As an author and a speaker, I am often called upon to talk about networking — like there’s a big secret to how it’s done.  It’s actually quite simple.  Networking is not about getting out and meeting people. Networking is about what you do after you meet people, the follow-through and keeping in touch.

Speaker, author and Help A Reporter creator Peter Shankman likes to tell the story of Paramount Pictures executive Barry Diller. Barry used to go through his Rolodex every day and call 10 different filmmakers and others, just to touch base and find out what they were working on and how they were doing. These filmmakers and others often thought of Barry first when they had a hot project. Many credit the huge success of Paramount Pictures during this time to Barry’s daily calls.

You may not be Barry Diller, but there is no reason you can’t do the same thing he did. Successful relationships, business or personal, take time and nurturing.

Here are just a few things that should be a part of your networking repertoire:

• Write a personal note after an in-person meeting – either to say thank you or a simple, “It was nice to meet you (or see you).” An email is fine, but a handwritten note stands out more.
• On Facebook? Check each morning to see who is having a birthday and leave a message on their wall or actually make a personal call.
• See an article or blog post that makes you think of someone? Copy the URL and send it to that person with a note: “This made me think of you.” We ALL like to know others are thinking about us.
• ALWAYS write a thank-you   note when anyone does something nice for you – an introduction, a client lead, free tickets to something, a meal, whatever.  If you are doing things right, you should be writing at least five thank-you notes a week — if not more.
• Did you talk about a specific thing or information the other person needed that you had?  Follow through with that promised information or item within 48 hours, even if it’s just to say you are still gathering the information.
• Go through your network – your address book, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter – and touch base with several people each day. This keeps you top of mind just like the aforementioned Mr. Diller.

Here’s a recent example of how I work.  Earlier this week, a local food critic invited me to join her at one of Houston’s newest restaurants.  Management wined and dined us thoroughly. (It’s always nice to go to a restaurant with a food critic).  I followed up with a thank-you note and a copy of my book to the restaurant manager. The food critic and I had talked about my husband’s new novel, so she got a thank-you note and a copy of the book, Specific Impulse.  I posted the pictures of the food and information on the new restaurant on Facebook, with links to the establishment and the chef.  Not to mention, I’ll be back – the food was amazing!

Networking is not for sissies. It takes work and it takes work on a regular, daily basis. Who have you networked with today?

*Originally posted on The Vollmer Voice from Vollmer Public Relations.

Gene Simmons of KISS was asked a few years ago what was the one thing he attributed his success to?  He said, without hesitation,  ”I read everything I can get my hands on.”

I loved that answer.  I am who I am and I do what I do because I read and I’ve never stopped learning.

Early on, I devoured the entire Nancy Drew series.  From that, I believe I learned to research and solve.

A friend of my grandmother’s, Mrs. DePhillipi, traveled the world and brought me several books.  From those books, I traveled the world without ever leaving 6738 Hendon in Houston, Texas.

In high school, because I actually read the curriculum requirements, I figured out I could graduate early and head off to college at 16.  In my teens, I had a college ID, an apartment and a boyfriend in a band.  Because I read, life was good.

In college, I discovered my passion for radio.  And, I’ve always said that I really didn’t play Stairway to Heaven or Freebird any different than anyone else and I gave the same weather forecast.  What I did do that was different was read and continue to learn.  And because I read, I always had something to talk about.  I also recognized opportunities to grow my name which was my “brand”.  I was successful in Houston radio for over 20 years. Because I read, I was paid (handsomely) to play music and hang out. I read the industry trade papers and learned how to network with the right people to succeed.

In the 90’s, I began to read and learn about this new thing they called email and the Internet eventually starting my own e-commerce operation.  I sold The Space Store for a half a million dollars in 2000, the same month Newsweek declared the dot.com boom dead.  I apparently ‘didn’t get the memo.’

