I wrote this on a train heading into London earlier this year and it was first published at the new home of the business networking blog. I was on my way to a 'Digital Mindset' workshop from Ecademy founders Penny & Thomas Power. The idea that Ecademy website was about 'Learning, networking and business development for the digital age' got me thinking about whether things have really changed.
If we are in a 'digital age' what does this mean for the Owners, Directors and Partners of small specialist businesses and professional firms? It is mainly these people who go networking as their primary route to market.
Most of the people I meet in this category are passionate about what they do and are open and transparent about what they do and why. It is this passion, openness & transparency that gives them an advantage in this digital age. It is exactly the right approach online.
Contrast this with the news furore at the time about wikileaks. Whatever the rights or wrongs of leaking the information the revelations showed some of our politicians, diplomats and representatives of big business taking the opposite approach. Saying one thing in private and another thing in public. The internet has made it easier to judge openness, honesty and transparency. The very things that small business is mainly better at that big business.
You may have heard the expression 'people buy people'. The approach for the digital age is the same as what came before.
Be yourself!
Good Networking!Dave Clarke
ps Visit the new home of the business networking blog for the latest posts
Social Network for Business Networking Professionals to market their business, press, blogs, events and networks.
The Business Networking Blog is moving
The Business Networking Blog has a new home at https://www.nrg-networks.com/blogs.php?cat=1. Please check the new location for new posts with business networking tips, hints, advice and stories.
The full archive of posts is also available at the new site.
For new posts go the new home of the business networking blog.
EDIT July 5, 2011
A number of people still visit here so I'm going to start adding posts here too. It may take a while to catch up.
Good Networking!Dave Clarke
The full archive of posts is also available at the new site.
For new posts go the new home of the business networking blog.
EDIT July 5, 2011
A number of people still visit here so I'm going to start adding posts here too. It may take a while to catch up.
Good Networking!Dave Clarke
Do you know where you are starting from?
Over the last week or so my inbox has been full of well meaning advice about goal setting and new year resolutions. The same topics have seemed to dominate on blogs and social media. One thing has been missing from a lot of what I have read - the importance of knowing where you are starting from. You may be a lot nearer to your goals than you think. One of the common mistakes people make when building a business network is thinking that it is all about making new contacts. Don't forget the people who already know, like, rate and trust you.
I shared some tips on how to identify the people already in your network in a short podcast that you can listen to here:
I heard someone say once that if you don't know where you are going then any road will do as you don't know which one to follow. Equally if you don't know where you are then you don't know which road to take.
Good Networking!Dave Clarke
I shared some tips on how to identify the people already in your network in a short podcast that you can listen to here:
I heard someone say once that if you don't know where you are going then any road will do as you don't know which one to follow. Equally if you don't know where you are then you don't know which road to take.
Good Networking!Dave Clarke
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