Enhance Your Business Networking with Social Media

​In the days before the internet, people would attend mixers to meet people in their industry. That has not changed; people still attend mixers, but they are now called networking events.

Networking is crucial to business. Very few businesses today claim to have too much business. Relying upon advertising alone will not bring in the business or the new employees that you need to fuel your growth. Today, networking can happen in-person or virtually through social media. Not only can you network on social media, but you can enhance your in-person networking by building a solid social media network. You can also use social media to find out about networking events in your area. Events are often posted on these platforms and you might be able to find them via groups or by searching tags.

Networking is the first step of building a relationship with a person with whom you want to work or do business. There are both realistic and unrealistic goals. You cannot expect to do business with every person to whom you hand your business card. Just as, you cannot expect to hire the first person you interview. You must get to know the person. They must explain how they will be able to solve your problem. This simply cannot be done with an exchange of a piece of paper.

Here are a few guidelines to review.

Before an Event

• Know what type of event it is.
• Set goals for the event – for example, you could aim to meet three new potential employees.
• If possible, research who will be there.
• Make sure you have enough business cards.
• Prepare for the event:
• Refine your elevator speech
• Brush up on current events
• Reload business cards
• Have a plan
• Locate your name badge
• Think of a question to "get-to-know" you

At the Event

• Wear your name tag on your right shoulder because when shaking hands. The other person's eyes travel up your arm to see your name.
• Shake hands firmly – like the three bears, not to firm, not to soft, just right.
• Make eye contact with the person you are meeting.
• Repeat the person's name.
• Listen – You are ultimately trying to hire this person to help your business. However, it's still important to listen to what they have to say. Hiring is a two-way street, as it benefits both the company and the employee in many ways.
• Share a business card. However, do not assume that the person wants your business card. A potential employee may ask for your card if they are interested. If they do not, ask them if they would like to exchange cards.
• Let the person know what your company is about. Give them a reason to be interested.
• Hold back on the sales pitch until you have found a common ground.
• Pay it forward – ­­Think about who you know who might be able to help the person.

After the Event

• Determine how you will follow-up with the people whose business cards / resumes you collected at an event. If it was a job fair, you should have a date when you anticipate replying to everyone.
• Follow your plan for reaching out after an event:
• Connect on LinkedIn or another social platform, especially if the person may be a source for the future.
• Send an email. This practice may take some time if it is after a job fair. If it is general networking and you want to establish a connection, this is a good way to reach them directly.
• Schedule a time to meet. As a hiring manager, you may be in a heavy recruiting phase and may want to pitch that job opening with a potential hire.
• Keep your promise! If you volunteered to do something for the person you met, like an introduction, follow through.

Remember that in marketing, it is not about who you know, but who they know. The person you met may not be looking right now. They may not be the perfect lead for the product you are selling. They may not be in the correct industry. When you meet a person, you have no idea who they know. But, that person may have the absolute perfect connection, inside their network, to whom they could introduce you.

As mentioned earlier, networking still revolves around people meeting people. You can find new people to meet or enhance the connections you have with someone by using the right social media tools!