It’s pretty obvious that the marketing of today has changed. You have newspapers going virtual/web only, Twitter and Facebook replacing postcards and phone calls, and potential clients now being the main target of your press releases as opposed to editors. It’s all changing and to do PR today, you need to change with it. The good news is that it’s never been easier. The bad news, you need to learn a new way to do things. Fortunately, there are tips that can make it easier and I’m here to show you a few.

First, no one can deny the power of social networking. And those that do are just plain wrong. I’ve been in business since 1985 and I liken this to way back when emails became a way of life. Many still contended they wanted to do it the old fashioned way and nothing would beat a letter. (I know it’s hard to even imagine this today.) It wasn’t long until they realized their error, but by then their competition was way ahead of them. Don’t make the same mistake now. You absolutely need to get with it and get on board. I can practically guarantee you within weeks you’ll be hooked and wondering why you ever hesitated. It’s so easy, and the potential so great, you need to start today.

Let’s break it down. Twitter first. Forget all the “I don’t care what they ate for lunch excuses,” that’s where your competition and peers are and you do need to be there too. Sure you do have a few tweeters who will update you on the latest hot dog they ate, but that’s rare. What you do have is more and more businesses networking and connecting with each other in ways never thought possible. It’s also more than just networking back and forth, you can have chats, host events, get more publicity for your articles and press releases & even announce your seminars and radio shows. And that’s not even the half of it. There are entire books written on this, so my first recommendation is to get them. Why struggle and find your way around when you can easily read the tips from those who know exactly what you need to succeed.

Also, while you are getting your feet wet, don’t jump in and start posting and selling and ranting and raving. Take it slow. Sign up, take a sit, remain quiet for a short time and read what others are posting. Follow the leaders in your industry and take advantage of their knowledge. It can almost feel like walking around with them all day and looking over their shoulders for their secrets. What’s cool is they give their tips freely, why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of that? As an example, if someone were looking for information on starting a virtual assistant business or getting publicity for their business, they could follow me at Twitter.com/dianaennen

Now the key many forget is that not only do you need to follow them, you need to listen earnestly to what they are saying. Go to the sites they recommend. Actually do the things they suggest. And most importantly, if you have the opportunity to contribute and honestly have something of importance to say, do! Even if they aren’t following you, once you list their twitter name @name, it will go to them. Best yet, you might get a retreat or even better a RT and follow back. As many say, those are the ultimate compliments.

Now it’s important to learn the social media lingo – Hashtags, Retweets, Fans, Follow Friday, this is just a few of the many names you need to know to do business better. t can be overwhelming. No, in fact it is overwhelming. However, if you keep it simple and take it a step at a time, you can do it. When you see a term you don’t know, look it up right then. Write down your interpretation and do the investigating to find out more about it. Here are just a few to help you on your journey.

What’s a retweet? That’s when you find somone’s information useful and you want to pass it onto your followers. So basically RT (retweet) is good content that you pass on. Many RT just to RT. Don’t be one of them. You know your followers and what they want and need, that’s what you should be RT’ing. We highly recommend signing up for TweetDeck for ease in doing
this. A click of a button and you are there.

Next you need to know about Follow Friday. This is definitely one of my favorites. Think of Follow Friday as your day networking at a business get-together, only better. You get to stay in the comfort of your own home, and you get to immediately make the connections, not when you get home with a handful of business cards. Try and plan your week so you can participate. Remember this can be even more effective than a Chamber meeting or an expensive business seminar. So plan a lighter load on Friday whenever possible. You want people to mention you so mention them. Also, don’t just list 20 screens of twitter names that you want people to follow. Tell your followers why they should follow them. What do they offer that your
followers would be interested in? Remember to put #followfriday in your posting. (By the way, see that # in followfriday. That’s what is called a hashtag. Cool huh!) And finally, you want people to retweet your followfriday postings, so keep your count to 120 instead of 140 so they can easily do this. In fact, do this for all tips or postings you wanted retweeted.

Finally, try and post on Friday mornings. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ll often go down my postings to find those I want to list. I know I want to list them before hand so it’s not that I’m just going down my friends column, but often times I don’t have their information readily
available. By posting on Friday you are giving it to them.

Finally, sign up for Trilalerts for your keywords. Start following those of interest. For example, I’m a virtual assistant, so I’ve signed up forvirtual assistant updates. Now I can follow other virtual assistants easily. I do the same for Publicity, etc. Who do you want to connect with?
That’s who you sign up for. Follow the media. Sign up for Facebook and Twitter for the newspapers and TV stations in your area. Look for business reporters who tweak and follow them. Learn their style and what they are looking for in their articles.

Also, follow some of the owners of the many article and press release directories who tweet. Some of the best are on there and giving away secrets to success left and right.

Facebook is pretty self explanatory. The key here is to spend some time to expand your network. Fortunately you get notices when someone responds to your posts, so try and go and follow-up as soon as you can. However, be careful that you don’t get sidetracked doing this too often. Build relationships. You can have thousands of friends and fans, but can you honestly connect to all of them. I know I sure can’t.Twitter also now allows your tweets to be sent to your Facebook page too. This is definitely a plus. Just make sure that you don’t do this to all of your postings, only the ones you feel would interest your friends on Facebook.

