I help entrepreneurs leapfrog over the typical potholes that derail most small businesses with inspiration, motivation, education, and support across a wide range of business topics drawn from over a decade of running my own business, teaching entrepreneurship for the City of New York, and coaching and consulting privately with dozens of women and minority small business owners. Honestly, why go it alone when help is an email away?
Slide into those DMs
Last week, I shared some Break-through Techniques for pricing and market research.
This week, I was reminded of a technique I've been using for the past few years that has also been a game-changer for me.
If you guessed sliding into people's DMs on Zoom, LinkedIn, and other meeting and professional platforms, you are correct.
Just this week, doing that very thing landed me a podcast invitation, a guest expert for my upcoming class, and a great networking meeting with someone who serves the same audience as me.
I know some folks feel nervous reaching out to strangers, but the truth is, there's basically no risk to this tactic.
What's the worst that can happen? The other person (gasp) ignores your message?
I actually once had that happen. I DMed someone I thought it would be great to connect with while attending a big conference session on Zoom. Then, crickets.
I thought, "OK, what's the harm? They weren't interested."
A few days later, I received a LinkedIn invitation with a message of apology from the person I had DMed. The chat was so busy that they'd missed the DM I'd sent them. They only saw it later when they were reviewing the saved chat. They felt terrible.
I felt lucky that they'd bothered to review the chat and found my message.
To me, it's way easier to slide into someone's DMs than pull them aside IRL at an in-person event. And, it feels way safer, too, especially to the painfully shy child that still lives within me.
I've also found that people genuinely appreciate it when you make the first move and reach out.
Whenever that shy child pokes her head up, and I feel nervous about reaching out, I ask myself how I would feel being on the receiving end of my own message.
I've also never received a DM (in professional contexts) that has made me think, "What were they thinking," or "How annoying."
As we get back to live events, I know I'm still going to keep virtual networking events on my calendar because they're such rich territory for connection.
And, it's so much easier for me to 'work the Zoom' than work the room.
How about you? Are you itching to get back to IRL or breaking out in hives just thinking about it?
Until next week, keep reaching out and building connections.
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Easily Said & Done
I help entrepreneurs leapfrog over the typical potholes that derail most small businesses with inspiration, motivation, education, and support across a wide range of business topics drawn from over a decade of running my own business, teaching entrepreneurship for the City of New York, and coaching and consulting privately with dozens of women and minority small business owners. Honestly, why go it alone when help is an email away?
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