Drillbits Blog

Real Social Networking Means “Get Out There”

So you’ve made a life-changing move to the big city and you want to start a successful career in public relations. That’s exactly what I did several years ago when I left the OC for Manhattan. Since I knew no one, my first challenge was to become one very connected fish in a massive pond.

Here’s what I learned along the way. It’s not rocket science, but it does require you to get out there and practice real live people skills. Trust me, they’ll come in handy when you start to build relationships with media, clients and industry colleagues.

1. Never leave home without your business card.
   Whether you’re representing an agency or yourself, your business card is the easiest way to pass your number, email address or Twitter handle along to someone else. Even if you don’t have a biz card from your office, have a personal one made. There are several inexpensive sites out there that can help you do this, but one of the cooler cards that I’ve seen recently came from www.moocards.com.

 

2. Exercise patience.
   Becoming a networking King or Queen is a process. Not everyone you speak with will think you’re interesting or for that matter, likeable. Just remember that the goal is to foster meaningful relationships with people who also understand the value of making connections, not annoy people until they give you a card.

 

3. Take time to enjoy yourself.
   Don’t come rushing out of the gate with business chatter. Get to know the people around you on a personal level first. Have a drink, but not too many! Lightly indulge in the good eats and treats at your disposal. It’s easy to disarm your contact over casual conversation, and once you’re comfortable, biz-talk will come naturally.

 

4. Work the room.
   If you’re going to an event, research the background of the company hosting the event and the guest list, if possible. Even if you’re just a guest, work the room as if you’re the host. Ask other guests if they are enjoying themselves and if they have a personal tie to the event itself. Don’t have a daily flood of invites in your inbox quite yet? Check local social calendar listings in all media types and the Chamber of Commerce in your city. Don’t forget to utilize the social media contacts you already have to see if you can score an invite to a restaurant or gallery opening.

 

5. Be true to yourself.
   If you’ve made it to the next level and landed a position at an agency or in-house, don’t compromise your character or beliefs for the sake of getting to know someone or landing a story. Remember, you will always be a direct reflection of your agency or client as long as people know what you do for a living.

 

6. Deal with rejection: get over it!
   Enough said. In the words of Manhattan fashion PR maven Kelly Cutrone, president of People’s Revolution, ‚”If you have to cry, go outside.”

 

7. Keep an open mind.
   You never know who you’re going to meet, especially in the city. Ditch your comfort zone and attend events completely different from the industry you work in. Use the Internet to establish connections and start conversations, but be sure to jump to the next step. Attend social media events in your city, ask journalists or new connections out for lunch or a cup of coffee, and suggest that you take the conversation offline.

My personal favorite is the last tip. Online networking is great, but it will never replace face-to-face communication. Step away from the pack and don’t be afraid to blog, tweet or Facebook your way into a new social circle.

Helpful networking sites to check out:

- Networking Event Finders
www.networkingeventfinders.com

- Networking for Professionals
www.networkingforprofessionals.com

- NetParty
www.netparty.com 

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Tagged best practices, networking, social media, strategy