Online and Offline Networking go Hand in Hand

At a meeting earlier this month people were talking about how difficult it is to keep track of all the interactions we now have both online and offline. Last month in my National Networker Column I wrote about the many different ways we have of keeping in touch with the advent of social networks and social media. Online networks give us a a really effective tool for supporting our offline business networking activities. As I have written before, though, they only do that, however, if we go about both activities strategically.

In an article on the NRG-networks website I shared my top 10 tips for building business with the effective use of offline & online networks:

1. Get comfortable with how networking works
2. Develop a plan
3. Identify the people you already know, like & trust
4. Identify the offline networks to join
5. Show a genuine interest in other people
6. Always follow up contacts
7. Identify the online networks to join and start a blog
8. Make online contacts and build relationships first
9. Arrange contact meetings
10. Develop Networking Advocates

More on each point in the article, top 10 tips for building business with the effective use of offline & online networks

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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How do you manage your contacts?

After yesterday's post on 'how good are you at staying in touch' a couple of contacts asked how can you 'manage' your contacts. It's becoming a problem for them because they use a combination of Outlook and other software and online networks are adding complexity.

Here are some things that I do to help manage the interactions with my network:

1. I use our internal contact management system in the member area of the NRG-networks website.
2. In Outlook I arrange my contacts into categories so that I can ensure I am spending enough time with my Inner Network & Advocates. I talked about these categories in a podcast, How to start building your network.
3. I arrange my online contacts into lists or groups on the different platforms.
4. I use an Outlook plug in from Xobni.com which shows me whether a contact is on Linkedin, Facebook or Twitter together with their latest updates.

I would be very interested in learning how you manage your contacts.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Are you good at staying in touch?

Like many others at this time of year we receive a number of letters from old friends summing up the year just gone by. It's great to hear about the stories they share. Sadly this seems to be the only time of year we do hear from some people. So it is great to find that more and more old friends, colleagues and acquaintances are creating profiles and posting updates on social networks and social media sites.

My experience is that online networks are great for staying in touch and a really good way to get started is to connect with the people you already know. You can also reconnect with people you have lost touch with. The major ones for me are Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter and Ecademy.

I created my profile on Linkedin about six years ago. More and more people I meet express the view that Linkedin is increasingly more important for business connections.

I joined Ecademy six years ago too and I have found it great for two things;
1. Connecting with some great people and building friendships through the clubs that meet offline.
2. Learning all about online social networks and social media.

I joined Facebook more recently and it is very useful for both social and business communication. I have a personal profile and a business one too. On the social side I am regularly in touch with family and friends who share news and photos. On the business side I can interact with people with similar interests.

Twitter is great for sharing content and signposting others to the useful stuff that people in my network provide regularly.

For more how the online fits into networking generally see 'How to Effectively Combine Offline & Online Networking'.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Does your website tell us about you or some Corporate We?

In an excellent talk at an NRG networking lunch in London this week Ecademy founder Penny Power was sharing some of the insights from her new book. Know Me, Like Me, Follow Me is all about what online social networking means for you and your business.

One of the points was that building trust is fundamental. Your clients are more interested in the person behind the brand not the brand. One of the mistakes that small businesses make is to try and look bigger and more corporate than they really are. You can see this in many websites which are all about some 'Corporate We'. People are much more interested in YOU than that.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Faster relationship building with Social Networks

In 'Can you accelerate trust?' I wrote about the process of building trust in business networking. The question of the time it takes came up again today in an NRG seminar on building business with the effective use of offline & online networks.

It takes time and regular interaction to build relationships as this graphic illustrates:

The old tools we had - address book, phone, mail and various face to face interactions have been supplemented by email and now social media and social networks.

That can help to make it all much quicker!

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Are you keeping up with your conversations online

I have blogged before about using Social Media and Social Networks to listen and engage in conversations. Here are a couple of examples from the last couple of days to illustrate this.

On Friday I blogged 'What is this #FollowFriday on Twitter?' and one of the people I mentioned was Jon Davey. Yesterday I received an email from Jon in reply because he had been alerted by Google Alerts. One of the thing he uses that for is to listen for mentions of 'Business in Berkshire'.

Yesterday I blogged 'Does it really cost that much?' and Nigel Morgan replied on Twitter, "If you question the value of networking, check the mirror!". A couple of people replied to Nigel on Twitter and then Nigel replied again, but on my Linkedin profile this time.

Are you listening and engaging online about things relevant to you and your business?

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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What is this #FollowFriday on Twitter?

