I have just recorded a wonderful conversation with David Phillips about the explosion of social networking which I will publish next week - but it has got me thinking about how we can put the social into on line networking. Here are some ideas
S= Smile, a hugely contagious emotion. Find a way of making people smile and enjoy the experience. Share gifts that will make people smile as it has a thought behind it - specific for them.
O=Offer referrals and recommendations of people that have made a difference in your life. It takes a couple of minutes for you to write a referral but the feeling of receiving it lasts hours....
C= Create a conversation on line. That is an old phrase but still people are fearful of joining in, they daren't join in on discussion boards or comments in fear of looking silly - always remember if it is your feeling, your idea, your question then there is nothing stupid about it. I know that I value each person who leaves a comment on this blog - whether I agree with them or not - because they have taken the time to share their thoughts.....share it with others and encourage others to join the dialogue.
I= Inspire others by asking how you can help them, what can you do today for your connections that will bring value to their life. When people connect they are introducing themselves....it is the handshake, but just as you wouldn't walk away from a physical handshake, why walk away from a virtual one?
A = Acknowledge each connection. Find out more about the people wanting to connect with you, reach out to them with a reply to find out more about them - it is not just about the breadth of your network but the depth of friendship as well.
L= Look for a way of helping others...is there something that you can do, or something that you can share that will brighten their day.
On top of that be polite...just as you would in the "real" world....and let's put the social into networking