To this day, I read and continue to learn.  I wrote a book to pass on what I had already read and learned.  That created a successful motivational speaking career.

I began to read and learn about Social Media a couple of years ago.   I now get paid to hang out on Facebook and Twitter and teach others how to use social media.  This is a good job.

Ahh but, the times, to quote an old rock star, they are a changin’.

I still read and learn.  But differently.

I said I could never give up my newspaper and cup of coffee in the mornings.  The cup of coffee remains but the newspapers were replaced long ago by apps on my phone for CNN, the Houston Chronicle, AP Newswire, local TV and more.

Then I said I could never trade the feel of a real book in for a Kindle.  We now have two Kindles in the house and I may have to buy a third if no one learns to share.

The future?  Apparently I’m getting an iPad for Mother’s Day to put on the coffee table with all our favorite magazines, newspapers, photos and books loaded onto it.

All along the way, from Nancy Drew to the latest Apple gadget, I have continued to read and learn.

Reading has rocked my world.  Daily.

How about your world?

Read and rock on!

Have you given thought to your New Year’s resolutions yet? How could you not. Everyone is talking about what they will – or need to – do in 2010.

Here’s my list. Steeleworkers unite and hang on to this. Check in periodically and make sure I am on track. That’s what networking and friends are for…

1. Practice yoga every morning,
2. No sugar during the month of January, a crazy pact I made with my friend Liesbeth.
3. Do a ‘verb’ everyday – walk, kayak (thank you Santa), run, water ski or bike.
4. Improve my golf game. Geez.  Did I just really say that? When did I become a golfer?
5. Write the sequel to Rock to the Top now available as a paperback or ebook at iUniverse and soon to be available for the Kindle.  Finally.
6. Help others learn to publish their book with the first in a series of workshops.  It is truly a great adventure.
7. No alcohol on weekdays during January (see the above Liesbeth).
8. Produce a new speech demo.
9. Do the commencement speech at a college graduation ceremony.
10. Learn to use my new kayak.
11. Review sugar and alcohol pact as well as friendship with afore mentioned Liesbeth.  How did she talk me into this pact?
12. See Graceland.  (Memphis meeting planners I’m serious, let’s make a deal.)
13. Figure out more ways to utilize Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc and tie them all together for small business.  I love this stuff.
14. Help publish and market Charlie the Wonder Husband’s first science-based thriller novel Specific Impulse due in stores, online and on the Amazon Kindle and Sony eReader on March 1, 2010.
15. Be more diligent about reading all three emails a day from HARO.
16. Go to China.
17. Kick www.smartgirlsrock.com into gear.
18. Gather more videos for www.operationnationalanthem.com and do more for the 4-73 Cav on the ground in Afghanistan, the unit our family adopted.
19. Try my best not to get irritated at the TSA at the airport and new on board aircraft regulations. Just keep me safe.  And, come up with a better plan.
20. Love, kiss and hug my husband and boys every chance I get.  Even the teenager.

So, 2010 (and Liesbeth), game is on!

Tweet?  Friend? Recommend?

Twitter? Facebook? LinkedIn?

As social media has become a regular part of my day, networking with business associates for more speeches and appearances as well as discovering what my friends’ latest antics are, I wonder if it is really worth the time sink it has become.  Or the ‘time vampire’ as Charlie the Wonder Husband refers to it.

The answer?  Yes!

As a news junkie, I am able to keep up with breaking news and interesting stories on Twitter as well as make professional connections with other speakers and meeting planners.

On Facebook, I can connect with friends and former KLOL fans and let them know I am now a professional motivational business speaker, traveling the country to help others “Find Your Inner Rock Star.”

