More on Networking Tools - by Ron Bates

What is your objective behind networking?

Ultimately most people that are networking for professional reasons are attempting to drive business results. If they aren't, then it isn't really "business" networking - it's "social" networking. A "networking event" might be fine for incrementally developing leveragable business relationships, but it might not be a timely solution/option for what one is trying to accomplish in "real time".

If your focus is "business" networking, then by leveraging an on-line database you aren't limiting yourself to solely leveraging the platform of a networking site to accomplish your goal. Individual member profiles don't always do an adequate job of telling you what someone does. Your targeted person might even be in a networking site, but you may not be able to tell from their profile.

Leveraging database tools doesn't necessarily mean you abandon networking. Database tools give you added ability to identify other people to develop relationship with or to network through - to get to the people you are ultimately trying to reach. You might identify someone in a database by what they actually do, or whom they actually work for - and then you might find out "Hey, that guy is in LinkedIn and one of my direct contacts knows him!"

That said, from a business development perspective - I'm also a fan of approaching someone directly, and if that fails attempt to find some help to get introduced.


Ron Bates
Managing Principal
Executive Advantage Group
rbates@executive-advantage.com

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