In a One on One meeting earlier this week the other person said to me "I have just joined Twitter, what is this #FollowFriday?" I explained that on Fridays many people tweet the names of Twitter users they would like others to follow and tag the update with #followfriday. "Who would you recommend?" she said.

So far I have advocated these experts in their respective fields:

@ajwilcox Mind mapping generally and Mind Manager specifically
@andylopata Advice on effective business networking strategy
@AlanRae helpful stuff for growing businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs
@askten interesting facts daily
@BernieJMitchell Everything networking in Kings Cross and Olympic 2012 Boroughs
@BookMarkLee Helping accountants and those who want to work with accountants
@GrahamJones Great insights on using the internet to really connect with people
@jondavey Business in Berkshire and New Business Leads
@nicktadd Help with twitter & other Social Media
@Nigel_Morgan PR advice on creating a great reputation
@NigelTemple Practical small business marketing hints & tips
@Richard_White Daily sales tips and recommendations from the Accidental Salesman®
@Rodsloane No bull small business marketing
@Thebookwright Unleash that book inside you...!

For the history of how this all developed see '#FollowFriday: The Anatomy of a Twitter Trend'

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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How do you listen online?

In 'The benefits of listening first' I wrote about a couple of examples from Graham Jones which demonstrated the millions of dollars of business being generated by Companies like Dell & Starbucks from listening for and then joining online conversations. A couple of days ago Graham gave a similar talk at the NRG London City Business Networking Group.

One person asked "How do you listen on Twitter?". Good question!

Graham provided the answer. On the right hand side on Twitter is a search box. On the results page you can save the search so every time you go back you get updated results. Follow this link for a Twitter search for NRG networking to see how it works.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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The benefits of listening first

At a couple of seminars last week on social media people asked about whether Twitter was relevant for their business. Graham Jones gave a couple of examples in his talk about how the best results come from listening out for people who are searching for answers to their problems. He cited the millions of dollars of business being generated by Companies like Dell & Starbucks.

Instead of just broadcasting what you do use the technology to find what people are searching for help with. You can then provide the answers and share your expertise. Over time people will refer others to you and will be prepared to listen to your offers. If you just shout first then nobody will listen.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Are you an authority on your subject?

Yesterday I wrote about finding the time for online networking. One of the real benefits of your online contributions is the way you can use them to add value and demonstrate your real expertise. In 'How you can use Twitter and Facebook to be persuasive' Graham Jones explains the psychology behind this.

As Graham says you can use Twitter and Facebook and all the other social networks to show you are an authority on your subject by publicising:

* Your original content
* Your thoughts on current research
* Your readiness and ability to answer questions
* Your leadership position in associated organisations
* Your connections with other authorities

Read the full article at the link above.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Walking the walk and not just talking the talk

Successful networkers build their reputation at the same time as building relationships. Networking, both online and offline, is a great way of building your reputation by sharing your expertise. Your advocates can then make connections for you when the right opportunity presents itself.

I get many offers from people interested in speaking at NRG business networking events. I explain that we concentrate on Practical Business and Personal Development in the Seminars at our Networking Events and that priority is given to NRG members when choosing presenters. They are not Sales Pitches and by educating and informing other members and guests the speakers build their own reputation and help others achieve their own goals. This enhances the overall networking experience and strengthens the relationships being built.

Many of the offers recently have been from 'Social Media Experts'. I always speak to people I trust about prospective speakers. I also google them to check out their online presence and contribution. In one or two instances even these 'social media experts' have only had a limited presence online. Can you really speak authoritatively about Social Media with a handful of followers on Twitter and even fewer updates?

Much of your reputation comes from what you do rather than what you say. Make sure you are doing the things that match and enhance the message you are giving to your network. If you are referred to someone then that person will probably speak to others and check you out online too.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Is networking still relevant?

On Monday evening this week I gave a quick interview to Rod Sloane before his talk on 'How to Barack Obama Your Business'. Rod asked me if networking was still relevant in today's Social Media World.

I replied that, in this world of huge choice, networking is more important than ever. Faced with thousands of possible suppliers on the Internet we rely on the recommendation of a trusted friend more than ever.

Rod used his iPhone to record the interview and then uploaded it from his iPhone. Listen to the audioboo interview here.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Are you listening or shouting online?

I have listened to Graham Jones speak at seminars at NRG Business Networking Events a couple of times recently. His theme has been 'How to double your Web Site Traffic'. His advice has been gratefully received (and hopefully acted on!) by the participants.

More and more people have asked him about Twitter during the presentations and he has given a couple of great examples about how you can use Twitter (and other Social Media) to listen for conversations relevant to you and your business and then engage in those conversations. Many business people have looked at Twitter and assumed it is for shouting about your services rather than engaging in conversations. This is a bit like going to a networking event and selling to the people there. I have written in previous posts that networking is not selling.

