Networking is all about creating a social circle of relationships with people who know your name, your face, and your business.
The purpose is to create value within your social circle online.
Just as we used to create a network of friends who knew and loved us in our neighborhood, we now create those circles on the Internet.
In the same manner, our online friends influence and help our business.
1.
Get to know your circle online with emails, interactive communications and personal exchanges that give your friends online an opportunity to get to know who you are.
Give them a personal glimpse into your life and an insight about the kind of person you are.
2.
Share your business interests and goals with the people you communicate with on a regular basis.
If they know what your business is, they can help you by sending referrals your way, or even hiring you when they need your services.
Interactive promotions online work best if you buy their products and they buy yours.
3.
Recommend your friend's products and services to your circle of friends online.
Networking is about trading information and exchanging promotional ideas.
Give it a spin, try sharing the business load and it always works.
You give someone a referral and someone refers another back to you.
4.
Give something of value to your friends online.
For more than just a link to their name and email, give your buddies something of value.
Try giving away a product, a service, or advice to one of your primary ticket items.
Give something to get a lot.
5.
Focus occasionally on helping others.
This is important.
When you're always there for the goodies, but never give it back, you lack the ability to accept gracefully, that which you are given.
Help others and give more than you ever expect to receive.