Great networking is all about diligence

As I prepare to head west for this year’s IABC World Conference and then east for the Communitelligence conference, I am thinking a lot about networking and follow up. At this stage of my career, networking is the main reason I attend conferences.

Networking also continues to be a primary reason people join associations and other groups and attend conferences. Yes, the programming is important and recognition of excellence is good. But, finding colleagues who know stuff – well, that’s the real prize.

Where I sometimes, like others, fall short is in the follow through. So, here are some tips for those of us heading off to conferences in the next few weeks.

• Get their business card – don’t rely on the other person to follow up with you to acquire their contact information
• Ask if they are using Twitter or LinkedIn or another networking tool where you can connect
• If you decide to add them to your contact list, add a note about where you met and what you discussed in that first meeting
• If you send them an invitation to connect from something like LinkedIn, customize the message – you won’t appear to have tried very hard if you use the default message alone
• If they are on Twitter, follow them for a while – maybe they’ll follow you back
• Send a personal note (handwritten is very nice but uncommon, making e-mail the preferred choice these days) about how much you enjoyed meeting them
• Include a link to an interesting article in your note
• If you committed when you met to call (“I’ll give you a call…”) then call – don’t commit and then bail out
• If you committed to follow up at some time in the future, put a tickler in your calendar so you don’t forget

Networking is important for communicators at every career stage. Obviously, right now it is really important if you’ve lost, or are at risk of losing, your job. But we should always be looking out for those new great connections. Always building our catalog of talent we can turn to in a pinch.

If you’re a consultant or independent, you know these chance meetings can turn into new clients. If you hire sub-contractors, that new acquaintance may be the next perfect person to add to your team. If you work in an organization, you might have just met your future boss, or a future co-worker, or a consultant who can help make your next project shine.

Last tip: never go anywhere without a couple of business cards in your pocket. I even hike with them.

Stacy Wilson, ABC, is president of Eloquor Consulting, Inc., in Lakewood, Colorado

RE: Great networking is all about diligence

Great comments! Agree that you should always have business cards on you. For example, in a casual conversation with one of the humans at the dog park, I learned that her best friend worked for Great Places to Work. At the time, I was wanting to connect with someone there. The dog bond, aided by a card, made it very easy!

Posted on Sunday, Jun 07, 2009 – 05:58:00 AM CST  lizguthridge

RE: Great networking is all about diligence

Stacy … this is a good list of to-dos as you get ready to trek off to a conference, where we will both be in a few weeks. I am always struck by the serendipitous meetings and idea exchanges that occur in physical meetings, vs. those that take place online. The other interesting thing to me is that one small meeting in person is enough to keep a virtual relationship going for years. I’ve got to get better about getting cards and organizing them after I get back home. (Summer resolution).

Posted on Thursday, Jun 04, 2009 – 09:26:00 PM CST