By Judith Lee

Every time I give a SCORE presentation, I meet smart people who raise interesting questions, and my recent presentation at the Exton Library was no exception.

I had a thought-provoking conversation with Tom Herbst of Victory Brokerage on the importance of personal networking. We agreed that old-fashioned social interactions are still the best way to build your brand.

Yes, I love social media, email marketing and mobile marketing as vehicles to connect with your customers and increase your market visibility. But in my experience, they cannot replace a handshake, a smile, or a face-to-face conversation.

After all, you are your brand! How you look, what you say and what you do are powerful messages that should:

• Confirm a positive impression gained by digital means
• Reconfirm a customer’s confidence in your services
• Move a prospect toward “sealing the deal”

My thoughts here are twofold. First, if you aren’t getting out there and networking, find a way to step it up. This is essential for business growth.

Second, when you are networking, treat each interaction as the precious opportunity it is to make a great impression and build your business.

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Judith Lee is a marketing and communications professional who focuses on social media and email marketing based in Atglen. She is a SCORE Volunteer and the Chair-Elect of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at 610-368-2058 or via email at judithlee@epix.net.