And LinkedIn?  Well, that was the one I was ready to drop, just for the sake of time.  Before I hit the delete button, I thought I would ask my social network what they thought.  Last Thursday I tweeted “Reasons to stay on LinkedIn?”  Answers poured in on both Twitter and Facebook.  The consensus?  Split right down the middle:

• I’ve reconnected with some very important professional contacts over linked in. You never know who you will find! I don’t do anything social over there, but I do keep my resume up!
• None I can think of other than it is just one more way to connect but at some point the connections overwhelm and complicate more than they help
• It’s all about the groups. There is a great book publishing professionals group.
• I haven’t found any reason yet for LinkedIn. All the connections I have already know me and my business. I take my FB seriously as a business tool and use it for that; I’ve made many more connections and referrals both in and out from here.
• LinkedIn is too boring for me!
• Linkedin’s entire thing is professional networking vs. social networking, and although you can certainly do some of the former on FB, I don’t know too many people who post their resumes or have the ability to search by keywords in resumes or have professional recommends on FB. I’m in my current position because a recruiter saw my profile on Linkedin
• I use it to keep up with where my peeps are working since the economy tanked. There’s been lots of movement and this is the best way I know to stay on top of the career side. Other than that…nada.
• Too many to count! Many more contacts, easier search and even by job title. Events search in your area or others. Love Linkedin
• Not unless you’re a recruiter or involved in recruiting
• LinkedIn’s most valuable feature for me is the discussion groups. I do wish that they didn’t attract so many spammers, though.
• ‘cuz there is no cost…and ya never know.

Not two hours after I considered ending my relationship with LinkedIn, I got a call from a friend’s sister.  I had not talked to or communicated with this woman in a couple for years.  Seems her company was working a huge government project and they were looking for a PR firm with specific requirements and capabilities.  She looked me up on LinkedIn and saw my affiliations in my profile including the fact that I work as a consultant with a large PR firm in the Southwest.  She called, I could confirm this PR firm met the requirements they were looking for and made the connection.  All because I had my professional affiliations listed and spelled out on LinkedIn.

So, yes, I will stay on LinkedIn for now.  Social media is time consuming but so was email and American Idol at first.  I have just had to learn to balance it all and still get the job done.  And an important part of that job is maintaining relationships.

Relationships are everything and all three – Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn – give me the ability to keep up with those I know, meet new people and keep up with the world.  Nothing will ever beat good old-fashioned, face-to-face meetings and personal phone calls, but none of us have the time to meet and talk that much.  Social media keeps me, well, social.

So, follow me on Twitter and I’ll follow you.  Be my friend on Facebook and post interesting things.  (Remember, I don’t care if you eating yogurt or walking the dog.  That is not interesting or helpful.)  And, post your professional profile on LinkedIn “cuz ya never know.”

Oh and by the way, be sure to Digg this from the share bar below.  You don’t Digg?  Well, it is another thing to add to your list….

Tom Scavo, one of the husband characters on Desperate Housewives, lost out on a job last Sunday night because he didn’t know what Twitter was in the interview.  A fiction show I know but a scene that is playing out more and more often across the country in real life and in real companies.

Executives in industries across the board, of all sizes large and small, are trying to hold on to their companies, keep employees on the payroll and take care of the few customers who remain.  Yet they find themselves falling behind because they haven’t kept up with the new media.  And even sadder?  Those that see what is happening and refuse to learn more and find ways to utilize this new way of doing things.

Whether it is Twitter, a fan page on Facebook or SEO optimized press releases – if you are not using any or all of these in your industry, pack your bags now and continue to bury your head in the sand.

However, there is good news.  It’s not too late to change your Tom Scavo ways.  There are companies and individuals who can consult with you and your staff (www.shankman.com), there are websites with a multitude of articles and experts (www.mashable.com), there are PR firms that can optimize your releases for the search engines and news wires (www.vollmerpr.com) and there are even speakers and trainers (yes like me www.daynasteele.com) who will come to your office or your luncheon and impart all we know to you and yours.

Don’t be a star of the new show surely coming soon to a screen near you – Desperate Corporate Executives.  Come confess the errors of your ways on Twitter to me @daynasteele.  I, along with many others, will take you by the hand and guide you into our world.  Gently.  I promise.