Article Submissions, Press Release Submissions - I also say you need to send out articles and press releases religiously. Many question how some succeed with this and others don’t. What’s the difference? The main thing is that they know what to do. They realize the difference that page ranking can make and don’t waste their time on sites that don’t get results. They sign up for Google Alerts under their keywords and then check out the sites that frequently get spidered. Then they send to those places and add those sites to their database. We do have a fabulous PR informational package that is free to anyone who emails us.

Marketing a business and social networking doesn’t have to be expensive if you just remember to network and use all the tools available to you. In fact, it can be fun as you get to meet new people and develop new ways to sell you and your business. Also, keep in mind if you don’t want to do it yourself, there are excellent qualified pros and virtual assistants
available to assist. You don’t need to do it all. You just need to do it!

About the Author:

Diana Ennen, specializes in publicity and marketing and is the President of Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com and author of numerous books. Ready to jumpstart your PR campaign, then email her at Diana@virtualwordpublishing.com. Free PR Informational Package available. Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/dianaennen .

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Before we start to do something new, we check our capabilities and up to that start. Even we wouldn’t be succesfull after that checking process, would be happy and satisfied with what we do or did. However if we do what we love, it generally results successfull.
For entrepreneurs, there are loads of skills that should be checked. One of the most important one –for me its the first- is communication skills.
Communication skills are important cause of patnerships, cooperations and to keep on networking. Those processes make startup more worthy. The point is in Internet age, communication ways changed and while they have some advantages, they have also disadvantages. You can reach e-mails easier than phone numbers. But the problem starts here, e-mails do not give the right sense like your phonecalls. It’s harder to realise if they replied positively or negatively. So even it’s more easier to reach who you want via web, it’s harder to call them in your network.
1. Start with formal e-mail
It’s clear that we generally communicate with our friends on msn or facebook and it goes on daily. So while typing an e-mail, dont think its a usual friend chat, so type more proper –sure not “to whom it may concern”- but it should be formal
2. Show that you respect and follow him
To get attention and get the reply, its better to show you respect, but not like you spoil them, use their articles or experience that you liked. It would also show that you really follow him.
3. Introduce yourself
you are not just a fun of him, you also do something worthy. So introduce yourself with the way he would pay attention, show what you can add value to him. Make him to say “sounds, he knows what he wants”
4. Balance and kindness
While you show that u follow, dont spoil him like you admire, you get him as a goddess. if you spoil so much, he wouldn’t pay attention to your e-mail because he is a usual human too, so exagration would seen not so nice. On the other hand while you introduce yourself, don’t exaggrate yourself and don’t act like you compare yourself with him. This time-by doing this he would think that you are so arrogant. So keep your kindness and keep the balance.
5. Be patient
the ones you want to reach dont have so much time, so they may delay to reply you, they may skip, and also they may forget. Keep your patience, wait for 15 days at least. It doesnt mean he/she doesnt care you, even you can use his gratefulness cause of late reply. =)
If he doesnt reply after 20 days, send another e-mail and start something like this; “i can imagine you might be so busy there” and keep in with your mail the previous mail content to make him more pressed.
6. Don’t miss chances
When he replies and tells you that he is really busy and he can arrange an appointment a month later, dont miss this chance and welcome this offer. But while you welcome this offer, ask something more to keep in touch till you get the appointment date.
by the way if he doesnt reply you at all, dont worry, its his own fault for not being able to manage his time =)

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Blogtrepreneur by adam: The incredible advances in modern communication and the prolific use of the internet have made the coaching profession blossom in the past five years. But many people are still unsure about what coaching really is and what it can do for them.

A coach is an individual who has experience in a particular field, and who offers their services to other people trying to accomplish things in that field. A good coach can serve as a catalyst for huge changes in your career, business, or personal life. They provide you not only with valuable education and resources, but with much-needed accountability and moral support as you take on challenges like starting a business, losing weight, or writing a novel.

Coaching is similar to mentoring, but it also incorporates a process of education and teaching. An experienced coach can adapt themselves to the individual needs of their clients. They are not tied to a rigid outline or lesson plan. Instead, they develop a working relationship with the client to facilitate personal development that will affect real change.

Other important elements to a good coaching relationship are:

- A non-judge mental, supportive environment that allows the client to think outside the box and be creative with their life decisions.
- Regular meetings (virtually or in person) which keep the client on a schedule, moving systematically toward their goal.
- Specific exercises and assignments which provoke the client to think in different ways.
- Honesty and objectivity by the coach—not simply telling a client what they want to hear.
- Professionalism

It is important to remember that while the coach and client have a relationship, and are often discussing deeply personal issues that the client must work through; there must always be a level of professionalism and enough emotional distance between the two parties to allow them to be objective when working together. The coach does not want to allow their personal feelings to color the advice and support they offer their client; and the client needs to be able to assess if their coach is really helping them or just being a “nice person.”

