Scoping It Out: Social Networking Our Own Style
Networking is an important part of finding new business, obtaining referrals and connecting with members of our community. But what if the structure of social networking lends itself to be cumbersome and not quite so beneficial? My husband, Barton discovered this when he attended a BNI networking
group with me last year. Since Barton is in a wheelchair, it’s a little
more difficult for others to hear him in the traditional social
networking structure. Instead of shying away, we work together as a
team.
While Barton and I work on projects together, our needs for referrals and new business may be slightly different, as we have our own niches. The first question I assess is what do we need? Are we looking for new business prospects, a referral to fix our broken door, or just providing a presence within the community?
When I am at networking events, I am not only networking for myself, but also scoping out who Barton may want to contact individually. When scheduling a first meeting, Barton looks at places that may be quieter than the Panera down the street. A quieter setting lends itself for a better connection and more positive outcome.
For networking over the Internet, we use the same method. Barton uses a headpointer to type on him computer, so searching through pages of profiles can take a long time. We have found our own style in social networking style, and so can you.
Whether it’s networking over the Internet or the group at your local coffee shop, look at the environment you need to make a better connection.
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