By Anna Svensson
Following on from my previous post about networking, I’d thought it would be useful to identify which social media sites can help make the most of your relationship with new-found work contacts.
As I mentioned, it is imperative to follow up with your contacts the next day, whether it’s because you’re worried that they may not remember you due to alcohol consumption that night, or simply to make it less awkward the next time you want to talk. Dropping them a message the next day can help break the ice for any future communication.
Often, social media reveals more about you than you may want your business contacts to see so email may be the best option if you want to talk privately in the first instance.
This site exists to help you make better use of your professional network and with 55 million members in over 200 countries and territories around the world, it’s highly likely that your new contact is here too.
Linked-In keeps track of your industry connections and displays how many contacts you have on your profile. When you’re job hunting this will be invaluable because employersin the communication industry need connected staff.Plus this way your new relationship works for you both as you’re both getting something out of your new relationship.
A lot of networking events and PR associations have groups on Linked-In which gives you the opportunity to not only reconnect with your contact but to also meet new people.
Twitter offers an opportunity to stay in contact without feeling obliged to write long messages to each other. The 140 character limit means that conversations are limited, informal and brief interaction is all that’s needed. Twitter gives you and your contact the chance to easily share information and interact in group conversations together. It’s a good opportunity to make new contacts from meeting their followers on Twitter too.
Sometimes you’ll meet someone and you’ll just click. Networking events aren’t always about making professional contacts, but friends too. It’s on these occasions that Facebook is an appropriate site to use to stay in touch. This is especially useful for showing new journalists your human side and build relationships with them that don’t necessarily orientate around work.
Groups such as UK Tech Journalists and PRs (UKTJPR) is an example where Facebook, Linked-In and Twitter are all used to discuss industry topics and arrange events for networking on an informal basis.