More information on Blogtrepreneur

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Blogtrepreneur by Adam: The blogosphere is a big, scary place when you’re just starting out. There are millions of blogs and you may be competing with other, more established writers who have already established a following on the very subject of your blog. Some popular blogging genres include technology, politics, parenting, and fashion. True, you have your own unique spin on things; and that’s why you want to start up your own blog in the first place. But in order to lay a foundation for generating traffic and creating a brand around your blog, you need to accept one important fact: No Blog is an Island! That is, if you want to succeed as a professional blogger, you’ve got to form alliances.

The best way to start building your alliances is to search for as many other blogs that you can find on the same topic as yours. Make a list and visit them all every single week for three months, leaving thoughtful comments. With few exceptions, most bloggers aren’t making tons of money on their blogs. They write as part of their business or as a hobby. The one thing that keeps them motivated is getting real (non-spam) comments on their posts. After a few months of reading and commenting, you will probably have isolated a handful (10-20) blogs that you really enjoy reading and look forward to visiting.

At this point, send a polite message to the blogger and ask them if they would be interested in exchanging links with you. Tell them how much you enjoy reading their blog, that you’d like to add them to your blogroll, and that you’d appreciate a reciprocal link. The vast majority of the time they will be receptive to this request, especially if you’ve been commenting long enough that they recognize you have a genuine interest in reading their blog—not just swapping links.

Out of the group of blogs that you’ve exchanged links with, you may have formed a special relationship with one or two bloggers who have similar writing styles to you; or who you especially admire. You can then approach these individuals and ask them if they would be willing to allow you to do a guest post on their blog. Having a post on their front page with the link to your blog in the text will up your exposure, as will having the endorsement of an already popular blogger. Most bloggers would be delighted to allow you to guest post, since it’s free, original content for their site.

Finally, make sure that you have included all your blogging contacts in your social media circle. Most bloggers have accounts at Twitter, Facebook, and other sites. Be sure to include those folks in your own network and engage with them there, too. If your blogging friends post a Tweet, be sure to Re-Tweet it; and you can expect the same treatment in return.

The good news is that the blogging community tends to be very open. Sure there are some snobby ‘cliques’ out there, but the overwhelming majority of bloggers are ready and willing to help you promote your blog as long as you are willing to do the same for them.

Building Relationships With Other Bloggers [Blogtrepreneur]

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Are you familiar with joint venture partnerships?

In the course of a month, it’s not uncommon for me to receive several emails from people who are launching a book, product, or program with an invitation to participate in “getting the word out” to people in my network. The invitation includes offering a free high value bonus to purchasers of that book, product or program. If the bonus is accepted, each partner is supplied with the promotional emails to send out to their list on a specific day or time frame.

It’s a cost effective way to reach hundreds, thousands, and millions of people all over the world to build your email list and generate income. This practice has been around for years. You’ve probably received tons of emails either inviting you to participate as a JV partner or make a purchase based on the trusted recommendation of the email list you’re on. Once the purchase is made, people have access to all the free bonuses submitted.

In the last few years, I have invited folks to partner with me as well as agreeing to promote select campaigns because I cannot say yes to every invitation that comes my way.

Some of the criteria I use to make my choices to say yes:

* I have partnered with that person previously and trust in their material and reputation
* The invitation is a referral from someone I know and trust
* There is an opportunity to generate affiliate income from referral registrations
* I have reviewed or experienced the book, product or program in advance to assess it is a good fit for my list, complements my own business focus, and is of high value
* The author of the material is available to be interviewed in my Compelling Conversations Series if I want to book them as part of the promotion to introduce them to my network
* The information has a fresh perspective on material that might not be new (what really is new?)
* I have a good feel for it, intuitively

On the whole, I have found JV partnerships to be a great way to introduce my business to new markets, build my reputation and brand, and generate income. Having folks promote my products and programs to their network has been a tremendous support in marketing my business. So it has been disappointing in the last few years to see that some people have dropped the ball in their agreements to promote the campaigns to their list.

I’ve had this happen on at least two occasions. They’ve given me different reasons for not following through and I believe it becomes even more important to be selective about commitments Today, people are inundated with so many invitations they are saying yes to more things than they can manage. To me it’s about integrity and ethics. If I say I will promote something, barring an emergency, you can count on me to do what I say I will do, period. If I need to change my mind, I will let people know as far in advance as possible.

So, if you are using JV promotions to build your business, be sure you are saying yes for the right reasons:

* It’s a good fit for your market
* You can honestly recommend the product
* You have the time, energy, and space to add another commitment to your plate
* You have the systems in place to follow through on your promotion agreements
* You send out the promo mailing when you say you will

When folks are looking for additional JV partners, they will look at prior campaigns for ideas on who to contact. The web is a small place and people talk. You can either foster a positive or negative reputation.

Dr. Lorraine Cohen, President of Powerfull Living, brings more than 25 years experience in personal and business coaching, psychological counseling, and sales to thousands of spiritually minded business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders from a wide range of industries. Learn more about Lorraine’s services, success products and programs.

