Business Networking: 5 Tips

If you’re blogging your business, content alone is not going to draw potential customers/ clients to your site. Networking on the other hand, both in person and online, can make a difference if you’re persistent with a broad strategy to promote your business online.

Signature in email. Make sure to set up your email client to automatically list your site’s URL at the bottom of every message you send. Email as social network hub can be amazingly efficient, and messages sometimes make their way to other people, increasing your networking reach.

Build a social media profile. Submit your best articles to voting or bookmarking sites. Or have a colleague do it, on sites that frown on self-submission. Make sure that your profile contains a link to your website. Anyone that “adds” you as a friend because of the articles you’ve submitted or voted on could become a colleague or client.

Build a social network profile. Build a profile and network on sites like MySpace and Facebook, as well as Biznik and LinkedIn. Though make sure you follow some rules of engagement. If you’re going after the teen market, social networking is crucial. Consider also partnering with other sites.

Signature in forums or groups. Getting involved in forums covering your site’s niche. Forums allow more senior members – based on number of threads you’ve posted in – to add one or more URLs in their forum signature. Try Yahoo Groups as well. There are far too many forums to list, though you can always search for “forum” along with your niche. E.g., “software development forum”.

Maintain chat buddies. Keep a list of your trustworthy colleagues in your favorite IM chat client. If you allow your profile to be searchable, that might bring you additional colleagues or clients (and sometimes random spammers). Note: you may have to persuade some colleagues to use the same IM you do.

To a lesser degree, guest blogging on relevant sites also helps cast your networking net. All of these methods help draw traffic as well. And don’t forget the old mainstay: professional business card design. Make sure your site’s URL is prominently displayed, and always carry some cards with you.

Business Networking: 5 Tips

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