Marketing + Technology = Engagement.
Om Malik, GigaOm
Build Your Short List
Regardless of the industry you work in, do you know who your centers of influence are? If you don’t, you should. I’m amazed out how many people in the financial services industry do not know or don’t even attempt to network. And I am talking about senior managers.
Social media, combined with traditional networking, gives us unprecedented access to media contacts, industry analysts, key peers and competition. These are people you should have “conversations” with. All the tools are right on your desktop, so there really is no excuse (not enough time is not a valid excuse).
Getting started is easy. Make a list (your Short List) of 20 industry influencers you want to get to know (or you want to get to know you). Research them on Google and LinkedIn and follow them via news alerts. When they “pop up” in the news, drop them a note or email, or comment on their blog. They will take a notice, so make sure you too are accessible. They will reciprocate and suddenly they will take some level of interest in you and your company. Call it PR, social marketing or whatever buzz word you want; it is simply networking through technology utilization.
I have been with Geezeo for almost a year now, and I can tell you without hesitation, that one key to our success has been our Leadership Teams visibility in the market. The 3 of us make individual efforts to being part of ongoing, relevant dialog in our space and vertical. I hope to soon see our Management Team do the same. It takes discipline and a few late nights, but trust me when I say, there is a pay-off, if you can demonstrate your passion for what you do.
So get out there, and build your short list.
