A few posts ago, some clever readers came up with these suggestions for posts:
Social Networking Power Strategies
AND
Leora’s Essential Guide to Effective Social Networking
So, please consider this part one in a series on Networking.
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Here are a few suggestions for networking online:
Small Business Network
To get to the Small Business Network, click on the box on the sidebar. Or go to http://www.smallbusinessnetwork.co/. Larry Brauner is the host, and there are such a variety of business people one can meet.
Small Business Bonfire
I joined the Small Business Bonfire a few weeks ago. Alyssa and Jason Gregory make it easy to meet others on the site. The kindling level is free. Here’s a post by Alyssa Gregory on Four Simple Ways to Reduce Small Business Stress.
Make Better Use of Twitter
There are many people you can meet on Twitter – you just have to know how to find them. Then, once you follow them, talk to them and respond to them, as though you were having a conversation with a real person (after all, there is a real person behind that Twitter profile). You can use Twitter to Build a Local Network, or you can connect with people from Australia to San Francisco to England and chat with them every day (assuming you and they share common interests worthy of a chat).
Update: Twitter chats are a great way to network online. Last night I visited #smallbizchat – I hadn’t been on that chat in a long time. Here’s a post about #smallbizchat with host Melinda Emerson (written two years ago, that post could use an updated version!).
Utilize LinkedIn for Networking
The short answer to How to Use LinkedIn for Networking is – join as many groups as you find relevant to your business. Then join in the conversation. You can learn more about how to use LinkedIn with 100+ Smart Ways to Use LinkedIn or Using Linkedin for online PR.
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Upcoming: Ideas for networking locally
Upcoming even sooner: Does your site Bing? Optimize your site for the Bing search engine.
Would you like to do a guest post on networking? – here’s an opportunity for you to tell your version of how to network and get links back to your site, too.
