The Value Of Connections

March 27, 2008 on 8:19 am | In dumbass marketer, FaceBook, LinkedIn, Networking, Online, Referral Marketing, Social Media | 3 Comments

As we have discussed before, the value of connections in business cannot be underestimated. I’m talking primarily about tight connections that you use ruthlessly to help you achieve your personal and professional goals. Friend and business coach Brent Dees of Focus Four tells us that you if want a $1 million business, you should have 40 contacts (your Focus 40) each of whom can bring you $25,000 in business. Your job is to help each of these contacts achieve their goals and they, in turn, will help you reach yours. This is a spin on the method that made Andrew Carnegie a millionaire many times over.

Now, Brent says that you can’t support more than 40 contacts like this. I agree. However, with the advent of social networks like LinkedIn (feel free to connect with me), you can have access to hundreds of contact to help you connect with others who may be able to help you.

Now, here’s the point of this story. I’ve begun building my LinkedIn network over the past few days and I sent invitations to all my contacts. I get one angry missive back from a female newspaper ad sales representative telling me take her off my email list immediately. OK, no problem.

But let me ask you: if you were an ad salesperson wouldn’t you want to be connected to the owner of an ad agency? Do you think I’ll ever deal with her – or her newspaper – again?

What are your thoughts on using LinkedIn and other social networking sites?

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