Now that everyone’s on social media, I have more and more people inquiring about whether or not there is a real need for people to learn one-on-one networking skills. My response is, yes, even more so.

Let me explain. I am avid user of social media. I go on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter daily and interact with people that I have met on these sites. This interaction takes place via the computer and serves a purpose, especially if I am looking for a quick answer to a specific question or I want to share something that I have just learned.

Interacting Via Telephone

As a test, I started arranging for some phone calls with people who had asked to connect with me on LinkedIn. It is my view, talking on the telephone is the next level after connecting on the computer with people that I had never met in person.

I selected two people and arranged a time for me to call them. In each instance, I immediately started getting a “sales pitch.” What I really wanted, was to learn more about them and explore the possibilities of coming up with ways to support each other. In one case, I had to go back three times to my question before the man even remotely answered it. He seemed very concerned with impressing me with his credentials.

I hung up the phone both times and realized this approach was far from satisfactory. There must be better way.

Meeting Social Media Contacts from Your Local Community.

Then I thought¸”What if I get in touch with people that I met on social media that live near me and set up a coffee date with them?” I started doing that. I was pleased that each time the recipient of my suggestion to get together was very open to set up a time and place to meet.

First of all, it is great to put a face and personality with one of my social media contacts. Sometimes we begin the conversation knowing only that we both are using social media and a vague understanding of the industry in which we work.

Since I am great at starting conversations, I use my favorite question, “Tell me what great thing happened to you recently.” The answer normally gets our conversation off on a positive note and starts the real relationship building. (Reminder—the key is to listen to his or her answer so you can ask another question and keep the conversation going.)

After a few minutes of getting to know each other, something we say may trigger an idea. Maybe something in the conversations reminds us of something we have forgotten or there is a “aha” about a challenge that has been bothering you. Ideas flow when you are sitting in front of each other.

Trust will be always be one of the virtues people mention when they decide with whom they want to do business. When you are sitting across from someone, it is easy to see if he or she believes what he or she is saying to his or her toes. Or for that matter, do they believe in themselves? One time a coach took me out to lunch for he wanted to see if I would consider teaming up with him in the future. He couldn’t look me in the eyes. NEXT!

My belief is that social media is a very important component of your marketing plan. Yet, I also feel that most people will find and strengthen their relationships if they find a way to connect in person with people they have connected on the social media sites.

Back to the old adage “People do business with people they know and like.” It may see trite. However, using only social media to build your network may take a lot more time than you thought. How do you develop trust on the internet?

Personally, I plan to use social media to find people in the different cities that I will be speaking and training and call them up for coffee. I am looking forward to looking them in the eyes and letting the idea flow between us.