. . . . It’s about who knows you.

Word of mouse is the new way of networking
Until recently, if someone had asked me what I thought networking was, I would have answered that it was the number of people I knew. Basically, who was in my network.
All that changed when I realised that networking is in fact who knows you and whether you are top of mind when a need arises that your skill set fulfills. It’s about whether your name comes up as the best alternative when people are looking for that position, that management style, that service, or even that friend.
There is much talk about how networking has changed from face to face interactions into web-based communications. Sites like Facebook, Twitter Linked-In, MyGenius, MeetUp and others are revolutionising how we connect and with whom.
There are specific courses on offer around the globe teaching us how to use these sites for business purposes. Although Twitter is perceived as primarily a business site, Facebook was perceived as a social networking site. Many of the available courses teach how to transform Facebook into a highly successful and ROI-driven business tool
These sites are allowing our contacts to become increasingly global. Business is no longer bound by country boundaries, and contacts therefore must be developed and nurtured across countries and continents.
Take a moment to review what your network looks like, and if you are the ‘go to’ person within this circle. If not, perhaps it’s worth considering what action you need to take and whether you need to invest more time in the art of global networking.
