​The Do’s and Don’ts: In-Person Networking for Social Media Etiquette

​Social media is all online, so you can grow your network all online, right?  Of course not!  But you knew that.    
 
Even in this day and age when all our grandmas complain that our noses are perpetually in our phones, meeting people in person is still the best way to grow the strongest social media network.  That’s not to say that you should grow your social media presence with only real-world networking. Online versus in-person networking: one cannot replace the other.  It’s a combination of both that will work the most effectively. 

In a previous post, I described the process of being invited to insta-events.  Well, say that worked for you and now you’re at one.  How do you network appropriately without sounding like a big ol’ noob?

I met @summer_y_l at an insta-event. Now we stay engaged with each other's accounts and think of each other when relevant opportunities arise.

 
DON’T ask someone “how they got big.”  People with large social media followings get this question a lot, and it gets annoying.  The question ends up sounding like, “I care the most about how many followers I have. You just met me, but give me your secret so I can get a big number!”
I’ll give you the answer right now, so you’re not even tempted to ask it: they produced quality content, posted consistently over a long period of time, and hustled relentlessly.    
 
DO compliment someone’s body of work, especially if you’ve been following them for a long time.  Choose something specific to comment on that shows you’ve been paying attention.
 
DON’T ask someone how much they got paid for a sponsored post.  We’re all curious about the rates in this burgeoning field, but save that discussion for an appropriate forum.  Also don’t ask them to “hook you up” with the brand.  It comes off as opportunistic and ends up being a turnoff.
 
DO ask them behind-the-scenes questions or about their experience working on a campaign.  You can also mention some of your projects or goals and things you’ve been doing to achieve them. 
 
DON’T ask someone to follow you.  You can give them your card or ask to follow them. Many people try to keep their following number low and for whatever reason, you may not make the cut for a follow back. Don’t take it personally.
 
DO take a great picture of people with whom you wish to connect.  Make sure you get their @ so you can tag them later.  Showing up in each other’s feeds helps your networks on many levels.
 
DON’T let your momentum stagnate.  Within 24 hours of the event, send a DM to the people with whom you had a good connection, making a reference to the conversation you shared.  Chances are, you both met a lot of people and this will make you stick out in each other’s minds.  
 
DO continue to engage.  Make an effort to like and comment on your new connections’ posts.  Even big accounts notice their consistently engaged followers and appreciate the love, and having met you in person strengthens that bond.      
 
Do you have any tips for in-person networking for a social media network?