The art of Networking is a key ability for any type of entrepreneur. Networking can bring you important information as well as give others important information about you. As an aspiring or current business owner, networking should be an area of interest of prime importance to you and the future of you business. For those of us working via the internet only, the concept of networking becomes at the same time daunting and almost hilariously easy. Just point and click. You can even get software to help you contact people you want to network with. Personally I like to do most things manually, to get a feel for the project at hand.
If you don't understand why networking is so important to business survival, then I suggest you do some research. You will be amazed at the potential inherent in the simple act of getting to know someone, in your line of business or not. For the Internet Marketer, networking is a matter of survival. You either do it or your business will die. It's that simple. This article will focus on some of the ways to gear up your network to keep it ever changing and expanding. Networking never stops and using your network should become a daily practice. An old network is outdated and next to useless but an unused network is just a waste of time and possibly money.
Email is one of the easiest ways to network on line, just don't abuse it. If you are an internet marketer as all internet business people should be, your opt-in list is an invaluable source to network with and not just a means by which to promote your product. Promote yourself first, your product will eventually sell through word of mouse. You should make it a consistent goal to contact everyone on your contact list at least once a month. Let them know about what is going on with you and tell them something of interest that falls in line with their personality, likes and dislikes. Don't sell, hard or soft, just connect. This will give you the opportunity to prove that you are sincere in your relationship and that the relationship is not one sided. If you can give them something free by all means do so. A free report or gift can go a long way when nothing is asked for in return.
CHAT ROOMS
Chat rooms should be handled slightly different. You actually have to do some work to get to know people. Getting to know a person generally has the effect of making you either like them or dislike them. Regardless of the outcome, you will have the chance to know a community and allow them to get to know you. Be yourself, take your time and before you know it you will have found at least a handful of people with whom you share interest, ideals, and goals. That handful will be able to help you immensely sometime in the future when you need to spread the word about your product. Don't go into this thinking that you are only getting to know people for the end result of selling. Try to honestly make friends and associates. People can tell when your faking it, it just takes time.
I won't add a section about forums since basically they are a slower version of a chat room. Handle them the same. Just like a chat room though, you have to be consistent. People are watching through virtual eyes. Be real.
CONFERENCES/AND GROUPS
Conferences and groups offer you a way to not only get to know people but to get to know people who are extremely involved in the same type of things that you are and who most likely have similar if not almost identical goals. Don't forget, we are talking about online conferences and groups. You can attend many more this way because they are only an url away. Learn from them and connect with as many people as you can. For each contact you make therein lies the possibility to make ten more. Choose wisely in what conferences and/or groups that you become a part of because they will expect you to participate and give back equally. If you do not then this too is another waste of time.
HELP OTHERS
Finally, understand the whole point of networking is to help. This means that you will help people as well as them helping you. Your Internet Marketing Campaigns will not succeed by you effort alone. We all work together even if the proof in this is not readily seen. Plan your networking and have a concrete idea where you want it to lead, what you want the end result to be. Decide how you can help before you ask for help. If you do all of these things you should have the makings of a massive network and when it is all said and done, the makings of massive profits. After all, that's what were here for.
Andrew Witherspoon - The Industrious Marketer is an expert infopreneur and internet marketer who believes that success is measured by the obstacles you overcome while trying to succeed. Visit With Your Success In Mind for more business related information.
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