Business Networking does work
January 26, 2010 in Business Networking by Anton Koekemoer
Business social networking is very important if you want to grow your business. Business networking can range from virtual online social networks such as Facebook or LinkedIn to face to face meetings. Which form will work the best for you? I find that a mix of real and online social networking works the best for me.
It all depends on the age of your target customer to determine which way is the best. You can then match the preferences (age, demographics, gender, etc) of your targeted customer with the networking strategies that you are comfortable with.
Take a look below for the generational preferences.
- Baby boomers: The baby boomers is in their 50’s and 60’s and will usually always prefer face to face meetings. They are usually less comfortable with online communication and they like to interact verbally and when possible, in person.
- Generation X: These are people in their 30’s and 40’s and they tend to be more comfortable with technology and the online world. They usually prefer to keeping it simple and they are very likely to be using LinkedIn and other professional social networking tools.
- Generation Y: The Generation Y crowd is in their teens and 20’s and they are the most comfortable in using all forms of technology because they have grown up with all the latest technology trends. They know what they want and they will come and find you. They also usually have good presence on Facebook, Twitter and other popular social networking tools.
Face to face networking
Face to face networking includes lead groups that meets at your local chamber of commerce or with other organizations like BNI, etc. There’s also a couple of online networking services available online to find local group meetings. If you really must connect with senior level leaders, then attending a R1000.00 a plate dinner will be a better investment opportunity than attending a couple of networking breakfasts. Many professional associations have terrific opportunities for face to face networking.
Online Networking
The best online networking tools are those that can get you in front of your targeted customers. LinkedIn seems to be the best and most accepted professional business networking tool that is available internationally. Other popular tools includes Facebook, Twitter and SocialPress.
Category: Business NetworkingTags: Business Networking, online networking, social network
About the author: Anton Koekemoer
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Great Blog Anton
And I can definitely see what you are saying in action. I am finding the Baby Boomers while some of them get it there is still a very large percentage who don’t see the benefit at all of online networking and there is still a large proportion of these in top positions in companies which can make it a challenge to convince them that social media and online networking is the way forward.
phew I just make the 30’s and 40’s so I’m in there. Online networking has hugely impacted my life. Having come to a place in my life where I have developed this shy side to me, online networking is great for business. I would actually not even have a business today if it were not for online networking. I would in real life have no clients because I would be too shy to speak to them.
Offline networking definitely has its power, I know that I would do so much better if I was doing the face to face networking and doing the online netwoking too.
I think we should start some offline tweetups.
Romany
Thanks Romany for the comment. You are right. Online and off line networking is very powerful.