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This article is contributed by Michelle Ulrich.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." by Margaret Mead

Here is a list of my Top 10 Reasons Volunteering Can Help You Grow Your Business:

1. Volunteering helps you find your place in the community, whether online or in person, especially if you are "the new kid on the block."
2. Volunteering facilitates many new learning opportunities. This occurs through mentoring or just being around others who share your passion or interests.
3. Volunteering fosters new relationships and builds on existing ones.
4. Volunteering can be a great opportunity to try out new skills or hone existing ones.
5. Volunteering gives you a sense of giving service; studies have found this to be very healthy for our brains, our overall health and our psyche (soul).
6. Volunteering creates opportunities for you to be on ‘ground zero’ of your community or industry.
7. Volunteering builds self-confidence and great potential for leadership building opportunities.
8. Volunteering can lead to business opportunities as most people like to do business with people they know and trust.
9. Volunteering is an important value we can teach our children. We can also act as role models for those in need. You may be the reason they give back and volunteer when they are ready.
10. Volunteering is a way to share your knowledge with others as others before you have passed down history and traditions from one generation to the next.

When you are in a rut, need some help or want to impart your knowledge to others, find a community (online or offline) and get involved. It won’t feel so lonely, your questions will be answered and you can pass down your legacy to share with others. Besides, it’s good for your health and well-being.

P.S. Volunteering can be a great way to 'pay it forward.' I have seen commercials where one person is having a horrible day and takes it out on someone else, and then the next person takes it out on the next and so on. If we turn that around and perform random acts of kindness via volunteering in our communities, what an incredible and beautiful synergy we can pass on to others. We can affect our communities with one single act. Imagine if everyone pitched in and volunteered for something...what a peaceful and happy planet this would be!

About the Author
Michelle Ulrich is the Chief Villager and founder of The Virtual Nation, an educational destination for Virtual Professionals around the globe. Michelle is an avid believer in giving back to her industry and she does this by offering coaching, teleclasses, resources, and tools, in addition to providing a community of learning, a nation of culture, and a virtual village for her members. Education is the foundation of her organization as well as for her own personal and professional development. Michelle has been a community college instructor teaching a Virtual Assistant certificate program online. Aside from coaching and teaching, she is also a speaker and soon-to-be author on the subject of Virtual Assistance. She maintains her private practice where she specializes in working with authors, coaches and speakers who struggle to keep up with e-commerce and new technologies. Clients can check out her services at www.virtualbusinessmarketing.com, while Virtual Assistants can find her over at www.thevirtualnation.com. She can be reached by telephone at (916) 536-9799 in the Pacific Time zone.

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Young Go Getter: There’s not a career choice out there that doesn’t allow you to advance by pitching your most marketable asset, which just happens to be… yourself. You’ll never end up in a situation where you can say to somebody “I can’t do that, because I don’t have the resources or tools that I need” without looking like a total fool to anybody who is worth their salt. You have yourself. The rest is just stuff and comes just as easily as you being, if you know how to get what you want in life. And let’s face it, if you can’t market yourself as a valuable asset, you’re not worth the time to anybody worth selling yourself to anyhow.

Think of your professional network as a trading floor to use when you really need things done, or really need work to do.

“Okay. So, how do I get my own awesome network of people who will actually do what I need, when I need it?”

If you don’t have money to pay people what they’re worth, this can be a hard question to ask yourself, for fear of the answer most people give themselves their first time dealing with the situation. The good news is you’re already half way there. The fact that you’re acknowledging that it can be done at all, means that you’ve got what it takes to make it happen.

What’s the next step? Well, if you have the fortune and opportunity to build your network before you need it, feel free to take your time. Consider this part of the process similar to the interview phase of hiring for a job. A good network is built on good people. Take a look back and think about the finer qualities of people that you’ve enjoyed working with in the past, including work ethic, loyalty, quality of work, etc. Look for those qualities in others. These are the people to approach.

When you find these people, hand out business cards, make your intentions known, and put your best foot forward. The one rule: Don’t ever give false impressions of who you are or why you’re trying to network with them.

After you’ve found these people, don’t let them go. Be good to them, and they will be good to you, unless you’ve done a poor job picking people to network with. If they need a hand with something, give them a hand. When it comes time for them to return the favor, they’ll bend over backwards to make sure you get the help you need. After all, at this point you’re just as valuable to them as they are to you.

Never take advantage of your network. Some of them just want the connection for tough times and some of them are just being courteous. Feel them out, and then label your network’s members. After you label them, make sure they know your label. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? How much time do you have to contribute to others’ requests? One of the biggest reasons to have a professional network, more so than utilizing its members for your own means, is to offer yourself as an expert and find work in your field. How will they know to give you work if you don’t tell them you’re interested? How will they know you’re an expert if you don’t show them?

The tools of the trade.

Although your most valuable networking tool is your own willingness to meet and greet, there are tools built for the purpose of making it easier. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Professional Networking Websites such as LinkedIn, YouNoodle, or Monster. Few people really use these websites to their full potential. They’re there for a reason. Sign up, and make use of them.

2. Business Cards. Never underestimate the power of a handshake and a business card. Anytime you meet somebody new worth networking with, they should have your business card in their hand before you walk away.

3. V-Cards. These are little electronic versions of your business card. Treat them as such. Make one (create one in Mozilla Thunderbird, Microsoft Outlook, or one of several other software programs) and pass it around like nobody’s business.

