New Year, New Networking Strategies?

Now that 2012 is fully underway, it's time to examine those fine promises you made to yourself to expand your professional network this year. Becoming a more skilled networker is a great goal. And trying new approaches to networking may just the ticket to becoming a better-connected business person.

Here are some fresh ideas for networking strategies that can help you find a new job, uncover a business opportunity, or become the "go-to" person in your professional circle.

There's an app for that
Yes, in this age of mobile phones that function as portable mini-computers, there are a number of mobile applications that can facilitate your networking. While they won't provide a personality transplant if you're rude or selfish, they can make keeping track of your contacts much easier.

Alana Horowitz, writing on the Business Insider section of American Express' OPEN Forum, shares her suggestions for the eight best apps for business networking in a May 2011 post. She mentions obvious things like the LinkedIn mobile app, but she also notes some other useful and cool programs such as GroupMe, a group messaging and photo sharing app that uses the contacts in any smartphone platform, and MeetMe, an iPhone app that uses location information to help far-flung contacts (social or business related) find place to "meet in the middle."

Warm up your networking approach
What I mean by this sub-head is that you may want to frame networking in terms of making friends in the business world and finding ways to help each other out, rather than making it a race to collect business cards from people you don't know.
Diana Pohly, founder and president of StepByStepMarketing.com, wrote a nice post recently about the best ways to network with people you already know and like. She mentions getting involved with local museums, hospitals and causes you believe in, having regular lunches with owners of client companies, and simply speaking with vendors and suppliers to gain ideas about opportunities, challenges, etc.

My favorite part of her post is what she has to say about networking in the community and through your friends:

"You can find potential clients nearly anywhere – in the stands at one of your kid’s soccer games, in local service organizations, through your Chamber of Commerce, and nearly anywhere that people congregate in your community. You don’t have to actively sell in these settings. Just talk about your company, ask what other people are doing, and see if any synergies exist."

The most important part of this tip may be in the last sentence of Pohly's quote - being able to articulate your value, and listen to the other person to discover their needs and how you might be able to help them.

Become a transmedia storyteller
It's not news that employers are using social media both to vet potential candidates or that having a LinkedIn account is practically a necessity in today's job market. What is new for many folks in 2012 is the idea that social media can be a platform for sharing your professional story in an intentional sort of way.

Laura Raines, writing for the online edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, quotes Barbara Giamanco, CEO of Talent Builders Inc., who provides several great suggestions for getting started with this project:

"Create a compelling LinkedIn profile that includes a PowerPoint presentation highlighting your capabilities and accomplishments. Create a Facebook fan page for business. Include compelling content and video to show that you know industry trends and are a leader in your field."

LinkedIn has a number of helpful apps to bring storytelling power to your profile, including BlogLink, which feeds your blog posts in for visitors to see; Portfolio Display, which allows potential employers or clients to see multimedia content you've produced; and SlideShare Presentations, which can provide visitors with access to slideshows that establish you as an expert in your field.

If you're in need of guidance on how to tell your professional story, Rusty Rueff has written a nice series of posts on GlassDoor.com about telling the "story of you" in various contexts, including job interviews.  And Kathy Hansen has an entire blog, A Storied Career, dedicated to exploring the intersection between career management and storytelling. Both resources should leave you bubbling with plotlines from your own life that you can share with your professional network!

Getting started close to home

If you are inspired by this post to begin implementing some of these networking strategies, the Alumni Association has a great opportunity for you - a mixer hosted by Maroon & Gold Professionals at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 25 at Canteen Tequila Bar in Tempe. Sign up today and jump into new networking adventures with fellow ASU alumni!

The questions to you

• What goals do you have for 2012 in terms of networking?
• Are you interested in trying a new networking strategy? Are any of the suggestions above appealing to you? Why or why not?

~Liz Massey
Managing Editor, ASU Alumni Association