Social Networking Inconsistencies

After 5 year of networking through several various avenues in Palm Beach County Area, I have seen it all when it comes to social networking for your business. I have seen frustrations, inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and even people that have wardrobe and hygiene issues. It amazes me how many people don’t realize that these four areas I just mentioned, can make or break their reputation as a person. This in turn can ruin their reputation as a business professional. I am one who personally gives everyone a chance to be a part of my social or networking circle, but it amazes me how several new small business owners present themselves.

The absolute most important thing I look for in a power partnership is complete trust. I ask myself the question, “why would I trust someone to refer them my clients, when I am unsure if I can trust this person myself”? The most important aspect in my eyes when it comes to trusting someone involves their consistency. I have met several people that are out marketing their business at various social events. Most of these people appear to be very friendly, approachable, and knowledgeable regarding the product they are promoting. Then it comes time for the follow up process of setting an appointment to meet for coffee. You would think that after meeting such a great person that presented themselves so well at a mixer, there would be no further issues? WRONG!!! In my opinion, it is this follow up process that starts to show people’s inconsistencies and in turn, makes me lose the trust factor I must have when networking my business with someone. Furthermore, there are some people you meet at these mixers that even take several weeks or months to return an e-mail or phone call for a follow up meeting.

I don’t think any of my clients would be happy being referred to someone’s services, and then that person providing the service, takes weeks to respond to my referral. So the bottom line regarding consistency, involves making me feel that I can trust someone with my clients that are providing my livelihood. Now what is a common reason or shall I say “excuse” I have heard regarding these inconsistencies? I hear things such as “I am swamped” or “I am sorry, I am not available until next month”. We all have busy lives and some of us even have large families that require a lot of attention on a daily basis. Regardless of how busy we all are, there is only one way to make any new business become successful, and once again, that involves you and your consistency towards your business as well. You have to learn how to balance your time between your business and personal lives which to me equals time management. Most people have difficulty managing their time and you can bet that this affects both their personal and business lives.

Before I became self employed about 5 years ago, I was involved in the corporate world for 16 years. What I learned in Corporate America that has given me a tremendous advantage in self employment, is how to read people and their intensions. Someone who may appear to have a friendly and outgoing personality, in my opinion, doesn’t give me enough to see their true intensions. I look to see how well they will follow up with me, and most important, how much they genuinely care about me as a human being, not just a referral source. Showing up at a social networking event alone is not going to provide you the lifestyle you are looking for.

In a previous Biznik article written by Kristy Swanson, she discussed Networking and Why It Sucks. This article really touched me. Although it is very direct, it makes some of the best points out there on why people fail in their small business opportunities. You can see that article by clicking on this link. It is people like Kristy Swanson that I enjoy working with because they are honest, direct, and most important, once again, very consistent! To add a few other areas when going to a business mixer, show up dressed nice and smelling good. Business networking is all about attraction. The longer you keep someone engaged in getting to know you, the better chance you have of befriending them outside the event. Always keep a positive attitude and as Kristy mentioned in her article, don’t go to these events to sell your products.

 You are there to sell your personality, and show people how good of a human being you are in the community. Also, you should know what you are talking about. Learn your business completely before you venture out to market it. Not knowing your product when someone asks you about it, can be just as devastating as bad hygiene. You will never be able to recover with that particular person once you show him or her inadequacies.

 Last but not least and probably most important, is to BE YOURSELF! I can’t emphasize this enough! People can read right through you when you put on an act of being overly professional. People are most professional when they are being themselves because they will bring something different to the table. The biggest turn off you can give someone is the feeling of kissing up to them just to get their business. Also, do you want to put people to sleep, or give them a part of you that they’ll never forget?

 We are all business professionals and everyone already knows this fact. You just need to get out there and show people who you really are, and the rest will fall into place. Although things will not happen overnight, as these relationships take time to build, if you “CONSISTENTLY” go to these events, you “CONSISTENTLY” run into the same people, and you are “CONSISTENT” with yourself first and foremost, in time, you will be shocked with the results.