Every day that passes, I am continually amazed that I am no longer in corporate land (as my friend Ben Mack calls it) but still with a foot in it – intentionally. There is an amazing realization that as much as I enjoy being out of “corporate land” officially, I did begin to feel that distinct disconnected feeling, as though I was stranded on an island.
Amazingly for me, Social Networking is changing that. Sure I am getting my share of garbage, but honestly, I am getting some amazing results in 2 very specific ways: 1) I am able to reconnect personal and business relationships in a fun, easy-going manner and 2) I am finding NEW clients to build relationships.
Truly 2 months ago whenever I would get a Plaxo, or a LinkedIn or a FaceBook request, I would just delete it – after all, I am in the real world. Turns out, the real world was coming to me, and I was missing the boat.
Today, I uploaded my contacts to LinkedIn, to begin re-forging relationships. But I didn’t use their BORING request, I sent a very personal ‘group’ email like this to my contacts who WERE NOT shown as current members of Linked In … :
So we haven’t connected in a while, and here I am blasting you with an Ask to join me on LinkedIn.
2 months ago, I was deleting these requests, and then I discovered that LinkedIn and Facebook are amazing ways to connect with Friends, Business Associates, and Clients in a networking setting, without the cost of fuel
If you haven’t thought of joining, please consider this your personal invitation.
Thanks, Michelle Chance-Sangthong
P.S. I am on Facebook, too – just search for Michelle Chance-Sangthong I am the only one with that long name
And I sent this email to folks who WERE already members on Linked In
Don’t you hate those stock – join me emails. Yes, you’ve probably been blasted from others folks to join them on linked in, too.
Since you’re already on LinkedIn this is pretty easy, if you’re interested.
I uploaded my email address book, which means that we have corresponded, you have been a customer of CS ideas that has sent and email, or we are friends in the personal or professional realm.
I would love to connect with you here, too.
Thank you for considering it, and thanks for being in an easy place to find you.
Best Regards,
Michelle Chance-SangthongP.S. I am on Facebook too, if you want to join me there, just look for Michelle Chance-Sangthong
(I am the only one with that name
In less than 2 hours of that email invitation on Linked In, I have re-connected with 15 or more folks from my contact list – more than half who were cold contacts. It took about 10 minutes to do. And now I can re-forge old relationships and reconnect with clients and friends in the “real world” via the dot com experience. And as I was writing this post, I just checked, a client from 10 YEARS ago is asking if I can help them. (Not bad for 10 minutes).
Now, let’s get one thing clear though – friending and linking doesn’t give me abuse privileges. I am a professional, I want to be treated like a professional, and I want to respect others like professionals. As an entrepreneur my job is to add value for my clients, period. Not slam them with junk offers, and spew on them. This is networking after all, just without physical handshake and cost of fuel.
Treat your contacts with respect, have fun and enjoy. That doesn’t mean you can’t market – it means use some common sense, that’s only fair play. Still not convinced? No problem, just start with me, I’ll be your friend
FACEBOOK: To find Michelle Chance-Sangthong on Facebook – go here.
LINKEDIN: To find Michelle Chance-Sangthong on Linked in – go here.