4. Your Resume or CV. These aren’t just for getting a job anymore. People really are interested in where you come from, what you do, and how good you are at it. This is a copy of your resume (or CV) that you can feel comfortable getting a bit more personal with.

5. A Handshake. Practice your handshake! Practice makes perfect, and the perfect handshake can say wonders about your personality. Dig in there tight, look the other gentleman/gentlewoman in the eye with a smile, and don’t let go until they return the favor.

Get out there and make it happen.

Networking As a Necessary Business Process, And the Top 5 Tools of the Trade [Young Go Getter]

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Business networking is both an art and a science. The advent of E-Networking has opened up a new online world of "Mega-Networking." From the proliferation of social networking sites like My Space and Facebook – to more structured, in-person networking groups like Business Networking International (BNI), there have never been better opportunities for expanding your network. Still, many of the proven "rules of engagement" apply, because, whatever the method, it's all about relationships.

With that in mind, there are three basic kinds of business networking:

1. Traditional networking – Face-to-face meet & greets at business functions, social events, club meetings, etc. In addition to joining an association specific to your industry, check out your local Chamber of Commerce or Rotary International chapter.

2. Structured networking clubs – Professional groups like Business Networking International (BNI) require a significant time commitment but can be tremendously helpful in finding new business.

3. Online or E-Networking – Internet-based networking websites such as LinkedIn and Spoke.com take "six-degrees-of-separation" networking and make it digital.

Here are some ideas to boost your networking efforts:

Join a formal business networking or booster group

Joining a group can be like having dozens of sales reps promoting your business for you.
Business Networking International (BNI) has chapters around the world. Or plug in through a local chamber of commerce (terrific for local networking) or Rotary club.

Take advantage of online networking opportunities

The newest trend in networking provides unique opportunities to connect with colleagues online and expand your network exponentially. LinkedIn is a popular E-networking site for business, as is Ryze. Some online networking sites are geared towards specific industries. EntreMate, for example, specializes in connecting entrepreneurs who are looking for business partners. And let's not forget the social media darling, Facebook.com.

Perfect your elevator pitch

Prepare and rehearse your one-minute "introduction speech" in advance. This breaks the ice and also serves as a good conversation-starter. Learn more about crafting a great elevator pitch. Need inspiration? Read successful elevator pitches and tweak your own at YourElevatorPitch.com.

Be a trade group joiner

Join professional trade groups. Volunteer. Become actively involved in your industry associations. Make a name for yourself; don't hide behind the scenes. For instance, you can join local chapters of Fast Company magazine's Company of Friends group to stay connected or more freelance-oriented groups like Guru.com, where you can find work and search for freelancers to work for you.

Give before you get

Remember that networking is a two-way street. Be ready to reciprocate. Kevin Spacey's Hollywood agent character said it best in the film "Swimming with Sharks:" You've got to give action to get action!" Don't dismiss the power of social networking websites like Facebook, Ziggs,Friendster and Knowmentum. These can be a source of great connections.

Follow up

Cultivate your relationships. Send notes after meeting a new contact. Be proactive about staying in touch. Recognize that it takes time to build a relationship.

Additional Tips & Tactics

Dig your well before you're thirsty – the best time to develop your network is before you need it!

Be a great listener. You'll expand your circle of friends when you show sincere interest.

Offer assistance. Networking is not a one-way street.

Just like there's a right way to "work a room," you must observe proper "netiquette" when you're networking online.

Lou Bortone is an award-winning writer and video producer with over 20 years experience in marketing, branding and promotion. As an online video expert, Lou helps entrepreneurs create video for the web at www.TheOnlineVideoGuy.com. In addition, Lou works as a freelance writer and professional ghostwriter, with a ghostwriting site at www.GhostwriteForYou.com and a blog at www.GhostwriteGuru.com.

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Networking and making business contacts is one of the toughest aspects of running a home-based business, but also one of the most successful to develop your business. One must constantly find creative ways to meet new people and introduce them to your product. If you are working from home with small children around this becomes even more difficult. Networking online may be the answer.

There are several ways to network online. One of the most inexpensive is to visit message boards (for an example of a message board, visit http://www.cwahm.com/messageboard ). You can register on message boards for free and post about your products, business or any topic on the board that interests you. This is a good way to meet other Christians who also work from home and to develop Christian business relationships.

It may also be possible to become a “moderator” on one of the message boards that you join. A moderator is usually in charge of one forum and helps to generate conversation; delete posts that may not belong in the forum and answer any questions people my have about the forum/topic. This is a win-win situation for both you and the message board owner. They are receiving help in maintaining their message board and you are making contacts and building relationships.

Another way to make business contacts online is through networking websites such as Ryze (http://www.ryze.com). On Ryze, you can create your own page describing yourself and your business. You can also join various networks and meet people virtually who may be interested in your product or business. This not only allows you to build business relationships, but friendships as well. There are many Christian networks on Ryze, such as the Christian Business Women’s Network (CBWN). The CBWN network exists to bring Christian women together to help one another succeed in the work at home world.

For a small fee you can also create your own network on Ryze. If you have a unique product or business opportunity, it may benefit you to create a network where others can come to find information. You may also use a network to create a community environment if you have a team of people that you support in your work-at-home business. Your team can work together and find information easily all in one place.

