Quick question for you. Do you have a lot of LinkedIn connections? Do you regularly add to them?
If so, when was the last time you actually spoke with any of them? Especially the people you’ve never met.
I’d hazard a guess it’s probably never. So what’s the point of having the connections? Is it ego to say you have hundreds, maybe thousands of connections?
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Transcript
Quick question for you. Do you have a lot of LinkedIn connections? Do you regularly add to them?
If so, when was the last time you actually spoke with any of them? Especially the people you’ve never met.
I’d hazard a guess it’s probably never. So what’s the point of having the connections? Is it ego to say you have hundreds, maybe thousands of connections?
I’m Rashid Kotwal.
I’ll be the first to say I have thousands of connections. The vast majority of whom I know nothing about. We connect, then pass like ships in the night.
Very few of us take any steps to take it any further, deepening the relationship.
So once again, what’s the point?
Ultimately all business is done on the basis of relationships. It takes time and effort to get to know, like and trust someone.
With physical networking you get to eyeball the person, getting a better feel for them.
Then you can decide to have a longer series of conversations. Which could lead to business either way and/or referrals and shock, horror, friendships.
Why should LinkedIn or any other social media be any different?
I now eat my own dog food. I call and message the people I’m connected with to start a conversation. In most cases it’s been a rewarding experience. Sure there are people who don’t respond, and that’s okay.
So here’s my challenge to you.
Whether you’re connected to me or not, reach out and start a conversation. Message me or just pick up the phone. I don’t bite and I’m sure if you reached out to someone else, they wouldn’t either.
And if I do reach out to you, offer me the same courtesy.
Now one last thing. Remember, these calls are not about selling your services. For one thing you have no idea if the person you’re speaking to is a prospect. The call is to open up a dialogue, start a relationship and see where it goes. It could just be the start of a beautiful friendship.
Till next time, this is Rashid Kotwal.
