As we roll into a new year business professionals should consider taking time to strengthen their relationships. It can be a simple task that connects you at the same time. Over the past month I have contacted many people I have not spoken with for sometime. The "catch up" is wonderful. You learn so much about what is happening with everyone and in business. More importantly you stay top of mind with them and build the relationship.
Last week we discussed how important it is to keep in touch with business professionals. Today I have decided to share my own personal experience over the past week.
Over the course of 2009 we discussed the importance of "keeping in touch". Over the past two weeks I have been pleasantly surprised with contacts of old friends and business associates. Many I have not chatted with in years. I have had four contacts within the past few weeks from business professionals I have lost contact with.
Everyday I am reminded of how much we are all connected. One day on my Blackberry I received a important message. I opened the message it was from a gentleman I had worked with over 10 years ago. He was searching for me. He placed a message on his Facebook and on LinkedIn that he was looking for a person he worked with named Rita Schwartz. Within minutes my email box had messages of this.
I replied and contacted Anthony with the information he provided. Anthony and I had reconnected through other sources of media. Anthony had left the company we worked at to attend graphics training. He completed his graphics training - worked for a series of years, had two more lovely children, taught in a school for a bit and now runs his own business. Anthony will be starting Genie Network groups in Arizona shortly to build and connect business professionals within his area.
Anthony also shared that if you have a web site and do not blog, have a Facebook page for your business or personal pages that markets your business, you are missing traffic that you would not have received on your web site. What does this do for you? It will increases your rankings on Google, when someone Googles your name or business name or type of business you have - the rankings on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin are strong and lead your search to your website.
While it is not mandatory to create all the different entities one must realize the way we connect with one another is changing and will continue to evolve the way we connect. Keep in mind the personal contact has not diminished - it is the way we keep each other informed about what we are doing.
Another success story. Many of you know I have a Facebook page. I originally started this page to connect with family members who are spread over the U.S. It now has become a collection of past business relationships, friends, co-workers, friends and growing daily. It has also has me hooked on Farmville. Many of you know I grew up in rural Minnesota and this has somehow hit a string of interest with me lately. Besides the choice I made to play Farmville I have been able to connect with many people I would have lost contact with.
Jamie found me on Facebook after we both left a company we worked at. I am now working with Jamie on a project to help him.
These are just two small stories I have had with Business Networking through other medias. Is it worth the time and effort to networking on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other medias. I believe it is invaluable tool. You need to ask yourself - of all the hundreds of people you have touched over the years - if only one contacted you for business - would it be worth your time?
People buy from people they like, trust and know - if you do not keep in touch how will you be the one they buy from when they are ready or refer to when they meet someone.
