Tim Bursch

I know there are hundreds if not thousands of posts on networking. I’m not trying to add to the noise here, I’m writing this to remind myself.

Here’s what works for me and people I admire:

1. Set expectations. Why are you asking for a meeting? Be clear.
2. Give, don’t take. If you set up a meeting, make sure to give something away. (Knowledge, connections, empathy, ideas, etc)
3. Do your homework. Google, Linkedin, whatever it takes. Learn more about who you are meeting with and figure out how you might help them or share something with them.
4. Be early, not just on time.
5. Review the purpose for meeting. Start off by checking expectations.
6. Ask questions (open-ended) and listen more than you talk.
7. Favorite questions: What are you most excited about right now? What is your biggest challenge?
8. Take notes. Often there are follow-up actions or connections to make, write it down.
9. Follow through. Make a promise? Keep it.
10. Be grateful. Simply appreciate the other person and their generosity of time/resources/connections.

What works for you?

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There is so much great content to consume out there. I’m constantly clipping to Evernote, reading, starring, and bookmarking. The rub? The more I consume, the less I’m connecting with people.

Over the last month I’ve been trying to practice Tac Anderson’s challenge and here’s what I’ve discovered:

• Friendships can be built in the comments - Most people that I interact with online I will never meet face-to-face. But I’ve become connected by taking the extra step of commenting or starting a conversation on Twitter. You gain context, share interests and a mutual admiration happens.
• Comments are like tipping your server or clapping for a good artist. When someone takes the time to share a valuable resource or make me think in new ways, I want to let them know.
• Consumption is easy. Connection takes work and time. However, consuming massive amounts of content leaves me feeling like I ate a whole pizza. While I still skim for my job, I’m trying to find a few good pieces of content to give some time and thought to, and then to comment. The nutritious content is slow reading.

How do you consume and connect? What’s working for you? What’s not?

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You’ve heard of the 90-9-1 rule. 90% of your online community are generally sitting back in their seats watching. 9% are editors. And 1% are creators. General rule for most communities. So, how do you engage that 90%? How do you move people from being a lurker to an active participant?

Here are 7 ideas to try:

1. Ask questions calling out people that have never commented before. For example: We want your input! What do you think about product X? Tell us in the comments. If you’ve never commented before, we won’t bite. We need your voice!
2. Encourage advocates (creators) to get their quiet friends involved.
3. Use polls and surveys to get people’s hands raised.
4. Do some outreach, if your platform allows. Not Big Brother style, but send a private message thanking the lurker, ask a question, get them talking. Make sure they know they are noticed.
5. Make it really easy. Don’t have barriers (Captcha) to entry or comment.
6. Reward behavior. Every time someone comments or puts their voice out there, acknowledge at a minimum.
7. Give guidance. Help with instructions and calls to action.

How do you get the audience engaged?

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If you are like me you have joined a handful of social networks. Think about how much time you really spend on each of them. Yeah, probably not much except for a few favorites?

In my experience, I get an invite to a new network, usually from a friend. I might join, set up a profile, add some friends, follow some people, make a few connections, and then bookmark for later. The challenge is the later part. I’m finding that I don’t go back very often if at all.

It’s not the topics or the user experience. Those are all pretty good. I think it’s the activity.

I end up going where the action is and where I’m connecting most with people. We tend to invest time in relationships (and networks) where we are noticed.

What do you think?

Tags: networks, time.

1. Get your voice out there. If you are not using your voice you will not be heard, or maybe even ignored.
2. Connections. You will find people that want to connect with your story.
3. Thinking. Blogging challenges your thinking and in the end that can help you think more clear.
4. On the record. What do you want to leave behind? A blog can be a place to record your thoughts and stories.
5. Looking for business? A blog is a place to stand out and be remarkable, to start a conversation with customers.
6. Action. When you blog and write you are taking an action. You are no longer just watching. Get in the game.

What would you add?

Image credit: *clairity*

Tags: thinking, voice, writing.

If you really want to get in touch with someone today, you can. Have you tried?
With the network and the tools of the social web we have very little friction in connecting.

Degrees and levels have been removed. If you want to connect with an author you can email them or have a conversation on their Facebook Page. If you want to voice a complaint to the CEO of your favorite brand you most likely can. If you are in a job transition you can do your own headhunting with creative search and networking.

The network for the most part is open and level. Take Tim’s advice and be generous. You will have all the connections you need.

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I was invited to coffee today with Jared Roy. We’d met online and had some conversation, but not face-to-face. Jared invites me and mentions a few other people will be there.

I have to admit my first response was okay, why do we need other people there? Then I thought more and realized this is genius. He just expanded all of our connections. I met 3 new people in one meeting, learned about their work, and started valuable new relationships. Jared added to THE network.

There is no question, we all need connections. Want more? Bring more people to the table. Literally.

Thank you Jared for your generosity and for challenging me.

What could you do for your next meeting?

Want to connect, just contact me. (I’ll be bringing more people.)

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I was meeting someone for coffee recently. Decent coffee. Good space for conversation.

You know what I remember the most? The comment I got. There was something the barista said that stuck with me. “Let me know if I can get you anything else.”

It wasn’t an add-on sale statement. It was an “I want to make you feel important” statement. It was really ordinary.

The barista noticed me, the customer, and took time to connect. I’m not sure you can script that. It takes a real person to care about it. Connecting and noticing. Do you notice people?

Tags: coffee, marketing.

A friend was recently telling me about a restaurant chain that has over 1 million customers in their email database. Granted they are a decent-sized chain, but that’s a lot of permission.

Here’s how they get permission: At the end of the meal the server intentionally asks the guests if they would like to join their newsletter. You get a free appetizer next time, something on your birthday, and…you get the point. Who says no? I have not been to this chain in a awhile, but I bet the servers are trained to frame a positive response question.

Big deal, they have people’s email address and are giving away free stuff. Actually that list is like gold. Why? People gave permission for that restaurant to market to them. Email is still the most shared medium. Targeted marketing. You can send a coupon to men a week before Valentine’s Day.

I think there a few ideas to borrow from this restaurant:

1. Just ask. Ask every person that walks into your store, visits your site, or becomes a fan on your Facebook page.
2. Get the whole store involved. Create an easy question and process that everyone can jump on board with.
3. Give to get. Offer some value for joining your list/e-club/newsletter. What do I get for joining?

Do you have a list? Do you have a process in your business for asking people to join your tribe? What’s working?

Image by: drcornelius

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When someone asks you for help, do you automatically say yes? I’m a recovering people-pleaser, so my tendency is to say yeah sure I can help.

Well after awhile you can end up trying to help a lot of people, but not very well. And not very helpful.

Here is what I now try to do before saying yes to a request:

- Take some time to respond.

- Filter it through my main goals and values.

- Ask myself: Can I really help this person well? If not, who do I know that can? Connect them.

I want to be generous with my knowledge and my connections. I also want to say yes to the best things and mean it. More on saying yes and no soon.

How do you handle requests for help? What is your filter or process?

Image by: D3 San Francisco

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