Unless you’ve just crawled out from under a rock, you have most likely heard about the new free micro-blogging sensation www.twitter.com .  Twitter is currently one of the fastest growing social network sites,  just behind Facebook and MySpace with over 55 million visitors per month.

This whole phenomenon is based on the simple question, “what are you doing?”  People “tweet” (post) their 140-character updates to their followers.  At the same time, you’re catching up on what’s on their mind as well by reading their tweets.

Think of Twitter as a local bar you like to stop in for a quick drink to catch up with your friends and hear the latest news and gossip.  Sometimes you stay for a while because the conversation is really juicy and sometimes it’s a quick night cap because none of your friends are there (or particularly interesting) that night.

I know what you’re thinking…you don’t need another time sucking online network .  The truth is, it’s way more productive than Facebook or Linkedin.  Remember, you’re only speaking in 140-character sentences so everyone gets right to the point.

Twitter is an amazing marketing tool.  I personally know several people who have gotten business, secured contracts and even landed new jobs all on Twitter.  It provides a great platform for you to get immediate feedback on ideas, products or concepts.  Remember, this is free marketing research!

The trick is to figure out how to bring value to your Twitter network and then bring it!  People who easily grow their list of Twitter “followers” are the ones that “tweet” interesting, relevant or current information.  Going back to the bar analogy, the people who have something compelling to say are the ones who have a large group gathered around them.  When they talk, people listen.  Same goes for Twitter.

As you think about growing your Access and Influence (A & I Factor™) with your network, I would highly recommend you check out Twitter.  To help you get started here are a couple of things to keep in mind to help you grow your Twitter network;

1. Don’t be boring! No one wants to engage in conversation with someone who is dull or self-centered.  Don’t make your “tweets” about mundane details.  We don’t care what you just had for dinner.  We want to know what’s on your mind and how it might be helpful to us.
2. Create an interesting profile. Setting up your account and profile with Twitter can be done in 15 minutes total.  Keeping with Twitter’s belief that less is more, you will only have 160 characters to create your profile so make it catchy and unique.
3. Let Google help you. Setup Google alerts (another free service) to send you daily updates on articles or blog posts that have to do with your expertise, interest or passion.  You can then “tweet” the links to your followers which will help build your credibility and value.

Thanks to Twitter, I have met some of the most interesting people, from all over the world that have connected me to amazing resources and information.  If you would like to join the conversation, we would love to have you drop by at www.twitter.com.  You can find me at @sarahmichel or http://twitter.com/sarahmichel

I’m the tall blonde standing by the bar.

Think about a recent project, assignment or initiative you worked on over the past month. At some point you probably couldn’t find the information or resource you were looking for in the company knowledge database or on the internet so you picked up the phone, sent an email or got up and physically walked over to ask another colleague for some help.

I’m willing to bet, you realized at that point, you could have saved a lot of time, money and effort if you had just reached out to your network in the first place.

According to social scientist, Karen Stephenson, organizations are starting to realize how vital internal networks are in the transfer of tacit knowledge. Tacit knowledge is the information and context we have on people, resources and experiences.

You won’t find tacit knowledge in your company database on how to best “sell” your idea to your boss or how to best work with sales and marketing to make sure they don’t sell something that your technical team can’t deliver. Tacit knowledge is shared people to people through a network based on personal relationships and trust. Often people are not aware of the important knowledge or information they possess and how it could be valuable to someone else.

In today’s business climate, the companies that are providing opportunities to build social capital between employees are the ones finding success.

I recently spoke to Standard & Poor’s which has an active internal women’s network initiative which brings women together from all of the different divisions of S & P. The women are encouraged to meet in person and virtually to share information and resources. In the group that I spoke to, there were five different divisions of S & P represented and most of the women had never met each other before. These internal networking opportunities allow for free exchange of tacit knowledge, career advice and best practices within all the divisions which keeps S & P at the top of their game.

