The same goes for your social connections.\u00a0 \u00a0LinkedIn is a perfect example. Having a personal profile with a zillion LinkedIn connections means the same thing as having a desk full of business cards.\u00a0 \u00a0Unless you actually build relationships with the people in your network, you just have a collection of names. How many of your connections do you actually interact with on a regular basis? How many are acquaintances? How many are total strangers? Do you have a strategy for reaching out to build relationships with strangers and acquaintances?<\/span><\/p>\n Make Networking Work<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Social has been called \u201cnetworking on steroids,\u201d but it only works if you do the \u201cwork\u201d of \u201cnetworking.\u201d That requires a strategy and a time investment. Make deepening your LinkedIn relationships an activity you work on every day (or at least on a regular basis). Block the time out in your calendar and just do it.<\/span><\/p>\n The same goes for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram\u2014who cares how many followers or friends you\u2019ve accumulated\u2014how many real conversations have you instigated? How many people check your posts in some way every day? Whatever platforms you\u2019re using, figure out the tools for expanding your network and put them to use. Make comments, ask questions, find common ground and invite further conversation. Connect with people on multiple platforms\u2014put them in lists\u2014listen to their conversations and add value where appropriate. Do the networking\u00a0work<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n Get People Together<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Building relationships is only half the job, however. It\u2019s what you do with the\u00a0 relationships that\u2019s going to give you the most return.\u00a0 Whether you\u2019re an individual or a brand, people power becomes most evident when there\u2019s a common goal or interest.<\/span><\/p>\n Let\u2019s take employees for example. Most companies have some type of new hire onboarding that emphasizes getting to know employees as individuals, but getting them connected to each other for support and collaboration is even more important. Are your employees connected via social networks? That\u2019s a first step. You can use social tools like Facebook or LinkedIn Groups to foster conversation around a particular topic, product, service or interest. Google Hangouts are another way to connect your employees and drive conversation and collaborative thinking.<\/span><\/p>\n As digital technology evolves, I believe the mandatory face-to-face meetings that tie up hours of employee group time and kill productivity will become a thing of the past (or at least have less emphasis). Brainstorming and other creative activities will take place over social channels.\u00a0 Social connection to a community, especially in today\u2019s mobile environment, is a powerful way to keep people in touch wherever they are. At those times when an idea strikes, employees can quickly reach out to start conversations\u2014ask questions and ping ideas off one another much more efficiently.<\/span><\/p>\n Yes, networking and community building is work\u2013whether you do it in person or on social channels. However, it\u2019s well worth the effort, because building relationships touches every aspect of our personal and business lives\u2013and so does\u00a0not\u00a0<\/em>building them. If you want more experience and more value from connections and acquaintances, you\u2019ve got to\u00a0do something with them!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Originally posted at InsideCXM<\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00a0JUNE 2, 2014\u00a0BY\u00a0<\/span>
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Whether you\u2019re an individual or part of a brand, when it comes to business, it\u2019s the conversations we have that make the difference, not how many acquaintances we have or the size of our contact list. Let\u2019s say you are an individual who likes to attend networking functions. Does a desk drawer full of business cards do you any good? Nope. You can collect business cards all day long, but unless after meeting you connect on social channels, pick up the phone and call someone, or reach out to connect with them in another way\u2014those cards are just a dust gatherers, nothing more.<\/span><\/p>\n