A Handshake and a Smile
2009
I worked in IT for over a decade and still, there’s nothing I love more than spending the day in front of my computer. I am a very social person but in my day to day life, if I can communicate with people without actually having to speak to them I’m thrilled! I can get my point across with a bulleted email, a short post on Facebook or an update on Twitter in less than 140 characters…a phone call can take hours and accomplish nothing more.
In hopes of promoting my new business, I’ve spent months developing my “brand” and presence in the Social Media universe. In the process I have made some great contacts, built solid relationships and have learned the power and benefits of Social Networking. To know that I can connect with millions of people all over the world for free is truly amazing and what’s even more amazing is that more businesses are not taking advantage of it.
While I was making friends and familiarizing the world with my name, I was not building my business. So I read more articles, followed more people, and posted more often but I still wasn’t getting the publicity I wanted and needed. Then I asked myself…what is my target audience and how can I get in front of them to pitch my business? Well, since my target audience is local small businesses the best way to introduce my services to them would be to meet them face to face…what a concept!
The next day I scoured our local paper looking for business socials coming up and saw that the Chamber of Commerce was having a mixer. I called a couple friends that are active in the community and asked if they would meet me there to introduce me to anybody they knew, to my delight they both agreed! At that mixer I met a gentleman that pretty much spends all his time at local business events and asked if I could tag along to some of them, amazingly he also agreed. I spent the next two weeks going to mixers almost nightly and was introduced to what seemed like half the town. I traded cards with people, generally asking questions about their business and always followed up with an email simply saying “it was a pleasure to meet you last night at the…”.
The response to my efforts was immediate and surprising. I’d gotten farther with a few handshakes than I did with hundreds of hours on-line. The phenomenon brought to mind how authors do signing tours after their books hit the shelves, and movie stars run the talk show circuit when their movies debut. So why do they do that, if we like them we’re going to buy the book or see their movie regardless right? They do it because they want us to connect with ‘them’ and not the character they’re playing or writing about. Business is no different, we want to build a relationship with the people we do business with and we need to develop a trust.
So am I saying social networking isn’t worthwhile? Not at all, I’m saying you have to do both. With social media you have a voice that spans the world enabling you to connect to people you wouldn’t be able to otherwise, but nothing will ever replace the power of a handshake and a smile.
November 12th, 2009 at 10:44 AM
I agree with you completely. I think in all our efforts of connecting globally with individuals, we are forgetting to be social with those in our immediate vicinity.
Think about your friends on Facebook that are within 30 minutes of you. How often do you get together with them. It seems to be a growing trend to be ‘social’ online because its easier or takes less time, but the truth is, we can be missing out on valuable connections – both with friends and potential clients.
This is a really good reminder. Thanks.
November 12th, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Wow, this is one of those rare posts where I agree with everything you said. The virtual world and the “real” world are exclusive of one another. Nothing can replace human touch, face to face interaction. We have a relatively new medium, the Internet and some people are led to believe it has replaced human contact.
The one thing I would add is, sometimes it is better to make a call rather than text or email. The person you call can hear your voice if nothing else, a step up the communication ladder from simple writing. I have played email tag with people, finally calling and fixing the problem over the phone.
Great post.
November 12th, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Lorann,
Great article! I think you’re dead on here. Social media is a great way to foster existing relationships and to get the word out about you, your brand, etc. But in many cases it’s not enough. It’s part of the equation for success – not the entire solution!
-Jon
November 12th, 2009 at 12:38 PM
You’ve said it before, Lorann, on a tweet I read and liked very much. That one tweet was why I started following you on Twitter. You’ve said it beautifully again, in this blog post.
Face to face, beats on-line, time after time. Social Media initiatives are marvellous things, and they do help us to overcome those limitations of time and space that would prevent us from getting out, meeting and greeting as often as we’d like. In the end, though, the only true long-term trust builder is the face to face meeting. We’re human, and we’d like to stay that way.
You do such a beautiful job of presenting that concept and transmitting those values in your on-line presence, that it is clear you also do it well in person.
Keep encouraging people to remember that we wish to make permanent connections with people, not avatars. Balancing both worlds the real world of the trees and the bees and the surreal world of the internet birds is an art-form and you are an artist. In the end, the trees have the shade and the bees have the honey. That you recognize that immutable fact, proves that you are one wise bird.
Best Wishes and Keep Writing Right,
Clarisa
November 12th, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Thank you Clarisa, very kind words and you yourself are a very wise bird!
November 12th, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Very good point Hal and I couldn’t agree more. I too have put out or avoided many a-fire by just picking up the phone and offering a friendly voice. Email and text leaves so much for interpretation and generally not the way you intended. Thank you!
November 12th, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Sadly you are right, I have many friends and family I only keep up with on Facebook or Twitter and we live very close. I will say though that I have found friends I haven’t seen or heard of in decades through Facebook and we do get together…so there’s your yin and yang I guess! Thank you for the comment and a good reminder as well.
December 7th, 2009 at 2:26 PM
I personally think that too many people forget to treat places like Facebook and Twitter like they woudl when they meet people in person. It’s amazing to me how many wonderful people I know that suddenly put on a “sales” hat and forget about connection and relationship building!
I teach my clients: “Networking in person and online should be the same!”
Ann Evanston
Warrior-Preneur
The Warrior is Within You
December 16th, 2009 at 10:06 PM
You do have a good way with words. Lovely responses, Lorann. I agree, keep on writing.
August 4th, 2010 at 8:28 PM
Odd , your post shows up with a grey hue to it, what color is the primary color on your site?
August 5th, 2010 at 8:56 PM
Appreciate the advice! I’ll give it a try.