Mary Portas speaks of tribes when it comes to retail. The fashionista’s the bargainista’s to name but two highstreet tribes. This works well for the glitzy fashion bunch. But what about the networkers. Are there tribes within the business network clubs? The one’s who do the breakfasts or the lunches or the very bossy ones where you need to show leads and referrals.To tell you the truth though I have never been happy in the local ‘networker’s scene’ Why? well, I see it as a bit of a heirarchy, very clicky and very expensive to ‘build’ these long term business relationships. Full of people from accountants and solicitors who are interested in nothing more than giving you their business card but switch off when you talk about your service. They are as bored of you as you are of them as we are not connecting as human beings but as job titles and business cards.
I have to attend regularly, pay a monthly fee, pay for a meal (which is often inedible) and it’s always a bit of pot luck who you sit with. I have referred to some of them as somewhat like a seance. All sitting around a table, is anybody there? The new one’s are asking for a really substantial fee up front a hefty montly fee (it will cost you well over £2k in your first year) they will train you and your network of potential business partners to refer business.
So, i’ve never really fitted in. Until today. Today I found my tribe. At #likeminds in Exeter were a fantastic array of people, delegates and speakers from all over the world of new media.
The crowd were a tough one to please. I’m a presenter and speaker and to be honest I expect more or less total silence and full attention. It is taken as ‘red’ that the social media audience will be multi-tasking. They’ll be blogging and tweeting about you once 140 characters have left your lips. Yes ladies and gentlemen the audience is full of Statler’s and Waldorf’s from the muppets. They will always stay this side of rude, think ‘damned with feint praise and you’ll be somewhere.
I certainly wasn’t the oldest in the audience, I guessed that those who were older than me were those from a tech background and the social media leap was not so great. Most of the delegates were in their mid 20’s, very savvy and very quick and very young.
All of the people I met were charming and welcoming and I felt a real connection with them. I got what many of the speakers had to say. The fabulous Benjamin Ellis spoke eloquently about the power of story telling in business. I scared the break out group when I suggested the greatest story teller was Jesus. I saw them visibly step back hoping I wan’t going to quote psalms at them.
What I took away from ,sadly, the one day I spent with them was that, as long as everyone ‘gets it’ then you are welcome. But if you don’t you wont last long and will probably go away thinking it’s all a load of tweety twaddle. 
Social Media is just being social. It’s not selling, or promoting or pushing in either an obvious or subversive way. It’s making real connections on a variety of platforms, growing a social network of followers and friends around you and just chatting, you may send something over that you feel another will be interested in and you may throw ideas around which may or may not get picked up. At some point you may meet and then…… who knows. Social media is not measurable and you can’t plan. It’s the alchemy that happens when 2 or more communicate, like a third person emerging from the duo, the sum being more than the parts. It’s magic, I love it and i’m hooked. Thanks #likeminds you made my day.
Emma Ranson Bellamy 