57,100 contacts in 2 weeks?

If you’ve been in business for even a little while you will have heard of the benefits of networking. Many people shudder at the thought because it conjures up images of dragging yourself to go to networking events and then force yourself on people so they will take your business card and hopefully sign up as a customer on the spot. In fact, nothing can be further from the truth if you want to effectively network to grow your business.

The networking leper

Do you recognise this person? Maybe it has been you? The one who races around handing out as many business cards as they can, only stopping to give you a monologue about their business. The one with a clear area around them as people try to get as far away as possible from them?

If this sounds like you, don’t worry. That’s how most people new to the idea of networking behave. And they are always disappointed.

The networking magnet

So how do you become an effective networker? I get all of my business and business opportunities from networking and I put this down to to one thing. When I meet people, whether socially or at a networking event, I go there with the thought “How can I help this person I have met?” If I can’t help them,” is there someone I know who can help them?” In fact, I usually carry around a small notebook so I can write down what I can do to help them so I remember to follow them up with the help they need. It’s the philosophy of “The more you give, the more you receive” or “Pay it Forward”.

The same concept applies with on-line networking. I’ll be talking about this a bit over the next few weeks (I have an exciting project coming up – the success of which will depend entirely on my ability to network!) . But first let me tell you about a networking tool that has been around for a while but which I have only explored in the last 2 weeks.

Linked – In

A few weeks ago I was invited to join Linked-In. The idea is based on the 6 degrees of separation idea. You know, that everyone in the world in separated by only 6 degrees. This person knows this person , who knows that person etc. This means that if you want to meet someone (such as I am looking for a really good copywriter who is a woman), in the off-line world I would ask people in my network if they know a good copy writer or if they know someone who knows one. Because they have been referred through a friend, or a friend of a friend, then you are more likely to trust them. That’s just how friendships (also known as networks, work).

Linked -in does this, except on-line. You invite people to join your network, they invite others and then you find yourself with an extended network you doidn’t really realise you had. All connected through friends so you can ask for personal recommendations.

57,100 contacts in 2 weeks

In the last 2 weeks I have invited people who I am in regular contact with to join me in Linked In. In 2 short weeks, I have 57,100 people I can contact through friends and friends of friends. WOW.

As with all effective networking I have grown this network by using the philosophy of giving before I receive. When a person is added to my list that I know, I take the time to write a recommendation for them. If I have used their services, dealt with them as a colleague or if they have been a client, I can usually find something to say in their favour. This is really valuable as people searching for their services will be able to read my recommendation and be more likely to contact them about working together. The nice thing, is most people return the favour.

Why not check out my profile on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/janetbeckers and feel free to ask to join my network?

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