We are a community!
As the organizer of NY Entrepreneurs Business Network (NYEBN), I am often asked this question by my fellow group members: “How Can I Become a Better Networker?” Well, in my opinion, it really boils down to how much you like people and how much you love to give. As you and I both know, we must give to receive. Relationship is what matters in business. I have thought of writing this post for a long time. My intent is to share my success in organizing events in New York City so our readers can benefit on both personal and professional levels. The following will include 5 key principles about how to use social media to become a better networker.
1. Twitter and Networking
I have written several articles about how to use Twitter. If you want to refresh your memory about Twitter, check here and here. I’ve met many introvert people during our previous networking events. Often times, they are too afraid to speak up. For the 30-second pitch session, some people couldn’t even stand in front of the crowd. To overcome this phobia, there are no better ways than just practicing. It is important to take the initiatives to talk to strange people anytime and anywhere you see fit.
In my opinion, Twitter has made this a lot easier. Since most of my followers are the people I don’t know, it gives me the opportunity to present my ideas in front of a bunch of strangers. Twitter is totally open. Just make sure you are not saying something defaming other people or organizations, it is really an excellent opportunity to practice your networking skills. So if you don’t have a twitter account yet, go to Twitter.com and get a free account. Follow the instructions to get started. Tweeting a few times a day, you will naturally feel more comfortable speaking in front of large crowds, which is the key of becoming a better networker.
2. LinkedIn and Networking
LinkedIn is designed for business professionals. So it perfectly fits into the context regarding the topic we discuss here. If you are not familiar with LinkedIn, check here and here. To simplify the process, I just have two pointers about LinkedIn. Firstly, pay more attention to LinkedIn groups. The group feature on LinkedIn allows you to identify the right local networking groups. If you join any of those groups, chances are good you will get future updates on most of your local events. Make a habit to participate in at least one of those events. Again, practice makes perfect. In order to get better with your networking skills, you must put yourself out there. Because I live in NYC, here are a couple NYC LinkedIn groups just for your reference:
Secondly, try to get more LinkedIn recommendations. The more recommendations you have, the better your confidence level will be. I have found that good networkers tend to have more confidence in themselves.
3. Meetup and Networking
NY Entrepreneurs Business Network is a group powered by the Meetup platform. To help you know more about Meetup, check here and here. Similar to the LinkedIn concept, try to participate more in your local Meetup gatherings. Initially, it may be tough to get new businesses if you are not familiar with Meetup. But hey, I only started my own networking group one year after I was introduced to Meetup. But look at what a great community we have now. To sign up for Meetup, go to Meetup.com.
4. Wordpress and Networking
No offense to other blog platforms. Because I host my blog on the Wordpress platform, that is why I use Wordpress as an example here. In my opinion, a Wordpress blog is similar to Twitter. While you have a 140 character limit on Twitter, a Wordpress blog allows your post to be as long as you want. I use my blog to promote my thoughts about networking (Like this one) and give plugs to my networking events. So far, it has worked out pretty well. To my realization, the more I share networking tips on my blog, the better my own skills get. If you love this blog, I would encourage you to subscribe to our feed.
5. Facebook and Networking
Although Facebook is the largest social network in the world, it is not my primary preference when it comes networking for a reason. Simply put, Facebook has become the victim of its own success. I gave up checking my Facebook direct messages a long time ago. There is just too much junk in my DM inbox, and it’s simply not worth it going through all those distraction messages. That said, Facebook is still a valuable resource if you can actively search for networking opportunities. For example, you can search for local events published on Facebook, which had been the prevailing networking resource for me prior to knowing Meetup.
Summary
In summary, I want to say what I am sharing here are the lessons I have learned from my first-hand experience. More or less, the principles should remain the same. It is just a matter of how you implement those techniques and how often you apply them. Of course, social media sites are a dime a dozen. I have only scratched the surface in this article. It is up to you to find out what sites best fit your needs and use them to sharpen your own networking skills. How are your networking skills? In your perspective, what is the key to becoming a better networker?
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