As a confirmed networking junkie, I was always looking for my next fix. When I found LinkedIn, several years ago, with it’s emphasis on career history, educational background and association membership it seemed like a great fit. It is a supercharged version of my address book, but by itself it isn’t interactive enough to feed my need to connect.
I always believed the real power of LinkedIn is in the ability to see who knows who, but it wasn’t much of a conversation tool. I could introduce people or exchange an email, but it wasn’t convenient to keep logging in, so I quickly moved conversations elsewhere.
Then Amber Naslund, who I follow on Twitter, posted her LinkedIn profile and invited her followers to connect, and it all made sense. Combining the platforms makes each more valuable. Twitter allows me to chat with people efficiently. As long as I keep it to 140 characters, I can share information, humor, insights and ideas. Adding the connection via LinkedIn gives me a broader more detailed introduction.
I still don’t think it will replace face-to-face interaction, but it can give traditional networking an extra buzz. The key is cross pollination. Bring your contacts across platforms, using the best tool for the best purpose. Interested in testing the idea? I am on Twitter as @lorraineball and you can find me on LinkedIn too.
Roundpeg, an Indianapolis social media firm helps our clients develop strategies to use LinkedIn as part of their marketing mix.