Networking: New Tools - Same Rules

Familiar to most small business owners are organizations like The Chamber of Commerce, Toastmasters, and the like.  These organizations are opportunities for small businesses to network.  They have been around for years and so have the concepts of networking.  John Jantsch over at Duct Tape Marketing brings up a great point about networking in today’s online world.  The place may have changed but the game is the same.

“With all of the hoopla these days about networking online I can’t help but wonder why people get so confused about how to approach these new tools. See, networking is networking, only the tools that you can employ have changed.”

For many of us that are unsure how to use social networking this is a great way to look at it.  All the familiar rules of networking apply, we just have to apply them in a virtual world.

• Build relationships not customer lists.  Don’t approach every online encounter as an opportunity to make a sale or add a name to your email mailing list.  Network with building relationships in mind and then let the power of those relationships do their work.
• Socialize/interact with others in your network outside of the networking group and environment.  This can prove to be more difficult in the online world.  This could be an actual phone call, a handwritten note or postcard, if you are in the same area by all means get together and have lunch, attend conferences and expos where others that you network with will be attending also.  Jantsch has a great idea for a ‘virtual lunch’ in his post.    
• Network with your peers and your customers.  Translated this means subscribe to blogs and forums of your customers as well as your peers.  Interact with everyone in your community.  Network vertically and horizontally.
• Within every network there are people that hold the most influence.  Make sure to build relationships with these influencers - that means the most popular bloggers, authors, Diggers, and trend setters.
• Networking works only when you give freely without the expectation of getting anything in return.  So link to, Digg, talk positively about, and genuinely take an interest in what others are doing without counting the links back to you in return.

The Internet has given us a whole new set of networking tools.  And although the tools are new, the rules are the same.  By applying the same rules you would to your offline networking and using a little common sense, you can be as successful at networking online as you are off.  So why don’t we get started now?

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Reader Comments

Mary says...February 11th, 2008

Hi Brandi,

Thank you for the post. I love networking. I guess it helps that I love meeting people and hearing about what they are up to in their businesses and how we can support each other.

I’m finding that balance is key to my business. Meeting people one to one, my website, printed materials and my newest adventures: online newsletter and blogging. It’s in process! And lastly, is keeping up on the newest information out there. Tools and strategies are changing so fast with new technology it’s mind boggling. I’m doing a lot of ready. One great find is a book called Step Up! by Daniel Grissom. He gives wonderful tools and strategies on how to get results. After reading this I’m finding I’m being more focused on my business.

Thanks again for the post. I’ll be visiting again!

Mary

Brandi Cummings says...February 11th, 2008

Hey Mary,
A love of meeting people and a true interest in others are definitely 2 great traits that contribute to a successful networker.

I couldn’t agree more about how fast things are changing. It is hard to keep up with it all. Thanks for the book recommendation. I’m am always on the look out for new tools and information that will help me to improve my business.

Thanks for stopping by!

Andy MacDonald - Blogging & Marketing Tips says...February 15th, 2008

Another great post Brandi. I have only recently started to embrace the power of networking on social networking sites for business. I have already seen a huge increase in the amount of traffic i receive, and the diggs/stumbles that i get.

I get all that with, well, very little effort. Everybody, business owners, bloggers, people should start to use social networking more. I think it can benefit people from all walks of life.

Business Networking says...February 19th, 2008

Great Post! Cheers!

Business Networking says...February 19th, 2008

Awesome Post! Thanks a lot for the information.

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