By: Rebekah Iliff, founder and principal, SGC
I’m throwing out a standard disclaimer for anyone reading this post: this is kind of a rant. No wait, it’s an actual rant.
It’s a reaction to something that continues to happen to me, and THE # 1 reason I quit going to networking events, handing out my business cards at conferences and trade shows, and in general, have become a complete curmudgeon when it comes to connecting with people – both online and off.
What has become the bane of my existence, you ask? A trigger for sheer impatience of an otherwise generally happy, optimistic individual?
Let me describe the all-too-familiar scenario:
You go to an event of some sort which has managed to lure people there under the “auspices” of a networking opportunity, business conference, etc. You meet two really competent people and several others who many not be competent but seem good enough at their jobs to warrant a conversation. Then you exchange business cards and say: “shoot me an email so I have your contact info,” and the usual niceties such as “great to meet you, best of luck, and stay in touch” – even if you don’t mean it.
Several days later, you take the time to personally email all of those contacts and say that it was lovely to meet them and definitely stay in touch – knowing full well that what this means is “connect with me on LinkedIn or follow me on Twitter so that I can build my online army lest anyone who sees my profiles knows that I’m not a complete loser. (BTW…as of today I only have 31 followers on Twitter…go figure). As silly and superficial as this sounds, it’s COMPLETELY socially acceptable.
Here is what is NOT COMPLETELY socially acceptable, and in my book the quickest way to go from legit to legitimately awful:
1. Don’t return my email, even if it literally takes you 5 seconds.
2. Do send me a LinkedIn invitation with the standard “I’d like to connect with you” BS with no reference whatsoever to how we may have met. NOTE #1, you never returned my email.
3. Do add me to your email list and send me updates on things that I care nothing about.
4. Don’t ever acknowledge my 2nd attempt to get in touch, then send a request for me to follow you on Twitter.
5. And for the love of all that is holy and good….please, whatever you do, give my email to others who may be interested in soliciting me or selling me something and let them repeat the mistake you made in #3. That is perhaps my favorite.
Stay tuned for more rants. It’s oh so therapeutic. I’ll be sure to send you an email about it even if I don’t know you. OH…and can you please follow me on Twitter?
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