How to create a successful online networking profile

I recently wrote '10 tips for building business with the effective use of offline & online networks' in response to a number of requests for help with getting the balance right between offline & online networking. I also wrote about the subject in my National Networker Column last month, 'UK: How small businesses really network.'

With any online network your profile is at the heart of your experience. It’s how people can be sure they’ve found the right person when they search for you. Here are some tips on creating a successful online business networking profile from this month's NRG-networks Community Newsletter.

• Just like when you meet someone in person, your profile photo is the way people who meet you online can put a face to your name.

• What you write in your online profile summary is just like the 30 second introduction you’d give to someone you’ve just met, so don’t underestimate the value in spending a little bit of your time getting it just right.

• You can add a few carefully thought-out keywords to your profile to indicate how you’d like to be found when people search for you. Think about the things you specialise in and add them to the keywords section on your profile.

• Your education, your interests, and your professional experience are the kind of things other people are likely to find interesting about you and what you do. They trigger conversation and interaction. So make sure you add as much information as you can so people find you and ask to connect with you.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Effective online networking in groups

As you make more contacts online on sites like Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter it can be hard to maintain effective communication. A great way to focus some of the conversation is to start a group where you can share your expertise and engage with people who are truly interested. I have been invited by a number of contacts to new groups they have started this week on Linkedin & Facebook. We have NRG-networks groups on these networks where we share content and interact.

Take a look at these NRG-networks online groups for the type of things you can do with minimal effort:

NRG-networks Group on Facebook

NRG-networks Group on Linkedin

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success

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Asking better questions

I have just read 'At your fingertips, A guide to successful online business networking' by William Buist. It is full of really practical stuff on the effective use of online networks.

The section on asking better questions brought to mind a discussion at a recent NRG-networks seminar on effective 121 meetings. The consensus in the discussion was that questions were really important in demonstrating that you are listening attentively. They help you build trust as you show a genuine interest in the other person and their goals. As the other person shares more in their answers you can really find out how to help and who to introduce them to.

In the book William suggests asking "What is your expertise?" rather than the standard "What do you do?". A better question will make the other person think more about the answer and will lead to a better conversation.

Good Networking
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success

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Which conversation would you join?

If you walked into a networking event & the subject of everyone's conversation was in a speech bubble above their head which one would you join? During a recent seminar from Ecademy founder Penny Power about what online social networking means for you and your business Penny got the attendees to split into groups. After a few minutes she invited everyone to share the subject of the conversations. In spite of being at a business event the majority of the conversations were not business related. They were about the things that people were interested or passionate about.

Most of the time we will not have a useful 'speech bubble' so ask questions to find common ground. Be interested and you will find as I wrote yesterday Everyone has something to say. Finding what someone has to say and giving them the time to say it means listening first. That's what the people who do really well in networking do all the time. Listen and engage first rather then pitch and move on.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success

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business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast

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Are you clear about what you do and who for?

After a seminar yesterday on building business with the effective use of offline & online networks I had a conversation with a couple of the attendees about clarity of message. During the seminar there was general agreement that the more specific you can be about proposition the better. If people know exactly what you do and who for it is much easier to find referrals for you. One person mentioned someone they knew, liked and trusted but found it too difficult to find opportunities because they positioned themselves too generally and for any business whatever the size.

It is much better to be a specialist than a generalist. It is also much better to have a specific target market or market sector. Being a generalist for everyone is a very crowded space. The following image helped people to focus on this:

If you do not consider yourself to have a specific market sector then at least try to position yourself as a specialist. And if you really are a generalist at least try and define a market sector. That could be for example by business type, size, geography or a particular problem that you solve.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success

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Engaging in relevant conversations with Social Media

I was speaking with the owner of an Internet Services Business last week about the Seminar I attended earlier in the week from Grant Leboff. I wrote about Grant's views in my post 'Are you the answer for your network?'.

During the conversation he said that he wasn't really sure what to make of Twitter. I said that it was helping me to engage with interested people much quicker than has ever been possible before. Also to track the effectiveness of positive Word of Mouth for your business.

For example a few weeks ago one of the attendees at a monthly NRG Business Networking Event tweeted about his positive experience and a great presentation. The presenter, Ant Hodges, retweeted and one of his contacts asked "What is NRG". Ant replied "NRG is the most effective business networking organisation I have been part of - follow @DaveClarke or visit nrg-networks.com"

Are you engaging in relevant conversations online & keeping track of your 'Word of Mouth'?

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success

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business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast

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