How to network online

January 27th, 2008 1 Comment

Who says your favorite Myspace / Facebook / Multiply / Bebo accounts are plainly for socializing? With a significant number of small or medium enterprise (SME) owners thronging the net to date, online social networking communities have found a new face as potential marketing tools.

As Userplane President Michael Jones said in an article, this use of “online, friend/associate-based networking will prove to be one of the most valuable business tools the internet has yet provided.”

With a wide database of users and user-friendly interfaces, online social networks are good for advertising and publicity. You just have to create a profile and place all the necessary information about your company for your potential network to see. It doesn’t have to be complex and lengthy – just include your business name, the industry you’re in, the current employers, a brief history, and links to your website and business partners, if any.

You can talk to anyone about your products or services, and let them try if they wish. Nonetheless, you don’t use your page to sell directly. You don’t send spam e-mails about your product and ask everyone to see and buy. Successful online networking involves making new friends and business connections or groups, not trying hard to widen customer base.

For a more formal and business tailored online networking, however, there are more than a couple of websites to choose from (e.g. www.linkedin.com, www.rize.com and www.tribe.net). These services are particularly geared towards hosting communication and referrals for professional purposes. Just like in social networking sites, they allow you to create a profile and invite friends to be part of an “inner circle” of business or personal colleagues. You then can use the system to seek “friends of friends” or business contacts of your friends.

It is very fun and easy to network online. With proper use, it can definitely be a powerful marketing tool.

Related Ads: