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Use networking sites to make new contactsBy Ken Doyle
In some ways, online networking also seems more attractive for some business people rather than typical in-person networking events. You can connect with people on your schedule, without leaving the office. Nor do you have to fight your way through crowded rooms, balancing a drink and snack tray while fumbling for business cards. Online networking, however, has its pitfalls. Choosing the right service can make a difference as to how effective your efforts are. The best-known, largest and most user-friendly business networking site is LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com), with more than 9 million registered members. It operates on the "degrees of separation" principle (popularly associated with actor Kevin Bacon) - a friend of a friend of yours could be your next client or business partner. When registering, you create a profile that contains your resume, job history, hobbies, interests and other relevant information. You decide how much of this information should be made public. Other business networking sites that operate in a similar fashion include Ryze.com and CompanyClick.com. Once your LinkedIn profile is complete, start building an "inner circle" by inviting friends to join your network. LinkedIn makes this step even easier, by letting you import contacts from Outlook, and notifying you if any associates are already LinkedIn members. As your contacts add their own contacts, your network grows. With the basic, free LinkedIn membership, you're limited to contacting people within three degrees of separation. You do this by requesting an introduction from someone in your immediate circle who's connected directly to (or one hop away from) the person you're trying to meet. The basic account also limits the number of introductions each month. Paid memberships, ranging from $20 to $200 per month, offer progressively less restrictions and allow contact with other LinkedIn members without going through the referral process. In addition to searching member profiles, finding former coworkers and notification of relevant job opportunities, LinkedIn also lets members post recommendations for your work that become part of your public profile. A recently added "Answers" feature lets members ask questions and share business information. If your company needs freelance or contract help, search the Services section to find suitable vendors. There are certainly advantages to face-to-face meetings and business networking sites probably won't eliminate them completely. However, connecting online first can make subsequent in-person meetings more efficient and it definitely beats cold calling. If time is at a premium, if your business is national or international in scope, or if you just can't stand shouting to make yourself heard over the noise at your next business mixer, give LinkedIn a try. Ken Doyle is a principal consultant for Loquent LLC, a Madison-based company that offers technology training and consulting services. techtalk@loquent.net madison.com ©2009 Capital Newspapers. All rights reserved. |
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