Learn the Smart Way to Network with Liz Lynch

admin — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:12:47 +0000

If you are looking for a new job or trying to further your career, then there is one important skill you must know. A lot of you might cringe when I say it but, you have to know how to network with your peers. Well, don’t worry and take a deep breath, because networking expert Liz Lynch is going to help you out with her new book, “Smart Networking.”

Liz is the founder of the Center for Networking Excellence which develops products, programs and seminars to help professionals and entrepreneurs attract new clients through networking. I first met Liz through Twitter, the wildly popular micro-blogging service that is connecting millions of people worldwide. So, that gives you a first hand example of how well she knows networking in this connected world.

Lucky for you, Liz agreed to answer some questions about networking. Without further delay, here is the virtual interview.

What inspired you to write the book?

When I started speaking and writing about networking five years ago, online networking was very nascent. But my focus from the very beginning was always about networking smarter, not harder, and I applied that thinking strictly to in-person activities. Now we have tools that can take the “smarter not harder” mantra one step further. And while a lot has been written, and still continues to be written, about the tools themselves, I think what most people really want to know about the tools is not about every feature, but about how it can help them speed up, reduce or eliminate steps in the networking process. I thought it was time for a book that brought those two worlds together into one cohesive package.

What role does Web 2.0 have in networking today?

All the things you would want to achieve with a face-to-face network, namely information sharing, collaboration and community, you can do more quickly and with a bigger, more diverse community online with Web 2.0 tools, so it dovetails perfectly.

What are some of the mistakes you see people make when using social networking?

I think the biggest mistake is not realizing that social networking sites are just tools, just like Microsoft Excel is a tool. Using Excel is not going to turn you into a math genius, you still have to know the underlying fundamentals of the calculations that you want to do. It’s the same thing with social networking. You have to understand the fundamentals of building relationships first. Otherwise, you’ll just alienate a lot more people more quickly than if you met them in person.

Is online networking only important to young workers or is it beneficial for workers established in their careers?

More and more I’m finding how my past is colliding with my present and my future through online networking. What’s great is that you never have to lose touch with people you already have a relationship with—from high school friends to colleagues from your last job. You’ll never know when you might need them, but they’re at your fingertips when you do. It’s short-sighted for established workers to leave online networking to the younger generation. You don’t have to use it the same way and share everything about your life, but definitely take advantage of the features that help you stay connected.

What are some of the success stories you have seen from applying the techniques in your book?

One of the success stories I feature in Smart Networking is Ramon Gil, who runs a marketing and design firm called Fresh Concentrate. I’m a proponent of finding ways to keep in touch with your network not just on a one-to-one basis which is time consuming, but more on a one-to-many basis, and opt-in email is one tool that can help. Last year, Ramon sent holiday greetings to his email list along with a funny poem he had written about the endless political debates. That single email sent to just 600 people, generated 5 new projects for him. Sometimes our contacts need to be reminded that we’re still out here and something so simple and innocent as a holiday greeting card can be enough to get us back of their radar screens.

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I would like to thank Liz for sharing this with all my readers and giving you all some great content! The book is already listed at the major online bookstores below.

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Borders

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Learn the Smart Way to Network with Liz Lynch