HOW MUCH NETWORKING IS TOO MUCH?

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All right…this is my third and last post about my house painter friend who has avoided the recession and actually grown his business using traditional networking and social media like LinkedIn.  Unless, of course, he comes up with another brilliant idea I feel compelled to share with you.  His name is Ben Zito from Cherokee Hills Painting Company.

 I’d been asked to speak to the Homewood Chamber of Commerce on How to Use Social Media to Build Your Business.  The best way to illustrate what works is to give a real life example.  What better way than to invite Ben to the luncheon…have him stand up and then share his story.  The audience would see that Ben is a real guy who is actually using his networking and social media skills to be successful.  This would also give Ben an opportunity to promote his business.

 I was so excited with my idea and shot off an e-mail to Ben asking him to come.  I never expected this response.

 “Thanks for the invitation to your networking event.  I cannot make it as much as I would like to.  You see, tomorrow is a real work day.  I try to work with my employees as much as possible.  Three reasons:  (1) I like to paint.  (2) My workers like to see me paint (keeps the skill level up to high grade).  And (3) The home owners like to see the boss paint (they see that the owner is not just talk).  Have a nice day.”

Ben continues to prove he gets it.  As important as networking is, you actually have to do work and add value to your clients to be successful. 

 It’s important to get out of the office and connect with others.  It’s important to market, sell, & Tweet.  But bottom line, all the promotion & connections in the world don’t mean a thing if you don’t produce.

 This is David Sher, your e-networking guy saying it’s not what you know, but whOO you know.

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