There are many types of networks that you probably already tap into but haven’t realized how valuable they can be to your personal and professional growth. Think about the people you know and see if you can list a few names for each of these important knowledge networks we all should have;

• The “Work” Network.  Who do you talk to on a daily basis as part of your work routine?
• The Social Network.  Who do you check in with both in and out of work to find out what’s going on?
• The Innovative Network.  Who do you like to connect with to share new ideas and brainstorm possibilities?
• The Expert Network.  Who do you turn to for expert advice?
• The Career Advice Network.  Who do you talk to for career or strategic direction?

As you think about these important networks you have, ask yourself what you could be doing to grow your social capital by looking for ways to be a resource for these networks. Ask people, “How could I be a resource for you?”

Who do you talk to for career or strategic direction? Who do you turn to for expert advice? Who do you like to connect with to share new ideas and brainstorm possibilities? Who do you check in with both in and out of work to find out what’s going on? Who do you talk to on a daily basis as part of your work routine?Remember you have knowledge that could be vital to someone in those networks, don’t take it for granted.

With our economy in a recession and unemployment at the highest rate it’s been in over 16 years, there is no hiding from the fallout…we’re all feeling it. However, there is a silver lining in this dark cloud we’re all sitting under. There has never been a better time to invest in growing your network and social capital than now.

I have lived through several recessions in my lifetime and the one consistent observation I’ve made is how people seem to shift their priorities to focus on what really matters during lean times…relationships. This is the time to start reaching out to people in your network and looking for ways to be a resource to others to increase your netWORTH™.

Your netWORTH™ is determined by your access and influence (which I call your “A & I factor”) that you have with your network. Now is a great time to gain access to people you want to meet or have not seen in a while because business is slower and people are more available. You will gain more influence when you focus on bringing value to others and commit to being a resource. Approach your network with your arms open.

Focus on both your external and internal networks. If you’re lucky enough to still be employed, look for ways to bring value to others within your organization (internal network) as well as to people you know outside of work (external network). The higher your “A & I factor” is, the harder it will become to lay you off. Simply put, the most valuable employees are the ones standing at the intersection of life looking for ways to connect people, opportunities and ideas.

The good news is you can start right now. If you want to improve your “A & I factor” and increase your social capital simply make the choice to do so. Your new mantra should be, “How can I be a resource to someone today?” When you start putting that intention out to the world, you will be amazed at what will show up.

Here are a couple of action steps to get you started:

1) Make a list of people you haven’t talked to in a while and start making phone calls, send a card, or email to reach out. As Confucius Bell once said, “A journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single phone call.”

2) Join the social networking revolution! Get on board with a social networking site like facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or MySpace and discover your 6 degrees of connection! Your A & I Factor will rise when you’re able to share and receive information and resources from your global online network.

3) Accept every invitation you get to attend a party, training, professional association or meeting. Volunteer to be on a committee or task force that will create new connections and opportunities for you.

The hottest commodity in 2009 is your network. Treat it with the care and respect it deserves and it will be there for you when you need it.

Holiday season is a great time to expand your network and grow your netWORTH.

I hope this message gives you some new ideas if you’re in a career transition, wanting to grow your business, or hoping to meet some new friends.

If you found this helpful please post a comment. We’d love to hear about your holiday networking strategies.

With our nation’s unemployment rate at 6.5 percent and the number of unemployed people reaching over 10 million this month, chances are you or someone you know has been affected by our current economic situation.

No matter what business or industry you’re in, I know you have to be feeling it. Have you been in a retail store lately? You could roll a canon ball through most of them and no one would notice because no one is there! I found myself walking through a couple of stores yesterday trying to cheer up the sales people who looked worried while they openly talked about whether they would have jobs to come back to next week.

The worst time to start building a network is when you actually need one. So, with business being a little slower than usual and the holidays just around the corner, now is the perfect time to focus on strengthening, expanding and growing your network. Cease this opportunity you have with more free time than usual to pick up the phone and call some old friends and colleagues just to see how they’re doing.

