Network Your A** Off
There’s a great simple luxury that so many universities hold, and that is the power of networking. While any one person can go out and find contacts, possibly exploiting them for their value, organized events are by far the work-horse of networking power. Later this week Appalachian State University is hosting its Business Career Symposium.
Open to Juniors, Seniors and MBA Graduate Students, this is a gold-mine of opportunity. With companies like BB&T, Wells Fargo, Ally Financial, Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC, events like the BCS are just one of many chances students get to network. But this one event is like a small gem because only 200 students can register. Beyond this one event, the chances for any student anywhere to get their resume updated and use their university for contacts and new connections.
Don’t be afraid to communicate
In any event where you meet someone, you’re there to keep in touch in the long-run and hopefully take advantage (in a good way) of the connection that you’ve made. When you’re there, don’t be the one person handing out resumes saying, “Hey, this is why you should hire me.” In my opinion that’s just a hot route to being annoying.
You’re looking for a solid communication with the representatives that show at these events. Find a conversation where you see eye-to-eye with the person and engage them. Engage in a relevant conversation to what you want in your job hunt, what you expect from potential employers. Do more than just be a wallflower at the event, be the person who has something interesting to say.
Keep in Touch
The communication after an event is by far just as important as a Thank You note after an interview or maintaining contact with an old friend. It IS the true networking part of these opportunities. When you do receive contact information use it. This valuable information is given to you for a reason.
If you get an email address – check it on LinkedIn
Twitter Handle? – Shoot them a DM or an @ Reply, let them know your appreciation.
Mobile Number – Give them a call, let them know your your interest, even chat them up some more if they have the time. If no leave a message, express yourself.
Whatever the chances you get, don’t be afraid to Network the chances you do get.
Consumers Think ROI Too
We’ve all been consumers, we’ve all bought something or used some item at one point in time. What was your ROI for that “thing”? I bet you, that you never really thought of it for a small item or a common place thing you use often and plentifully.
The problem is that Marketers, Accountants, and Financial Managers are all concerned about ROI. It’s always been a debate with social media, it will continue to be until the tools to monitor and analyze direct ROI become more accessible and efficient. Every one wants to know, what are we getting back from our money, but we business people are not the only ones worried about the ROI of our social and online marketing efforts.
Give the people a way to get ROI from what you build.
It’s an interesting way to think about the ROI of a consumer for your efforts. We business people have ours, but the clients look for an entirely different perspective. They want your Twitter to be a stream of intelligent and intelligible content, relevant to your business and relevant to the type of followers. Facebook should be an expansion and an easy way to get connected, talk back (in a good way) to them, and share longer information that can’t be done in 140 characters on Twitter.
More importantly, your website should definitely be easy to navigate, and have a very natural feel to the way it works and is laid out. These simple factors matter to the people who approach the tools you use to engage them because it’s their time on the line too. They want to know the information you’re giving in a high-quality, quick, and easy. Time and Knowledge are the two biggest returns for consumers online. If you can give those two aspects directly back to all your readers and people you engage with on an every day basis, you will be a bright shining star in their book.
Next time you develop something for your clients, think about their time and their return on investment with your product. Are they getting back what they expect, and more?! Give back to them too.