Social media took a lot of people by surprise as late as a week ago when Oprah learned to Twitter on her show.  Everywhere I go, more and more individuals and companies are asking me to explain social media (specifically Twitter and Facebook), show them how to set up an account and then discuss ways to best utilize any or all of the platforms.

This is just some of the information I give out along with stories of companies and industries that are best utilizing social media: 

1. Facebook has over 200 million users (Wikipedia) and Twitter passed the 19 million mark (CNN) after Oprah featured it on her show in April 2009. MySpace is also in the top three though quickly being overcome by the other two.

2. Social media moves faster than any news organization. The first tweet about US Airways Flight 1549 ditching in the Hudson River in New York City came 1 minute before the plane hit the water.

3. Major news organizations, such as CNN, have taken note and are now reporting breaking news from posts they receive on Twitter. The first reports of a plane down short of the runway in Amsterdam came from Twitter reports and pictures filed by locals who saw it happen.

4. Consumer companies are bypassing or supplementing traditional advertising with social media. Ford is launching its newest vehicle Fiesta, due late 2010, by inviting 100 people to live with the car for six months and tell the world about it through blogs, Twitter and Facebook. And, Ford will not edit their comments or observations.

5. Law enforcement has discovered the power of Twitter by immediately releasing suspect and location information following a crime. It is substantially faster than a release to the news media or a poster. And those following the agencies on Twitter then “re-tweet” the information, spreading it immediately throughout the community. In turn, locals are able to tweet real time information back to the agencies which gives law enforcement yet another tool in solving and perhaps preventing crimes.

6. Electric, cable and other utility companies are finding social media is a quicker way to communicate with customers during an emergency: find out what the problem is, where it is and fix it. Customers can give exact locations of downed lines and even send pictures and movies. All from a mobile phone.

7. Social media is becoming a regular customer service tool even when there is not an outage or emergency. It is faster than a traditional phone call or email – and gives the consumer more power in the situation. A customer can tweet the company about a problem or, if that doesn’t get an immediate response, let everyone in their social media network know about the problem, possibly finding a solution from others or at least getting the satisfaction of venting and letting others know the company has a problem with a product. Dell Computer recently changed the configuration of a keyboard on one of their product updates after so many customers complained about the issue on social media networks. Companies that are not monitoring their customers’ comments on social media networks will be left out in the cold.

8. Newscasters, producers, reporters, journalists, writers, bloggers – all are using social media to obtain sources and information. Though the traditional press release is still here to stay (for awhile), it is becoming less and less a source for immediate information. If you want to get the word out quickly, or your side of the story, you had better be prepared to use social media. It will be old news or too late to make your point in traditional ways.

9. The average person is now a reporter. All you need is a mobile phone. That phone allows them to communicate, post information, pictures and video in a matter of seconds. Even in a major power outage, you can still charge the phone in a car. Companies can no longer control the flow of information. That power is now in the hands of the public.

10. Social media is not a fad.  It is not going away.  It is not just for teenagers.  It will evolve and change daily.  Social media is here to stay.

This is just the tip of the iceberg.  The stories and information goes on and on.  Here are a few folks to follow and a few sites to help you get started on your social media journey:

• Twitter – it’s free, watch the tutorial and start an account
• Facebook – again free, start an account, feel your way around and ask others to help
• Mashable – great articles and information on social media
• Peter Shankman – follow him on http://www.twitter.com/skydiver, a wealth of info and funny stuff as well
• And follow me on http://www.twitter.com/daynasteele, I’ll do my best to help you along

I think it is all best summed up by Deborah Micek and Warren Whitlock, authors of Twitter Revolution:  ”You can read all the stuff (or look at it) about sex all you like, but if you’ve never had it, you simply have no idea what it’s like.  You have to actually do it.”

Just do it.