Take advantage of the holidays to gather a group of people together that are connected to you, but not necessarily to each other. Be the hub of your network wheel and think of different people who are spokes on your wheel that would have things in common (business, hobbies, personality) and invite them to a holiday tea or coffee so you can connect them.

This is a great way to increase your netWORTH™ with your network. When we demonstrate our ability to connect our network with people, opportunities and resources our personal stock value (netWORTH™) goes up. Instead of focusing on plummeting stock prices, focus on the stock you can grow right now…your own!

Remember, creating goodwill within your network is never in limited supply. It’s an endless resource that is abundant and free flowing and can have the biggest impact on your netWORTH™. Look for opportunities right now to “pay it forward” for someone in your network by doing something that will help them. Typically, it will cost your nothing except a little of your time, imagination and good intentions.

There is a lot to be grateful for at this time of the year and I’m especially thankful for my network who has always supported, encouraged and stood by me through the good and challenging times. There is a silver lining in this sea of uncertainty we’re all swimming in, your richest resource is your network. 

As I have traveled around the country speaking to people about the power of netWORTHing™ one thing has become clear; people are looking for a change!  People have a lot of pain around traditional self-serving networking.   Everyone has been burned by someone who in the name of networking, is only pursuing their own selfish agenda.   

I’ve also been amazed at how many people think they’re really bad at networking and shy away from any meeting or opportunity that even mentions the “N” word for fear they will fail or be eaten alive by someone who wants access to their network.

If you can relate to either of these frustrations and are looking for a way to expand your network while still maintaining your integrity and capitalizing on your natural talents; netWORTHING™ is the answer! 

NetWORTHing™ is the new authentic approach to networking.  It’s when you intentionally put yourself at the intersection of life looking for people, opportunities and ideas to connect people to.  It’s all about approaching your network with a giving attitude and looking for ways to be a resource for them.  

Since we just survived a major historical election, I think it’s appropriate to site the successful campaign slogan of Bill Clinton in 1992, “It’s the economy stupid!”  What I want to shout from the rooftops is, “It’s about them stupid!” With NetWORTHING is all about them and not about you!

Join the Networkers Anonymous club now and start netWORTHing and watch your network grow and expand while you help a lot of people along the way.

Have you ever been a victim of a network drive-by?  Or, have you ever been violated by people claiming to be networking but are just out for themselves and what you can do for them?  If you’ve been left with a bad taste in your mouth for networking and think it’s just for blood sucking shameless self-promoters…read on!

In the 21st century your success in this new global economy will be determined by your ability to communicate your value (net-worth) to your network.  In other words, who you know and what you know that can help someone in your network will determine your social capital.   Net-worth-ing is not about you…it’s all about them!

Your Access and Influence, or A & I factor, is determined by the depth and breadth of your network.  The way to build a diverse and devoted network is to be constantly on the lookout for how you can be a resource to someone.  When you stand at the intersection of life looking for ways to connect people, opportunities and ideas, your net-worth begins to rise as your network witnesses the value you bring to them.  What will end up coming back to you in terms of professional connections, business referrals and new relationships will blow your mind.  What you send out to the world does circle back to you, usually when you least expect it and need it the most.

For those of you who had bought into the notion that you were not good at networking, net-worth-ing can give you a whole new game plan.  Starting now, you can approach people with the intention to help them.  You can ask people, “How can I be a resource for you?”  Then actually doing what you said you would do by making the connection for this person to the people, opportunities and ideas you think would help them.
Not only will this have a huge impact professionally on you…it’s just a better way to live your life. 

Together we can change the world, one connection at a time.

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Since we all seem to be very preoccupied these days with conserving energy, focusing on recycling and using alternate resources, it seems fitting to remind you that creating goodwill within the relationships of your network, is never in limited supply.

