I was just looking at a website, where the owner has a small banner, which pleads with total strangers to join his LinkedIn network. I checked out his Twitter profile, and he’s doing the same there too.
It’s actually a pretty common tactic among some businesspeople, who think it will help them develop their business.
If they can just get another 100 or 1000 people into their ‘network’, business will start to pick up…..right?
Wrong!
I have been building and studying commercial networks for over 20 years and have personally experienced (literally) life changing results. In every case, the most valuable networks were always those that were built by people who focused on quality, rather than quantity. These networks contained influential people, who had credible access to the people or organisations that the networker needed to know.
Low leverage networking
Most networking I see, especially online, is not just low leverage – it’s super-low leverage.
For example, I see web designers, SEO experts, consultants etc who are wasting stacks of time trying to get 1,000 strangers into their ‘network’, when they could get endorsed access to 10,000 or 50,000 targeted businesses or people, via just one influential, well-connected contact.
A network of just 10 highly influential, respected people is of massively more commercial value to you, than a network of 100 or 1000 people with little influence, interest or reach.
Networking tip
Focus on building a new commercial network, with just 10 people, who have credible access to thousands or more of your prospective clients. These people can help you get the backing, the sales, traction or the audience your project needs.
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This is totally true.
So, I have a friend on twitter with over 25k followers. He sent a tweet out asking people to look at my blog and 17 people did.
SEVENTEEN! Dont know what % that is but it’s real, real low.
These people who have these vast networks dont realize that the numbers dont mean sqwat.
The real value here is when we connect with people who have what you call influence and what I call JUICE!
This is the best post here yet and Ive read dozens of them.
Hello Keith,
The point you make about Twitter is a very good one. I ‘only’ had 23k followers in January when I reset my account to zero, but used to get an average of 500 Direct Messages a day. I know people with just as big followiings on Twitter, who only get a handful – because they have not managed to ‘connect’ with the people they call followers.
I love the word ‘juice’ by the way, it reminds me of the 1980’s
Sorry for the anon Jim. You will see my IP and know who I am I guess.
Anyhow, I have a link on my homepage asking fellow LI members if they want to join me.
Until reading this post, I think I may have confused prospects with contacts.
I have always been trying to feed my social networks with prospects and not contacts.
I need to rethink that because what I do now doesn’t work and is sucking so much time from my days. I have a whole load of peeps in my social network but nothings happening.
Anon,
I respect your decision to post without your name.
Without knowing more about your exact situation, I suggest you follow the tip I give in the post, and look to develop a new network of key influential people.
I hope this helps.
Hey Jim, et al,
Great post that cuts through the old paradigms of networking that still plague us today.
You are bang on – it’s about quality not quantity – and in our hunt for more and more we actually miss engaging the 1 or 2 people who represent growth and true networking.
And as you’ve pointed out (and corrected my thinking on), this old mindset is rampant on Twitter where people are hungry for numbers, and then using TweetDeck to block those numbers’ streams!
Great stuff Jim
Hello Mr. Connolly… I copy and pasted this reply right out of a blog post I recently wrote:
“Over the last year that I have been participating on Twitter, it has changed dramatically. There are a lot more spammers and numbers players vs people organically growing their mutual following. Long term value will only be created through developing relationships. The stronger the relationship, the more value that can be created. NO relationship = NO value.”
I love your tip at the end of this post… building a solid relationship with just 10 of the right people can significantly impact your business… a lot more than thousands of people you don’t know!
Thanks for the great insight Jim
Thank you for this timely advice. It seems like people will do almost anything for followers. Your approach is by far the better one.
Quality in relationships vs. Quantity… I’m good with that. Contacts/connections are meaningless if you hold a position of zero influence.
@Brad – agree, it’s a “timeless” approach. I find more and more that “new” media and “new” marketing is actually timeless methods with shinny new packaging.
@Richardo – agree! Contacts and connections – thousands of followers – it is all useless unless their is influence. One leadership writer, John Maxwell, says the leadership is synonymous with influence. How can I lead someone to a sale / business / etc unless I have influence!
After reading the comments I was shocked nobody said it, so here goes:)
So Jim, you suggest we focus on building credible commercial networks…quality over quantity.
With that being said, I would much enjoy time to sit down and pick your brain. Maybe get some suggestions on my current project. I can be reached @ phil@urbanbacon.com and will email you after this post.
LOL…Was that too forward? (Just taking your advice)
@Phil – the reason why nobody asked for help is because Jim has already helped many of us on twitter, providing unending advice and support.
I am now following him on Twitter…thank you for all the info/help.
@Phil
So, how does turning up on a guys blog a total stranger, asking for free help, relate to his post about building credible connections?!?
@scot Yes. Jims helped me tons of times too> he actually called me once to asnwer a question I asked on his blog.
@jim. You hekp a lot of people dude and we appreciate it.
@George
I apologize for coming off wrong, not my intentions. I want to be an active member here and help participate. This is a fantastic site I just found today, maybe I got overly excited to post:)