by Lou Belcher

Created on: June 01, 2009

Networking is very beneficial to on-line business, and it works to your benefit to network with like businesses as well as businesses with whom you could collaborate.

Here's how to get started in networking:

1. Search on line for businesses similar to your own. Read their websites and watch especially to see if they have a blog. Leave a comment for them by way of introduction. Save the web addresses of those you find.

2. Also, make contact by visiting websites of those with whom you could collaborate. Take some time getting to know people from the businesses before seeking collaboration. It's not unusual on line for businesses, in a family of services to work together on projects. For example, one group of professionals who have networked their businesses together includes a writer, an editor, a web designer, and an illustrator. They work on a variety of projects together, each business doing its piece of the job. By doing so, they have a more complete service to offer potential clients.

3. Another good outcome from networking is referrals. You never know when someone might remember you and refer someone to you. If you share information on line regarding the specifics of your business and are free to share referrals with others, they will be more likely to return the favor.

4. Social media sites are specifically designed to facilitate networking. The design of social media sites works as well as the intent of those who use them. If you join social media sites hoping others will click through to your website and buy something from you, you may be disappointed. If you contribute in a meaningful way to others, by sharing information and good discounts or articles, you might find on line, then you will probably obtain a good result from using social media sites.

5. Twitter.com is another networking idea that seems to be working for some people. Again, you get out of it what you put into it. On twitter the point for some people seems to be to find as many followers as possible. In theory, some think that having more followers will increase the number of website visits and increase sales. Unfortunately, this theory doesn't seem to be completely true. It seems that random visitors don't always translate to sales. With twitter, it has been found that if you network with the folks who are most likely to be interested in your products or services, you will have better luck. Also, if you make your "tweets" (your communications with others on twitter interesting and informative, they will be more apt to remember you.

Networking on line definitely does work. Like most aspects of your business, it works depending on how much you, as the business owner, put into it.

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