Thu, November 05, 2009 - 12:24:32

What We Can Learn from the Greatest Generation of Networkers: Making Small Talk Online Pays Off

In Wednesday’s Wall Street Journal, Jeffrey Zaslow examined the implications of social media on the lives of what he dubs “The Greatest Generation of Networkers.”  Although some hard-line critics warn that the constant tweeting, texting, Facebooking, and IMing that today’s teens and early twenty-somethings embrace will cause a break-down in their real-world interpersonal skills, supporters argue that these tech savvy-youngsters are actually streamlining communications in a revolutionary new way.  But in today’s “GoogMyTwitFace” culture, we believe that there should be room for both virtual and in-person networking. And by harnessing the power of small, you can make each of them work for you.

We’ve all heard stories of how using social networking sites like Twitter and LinkedIn can help job seekers find new positions and in theory it seems like a great idea, but in practice it can be more difficult than you may have assumed.  It turns out that just like in real life, standing out in cyberspace and proclaiming to the masses that you need a new job just doesn’t cut it.  The key is to start making real connections, and especially on social networking sites like Twitter and LinkedIn, the best method just might surprise you.  It’s small talk.

Of course, we’ve long believed that making small talk is one of the best ways to harness the power of small in order to build relationships in both your personal and professional life.  From uncovering the seed for a brilliant idea to finding an everyday hero, the power of small talk works in profound ways in the real world, but you can apply the same technique to the World Wide Web and see almost immediate results. 

For example, Tracy was a freelance designer looking to connect with other professionals in her area.  At first, she posted a simple tweet reading, “Looking for a freelance designer?  I can help!” but received little interest.  Then, after doing a targeted search on Twitter, she began following noted local business leaders and started sending friendly and helpful replies to their tweets, which frequently led to short Twitter exchanges. Almost instantly, she saw her website traffic jump and within a week, she received several direct messages from her “tweeps” with new project inquiries.

By taking the time to make simple small talk online, Tracy opened herself up to a wealth of new opportunities and discovered a whole new client base.  And you can do it, too.  All it takes is a little compliment, one tiny question, or a helpful bit of advice to get the conversational juices flowing.  Then, perk up those ears and listen, because you never know what you might hear.

Posted by Linda and Robin