Facebook Will Help You Suck At Networking

October 31st, 2008 | by Jason Alba |

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I just read a profound quote by Peter Shankman on NewspaperGirl’s blog (which I can’t get to right now):

“If you don’t know how to network in the first place, all social media can do is give you the chance to screw up to a much larger group of people in a much shorter amount of time.”

Oh my gosh. This sums up my hangup with people who are screwing it up.  Facebook, and Twitter, and handshakes and … it’s just they don’t know how to network in the first place!

“Hi, thanks for Friending me on Facebook, BUY MY STUFF!”

Or…

“Hey, I want to invite you to this totally useless Group or Event so I can make money off of you, after you hear all my wisdom, and you’ll then want to buy my upsell!”

Folks, go for the relationship first, and let the sale happen when it happens.  Maybe I suck at hard sales, and I’m all wrong.  Hold on, I gotta go prune some of those who are pretty aggressive at it.

And, if you want to read more on this topic, go pick up Never Eat Alone… it’s an awesome book on “building intimate relationships.”

  1. One Response to “Facebook Will Help You Suck At Networking”

  2. By Karen Swim on Oct 31, 2008 | Reply

    ROFL! I love Peter and your example is one of the many reasons why. In recent weeks I have grown so weary of having people shove things in my face that I have started to shield myself from the onslaught. Thanks for sharing this advice!

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