Social Web Your Career to the Next Level!
Doyle Slayton | Oct 12, 2008 | Comments 8
The social web is creating a new internet. It represents a launching pad of great opportunities for those who understand its power. How can it impact your career? The answer is dependent on your willingness and ability to embrace it! Last week, we received great comments from readers who shared their thoughts on the question, “Are Sales People Wired for Social Networking?“ Here is my list of four ways you can use blogs and social networks to build your business.
Information – The number one reason most people use the internet has not changed… yet! For now, it is still about accessing information. In the case of blogging, most of us use it to read articles that contribute to our learning agenda and self-development. As for social media, sales people are using it to find contacts and make connections that will put them in front of decision makers at target accounts.
Presence – Think about how advertising and brand awareness helps you in sales. When you are calling on a prospect that is familiar with your company, it’s easier to get your foot in the door. That’s the strength of social media. You have the opportunity to develop your own personal brand… and if appropriate, your company’s brand. Make it a point to take a few extra minutes to regularly comment on your favorite blog posts and social network forums.
Here’s some advice from a 15 year old blogger named Joel Drapper on “How to Comment Like a Pro”. Think about that… a 15 year old blogger who I just learned about because… he is following me on twitter. He has nearly 1,000 followers! Here is a young man who understands web presence! Joel represents future generations of clients and business owners. In other words… he represents our future clients and business “partners.”
I have so many ideas about building web presence that I’ll have to share it on a future post… or maybe even a book!
Connecting – Social networks extend our reach to global proportions. When I look at the members of SalesBlogcast.com, I see an amazing list of highly driven, brilliant, sales and leadership minded business people that come from all over the world! In a global economy, think of the power of being highly connected in a network that is unaffected by geography.
Opportunity – As with sales activity, it is the cumulative effect of everything you do that creates success. When you plug into a world of ideas, you get better. As you step it up to the next level and begin to contribute your own thoughts and best-practices, you build presence. People know who you are. Like minded individuals with similar goals and aspirations connect. Over time, it turns into opportunity!
Growing up, nobody ever taught me about the power of relationships. Therefore, I’ve always believed that sales is about pounding the phone and pounding the pavement. In fact, I believe it always will be. Luckily, I’m one of those guys who actually loves that part of sales, but I have observed something very important over the years. Those who succeed at the highest levels are the ones who are connected and surrounded by great people. It didn’t happen overnight. Those connections happened over a lifetime. Our involvement in the social web is not about the results we are getting today. It’s about the results we will get in the future… meaning three to five… even ten years from now. The social web represents a “second chance,” and it shortens the amount of time it takes to build powerful connections!
Think about your current circle of influence. How can these concepts of the social web take your career to the next level?
Check Out These Related Articles!
Filed Under: Blog • Fun-n-Stuff • Leadership • Reader Questions • Sales • SalesTaxi
Great article. Social media is definitely the wave of the future — I’ll be looking forward to future posts on it.
Social networking and blogging are a major focus of building my brand and in generating income. This article is right on target
Great article, networking and building relationships has always been where the Big Deals came from. Now with social media sites we can take it to the next level.
Doyle, Great post… Its funny how as soon as you think you are on top of the social networking thing you find a 15 year old that knows more than you ever thought possible.
For me social networking and blogging have been a HUGE part of my career plan. I have met people I would have never gotten access to any other way and formed relationships that are growing into very profitable ventures.
Thanks for sharing!
It’d be interesting to have member share specific tools, tactics and results on how they utilize this new approach to sales behavior.
I am also interested in reading or reviewing any hard data (studies) that show how SM grows sells (definitively).
Thanks.
Robert
Very powerful and uplifting! Also so true! Most of our leads are generated on the internet. I don’t know what I would do if I had to go out and generate my own leads with cold calls, etc.
That’s a great question to end the blog with. I certainly use LinkedIn, Facebook, Ecademy and Motorcity Connect to keep up with people, especially now that most of them help keep track of updates to blogs. Overall, social webs are a great tool but should never be used to replace getting nose to nose with someone!
Thank You For keeping it on point and on topic –
Best Regards