Did you know that you can use social media to enhance your face-to-face networking? Now that so many people are connected via popular social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, etc., sometimes people forget that there is still a place for face-to-face networking.

In my opinion, communicating with someone via social networking will never replace the power of a handshake, a smile, and a face-to-face conversation. And I know I am not alone in this opinion.

Happy business partners having coffee at cafe

Over 75% of my clients come to me through my involvement in local business networking groups. But just joining them doesn’t bring clients to my door. I have to attend their in-the-real-world, face-to-face gatherings in order to meet people.

Then once I have met someone in person at an event, I often invite them to have a one-to-one visit over coffee or tea – at a real place, in the real world. During these visits I focus on getting to know them personally as well as professionally.

After our visit, I stay in touch with via social media, as well as through email newsletters if they are interested in being on my distribution list. Plus, I continue to see them in person through the group where I met them initially.

Use Social Media Before, During, and After a One-to-One Visit

  • Before the visit. After setting the date and time to meet with someone for the first time, do some research on them. Review their LinkedIn profile and request a connection. Look for common interests and shared connections. Check out their website and their Facebook business page, plus any other relevant cyber presences.
  • During the visit. As you get to know more about the person and their business, people may come to mind who you think s/he might benefit from knowing. Tell them a little about these people. Then, if the person you want them to meet has a LinkedIn profile, offer to share that profile with the person you are visiting with right on the spot, using the LinkedIn app on your smart phone. You can also show a Facebook business page, if appropriate.
  • After the visit. Here is where social media can really cement your fledgling relationship. If you haven’t already connected on LinkedIn, be sure to do as soon after your visit as feasible. Then, like their Facebook business page, and follow them on Twitter, Instagram, and/or Pinterest if you are active on these sites. Stay in touch with them by liking, commenting on, and sharing their updates and posts as appropriate. All of these sites also allow you to communicate directly and privately.

 

  • Connect the person with other business colleagues. After I meet with someone for the first time, I often introduce them via email to folks whom I believe would benefit from knowing them, and vice versa. Since most people have profiles on LinkedIn, I often copy and paste the URL for their respective LinkedIn profiles into the introductory email. That way, I don’t have to elaborate on their backgrounds. Their profiles can do that for me.

How About You?

How do you use social media to enhance your face-to-face networking? Which types of social media sites seem to work the best for you in this respect?

 

About Joyce

Joyce Feustel, Founder of Boomers' Social Media Tutor

Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 50 and up, to become more effective using social media, especially Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter.

She provides social media tutoring and training to business owners, business development professionals, authors, speakers, coaches, business consultants, job seekers and many others. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com.