I came across this interesting article that reminded of an important element of networking:
It's not who you know that matters - it's who knows YOU!
Most professionals, speakers, consultants, trusted advisers, coaches try to build a rolodex of folks they know as their primary networking strategy. I'll suggest that this approach to networking is not nearly as effective as focusing on who knows YOU. Jason Jacobsohn makes this point on his Networking Insight blog in an article titled Who Knows You:
If you have done a good job of branding yourself, then you will have built a positive reputation in your community. Therefore, other people will know who you are even if they are not a part of your immediate network.
Once your name gets out there, more people will know you than you knowing them. In fact, you will be surprised at how many people know you. When this happens, new opportunities will present themselves and people will start coming to you.
What are you doing to put the word out in your local community about yourself, your group, and your value? Are you branding yourself and Vistage/TEC for other people to be attracted to, OR are you focusing on trying to collect names? Branding yourself and your local group will attract and draw CEOs to you over time much more effectively than collecting names on LinkedIn or other social network?
Examples of creating a brand, awareness, presence in a local market that attracts others to you and gets YOU known to your CEO community include blogging, PR, connecting with local university MBA programs, writing, publishing, being active in business and civic groups, submitting articles to business media (radio shows, business editors, business newspapers and magazines).
What's your primary strategy for creating the awareness of what you do in your local community?
If you would like to read the full article, titled Who Knows You, click the link below:
Barry Deutsch
