| Your positive Internet presence isn't just about being | | | | ***** |
| found in search engine results, or the number of | | | | Paris, April 2, 1777 |
| contacts you have on various networking platforms. | | | | Sir,-- The bearer of this, who is going to America, |
| To a large extent it's about your approach, attitude, | | | | presses me to give him a letter of recommendation, |
| and philosophy about networking, or more specifically | | | | though I know nothing of him, not even his name. |
| - online networking. | | | | This may seem extraordinary, but I assure you it is |
| One synonym for the word "presence" is charisma. | | | | not uncommon here. Sometimes, indeed, one |
| Ultimately, someone's Internet presence is a | | | | unknown person brings another equally unknown, to |
| transformation of a few basic ingredients: one's | | | | recommend him; and sometimes they recommend |
| openness to new contacts (both with respect to | | | | one another! As to this gentleman, I must refer you |
| approaching others you don't know, as well as others | | | | to himself for his character and merits, with which he |
| approaching you who don't know you); a willingness | | | | is certainly better acquainted than I can possibly be. I |
| to accept some risk when it comes to helping or | | | | recommend him, however, to those civilities which |
| connecting with someone; combined with how well | | | | every stranger, of whom one knows no harm, has a |
| you project all of this in a visible way. | | | | right to; and I request you will do him all the favour |
| Unfortunately, many people - start - networking only | | | | that, on further acquaintance, you shall find him to |
| when they have a need, and then they - stop - | | | | deserve. I have the honour to be, etc. |
| networking when their need has been met. This is | | | | Benjamin Franklin |
| only exacerbated by how some online networking | | | | ***** |
| platforms are actually set up to work. Unfortunately | | | | Now that guy had presence. |
| some networking platforms should be renamed | | | | So what is this supposed to imply in the context of |
| "needworking" platforms. Most successful networkers | | | | your Internet presence and/or networking charisma? |
| would probably agree that networking is an ongoing | | | | Be open to people who risk reaching out to you. |
| process, and not one that is bound in time by an | | | | Realize that everyone may not have the same |
| individual need. | | | | experience and/or optimum polished approach that |
| I was introduced to a wonderful quote by a fellow | | | | you do. As Benjamin Franklin's quote above implies - |
| networker the other day that caused me dig a little | | | | be willing to take a chance on a new point of contact |
| further to find the complete quote. What I found, in | | | | and give people the benefit of the doubt. For all you |
| many ways, epitomizes the spirit of networking - and | | | | know, the next person that risks reaching out to you |
| in the 21st Century - especially online networking. | | | | could translate into the beginning of the most fruitful |
| From a Blog post by: John McNally Associate | | | | relationship you'll ever develop, but if you aren't willing |
| Professor of English at Wake Forest University | | | | to take a chance on a new point of contact and give |
| "Model of a Letter of Recommendation of a person | | | | the individual the benefit of the doubt - you'll never |
| you are unacquainted with." | | | | know let alone benefit. |