New vs. Old: Methods for Building Networks

I’ve been working hard to build my network using new methods as well as old methods. I’ve committed to the Social Media craze by frequenting Twitter, LinkedIn and various blogs talking about Human Resources and other business topics. But I have also continued to attend networking events that actually put you in front of individuals who are looking to network the way people used to. Which one works better? I think Social Media works faster but in-person interactions are more meaningful.

Have you ever had a question that no one in your organization has the answer to? You could easily post the question on Twitter or LinkedIn (which I’ve done and have received great responses, don’t get me wrong). But wouldn’t you rather have a discussion about it instead of a 180-character response? Like I said, I’ve gotten great responses to questions I’ve posed to Twitter or LinkedIn connections but there’s been more than one occasion that I wished I had a better relationship with the responders where I could call and discuss their feedback more in depth.

The relationships that I’ve made as a result of old-fashion networking events have proved to be very fruitful. I’ve gotten clients, potential employees, friends, referrals and business contacts out of the relationships built at meet-ups or formal events. I’ve been able to access these individuals for questions and feel that the discussions we’ve had have helped me more than research, tweets, or wordy emails.

What I’m trying to say is, don’t forget about the value of creating a relationship face-to-face. It’s easy and very beneficial to meet people via Social Media, but take that one step further and ask them to coffee. If they’re in a different state, country or continent, at least ask them to schedule a telephone conversation or a Skype “date.” Putting a face with a name creates for a more meaningful relationship (and Twitter or LinkedIn pictures don’t count.)