This is my first blog ever. I think I have posted to a blog once. A little background might be helpful. I have been in B2B sales for over 30 years. I have been a strong practicing believer in traditional networking for over 20 years. Of my current client base, over 90% of my clients have been as the result of some sort of networking relationship in the past. I have been fortunate enough to have sold millions and millions of dollars in products as a result of these relationships.
I currently own and operate a traditional networking group called NetWorks! One of my goals for the group is to provide it’s members with opportunities to network outside of our group format. Which brings me to here.
Now, I’m not computer stupid but I ain’t exactly computer smart either. I cut my teeth in sales 30 years ago selling the predecessors to the personal computer. They used ledger cards, mag cards, mag stripes, punch cards, mark sense cards, and tape decks. That is about where I am now when it comes to Social Media. Still, I work out of my home and a huge part of my time is devoted to the internet and email. I have used some form of computerized CRM (used to be called Contact Management) software for over 20 years and we employ a web based package in our networking group.
Still…………..this social media stuff……….I don’t know. I’ve got to the point where I have a fair understanding of LinkedIn. Face Book looks like My Space for adults. Twitter………I’m trying but I still don’t get it. And there are so many others. And I’m afraid. I have time concerns, privacy concerns, and ROI concerns. If you are at all like me, you have the same challenges. Something like this has to work in a business environment or we might as well be playing “pong”. Can you still get that?
But I’m going to try to figure all of this out. A shout out to Jen Harris over at TSheets . I met Jen through LinkedIn and she has been an enormous help and is so damn excited about this stuff that she has me excited too (smile). I am following her formula. She is now my “Guru” but I’m not sure she is aware of that or if she even wants the job. See Jen’s blog at caffeinated marketing.
Finally, this blog sure as hell is not going to be any sort of a guide to Web 2.0. The word “guide” implies some sort of accuracy. It’s going to be about scratching my head, trying things, success and failures, and tips that seem to work. Hope you find it at least mildly entertaining. Hope even more that you will jump in and contribute!
Thanks!
Craig
