For some, the online world of social media networking has been a boon of incredible proportions. They live in rural areas or they are shy or they are young business people who are new to networking. For one reason or another, they entered into and felt more comfortable and accomplished with the online social networking than the in-person, business to business networking.
But like those in the business arena who are refusing to enter into the online melee, those who are avoiding face-to-face networking are missing out on an important dimension of building their personal connections in the real world.
Networking
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Start Small
If the reason you've avoided in-person business networking events in favor of online is because you are introverted, quiet or a bit shy, don't feel like you have to plunge into the local chamber of commerce mega-mixer to begin with. Start small and find business clubs or groups that are smaller. Luncheons can be a good option because even if there are a lot of people attending, you really only have to interact and deal with the 6 or 7 other people at your table.
Start Really Small
When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, he intended it to transfer sound waves so that we could converse with someone far away. When you get used to "talking" online you forget that the sound of voices together sharing information, laughter and encouragement can be very powerful. If you're interested in building your conversational skills, make a telephone "appointment" with a new online connection. You can also use this to strengthen connections with "old" social media friends who don't live near you.
Take It to RL (Real Life)
You can build your face to face network by starting with your online friends. If you've been "friends" with someone on Facebook or LinkedIn for some time and you have hobbies or goals in common, it would be very natural to meet in person. Set up a coffee meeting. You don't have to do it all the time, but getting together once or twice a year will create much better bond than just connecting online. And, it gives you a great opportunity to practice your conversational skills.
Look to your social media networking strengths as a starting place for building your business to business, face to face network. Take the skills you've already build and convert them to the "real world." For more ideas on doing this, see the sequel to this article titled "Networking Tips: How to Transfer Your Social Networking Skills into Real-World Networking Skills."
Networking Tips: More Ways to Transfer Your Social Networking Skills Into Real-World Networking
Beth Bridges has attended over 2,000 networking events in the last 7 years as the Membership Director and Chief Networking Officer of a large west coast chamber of commerce. She took her in-person networking skills and transferred them online. That worked well, too.
Do you want to grow your network, fine-tune your networking and grow your business? Try the Networking Motivator Newsletter for free at www.TheNetworkingMotivator.com.
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Copyright Beth Bridges, 2010
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