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Clearing Up the Confusion E-Zine Vol 01 Issue 06
------- Clearing Up the Confusion E-Zine -------
Vol 1, Issue 6
Spring has finally arrived here in Michigan. The crabapple tree
outside my window (which I sprayed some weeks ago for a recurring
rust problem) has just peaked in color and intoxicating perfume.
I tilled the vegetable garden over the weekend, working in all of
those leaves that we raked last Fall. Lisa and I also spent a
few hours edging some of the beds in the front yard. All that
work so that we have a continuous bounty and beauty in our
surroundings. Social networking is a lot like that. We've got
to do the hard work to prepare and maintain our relationships.
Just as with gardening, it's nice to have the tools to support
the work. Check out this issue's article to read about
"LinkedIn" a great tool to support this effort.
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In This Issue...
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1. Article: Forging the Links in the Chain
2. Blog Posts
3. Guest Article: Keep It Alive: Using Email to Stay in Touch
with Your Network
4. Shameless Self-Promotion
5. The Fine Print
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1. Article: Forging the Links in the Chain
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Being chief cook and bottlewasher for Cyber Data Solutions (also
known as a sole proprietor) I get to be responsible for all
aspects of the business. Writing proposals, billing, *doing* the
work -- yep, it's all mine. Of course, before I get to do those
other activities, I first have to find the work and that's where
the networking comes in.
And the tools to support my task.
Now, like many, I have a tickler file using my spreadsheet
program (MS Excel for those in the Windows world), so I know whom
I've contacted and when. I use a couple of email programs
(Gmail, Thunderbird) and contact information directories (Gmail,
AirSet, and, of course, my cell phone). I even have some
physical journals to track my progress on a daily basis. Now I'm
exploring a new tool which really underscores the power of
networking. It's called "LinkedIn".
With LinkedIn (http://linkedin.com/), I sign up for a free
account (they do have premium options, but I haven't explored
them as of yet), enter some basic information about myself, and
start making some connections. I start searching for friends,
family, colleagues and coworkers who are already in the system.
When I locate someone, I send off an invitation to ask if they
would like to join my network. LinkedIn even provides some nice
tools to run comparisons against your email address books and
looks for anyone who might have worked or gone to school with you
(using your previously entered personal information). If someone
isn't in the system, LinkedIn offers you the opportunity to
invite them to sign up.
Soon, as the responses to your invitations start rolling in, your
online network begins to fill. For reasons which I'm sure are
explained somewhere, LinkedIn claims that your network is at 100%
when you hit twenty connections, though you are certainly not
limited to that amount. One of the guys in my network, Ed
Vielmetti, has more than *500* connections.
Great, you think, so this is a way of keeping track of my
contacts. I already have that in my cell phone!
Here's where the power of your network comes in. Suppose you
would like to meet Bob Smith of XYZ, Inc. Entering in this query
at the top of the page will get you Bob's listing, if he is in
the system *and* if there is a path of acquaintance between you
and him (and who to contact in that path). Assuming everyone has
behaved properly and included only trusted members into their
network, you now have a path of introduction which will lead to a
potentially lasting and mutually beneficial relationship. Even
if Bob himself isn't in the system, it's a good bet that
*someone* from XYZ is in there and they might know Bob.
Of course, LinkedIn isn't a replacement for good, old-fashioned,
face-to-face meetings. Nothing can really replace the personal
touch. Still, having this tool in your arsenal can amplify the
power of that network which you've already built. One of the
cool aspects of the system is that it lists the numbers of
various connectivity levels for you. In my case, I have 29
primary connections (people I've added to my personal network),
1000+ secondary connections (primary connections for my 29
primary connections), and over *143,000* tertiary connections
(primary connections for my secondary connections).
That's a heckuva lot of potential connections.
Copyright 2007, Greg Peters
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2. Blog Posts
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Links to posts on the "Clearing Up the Confusion" Blog from the last year:
Thursday, April 05, 2007 -- Going Live
http://clearing-confusion.blogspot.com/2007/04/going-live.html
Thursday, March 08, 2007 -- Toothpaste!
http://clearing-confusion.blogspot.com/2007/03/toothpaste.html
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3. Guest Article: Keep It Alive: Using Email to Stay in Touch
with Your Network
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by Scott Ginsberg
Guess what? Today you will be taking field trip!
No permission slip needed.
THE DESTINATION: your inbox.
Here's your first assignment:
Start by going back to your oldest saved email message. Maybe
it's from last year. Maybe it's from last month. Maybe it's from
last century. But spend the next half-hour working your way
backwards to today.
By reviewing past emails, you'll come across people, messages and
issues you've completely forgotten all about. You might think,
"Wow, I wonder what Karen's been up to lately!" or "Hmm... I
don't recognize Mike's name. Better re-read his message to
refresh my memory."
Either way, this trip down e-memory lane is the perfect exercise
to workout those out of shape networking muscles. And if you can
reconnect with just one person you otherwise wouldn't have talked
to, it will be worth it.
OK. Here's your second assignment:
Another underused feature for staying in touch is the email
auto-completer. Depending on which mail client you use, you
should be able to do this in a few quick steps:
1. Go to "compose new message."
2. Punch in any letter of the alphabet.
3. You should be prompted with a dozen or so potential email
addresses starting with that same letter. Pick a name and
email away!
It's actually kind of fun. You'll see names you completely forgot about!
Gmail is good at this. They provide you with a drop down box. It
reminds you of every person you've ever emailed (or received an
email from) over the years.
TRY THIS: every once in a while, take a few minutes and just go
through the entire alphabet. You never know whose name might come
up! And a simple, "We haven't chatted in a while, so I just
thought I'd drop a line and say hey!" is the perfect way to
reconnect with an old friend or colleague.
Ultimately, running a monthly email search is the perfect tool to
Keep It Alive with old contacts, friends and prospects.
Maybe it's a simple "just checking in" note.
Maybe it's a reply to an old message you forgot about.
Maybe it's an email update to an old friend you haven't talked to in a while.
EITHER WAY: people will appreciate your follow up.
PLUS, YOU NEVER KNOW: you might make a sale, reconnect with old
friends, even made someone's day!
AND SURE, it might seem like extra work.
But remember, the last four words in N-E-T-W-O-R-K are W-O-R-K!
LET ME ASK YA THIS...
How do you keep it alive?
LET ME SUGGEST THIS...
Email your best Keep It Alive technique for a future article!
Copyright 2006 All Rights Reserved. Scott Ginsberg, aka "The
Nametag Guy," is the author of three books and a professional
speaker who helps people maximize approachability, become
unforgettable and make a name for themselves. To book Scott for
your next association meeting, conference or corporate event,
contact Front Porch Productions at 314/256-1800 or email
scott@hellomynameisscott.com
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4. Shameless Self-Promotion
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The "Clearing Up the Confusion" E-Zine is a production of Greg Peters,
owner, chief cook, and bottlewasher of Cyber Data Solutions. CDS has
been helping nonprofit and charitable organizations develop their web
presence for more than a decade. Visit us on the Web at
www.cyberdatasolns.com to see how we can help your organization.
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5. The Fine Print
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Questions:
If you have any questions, concerns or comments regarding the Clearing
Up the Confusion E-zine, please email Greg Peters at:
gpeters@cyberdatasolns.com
This content may be forwarded in full, with copyright and contact
information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a
not for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in
writing from Greg Peters is required, with notification to the
original author.
We never send the "Clearing Up the Confusion" E-zine uninvited, and we
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