Virtual Networking - Making Contacts Far and Wide
Frank Traditi
For any independent business owner, Virtual Networking is an excellent forum for building relationships and getting the word out about just how good you are.
Only if you do it right.
First, let's define what it is. In my opinion, any form of contact or relationship building where you aren't within hand-shaking distance, is considered virtual networking. Essentially you are connected to someone or a group through technology. Those technologies are:
• Phone
• Discussion Groups
• Message boards and Newsgroups
• Email
• Chat Rooms and Instant Messaging
• Virtual Resource & Development Teams
There are plenty of choices and venues to participate in virtual networking. They all offer specific benefits and visibility for your business. They allow you to participate at any level or frequency. Just like the live version of networking.
The secret to successful and profitable virtual networking is quite simple. In fact, it's the same as live networking. Here it is:
First and foremost, you are there to help.
Being a member of these virtual networks affords you the opportunity to see a wealth of information, questions, challenges, comments and opinions from people all over the world. A familiar pattern emerges in every one of these venues. People reach out for answers. They have questions about something in their business or life for which they would like the answers.
At every turn, you have the opportunity to offer a helping hand. That help can come in many forms:
• A direct answer
• Refer them to a resource, such as a website
• Give them a format or process to work through
• Tell them about a book you've read
• Suggest an event they can attend
• Pass a lead
• Give positive feedback about their business
• Send them an article - better yet, one you've written
• Tell them how you handled it - successfully
This approach gets you incredible visibility and exposure. First, you've helped a fellow member of the group. They are appreciative.
Second, everyone in the virtual group sees your answer. They recognize that you have a lot to offer.
Third, good chances are that the person who asked for help is not alone. There are many more with the same challenge who are not speaking up. They will implement your ideas and suggestions.
Fourth, people visit your website (if you have one) or contact you outside of the group and want to talk more.
Here's what NOT TO DO in virtual networking:
Spamming - don't blast out to the group advertisements or blatant self-promotion messages. This turns people off faster than the bedroom light.
Disrespect for people posting messages or voicing their questions - just because you can't see them, doesn't give you a license to be rude. I've seen this happen many times and it's the end of that person's involvement. Worse, the bad news travels very fast and wide.
Discount other member’s suggestions
- there might be many variations of answers and comments to one member's
post. Be careful not to talk down the other suggestions even if you
don't agree with them. You might be able to add on to it.
Here are a few resources to get you started with virtual networking:
Yahoo Groups www.groups.yahoo.com
Ryze Business Networking www.ryze.com
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com
MSN Groups http://groups.msn.com/
If you're looking to expand your horizons and increase your visibility, take the next step and connect with some wonderful people online.
This is what technology was made for.
Copyright © 2006, Frank Traditi
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