Kelly McCausey, host of Women by Grace Radio, had this to say about Ryze, “Ryze has been an incredible source of networking for me. I have made at least two of my most valuable business relationships on the networks there. I enjoy the variety of possibilities and the ease of making connections.”

There are also networking groups on websites like Yahoo, Google and MSN. You can search for groups on these sites by topic and join for free. There are countless Christian groups as well as work-at-home networks to be found on these sites. These groups generally are email based, so you will receive emails from the group that will be formatted similarly to Message Board posts. This allows you the flexibility to read them when you have the time and choose the topics that interest you from the subject line. Many groups will allow you to place ads and generate conversation about your home-based business. Just check their guidelines before posting and watch the group a couple days before becoming active. You can then get a general feel for how that group works.

Another way to network and build relationships online is to visit blogs. You can search for Christian blogs or blogs that may relate to your product or service. Take the time to read some of the blog entries and leave a comment for the blog owner with your website address. Blogging is a great new trend in the work-at-home world and many people are learning to blog as a way to increase awareness of their business.

One very important, and often overlooked, way to make online contacts is to include your business name and website address in the signature of every email that you send. This makes people aware of your business and allows them to easily visit your website. Including your website link (and maybe a catchy slogan also) will catch the readers eye and give them easy access to your website. If you send emails 15 times during a day that is 15 more people that you have marketed your business to. An email signature is also a way to ensure that your current customers can effortlessly find your website. It is important that customers can find your website with minimal searching and an email signature is one of the easiest ways to achieve this.

Networking online is a great way to meet people without having to leave your home. The internet is one of the best resources available to home-based business owners. Once you have an idea of how and where to network online you will be well on your way to a successful new form of marketing.

Jill Hart is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com. She graduated from Grace University with a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development and Family Studies/Bible. Jill has worked from since 2000 and started her own home-based business to assist other Christians who desire to work from home while maintaining a godly life.

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Networking is booming at the moment with more organisations being formed every week. Many of us, however, attend networking events because someone says it is a good idea or we hope that we will meet someone of interest. Beyond that, few people have a clear vision of what success will look like for them.

More people now recognise that events will not be populated by people looking to buy their product (after all, how many people attend events with a view to buying?) and so, fortunately, the instances of being ‘pitched’ as soon as you shake hands seems to have diminished. However, this leaves a vacuum. If you can’t go to events to sell your services, how can you make them work?

Many speakers like me advise their audiences to ‘pursue the relationship, not the sale’. It is well and good to make more friends, but how can that help your business? One recent commentator on a blog I posted on Ecademy bemoaned that very problem, “People told me they had wanted to refer me for a long while, but since they didn't really understand what I do (all they had was "some kind of techy") they weren't able to.”

The answer lies in being able to leverage the relationships you build. Through networking events you simply build contacts. The development of those contacts into relationships often takes place outside of the meetings, where you can really take the time to get to know each other and your respective business needs.

As relationships develop and people start to know, like and trust you, they will be more inclined to support and refer you. It is vital for you to continually educate this network about your needs, without ever thrusting those needs down their throats! Newsletters which offer valuable information (like this one), quick lines to tell them about something you’ve achieved and regular meetings all help to arm your connections with the information they need.

And always be on the lookout for them, passing them valuable tips and information and, where possible, quality introductions and referrals.

Networking events are a catalyst for new business. They should never be viewed as a pool of prospects enabling you to walk out with business signed.

Andy Lopata is one of the UK's leading business networking strategists. He is the co-author of two books on the subject, including the Amazon UK bestseller '...and Death Came Third! The Definitive Guide to Networking and Speaking in Public'. Andy offers a full consultancy service and works with companies to help them realise the full potential from their networking.

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Far from the days of the old school tie and unusual handshakes, the last decade has seen an unparalleled rise in business networking. Many of the traditional networks, such as the IoD, Chambers of Commerce and Rotary have had to rise to the challenges posed by a host of groups, both international and local.

While the majority of British businesses still do little proactive networking, an increasing minority do so with vigour. Opportunities abound, ranging from breakfast meetings, through lunch and into dinner. There have even been twenty-four hour charity ‘networkathons’, so you don’t even have to go home for want of an event to go to!

There’s a new kid on the block now, however, and he’s making a big impact very quickly. Over the last ten years there has been a slow but steady growth in the number of networking organisations appearing on the internet. In the UK, Ecademy, formed in 1998, has grown to become the most recognised online network, while internationally, networks such as Linked-In from America and the German network Open BC (now Xing) have become well-known brands.

In the early days of Ecademy, it was seen as an organisation for ‘tecchies’, with few people not interested in the growth of the internet participating. Now, however, it boasts over 100,000 members worldwide, with several thousand people online at any one time.

All of a sudden, networks like Ecademy have started to appear on a frequent basis. Every day I hear about new websites for businesses, whether they be general b2b forums, industry focused or niching in other areas.

Why this sudden growth in networking online? I put it down to two main reasons.

