If Organization Networking Why Not Social Media Networking?

For years, local business owners have joined networking organizations and clubs. Regional Chamber, 20/30, Rotary, BNI, to name a few. Some are exactly what they are networking, and some are disguised as charitable, although we know that 90% of the reason we are involved is for networking. Most clubs/organizations then have sub-committees for whom you volunteer. Typically, if a business owner is involved with one group/organization, he is involved with multiple ones and sees the benefits of networking through these clubs and organizations. As a business, we’re no different. A lot of time is spent networking with these organizations, and now comes social media, which also requires some time. When do you have time to dedicate to working and running your business? In talking with many of the business owners we network with these organizations, we have found that they are still a little skeptical about social media. Finding and managing the time to understand how it can work for them is a real dilemma for small local business owners. While being involved in local organizations and clubs isn’t, nor should it be, the end-all of your networking strategy, neither is social media. Just like most marketing endeavors, social media is just one layer of your marketing strategy, not the end-all. Most businesses have employees representing their business with organizations and clubs. The employees see it as a great opportunity to not only increase their value with their current company but also enhance their resume at the same time. Social media isn’t any different. It takes time and commitment. I’ve never been involved with a community organization that hasn’t said, “You get out of it what you put into it,” Don’t we all know how true that statement is? Social Media is the same. You’re going to get out of it what you put into it. You need to make the commitment, make the time, or create the budget. The explosion of social media in 2010 gave your business another option and an excellent opportunity to communicate with your customers and potential customers who don’t visit your organizations/clubs. Doing the little things is the key to success.