The Power
of Networking
By
Nancy Johnson © 2001
One
of the best things you can do for your business is connect
with other successful and not so successful people.
I volunteer at iVillage.com the Women's Network. One
of the largest online communities for women. I have
been a member at iVillage for almost three years and
last September marked my 1 year anniversary as volunteer
Community Leader on the Work Channel.
I
love connecting with other business owners at iVillage.
And helping those just starting out. I also met the
"MomPreneurs" Ellen and Pat two women authors
on working from home. The have a chat there and a
board I visit often. Getting to know them has helped
me with my own business. And Ellen once asked if she
could send my name and business information to some
editors at "Parents" Magazine. I said sure
no
problem. Thinking yeah I bet I never hear from them.
Well about a month or so later I got a call from one
of the editors about a story they where doing on Home
Business Success.
She
interviewed me over the phone and sent me a black and
white camera to take some photos for the article. I
can tell you this is very thrilling to know I am going
to be part of an article in a National magazine. WOW!!
This
wouldn't have happened if I had not became a volunteered
or gotten to know Ellen and Pat at iVillage. Pay attention
on how you interact with people online and in the real
world. Get to know other
businesses owners, become link partners with other business
that can help your business grow and that your site
would be a good match with for their business.
Offer
to moderate boards, start email groups. Not just to
advertise your business but to share ideas, meet people
and join forces with others.
The
Internet is a powerful force to harness. One little
web site isn't going to get as much traffic as joining
together with other website owners or groups and exchange
links. But don't offer to link
to just anyone make sure that you offer you customer
and visitors your site things that relate but not necessarily
compete with your business. Don't exchange links with
things that bring no value to
your visitors, Avoid heavy banner ads, try text links
instead.
Networking
is word of mouth marketing. You never know who will
send you customer, mention you to a colleague that can
use you services, or offer you work. You might not always
gain customers or partner
but down the line you just never know what will happen.
Networking
can increase you Net-worth.
Nancy
Johnson is a Home-based Marketing Specialist. Helping
other business owners find free and low cost resources
and advertising is what ByOurShoeStrings.com is all about.
She also publishes Networking Direct eZine for home-based
business owners. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NetworkingDirect
Permission to use this article in ezines or on your website
as long as the resource box is included.
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