List building... what a concept. Last week I issued a challenge for the month of October. The challenge was to get involved in a social network - to create dialogue and interact - and see what happens. Based on a few emails (and a voicemail!) that I received this week I suspect that what I may have failed to really talk about might have been the difference in growing a network versus growing a "list."

So let's talk about that for a second.

First let's take a look at the definition of 'Network'

net•work - [net-wurk]
...an association of individuals having a common interest, formed to provide mutual assistance, helpful information, or the like: a network of recent college graduates.

The key part of this quick Dictionary.com grab is the “provide mutual assistance” portion. As stated before here on RecruiterGuy.net, it's no longer about whom you know but instead has become about who knows you - and how you can help each other.
If you're looking to expand your 'network' there's nothing wrong with that. There's nothing wrong with someone that has a LinkedIn profile or social networking friends list in the hundreds or even thousands... if that's what they're after.

But once you've got that wonderful 500+ icon on your LinkedIn page... what then? How will you use that list of persons? How will you network within your newly formed and growing network?

A network of millions of people isn't worth the screen it's displayed on if the network isn't being used - at least by someone. If you don't have anything to bring to that network, even infrequently, then how do you gauge your worth on that list? You can continue to send out invitations and bump up your membership count all you like, but it's not truly networking until you interact.

The beauty of a truly effective network is that it doesn't have to be large in scope to be beneficial to its participants. A tightly woven network of 3-4 persons can easily trump the productivity (or hires) that a network of thousands of members might generate where no one interacts with one another.

Ask yourself what your network has done for you lately. Keep yourself in check by asking what you've contributed as well. Perhaps your key to a more successful network is to increase your participation versus your volume of email invitations.

Child of the 80's... how could I resist?
originally posted here...