Ten Tips For Online Networking
Written for Richard Osbourne, Start Your Business Magazine
Find the right venue
There are plenty of online networking forums now in operation and it is important that you find one with a healthy amount of traffic, a good mix of businesses – product and service orientated, and is well moderated to keep spammers and lively debate to the maximum. Obviously, I own Ukbusinessforums.co.uk so I would suggest you try this site first.
Username dilemma
Instead of trying to come up with a comedy genius user name, remember that this is going to give your potential new customers their first impression of your business. You don’t have to be sensible all the time, but your username is important. You will also find that people will refer to you using your user name rather than your real name so it is best to avoid anything to odd. You don’t want someone ringing your business and asking for “Hairy knee cap” as this is your online user name.
Get Involved
Phrases like “you gotta speculate to accumulate” are not just trotted out by Sir Alan and Co, its true in an online networking environment. You have got to take part in discussions and interact as much as possible in order to get the most out of online networking. It is no good lurking around the forums, dust off your keyboard and dive right in.
The World Is Watching
Remember, whatever you say when networking online will be logged, archived and sat there waiting to be thrown back at you. So, take time to think about what you say, check it for typo’s, and most importantly always consider what your customers or potential customers would think if they read it.
A stranger is a friend you have not met yet!
This may sound like a back-packers anthem but you would be surprised how much braver people become on a computer than in real life. Don’t get an online name for being aggressive or endlessly criticizing. Remember in life we all sometimes make mistakes so there is no need to virtually beat someone to a pulp just because they accidentally make the same post twice or ask what seems to you to be a daft question.
Encourage Encourage Encourage
When someone new joins your online networking group, help him or her to get involved. Send them a private message saying hello, introduce yourself and maybe even pass on a few pearls of your wisdom.
Selling is good, but don’t go overboard.
Giving your services a plug is all well and good, after all that is what people network for, to make sales and grow their business. Be careful not to go into sales overdrive though. No one likes to see sales pitch after sales pitch whenever a person makes a comment. In the end these people become ignored.
Stand Out, in a nice way
Look around the forum you are on and see how you could make your posts stand out a bit. An example could be to use a splash of colour. Maybe add a joke or two here and there at the end of your post. This will make you appear more approachable and you will find more people will get in touch.
Referrals are king
In the land of the one armed referrer’s the two armed referrer is king! If you know a persons service or product is good, say so. Once you start referring people then you will encourage other to do the same for you and this is how online word of mouth spreads.
Feedback can hurt
I have counted of the number of times people have come to Ukbusinessforums.co.uk and asked for feedback on their website but then got angry when people give their honest opinion. Be sure you are ready to ask for feedback, and remember it may well be brutal but face it with a smile and learn from it.