Over the past few months, I’ve been doing quite a bit of research about online networking. And the more I read (and work on the net), the more I realize that if you’re in business today, you definitely need to be on the net (in addition to good, old-fashioned, face-to-face networking)! The problem is, an entire technology, vocabulary, culture and marketplace have been born in only a few short years. This has left many business owners at a loss about what to do and how to do it when it relates to the internet and their business.
If you’re finding it hard to grasp ways to utilize the net to network your business, spend some time checking out social networking sites (particularly business-related ones such as Ecademy.com and LinkedIn), along with various bulletin board and chat room communities. These sites and communities allow people to connect on a regular basis, exchange information and ideas, and get to know one another a little better. By browsing through some of these sites, you’ll get an idea of how others are using the net to build social capital and promote their businesses, and you’ll no doubt come up with some ideas of how to do the same for yourself.
The internet flattens the communication hierarchy while broadening people’s access to ideas, information, products and services. Understanding how to network on the net is quickly becoming a must. I’d recommend starting out by Googling “social networking sites”–and then start clicking!
This entry was posted on Thursday, June 26th, 2008 at 6:00 am and is filed under Networking Education, Social Capital, Networking, Connections, Networking Prep, Ivan Misner, Marketing/Sales, Online Networking. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.17 Responses to “Should You Network on the Net?”
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June 27th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Ivan, A very timely and thought provoking message. It is absolutely essential to carve out some time to work on the net and enhance your network. I especially like how Ecademy.com coincides with BNI and promotes the art of networking. I believe the best networking is still done face-to-face, yet I am very aware how the internet and communicatin tools such as Skype enhance the opportunities to network.
Thanks, Bob
June 27th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I agree, networking on the web can be a great way to build relationships. I am having quite a great time using www.twitter.com. While I still appreciate the face to face contact, online networking can really allow you to have access to many other options.
Regards,
Erin
June 27th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
I am on Linkedin!
Are we Linked?
http://www.linkedin.com/in/burda
June 27th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
This is a very timely message for all networkers. Face-to-face networking and online networking are vital components of doing business in today’s fast moving environment.
In Sydney,I have set up a BNI Group in Ecademy and on Xing for my members to network and eventually do business with the global community.
It is a slow process, but it is starting to happen as people realise there is a big world out there and they have the opportunity to be a part of it.
June 27th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Dear Dr. Misner,
On your recommendation, I got involved with Ecademy a while ago. Wow! It has enormously widened my horizons without even leaving my office. A value added, life enhancing activity.
“Come and see” I say to those on the outside.
All the BEST,
Tom Doiron
Atlanta
http://www.TomDoiron.com
June 28th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Great Post Ivan, more and more of my local members are starting to get on the internet but they are not sure how to use it. I just wrote a post for the BNI members on connecting and recommending on Linkedin. Here is the link
http://bniindiana.wordpress.com/
I find that many people get on the net but they DO NOT participating, I am trying to increase the participation of local BNI members.
As always thanks for the post.
June 28th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Very timely post, Ivan! While there are so many online networking communities from which to choose, there’s only so much time in the day. LinkedIN has proven to be my primary online focus especially since there are so many fellow BNI Givers in this online community. ‘Pay it Forward’ applies more than ever in the online networking environment. One very powerful LinkedIN feature I’m surprised more people don’t use is their ‘embedded search’ capability. As always, thanks for sharing.
Gordie Allen
Referral Masters
Winter Garden, FL
June 29th, 2008 at 7:03 am
I completely could not agree more. I’m new at BNI Mellinnium chapter, Malaysia and accessed BNI(unknown to me then)directly through the web to Avryl. Now i’m connected through ecademy and find it a totally new horizon. Face to face is still very effective and personal but online is a toally different dimension allowing flexibility of communication & networking in a serious manner through ecademy. Sometime ago i joined Linkedin through my Imperial College Alumni but did not follow up but now i’ll definitely link back.
June 30th, 2008 at 8:53 am
An interesting piece Ivan, although with social networking being a big topic these days, I am unsure how helpful Google will prove to be when typing in “social networking sites”! It produces 16 million responses, whereas there are, in fact, only a few networks you need to know about as an entrepreneur:
http://www.linkedin.com
This especially if you are in technology or media and have, or wantm strong contacts in the US where this site dominates. Great for hiring and an active idea exchange area, but doesn’t produce a lot fo leads
http://www.xing.com
LinkedIn for mainland Europe. Multi-language capability means it has s lead on LinkedIn in markets like Germany, Spain.
http://www.wecando.biz
Our site is new and establishing itself, but its aim is to get people doing business with new customers/suppliers a lot sooner than the other social networking sites do. If you are time poor, we want to be the place where you spend the time you can find.
Ivan, I think you have been invited to join by Chris Butler - I hope you’ll take up his invitation and we’ll see you online soon!
Ian Hendry
CEO, WeCanDo.BIZ
http://www.wecando.biz
July 1st, 2008 at 10:39 am
Ivan - as Ian says above, we have exchanged a couple of emails on ecademy - hope you can join up on WeCanDo.BIZ soon and see what it is all about. I am sure you and your many many followers will love it!
July 1st, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Ivan
Thanks for joining up.
I hope you will give us valuable feedback.
Thanks again,
Chris Butler
COO
WeCanDo.BIZ
July 1st, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Thanks for the advice Ivan. I recently started an online business,and I am trying to be as knowledgeable as possible when it comes to networking online. However, I do still believe that face-to-face interaction is and always will be the most effective form of networking.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:05 pm
home based internet marketing business
Thanks for the information, love it.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:51 pm
What is the best way to connect with people on linked in? I have an account but I never use it. What is a good way to get started and to really utilize it?
July 5th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I agree you MUST network online. I am very active on Twitter and other sites such as facebook, linkedin, and friendfeed to name a few. Being that I am more of an online entrepreneur these sites were natural for me to use and I try to get my clients to use at least one online networking site even if it’s just a myspace profile they update regularly.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I agree with your article. Just think of how many leads and contacts you can generate by using the inetrnet. It’s chaning the way we do business today. I would like to
network with small business owners that want to grow their companies.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Galen
It has since been implemented in most other blogging tools.A Trackback is one of three types of Linkbacks, methods for Web authors to request