posted by Robin Tooms @ 5:55 PM
Ok, conference organizers, take note: start putting Twitter handles on your conference nametags. At recent events, I’ve witnessed a lot of attendees exchanging Twitter information at the social or networking functions. Sure, I still carry my business cards, but now I’ve also started handwriting my Twitter information on my conference badge so that when I do talk with someone, they know how to link up immediately. And when you’re at a conference, this is also good way to make sure you don’t miss out on any tweetups!
When I do get a business card from someone, I look them up on LinkedIn and send my follow up note and invitation to connect that way. If you care enough about the person you met to follow up with via email, then why not add them to your online network? With a LinkedIn connection, you may be doing both parties a favor – you never know how your extended networks might be able to help each other.
What does this say about the way we interact in person? As professionals, our networking is not just about exchanging your information, it’s about participating in an extended conversation and perhaps knowing that person on a more human level too. Online social networks make these conversations so much easier now! But if you do participate in social networks in this way, make sure that you are developing a good personal brand online (and by association, being a good ambassador for your company’s brand too).
