networking? Is it time to schedule a lunch, coffee or even just a phone call with some of your Facebook connections?
If are going to rely on your contacts to build business relationships, you also have to take Ferrazzi’s advice doled out in chapter six, The Networking Jerk. In this chapter, he basically says “Don’t do anything like what you imagine a ‘networker’ to be like.” You have to be genuine, everyone can see the networking jerk coming in to schmooze and glad hand.
At Fast Track Tools, we take this very seriously. Being in the business of teaching our students how to be better presenters is an ongoing practice of being genuine and making others successful. Just a few weeks ago, I got an e-mail from someone who had just found the Fast Track Tools website and needed some advice for a presentation that he was giving in two hours. It wasn’t the best time, as I had just boarded a plane. I called this new found internet friend and we had a short coaching session that he said really helped.
In conclusion, I’d strongly suggest targeting all our social media platforms to build a business network, but do so with the goal of helping others be successful and always be genuine in your interactions.
Keep up-to-date with Fast Track Tools by subscribing to our email list, via Twitter @fasttracktools and join our Facebook community!
After completing the Communicate to Win workshop, you will have the most compelling argument and the best ideas. With this complete package, you will gain the tools necessary to guarantee that you have the best ideas and that you can present them confidently so you will WIN. Read what participants say.
photo by Katrina Snaps. Used by permission.