First of all, the internet is suddenly much more accessible. With the advent of broadband, people are much happier spending time surfing websites, posting profiles and messages and blogging. Without the long download times that frustrated us when we were using telephone modems, we can do so much more online.

In addition, we can access the internet more of the time. Previously we were tied to our offices. But with more people working from home, owning a home computer as well as their office one, or working from a laptop, more of us have internet access 24/7. Don’t believe me? Post a message on a site like Ecademy or send an email after midnight and see the number of responses you get!

With new mobile technology, such as the Blackberry, allowing us to access the internet while we travel, the online world has suddenly become even more open to us.

The other key reason for the growth of online networking is demographic. Many of us have had to learn about the internet, emails, text messaging and other new technology as adults. However an increasing number of people are entering the job market and business community for whom texting, instant messaging and blogging are a way of life. A whole new vocabulary has emerged, which even my computer hasn’t kept up with given the amount of words in this article it has wanted to spell-check!

Julian Woodward, a software architect and developer with a particular interest in this area, outlined this change to me recently. Julian explained how, while older generations are used to moving on from one set of close contacts to another as our lives and careers progress, younger people are used to keeping in touch with a much wider circle.

“Close contacts are kept in the circle through text messages and instant messaging, while second tier contacts are maintained through the use of social networks.”

The ‘MySpace Generation’ is now having a huge influence on the way we do things. The Social Networking phenomenon kick started by Friends Reunited has been taken on with a vengeance by sites such as MySpace, YouTube and, increasingly, Facebook. People now are far more likely to buy, interact, court and market themselves on the web.

What now seems to be happening is an increasingly indistinct border between online networks used for social purposes and those used to promote businesses. Bands are now reaching Number One in the charts purely through building up support online, while an increasing number of business people post profiles and blogs on UTube and MySpace to reach a wider client base.

As a result, the term ‘Social Networking’ has become the catch all for the online networking revolution. Increasingly businesses are being compelled to accept the need to embrace social networks, whether to market themselves externally, or to aid knowledge management internally.

As more of the MySpace Generation come to work, the higher the expectation is that they will be able to connect with others online to get the information they want. Jeff Schick, the VP of social computing software at IBM recognises the importance of this, “the thing that we see is an expectation of these sorts of tools in the business context when these young folks join the workforce.”

For the business who wants to embrace social networking for the first time, it can be a tough decision where to start. There are a vast range of sites, many of whom offer the same, or similar, functionality.

For smaller businesses, who want to use the internet to market more widely, then the first step is to decide what you want to achieve. Like any network, you can usually determine a key benefit to be derived from each of the various opportunities available. These normally fall into one of three areas:

1) Profile Building
2) Brain Building
3) Referral Building

Profile-building networks, such as Ecademy and BT Tradespace, allow you to build a wide range of contacts by posting your own details, searching other people’s, blogging, joining clubs and exchanging messages. Many people will build large personal networks, the trick is to be able to manage these so that it is not just a numbers game.

Brain-building networks focus on an exchange of information and support. Often themed around one area of business, such as Web Wednesdays and Wellbeing Network, they bring together professionals to exchange ideas and help to solve challenges.

Referral-building networks, such as the US’s Direct Matches and the new UK network, Word of Mouse, are more concerned with business building. Direct Matches is very much the home of network marketing businesses looking for referrals for their distribution teams, while Word of Mouse is based around small local groups getting to know each other, rather than global network-building.

Networks such as Linked-In take the referral building approach one step further by inviting members to post up details of who they know to enable them to find connections to the people they want to talk to through their networks. Based around the theory of six degrees of separation, members are able to tell how many steps they are from any person on the site, and to whom they need to speak to get the introduction.

Naturally there is a degree of overlap between the networks and the benefits on offer from each aren’t confined to the areas above. Finding the overriding theme, however, helps the business owner to identify the right network for them.

The big mistake for any businessman to avoid is turning their back on traditional face-to-face networks in favour of social networks. It may be easier to spend a few minutes online each day rather than taking the time to meet people, but business and referrals will always be built on developing trust and understanding. That takes time, and it takes getting to know each other.

Social networks play a tremendous role in initiating and managing relationships; but the development of relationships will still take place at one-to-one meetings, whether in each other’s offices, at networking events or in meeting places such as the IoD Hubs.

As with existing public face to face networks, the corporate presence on social networks appears to be low. There are natural barriers to entry from the corporate perspective; concerns about the time their staff spend unproductively on the net and how they may misrepresent the corporate image are understandable.

Jeff Schick feels that concerns about wasted time are unfounded. “In the clients we’ve worked with to date as well as what we’ve seen within IBM, I think that we see the exact opposite.

“While a person might be interrupted because they are a recognised expert in a certain particular area, when there is just in time information required by another individual in the company, the efficiency and productivity involved in building that network and the fabric of interaction provides a more efficient and productive model for people to do their work.

“The organisation holistically is improved by that level of interaction, by matching people who know to people who need to know.”

IBM’s focus, as with many corporates embracing social networks, is less on marketing themselves to prospective clients but on improving communications internally, between people working on the same challenges oceans apart and involving staff, partners and customers in their development process.

The use of such networks not only makes processes more efficient but breaks down organisational silos, impacting on the service received by customers.