I have a couple of automated Twitter searches set up for Networking and NRG Networking specifically. On more than a few occasions recently I have been alerted to comments about NRG from members and guests and then responded directly to questions from people who replied to those comments.

For more on this subject take a look at Graham's excellent Beginners Guide to Twitter.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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The Compass, the Clock & Networking

In 'Leadership and Networking' I wrote about the Mastering Leadership Event from William Montgomery of askten. William used an illustration of a compass and a clock to help you focus on your top priorities. The compass represents your direction and the clock how you manage your time.

In networking think about the compass when working out your strategy. This includes why you are networking, where you are headed with your networking and what you need to do to get there. What networks are a good strategic fit for you. The key relationships to focus on & the time you will invest.


Think about the clock for managing your time in relation to your networking activities. When you schedule time for a networking meeting also schedule in the time for follow up & 121 meetings. When you promise to do something then schedule a specific time. If Online Networks and Social Media are important to your business then schedule specific time.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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The Tipping Point & Online Networking

I was explaining how to integrate online and offline networking to someone at an NRG seminar recently. In '10 tips for building business with the effective use of offline & online networks' I suggest that you identify the online networks to join and start a blog. Your blog is the cornerstone of your online presence and the image below from the Logic + Emotion Blog in 'Twitter Tuesday, Influence Ripples + Tipping Points' is a great visual aid to illustrate my point.

The 3 types of networkers identified in the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell are shown and described. The Salesman uses knowledge to engage and persuade, the Maven connects people through sharing knowledge, the Connector connects people to each other. To be effective online you need to be a bit of each (or get people to do some of it for you). Think of your blog as engaging and persuading, then use social media to share knowledge and social networks to share connections.


Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Offline still most important for Word of Mouth

A couple of years ago in 'Word of Mouth: The real action is offline' I wrote about research from the Keller Fay Group revealing that 72% of all word of mouth interaction took place face-to-face.

A recent report from Mintel finds people still prefer real-life recommendations to online.

So while Social Media and Social Networks are becoming increasingly important in maintaining and building relationships don't forget to focus on the offline.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Twitter for business

Twitter, other Social Media and Social Networks are proving a great resource for building relationships in the small business area. Many of the people you meet or would like to meet are using these sites to stay in touch and share their expertise.

Getting started on a site like Twitter can be daunting so I am pleased that NRG-networks member, Graham Jones, has produced an easy to follow guide. It has links to other useful resources and you can download at:

Beginner's Guide to Twitter

If you are on Twitter already you can find me at http://twitter.com/DaveClarke

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success

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Effective online networking in groups

As you make more contacts online on sites like Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter it can be hard to maintain effective communication. A great way to focus some of the conversation is to start a group where you can share your expertise and engage with people who are truly interested. I have been invited by a number of contacts to new groups they have started this week on Linkedin & Facebook. We have NRG-networks groups on these networks where we share content and interact.

Take a look at these NRG-networks online groups for the type of things you can do with minimal effort:

NRG-networks Group on Facebook

NRG-networks Group on Linkedin

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Using Social Media to spread Word of Mouth

Yesterday I wrote about the conversation I was having with a Service Business Owner about Twitter. On Friday last week I attended an excellent presentation from Internet Pyschologist Graham Jones about increasing website traffic with 2 simple steps. The Two steps are firstly to generate regular and consistent content, then promote it.

Graham mentioned the drop in his web traffic when not signposting & sharing his content via Twitter. As I wrote in 'How do I use Twitter & Social Networks?' Twitter and other Social Media are great for sharing your expertise and building your reputation.

Are you utilising Social Media in this way?

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Engaging in relevant conversations with Social Media

I was speaking with the owner of an Internet Services Business last week about the Seminar I attended earlier in the week from Grant Leboff. I wrote about Grant's views in my post 'Are you the answer for your network?'.

During the conversation he said that he wasn't really sure what to make of Twitter. I said that it was helping me to engage with interested people much quicker than has ever been possible before. Also to track the effectiveness of positive Word of Mouth for your business.

For example a few weeks ago one of the attendees at a monthly NRG Business Networking Event tweeted about his positive experience and a great presentation. The presenter, Ant Hodges, retweeted and one of his contacts asked "What is NRG". Ant replied "NRG is the most effective business networking organisation I have been part of - follow @DaveClarke or visit nrg-networks.com"

Are you engaging in relevant conversations online & keeping track of your 'Word of Mouth'?

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success

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