The importance of social networking
Posted on June 24, 2024 by Martin Hahn, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.
This article discusses the importance of social networking which is very important and easy to do withe the existence of the internet.
Social networking has the opportunity to change your life. I you don’t play golf, pick it up because it can be the catalyst for much of the success you enjoy over many years.
Social networks are essential to our health and well-being as we are growing up during childhood and adolescence. Researchers have shown that having close friends and being embedded in a large social network protects children and adolescents from being victimized by bullies. Later on, these same skills are just as important as it has been shown that college freshmen who were able to create positive social networks with their new classmates were happier and psychologically healthier during their first year.
The networking opportunity it provided set the trajectory of your life’s work by connecting with some wonderful, successful people who were serving on boards of directors. You might receive invitations to join them, and don’t forget to accept them. This may develop into many life-long friendships, and top jobs like the director of an international consulting firm.
Advantages of Social Networking
1. Global connections are made possible through social networking. In this globalizing world, social networking is becoming more important in terms of developing an international network. The use of the English language has become more important on this globalized world. The availability of the internet and social media has become more important. These social media platforms are the most popular platforms to do networking on a global scale.
2. Quick and simple communication methods like whatsapp, facebook, instagram and many other social media platforms will make communication much easier than before. Imagine that in the past, an international phone call is made with a landline which is very expensive and now it can be done instantly for a very cheap price.
3. Social networking helps businesses advertise their brands because attracting and retaining customers is nowadays very important. This is caused by the explosion of the amount of competitors. The business which have good networking skills will increase its chances to survive because the customers will become repeat customers. In this globalized world, retaining customers have become more important than in the past.
4. Reduces the price of marketing because the emergence of social media and mobile devices linked to the internet has made instant communication a unique phenomenon. The existence of influencers have made the activity of marketing or specifically advertising a much more affordable activity of marketing and sales.
5. An excellent educational tool which is going to be advised and recommended by your network. Nowadays with the existence of the internet, it will be very easy to gain extra knowledge and skills by participating in various online courses. In case a prospective employer or partner need your extra knowledge and skills, the internet is extremely valuable source of it.
6. Shares large amount of information daily by the use of the internet with facilities like emails and other sources of information like a website.
7. Help seniors to feel part of society because many seniors in advanced societies do not live with their families. Wit a large network, seniors not directly part of your family can be linked to your older parents or grandparents if they are still alive.
Essential components to networking are genuineness, openness and being mentally present. Be an active listener and develop a mindset that asks, “What can I do for you?” and “How can I help you?” Do not attend a networking event with the intent to be able to meet people and extract what you can get from them. Eliminate the mindset of “What can I get out ofyou?” Avoid utilizing networking events to meet people in order to make yourself better professionally or to build your resume.
Similarly, when you volunteer at nonprofits, do not view your service as a networking opportunity. Instead, view your service as a selfless act. Your focus should be on the personal fulfilment and satisfaction gained by helping people and/or an organization. Yes, it is likely that when you do volunteer work you will develop new contacts in different positions and industries. These contacts may be useful in your career in many ways and they will likely be in ways you may not even be aware of at the time. But if you are volunteering solely to network, it is the wrong reason to volunteer.
All too often people treat volunteer work as networking opportunities, whereas serving a nonprofit organization should be a gig of their time, talent, and treasure to the overall success of the organization.
When networking connects you with other people, an opportunity arises for you to get to know somebody, and what comes from those introductions may potentially bring life-long changes. Networking is where business grows, life-long friendships are forged, comradery is strengthened, future spouses are met, and lives are impacted for the better.