With the internet becoming an increasing part of our everyday life, the social networking revolution is set to gather momentum. As more people work from home, either for an employer or for themselves; take on consultancy roles for other businesses and as customers talk to each other with more ease it is vital for all businesses to embrace and make the most of the new technology.

It is technology that allows small businesses to compete with large, local businesses to trade overseas and which is breaking down traditional barriers to entry rapidly.

Traditional networks are not fading away. They will be with us for a long time to come. They are now being supplemented by another tool, one that will help them to build even bigger networks, exchange more information and win more business.

Links:
BT Tradespace
Direct Matches
Ecademy
Facebook
Linked-In
MySpace
Word of Mouse
Web Wednesdays
Wellbeing Network
Xing
YouTube

* * *

Andy Lopata is one of the UK's leading business networking strategists. He is the co-author of two books on the subject, including the Amazon UK bestseller '...and Death Came Third! The Definitive Guide to Networking and Speaking in Public'. Andy offers a full consultancy service and works with companies to help them realise the full potential from their networking.

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Entrepreneur: Anyone who has ever tried to keep an accurate count of how many "cold calls" led to actual, cash-in-your-pocket sales knows it isn't an easy task. The good news is that measuring success from referrals is actually quite easy. We know this because we've designed a networking scorecard for tracking referrals and the business that results from them. You might want to develop a similar one for your own use.

On this card, record the nature and source of each referral, how you followed up on it, how you handled it, and how you followed up with your referral source--through a thank-you note, a phone call, lunch or business. It's not hard to look back at what you did and analyze how successful you were in getting business from your referrals.

The referral process is about committing to a series of actions designed to create a result not only for you, but also for the other people involved. It's about measuring the results and improving the system. As long as you track your activities, it's not hard to measure the results.

Is Your Referral Networking Working? [Entrepreneur]

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I have just returned from a fantastic, if exhausting, weekend at the Annual Convention of the Professional Speakers Association, where I was honoured to be elected to the Board.

This was my third such convention and, by far, the most valuable. For many small businesses, the investment in such events, both in time and financially, prompts a lot of thought about where the value lies and whether it is worth their while attending. This weekend will see a return of several times my investment should I follow through with a number of the connections made. That's what I call a 'no-brainer'!

That has not, however, been the case before. Previous conventions, while enjoyable, have not necessarily produced similar results.

At my first convention, three years ago, I learnt a lot, an incredible amount. I wrote pages and pages.....and pages.... of notes from the excellent speakers and focused workshops. Over the weekend I came up with idea after idea after idea which could transform my business.

And I put none of them into action.

The simple fact is that I learnt too much. I didn't have a plan to put the ideas learnt into action, hadn't put the time aside to review my notes and implement key thoughts, I failed to allow for follow-up. One of my contacts took the following week off just to go through her notes and ideas and look at her business, how many of us can add this to the time already invested?

Wary of this problem the following year, I was too resistant to new ideas and didn't really understand what I was going to get from the convention. I didn't really understand why I was going and got exactly what I planned for from it...nothing.

As a result of that experience, I didn't attend in 2006. With the change in my business in January, coupled with my impending election to the Board of Directors, I needed to be there this year, so I started to think about what I could get from the convention.

I knew not to write page after page after page of notes from the speakers. Instead I kept an 'Action Sheet' at the front of my notes and focused on writing down the two or three key points from the convention that, added to my business model or speaking style, could make a difference. I wrote only a few notes beyond that, most of them focused on particular areas I need to address.

That is no reflection on the quality of the speakers and workshops. I learnt a lot from some of the best speakers in the world; but there is a huge difference between what you learn and what you implement.

The main focus for me at Convention, however, was the networking. That may sound obvious coming from me but my networking this year was far more focused and planned than previously.

The week before the event I was reading Keith Ferrazzi's book 'Never Eat Alone'. In his chapter 'Be a Conference Commando', Ferrazzi talks about networking at conventions and says, "Conferences are good for mainly one thing....they provide a forum to meet the kind of like-minded people who can help you fulfill your mission and goals." Going to a Professional Speakers Convention and focusing on time away from the talks may seem strange but, in a lot of ways, that's where the value is.

Taking Ferrazzi's advice I contacted some of the attendees in advance of the events, suggesting that we take time to meet over the weekend. I arranged breakfast meetings, rather than focusing on finding a spare seat, and spent time with individuals. In addition, I have a range of meetings to set up over the next few weeks with other contacts made in the last three days.

The opportunities already created from these connections include a promised meeting with a Director of an NHS Trust to look at networking within that Trust, an invitation to speak to a group of Chief Executives, a meeting to discuss synergies with another speaker that may lead to the creation of a new CD and cross-referrals and the possibility of establishing speaking opportunities overseas.

That's not a bad return for an investment which, although for many may look large initially, pales into insignificance against the potential return.

Andy Lopata is one of the UK's leading business networking strategists. He is the co-author of two books on the subject, including the Amazon UK bestseller '...and Death Came Third! The Definitive Guide to Networking and Speaking in Public'. Andy offers a full consultancy service and works with companies to help them realise the full potential from their networking.

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