You create goodwill by looking for ways to be a resource to others and going out of your way to help someone in your network, expecting nothing in return.  We need to approach our network with the same selfless manner as we do with recycling our aluminum, paper and plastics, knowing that our efforts benefit the earth and the greater good, not just us personally.   Goodwill is a renewable resource that holds the potential to have the biggest impact on your networth.  I’m not talking about financial networth…I’m talking about your social capital.

Your networth (social capital) will rise when your network experiences, hears about or witnesses you committing an act of goodwill.  Creating some goodwill typically requires very little effort and energy output on your part.  It’s as easy as making a phone call, sending an email or introducing two people who you think need to know each other.  Often, this small but significant act opens the exact door that person needed to move ahead.  The network contact you help will be forever grateful and typically will tell at least 12 people how helpful and valuable you are.

A little goodwill can go a long way.  Together we can change the world one connection at a time.  Pass it on!

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How Social Networks Are Changing the Way People Network

By Sarah Michel, CSP © 2008

It was bound to happen. Despite the Internet implosion in 2000, the online user population continues to grow not just in the U.S., but globally. Once it reached a critical mass, the natural evolution of this growing population was for its members to break into “communities” with common backgrounds, interests, and/or needs. Welcome to web 2.0!

What is Web 2.0?

For those who are wondering what happened to web 1.0, it might be helpful to reflect on just how far we have come. In the 1990′s, the web simply took information that was available offline and put it online. In 2000, the web became commercial and introduced ways to bring consumers and merchants together. But in 2005, the Internet entered its networking phase to enhance social interaction. The technology to create and maintain these relationships and to facilitate conversations between its users is what is called web 2.0.

Not Just For Kids

So what does this mean for you? If you thought this social networking phase was only for your children or grandchildren, be advised this train has left the station and people from all generations are on board! Research conducted in 2006 by ComScore and MediaMetrix indicates that over 56% of the total U.S. social media user base is 35 or older. What is even more shocking is that over 50% of the 96 million visitors to myspace.com, one of the original and largest social networking sites, are baby boomers who are using social networks to generate business opportunities.

Using Social Networking to Improve Your Net Worth

In 1973, Mark Granovetter published research on the important concept I preach in my networking programs: it is not so important who you know, but who they know. Social networks help facilitate reaching people who are loosely connected to you in a very low risk environment. All of the social networks out there, and new ones come online daily, provide a way to uncover your six degrees of separation, helping you discover you are probably less than six people away from any resource, person, or information you are seeking. The other real benefit of online communities is the opportunity you have to improve your value and net worth simply through your access and influence to a global network.

It’s All About the Power of Community

On the popular business-focused social network linkedin.com (over 19 million members!), I recently saw a question posted under the Answers section of the site. The user wanted to know if someone had the correct mailing address for Al Gore. Within one hour of that post, the user had four responses from people around the world whom he had never met, who not only provided the address but gave him the phone number and email for Al Gore’s gatekeeper, as well as advice on how to approach him. Talk about improving you’re A & I factor (Access & Influence)!

Getting Started

There are social network sites debuting daily, so the opportunities to join one are endless. Chances are, there is a message in your inbox from someone you know inviting you to join one now. My advice is to do your homework and select the one or two sites that will provide the best return on your time investment. Like any network, you will get out of it what you put into it.

All of the sites give you an opportunity to create a profile and post it for people to view and assess where they might have a connection with you. You can always decide if you want to connect with someone or not. Once you accept someone as a “friend” or “connection,” then you can see who they know that you need to know.

Changing the World, One Connection at a Time

Social networks make it easy to expand your network globally in ways that traditional forms of people-to-people networking cannot. However, in the end, how you reach out and give to a new contact you’ve made in Singapore will determine the outcome of that new connection. Just like face-to-face networking, people will want to network with you online if you look for ways to be a resource to them. When you approach your social network with a giving spirit and let serendipity work its magic, everyone wins!

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