Keys to Networking High-Tech People as Low-Tech as Ever

April 4, 2005 -- The digital age has certainly changed the access most people have to keep in touch with others via online networks. But just because people have this access to unprecedented numbers of others doesn’t mean they’re “networking” in the old-fashioned sense, says one expert.

“ But this doesn’t mean that any of these people are in any way more likely to get any business done while they’re togethe... ”

“The web, and the way it can bring groups together, is exciting,” admits Dr. Ivan Misner, an old-school marketing pioneer. “But this doesn’t mean that any of these people are in any way more likely to get any business done while they’re together. That still takes skills and practices that are learned. And they’re the same skills that work face-to-face.”

So what does Dr. Misner, CEO of BNI, the world’s largest referral networking organization, prescribe? Here’s the short-list:

1)    Aim to turn your Internet relationships into real relationships – although many business relationships develop on the web, nothing beats good old-fashioned face-to-face networking to start building a relationship and trust.
2)    Use the web’s strength, but don’t forget it’s weaknesses – use the Internet for what it’s good for, i.e. keeping in touch with the large number of people you meet. But don’t let these “thinner” relationships take the place of your deeper, repeat business relationships.
3)    “Touch” your list often, and with a message – though they may be the most casual of relationships, keep you and what you can do for others top of mind by regularly contacting your entire network. Don’t just contact your network – do it in a in motivated way that reminds people of your story and your strengths.

“What’s exciting about technology,” Misner muses, “is that people have to ability to have a referral relationship with more others than ever before, entirely because of the Internet. But it’s still up to them to do the right things to turn possible relationships into referral relationships.”

BNI (www.bni.com) is a referral networking organization, which at last count had over 3,600 individual chapters in 22 countries worldwide. BNI’s Founder & CEO, Dr. Ivan Misner is the author of several book’s including the NY Times best-seller, Masters of Networking, (www.MastersofNetworking.com) and the recently released #1 best-seller, Masters of Success (www.MastersofSuccess.biz).

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Michael Drew
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