Networking 101 (for the TV Biz)
If you don’t know the TV industry, you have options to get in: 1 -just dive in and hope someone will take pity on you and hold your hand or possibly, 2 – do your homework and network.
My advice is number two.
So where do you start?
1. LinkedIN – the new age networking tool for people who don’t like talking to people face to face. If you don’t have an account, its easy to sign up at LinkedIN.com. Some groups to join: Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Professionals, Outdoor Business Network and Outdoors Marketing. Note that some groups have criteria to join.
When sending an invite, please don’t take the standard response LinkedIN automatically gives you. Take a few minutes to craft something so the recipent knows you are a human being. Special credit if you can say something like, “I saw you in this….” or “I enjoyed your writing here…”
It also annoys me when people send an invite and say they worked me at a current or past job. No, you didn’t. I know that and you know that, so why put that? You have other options, use them.
2. Reaching out – the real, old-school way. A mentor of mine started “LeAnn’s Networking Thursdays.” It wasn’t a party she threw; instead, it was her way of consistently reaching out to new contacts. Every Thursday, she would dedicate time to network with X amount of people. This was in a variety of ways:
- She would send congrats notes to women in high places who just won a special award.
- She joined her local Chamber of Commerce
- She asked recent contacts if they knew anybody else she should connect with.
The key here is consistency. Networking isn’t something you do once and you are done. Maybe on your networking Thursdays, you commit to finding three new contacts on LinkedIN, or you connect with the store manager at your favorite hunting store and ask him for three people you should know.
Me with Scott Leysath of "HuntFishCook" on Sportsman Channel. I've worked with Scott since my first days and he's become a great friend and mentor
3. Find your local TV personality and ask for a few minutes of their time. Most TV hosts and personalities are flattered by adoring fans – so pucker up and ask if you can buy them lunch or coffee. Or better yet – how much is it worth it to you to get that insider info? Would you consider paying them for their time? If its a well-known personality, getting through to them will be difficult. But if you offer a “consulting fee” those closed doors will open.
4. Join organizations AND attend their conferences/monthly meetings: I’m talking about Professional Outdoor Media Association, Outdoor Writers Association of America and other, professional, organizations for your field. I’m a member of Public Relations Society of America and have gained great network contacts just by attending the local monthly lunches.