Your Internet Presence and the People You Don't Know


by Ron Bates - Date: 2007-02-03 - Word Count: 518 Share This!

Your positive Internet presence isn't just about being found in search engine results, or the number of contacts you have on various networking platforms. To a large extent it's about your approach, attitude, and philosophy about networking, or more specifically - online networking.

One synonym for the word "presence" is charisma. Ultimately, someone's Internet presence is a transformation of a few basic ingredients: one's openness to new contacts (both with respect to approaching others you don't know, as well as others approaching you who don't know you); a willingness to accept some risk when it comes to helping or connecting with someone; combined with how well you project all of this in a visible way.

Unfortunately, many people - start - networking only when they have a need, and then they - stop - networking when their need has been met. This is only exacerbated by how some online networking platforms are actually set up to work. Unfortunately some networking platforms should be renamed "needworking" platforms. Most successful networkers would probably agree that networking is an ongoing process, and not one that is bound in time by an individual need.

I was introduced to a wonderful quote by a fellow networker the other day that caused me dig a little further to find the complete quote. What I found, in many ways, epitomizes the spirit of networking - and in the 21st Century - especially online networking.

From a Blog post by: John McNally Associate Professor of English at Wake Forest University

"Model of a Letter of Recommendation of a person you are unacquainted with."

*****

Paris, April 2, 1777

Sir,-- The bearer of this, who is going to America, presses me to give him a letter of recommendation, though I know nothing of him, not even his name. This may seem extraordinary, but I assure you it is not uncommon here. Sometimes, indeed, one unknown person brings another equally unknown, to recommend him; and sometimes they recommend one another! As to this gentleman, I must refer you to himself for his character and merits, with which he is certainly better acquainted than I can possibly be. I recommend him, however, to those civilities which every stranger, of whom one knows no harm, has a right to; and I request you will do him all the favour that, on further acquaintance, you shall find him to deserve. I have the honour to be, etc.

Benjamin Franklin

*****

Now that guy had presence.

So what is this supposed to imply in the context of your Internet presence and/or networking charisma? Be open to people who risk reaching out to you. Realize that everyone may not have the same experience and/or optimum polished approach that you do. As Benjamin Franklin's quote above implies - be willing to take a chance on a new point of contact and give people the benefit of the doubt. For all you know, the next person that risks reaching out to you could translate into the beginning of the most fruitful relationship you'll ever develop, but if you aren't willing to take a chance on a new point of contact and give the individual the benefit of the doubt - you'll never know let alone benefit.


Related Tags: seo, internet marketing, resume writing, internet presence, ron bates, job search advice

Ron Bates is an expert in mission critical retained executive search. He is a Managing Principal with the retained executive search firm Executive Advantage Group, Inc. He has delivered personal executive coaching projects to former SAP, E&Y, Oracle, and WorldCom Exec's responsible for multi-billion dollar business units, and co-founded http://www.CV-Advantage.com, a self guided job search oriented executive coaching process.

With +29,000 direct contacts on on-line professional networking platforms, Ron has been referred to as "the most connected man on Earth". View Ron's networking profile on Ecademy.

As a recognized expert in building an on-line personal Internet presence, Ron has been an invited speaker at venues such as the Marketing Executive Networking Group, British America Business Council, Expert Connections, and is a regular guest on Netshare's "Ask the Coach".

Ron's blog: Internet Presence - Do you exist? can be found at http://www.search-advantage.com

For more information on Conducting a Job Search Campaign go to http://www.job-search-campaign.com

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