The other day a colleague of mine asked me what online social networking is all about. Connecting with people! In my view, this is the whole purpose of social networking - or networking of any kind. One of the main differences between conventional business networking and online small business networking is the ability to create a personal profile and connect with people all over the world – even people you may not otherwise meet, or reconnect with colleagues you haven’t seen in years.
Networking is not just about interacting with people and exchanging business cards. It’s about creating a pool of small business contacts which can exchange referrals, ideas, resources, information and in some cases, clients. Due to the advent of the Internet, you are now able to network without even leaving your home or office! How amazing is that?
If online networking works for friendship and romance, then why not for small business commerce? Lots of small businesses have begun using Meetup.com-style networking to help their businesses find that perfect match. No, I’m not talking about romantic partners here, but something more special to a business owner–complete access to previously unattainable customer leads, business partners, job candidates, investors, and even employers. Just like in love, the best small business relationships are often formed through people you already know, the best employees you hire are generally referrals, and the best way for you to get a sales call is if you’ve been introduced by a common friend.
The whole point behind online small business networking is that it is personal – relationships need to be nurtured carefully. Remember that the network you create is yours alone and you shouldn’t reveal it to anyone outside that particular medium.
Finally, the failure or success of any of these online small business networking services will depend entirely upon their ability to attract people to sign up for their service. After all, the more people that sign up, the larger the network will be, and the greater your chances of finding a new small business contact. Today, there are several online small business networking services:
· Ryze.com
· Meetup.com (you can form your own networking group here)
Online networking is proving to be highly successful for small business owners, giving them the ability to network beyond their local market and meet new small business contacts. It is one of the keys to small business networking success.
Robert Moment is an innovative, sought-after small business coach and author of Invisible Profits: The Power of Exceptional Customer Service. Robert specializes in teaching entrepreneurs and small business owners how to start a small business which profits and grows. Visit How to Start Your Small Business, and sign-up for the FREE 7 Day e-course “Turn Your Passion into Profits: Small Business Startup.”
Contact Robert by Email Robert@howtostartyoursmallbusiness.com
