It’s no secret that Dean and I embrace and promote Web 2.0 and social media as powerful opportunities for networking, building relationships, and moving your message of value to potential clients, employers and business affiliates. This new trend and paradigm shift in how business is done is being embraced at the highest levels of our new government. The Obama team has launched Whitehouse.gov, their platform to communicate with the people through blogs, video that delivers the President’s weekly address, and a “contact us” page to support Obama’s commitment to creating the most open and accessible administration in American history.
We have shifted into an age of transparency, where the focus is on building relationships first, with the understanding that selling something comes from the development of the relationship.
What does this shift mean to you as a job seeker or business owner?
- You need to make yourself accessible in Linkedin and other social media sites.
- You need to get involved in the conversations available, not sit back passively collecting connections.
- You need to show up as a caring human looking to engage authentically. Remember, it’s no longer about “me”; it’s about common good.
- Stop the hard sell. Promote your expertise by sharing it, not selling it.
- Create more tightly targeted prospect lists and personalize your messages to meet the unique needs of each prospect.
We’d love to hear your thoughts about how you are making the shift, or the obstacles that are holding you back.
