I'm a bit of a Linked In nut.
Like any Entrepreneur I value quality connections highly and until social media sites started to take off I used to have to do regular seminar and exhibition shift work to uncover as many new business opportunities as I could.
Now I log on Linked In and Twitter, see which profiles of potential contacts have been recommended to me, check out who has recently joined my network groups, see who has viewed my profile, view industry updates that interest me, and yes connect with a whole new bunch of contacts.
In other words in one morning I get to digitally shake hands with contacts that are interest to me and I to them.
Social media has enabled a great potential to initiate relationships. Anyone who is from a sales background (or has heard the cliche) knows "it's all about who you know" And that is 100% true.
Since I've proactively developed relationships online I have created much more opportunities for myself and met more people that I may not have had direct access to before. You have to be smart and strategic about it (seek out who you *want* to know) but also do not become exclusive or 'too good' to talk to anyone. There's a potential mutual beneficial relationship with anyone you meet, but the important part is you actually have to go out and meet them to uncover said potential. Social media provides an unprecedented method to do so , use it wisely.
On the down side, there's the Dunbar Theory that says you can't maintain relationships with more than 150 people.
Within a short time its all too easy to find yourself following way more than that on Twitter and then start to multiply that through Facebook the inevitable is going to happen.
You are going to forget people (and I have) which can easily lead to low quality connections and unprofitable relationships.
The promise of the Internet wasn't merely to inflate relationships, without adding depth, resonance, and meaning. It was to fundamentally rewire people, communities, civil society, business, through thicker, stronger, more meaningful relationships.
Use it wisely , like any tool and it will serve you well.
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