As a member of a number of local networking organizations, I am always looking for ways to make connections between people in my network of trust. I notice, however, that not everyone is easy to refer to. Some people do a great job of creating a complete LinkedIn profile, have a good web site, and have friended me on Facebook. Perhaps they are also active on Twitter.

Others seem to be stuck in the “call me” mindset and seem resistant to even using email for an introduction. Don’t get me wrong – picking up the phone is great. However, if the only way you can accept a connection is with a phone call, you’re going to limit your options.

Social media gives us so many great ways to make connections that it would foolish to ignore them. If I want to make a connection, I might post a note on Twitter with an introduction along with a link to my contact’s web site. I might email a link to the referral’s LinkedIn profile. I might do a friend recommendation on Facebook. These activities don’t necessarily replace a warmer connection like a meeting or a phone call, but it can make a huge difference in the success rate of the referral when the time comes for a real-world conversation.

Make yourself easy to refer business to by establishing a compelling presence in social media. It will lead to better referrals and greater success.