How Long Has It Been?Sixteen years ago, I was programming a radio station and I met a guy who was running a music magazine.
Apparently I treated him well (whew!) because three years ago he contacted me via Facebook in his current position of world renowed digital marketing blogger, president of a digital media agency and published author.
Building The Relationship
We have kept in touch, grabbed a meal a couple of times and shared a few ideas back and forth. Last April, he invited me to something called a Geek Dinner. It was a collection of people who had met online and enjoyed talking about digital media and marketing and communications and social networking.
Nice To Meet You. Now What?
During that dinner I met a few very cool people. Over the following few months we stayed in touch, exchanged emails and in some cases met in person and did some work together. We have kept in touch.
Among other client work, I recently became an associate at a public sector marketing company through someone I met that night. Over and above the work with him, he has introduced me to another client. Because of a meeting with someone sixteen years ago, I met someone who asked me to join their agency who in-turn introduced me to another client.
We Met Online
A few weeks ago, I attended an event with the United Way called Schmoozefest and realized that there were twenty of us who had all somehow met each other online. We lived in the same city but social media brought us together faster than any other networking means.
The World Is Small
I can look at almost every project I'm involved with right now and they point to connections made through digital social networks.
But Don't Be Fooled...
The websites simply connect us, the ability to contribute to a relationship is where the work begins.
The next time you wonder if social media – which is code for human networking – works, you might want to go back and see if you can connect the dots. And the good news, you can start anytime.
Do you think it’ll work?
@knealemann
marketing and social media strategy
