Confluence Networking Discussion of Business Blogging: Get Out To It!

They Will Remember You in the Bust Not the Boom

Seth Godin has a great post today talking about customer service in the boom and in the bust. It is a short little piece called a Friend In Need. I am going to go ahead and post it in the blog to give you the full experience:

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Online and Offline Networking: Connect the Two

The past couple of posts at KyleLacy.com have been about the value of a relationship driven model of social networking. The process of connecting to individuals on and off the web is an extremely important idea that needs to be embraced.

Chris Brogan has always done an excellent job at giving tips on connecting to your readership, as well as, social media friends and acquaintances. He wrote recently on the Five Ways to Connect and Add Value to your networking practices. I thought I would add my own spin on connecting on and offline.

1. Combine Online and Offline Connections

In any business centered social networking group in an offline environment being a connector is a huge priority to most members. In Indianapolis we have Rainmakers, the Chamber of Commerce, and BNI (plus many more).

Personally, I am a member of the Rainmakers Marketing Group. We have hub meetings all over the state of Indiana and we are approaching 3000 members in the community. The group has recently launched a social media platform for the members called: Let’s Make It Rain. The community has allowed for members to network online and move the relationships to an offline meeting (whether lunch or coffee). This has increased the potential for strategic relationships because of the power of connecting 24/7 in an online environment.

I use the sites Let’s Make it Rain and Smaller Indiana to align myself with professionals I may not meet at a Rainmakers Marketing event. If you can use both networking mediums (web and events) to grow your network you have a better chance of connecting with the right people!

Combine the two models to get the most out of networking (whether business of personal).

2. If You Want To Be Interesting, Be Interested

This follows the second guideline on the Chris Brogan post, Connecting Other People. A fellow FriendFeeder, Mona N. (check out her blog), posted a feed that had this image.

This image speaks volumes when pertaining to the concept of the value of connection in social media and networking.

If you want to be interesting to other people you need to be conscious of what they are needing in return. If someone sends you business, write them a note or send them a gift card!

Always be thinking about the individuals who helped you get to where you are today. In the small business world and even in social media this is the most valuable concept you can and SHOULD remember.

Pay it forward. Always, pay it forward. Take interest in what your friends are posting. Take interest in what your clients are doing (other than your project.

Be Interesting. Take value in what others are offering. Connect with your online friends in an offline environment. Make the community a rich combination of community and influence.

Social Media has huge potential to help companies all over the world connect with each other. It is our place to help that dream become reality.

Week 1: Social Media Mission: James Paden

It is now time for the first installment of the Social Media Mission 2008. I had the pleasure of meeting a fellow Hoosier here in Indianapolis named James Paden. I met James on Twitter.

What do you love about social media?

I don’t know if I love social media at the moment. I read a lot of blogs from time to time but I haven’t, until recently, tried to do any online networking. I’ve always been busy. Twitter has gotten the best of me lately and I have been pleasantly surprised by the affect that it has had, meeting new people and networking.

I have been a big believer in LinkedIN (James’ profile) for a long time.

Why are you big believer in LinkedIN?

I see the value of having a business focused network rather than having the typical Facebook and Myspace friends. I am very much a business oriented type of guy. It allows me to reach people that I wouldn’t be able to reach normally. I really appreciate the questions and answers section.

How long have you been on Twitter?

I have been actively twittering for about 3 weeks.

Okay, so, you don’t know whether you love social media. What is one thing you love about the Internet?

I love building websites. I love creating small business. I have an entrepreneurial mentality. It is fairly easy to be able to take an idea and transfer it into the Internet world. That is what I love.

What do you love about building websites?

I love creating things. As a kid, my group of friends always loved to play in the make believe world. Using GI Joes or any other type of imaginary game (ie. cops and robbers). When we played Lego, my siblings would always just play with the toys. I always focused on building something. I love to build by nature, creating things from scratch is a passion of mine.

How much time do you spend on the Internet daily?

I sleep for eight hours.

So that means you spend around 15 hours on the Internet? What the heck do you on the Internet for 15 hours?

I get up in the morning and go to work. I am a lead developer for a network of e-commerce websites. I will spend eight to nine hours at work. I will go home and have a quick supper and work on either my freelance client’s websites or my web designers directoy.

Let me stop you. Tell me about this web designers directory.

The web designers directory grew out of my freelance web design companies website. In late 2005, my search engine ranking had grown to the point where I thought I could profit more from referring visitors to other designers and their website rather than just working as a freelancers.

I am really trying to focus on becoming involved in social networking to connecting with designers and web programmers to further my visibility in LinkedIN, Twitter, Plaxo etc.

What is your favorite spam bot on Twitter?

You, man. No I’m kidding. Santaclaus_127. He/She/It is a pain.

I would like to thank James for taking the time to sit down with me. It was a great honor to meet him and connect a face with the twitter account. Thanks James! Stay tuned for the next week meet.