Real Social Networking
by September 2nd, 2007 Patrick Greer
One of the things getting the most attention on the Internet these days is “social networking” with services like Facebook, Flickr and to a degree the micro-blogging service known as Twitter.
Those tools are great to a point and I’m glad I have been able to connect with interesting people that I might not have had much of a chance to meet in “real life” and even with Facebook I have been able reestablish connections with old classmates from college and high school but deep down the best connections are those made face to face. While we at SpinningSilk Multimedia take pride in our Internet products but we make a big point to say we provide “personable marketing solutions.” In other words we want to give our customers media tools that will enhance personal and lasting connections for their business or cause, not replace them.
While it looks like something that has just been discovered or invented on the Internet it not really new. For years business people have been meeting with partners, potential clients, etc. in less formal settings like golf courses, ball games or their homes for dinner, etc. to the casual observer this often looks like a colossal waste of time but in reality these kind of situations help develop deeper relationships because you get to know others on a deeper level.
Chris Brogan has a great article on real live social networking in which he discusses the value of “real life social networking” in which he touches on topics like eye contact, business cards, mingling, asking good questions, etc. He makes some good points and while we may often look at online “social networks” as being less real or not as serious we can be just a “computerized” in face to face meetings of all we do mingle with the same people, exchange cards for no reason or attend a meeting just for the sake of networking and maybe getting a good meal. Interesting enough I have never meet Chris in “real life” but his passion for networking and social media does encourage me to consider going to a conference he is hosting or attending and getting to know him and his work better.
September 2nd, 2007 at 8:27 pm
What I’m learning is that online social networking makes for a great icebreaker to real life social networking. It sucks a lot of the “stupid” out of the face-to-face interactions, and often helps one suss out who’s not necessarily someone you want to spend a lot of time with.
I’m a big fan of both for different reasons, but am excited that we’re not required to only network with people in our neighborhoods. Totally exciting that we can grow out networks online, then meet them when we can.