PoCchat: Driving Online Connections offline
Recently, I had the good fortune to co-host Bobby Umar’s #PoCchat on Twitter. PoC stands for Power of Connection. I “discovered” Bobby through his dynamic TEDx presentation The 5 Cs of Connection. I really appreciate having the opportunity, and thought I’d go a little deeper into my own personal reasons to “Drive Online Connections Offline”–the topic of the tweetchat.
By the way, here are the numbers that our tweetchat generated:
PocChat: Driving Online Connections Offline
Connecting Offline
Similar to @IdeaBloke, whenever I go somewhere now, I consider if there’s someone I could meet from online. Better still, are there two people I could meet? For instance, I recently met one of my new besties, @CarlaKerstens through friend @WClements1 on Twitter, and then we met at Twitter. Since then, we’ve texted, Facebooked, tweeted, had meals and drinks, gone to Big Sur, the Exploratorium, and drunk hot chocolate at @TCHO.
@Ideabloke always tries to look up people he knows from online
WordCampSF
At WordCampSF, I met up with friend Ruby Rusine (@SocialChirps) who had traveled from Sacramento for her first WordCamp. Although we had never met before, we spent many hours together, and, by the end of WordCamp, had each invited the other to stay the next time we needed a place. And also got to visit with my friend Darla @DarlasRock, who I’d met because we’d both gone to see @BrianSolis for his #WTF talk and giveaway at @Yammer.
WordCampOC
One of my favorite experiences was traveling to WordCamp Orange County, where I got to meet my online friend Peter Woolvett (@CustomerSpecs) in real life. We met up with a third friend, @Gidgey, sat together, and attended many of the same talks. During a few slow times, we snuck out together for espresso and sorbet, attended an after-party, and searched out unusual breakfast places. Laughter ensued.
More Friendship Than Business
When @Gidgey traveled up north to see her family, I got to meet her talented and lovely sis, @TheMcCannski, and travel to Marin together. In addition, we met up with the rest of her family and had brunch together. And recently, when another friend, whom I met on Twitter, came down for a conference, we met up and she stayed with me.
The Bestest
Hammin’ it Up in Sedona
Last year, I met up with nine women whom I met through Twitter, among them Pam (@PamAnnMarketing), Bridget (@Gidgey), Roxanne (@r3SocialMedia), Cyndi (@SoSchatze), Wendy (@MrsPickle_), Amy (@TheFabulousOne), Kendra (@Kendra_Hubbard), Deirdre (@TankGirlMktg), and Kirti (@DiyaMarketing). At first our comraderie centered around business. Now we are friends and I can’t imagine life without them–since we talk every day. This year, we are doing another in-person meetup. Next year, we hope that the always effervescent Ali (@AliSilversmith) and Jen and the “other Bridget” can join us. And of course we give each other support, friendship, advice, and business, too. A few of us are breaking off to do still another meetup with a few others who tweet for automotive businesses.
Connections
I would not hesitate to call up any of these people–now friends–if I needed a shoulder to cry on, or for personal or professional advice. What I would advise others is not to be afraid to deepen your online relationships by, as Bobby Umar would put it, “asking the tough questions.” Then when you meet in person it’s like you’re meeting an old friend in the flesh.
How About You?
These are just a few examples of people I’ve met through online connections. If you’ve met people from online, offline, how did it go? I’m really interested in your stories!
I have met Duke Long and Coy Davidson…two of the #CRE bloggers with national reach. I also had the pleasure of a recent lunch with Bridget Willard and Tom Riggins…the owner of Riggins Construction.
Ya, that was really fun, Allen. I’m glad to be brave enough to suggest it to you both.
Hi Bridget,
You’re so good at taking the leap and creating the next step in the conversation or relationship. Good for you for suggesting the lunch meeting!
Carol
Hi Allen,
So sounds like tweetchats are a good way for you to first meet people online? If #CRE is a tweetchat, that is! Would you say you’re more likely to do business with someone you’ve met offline?
Thank you for the comment! Appreciate that!
Sincerely,
Carol
Carol, I love so many things about this post including the fact that you’ve become such a huge part of my life now!
People that don’t think you can make “real” or “lasting” or “true” friendships on the internet are really missing out.
Hi Bridget,
Who would’ve thought that we’d get to be such good friends? I hope we’re friends for many years!
Yes, people who don’t believe you can make true friendships really are missing out. And I hope to inspire others to make friends offline from their online friends. And sometimes they can deepen their offline friendships by being online friends, too! :-)
Thanks as always for your constant support. I so appreciate you!
Carol
Hi Carol!!
Thanks so much for sharing this insight. Such great value-add. Also delighted to have ou join our community and share your insight. You are truly buzz agents for the Power of Connection and I am forever grateful.
If we come out to California next year, I may have to book some time with you. We’re thinking of coming out for a family reunion.
Hi Bobby!
It was a great opportunity and I appreciate you and what you are doing. Since the PoCchat is at 8 am Mondays on the west coast, it’s a great way to start the week, to set the stage for a fabulous week.
I would love to get to meet you and your family in person!
Thank you!
Carol