Is Social Media Killing Traditional Business Networking?

Posted by Adam_Gottlieb under Marketing
From http://frugalentrepreneur.com 4858 days ago
Made Hot by: shepherd on January 19, 2011 8:45 am

Social media is being touted as the holy grail of business marketing and communications. While these platforms may bring your business some measure of ROI (if used properly), there's still nothing like traditional business networking via email, personal phone calls, and face-to-face meetings.

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Comments

Written by GrowMap
4848 days ago

I hope business owners read this and take it to heart. Social Media sites CAN generate business but only if you use them to build relationships with people interested in what you're doing - NOT if you just use them to broadcast your message into the ether.

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Written by alastair
4853 days ago

For me. Social Media is pushing me towards traditional business networking. Conversion rates from SM alone can be horrendous and the time outlay is massive. But if you extend and deepen social media connections with other contacts. Email, or phone or face to face. They seem to complement each other very well.

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Written by Adam_Gottlieb
4852 days ago

Alastair,

I've seen it myself as well. This is how it should be, in my opinion.

The problem is for many people that the social media networking seems to take over the real life "counterpart." When that starts happening, then everything goes downhill.

Adam

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Written by saraib820
4859 days ago

Adam,

I worry too that people are forgetting how to interact with each other personally. It's so easy to do with the push of a button. When it has to be done face to face or by phone there has to be followthrough and the human touch. I really worry that businesses are forgetting how to do this.

BTW, I love the name 'Frugal Entrepreneur'! Very catchy!

Rivkah

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Written by yoni67
4859 days ago

Adam,

I think "enhancing' it. Anybody who forgets about traditional communication, etiquette and the personalized touch when communicating with others will find him or herself the hit of the online world but without live, physical customers.

Yoni

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Written by Adam_Gottlieb
4859 days ago

Yoni,

A hundred percent... Social media works the best when it's an enhancement of what you are already doing well. Problems arise when too many resources are being thrown into the process without either a clear plan of action or realistic expectations

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