So long gatekeeper, hello world!
Posted By Donna Fisher on March 18, 2009
If you’ve been in sales for a while, you know what it’s like to try to figure out how to get past the administrative assistant to get to the decision maker. At least that’s what it used to be like. There were all kinds of techniques on how to “get past the gatekeeper” to get a chance to “make your pitch”. But that was before the rise of online social networking.
I really hadn’t given this any thought until I recently attended a Web 2.0 workshop at NSA Houston and one of the presenters, Mike Svat, commented on how “the day of the gatekeeper is over”.
It was one of those “duh” moments for me – so obvious – and yet I hadn’t even thought about it in that way. But clearly – over the years – it’s become more and more difficult to catch anybody via the phone and more and more easy to connect with everyone online!
Thanks to the Internet and social networking, the gatekeeper has been surpassed by links and clicks and tweets and videos. Online networking has opened up communication lines and created opportunities for visibility and accessibility for everyone.
This has created a whole new world of possibilities as people are getting “found” on twitter, YouTube, myspace, LinkedIn, Facebook and a multitude of other sites. Rather than needing to get past the gatekeeper, you now have the opportunity to get in front of thousands at a time. And you never know when you might “go viral” and get in front of hundreds of thousands or – more importantly – that one person who can open the door to a whole new world of opportunities for you!
So long gatekeeper, hello world!
Please post your story about how you’ve been “found” on the Internet by someone you could have never reached otherwise?
I love you your article Donna! That is so true! I had someone make contact with me via LinkedIn last week that I hadn’t seen or heard from in 7 years, and now we’re doing business together. Keep the great ideas flowing Donna!
I totally agree with Mike’s statement that the day of the gatekeeper is gone. Today we connect with people via the internet. Our virtual “BRAND” is our calling card and our content is our product.I just heard some pundit on CNBC stating that today we have to unlearn everything – the way we do business is changing. This is exciting to me. Donna, I love your blog!
Karen McCullough
Totally true! No one answers their phone these days. The only way to get people’s attention is via the internet. Sooooo- for me it’s back to the drawing board to find out the best ways to blog, Twitter and blah blah without wasting a ton of time hearing about what people had for breakfast.
Great blog Donna. Your tweet is definitely worth following!
Theresa Behenna
You ae so right Donna. Last night I spoke for a group. When I arrived home and checked my e-mail one of the audience members had invited me to be connected to her on LinkedIn.
When I saw her picture I recognized her as one of the people who came up to me after the talk. And she works for one of the companies on my target marketing list! So now I have a personal contact thanks to this wonderful Internet marketing tool. Good information you are sharing—you are the master of Networking and Connecting. Keep it Up!
Sue Pistone