How do you use Facebook and LinkedIn to follow up with people you meet in business networking groups?

There are a number of considerations when it comes to doing this type follow up. The first one is which of the people you meet while networking  do you want to stay in touch with? A second consideration is which social sites do you want to use to stay in touch?

This blog post will primarily address connecting with them on LinkedIn and Facebook. There are other sites, such as Instagram and Twitter, that could also be appropriate places to connect.

One of the many positives of using Zoom (or other videoconferencing platforms) is access to its chat feature. In most networking meetings run through Zoom, the host of the meeting allows participants to save the chat. Note whether the person you are interested in following up includes their Facebook or LinkedIn information. Then follow up accordingly.

Also, it will help others to reach out to you when you share your information in the chat feature. Start by putting together all your contact information into a Word document. Include your first and last name, email address, website, phone number, and selected social media sites. Then copy that information and paste it into the chat feature of the videoconferencing platform you are using.

 

Follow Up on LinkedIn

  • Send a connection invite. In general, I tend to send a LinkedIn connection invite to most of the people I meet in a networking group. This is the site on which I’m most active, both in terms of posting and engaging with others. I like to include a short note with my invite referencing the group where we met.
  • Ask them to invite you to connect. There are times when I can’t find the person on LinkedIn. In that case, I’ll email them and ask them to connect with me. In that email I include a link to my profile so they don’t have to look me up.
  • Share something of value, but don’t be “salesy.” I send each person who connects with me a link to where they can get my e-book. Entitled “9 Ways to Stand Out on LinkedIn,” it provides a number of helpful tips for LinkedIn users. When my new connection downloads the e-book, then I get their email address added to my mailing list. They will start getting my newsletter, which is another way to stay in touch.

 

Follow Up on Facebook

  • Like their business page. Often people attending a networking meeting will put their Facebook business page in the chat. Consider liking their business page as a way to support them and show interest in their business.
  • If relevant, join their Facebook group if invited. Facebook groups can be a wonderful way for you to network with others in your field. They can also provide an opportunity for you to have visibility with and provide value to your target market.
  • As appropriate, ask to be their Facebook friend or accept their friend request. Some people are very open to connecting with business colleagues on Facebook. It can make a lot of sense to connect with these new acquaintances in this way. Ultimately, it depends on your preferences.

 

How About You?

What approaches have you taken when following up with people you meet, especially those you encounter in business networking groups? Do you tend to use LinkedIn more or is Facebook a better fit?

 

About Joyce

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

She works with business owners, business development professionals, business consultants, job seekers, and more – ranging from entrepreneurs to people in large corporations. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com.