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| | The *Networker's First Stop Training Network is not currently active and cannot accept new posts | | Improving Your Social And Business Networking | Views: 1138 | | Aug 10, 2007 11:31 pm | | Improving Your Social And Business Networking | # | 
Donna Mann | |
Social networking is not a new phenomenon - people have been meeting together for centuries as a way of expanding their friendships, increasing their sense of community, and establishing new business relationships. And even in the last half century neighborhood or city-based networking organizations have arisen such as the Lions, Kiwanis, and Elks clubs along with those dedicated to pure networking like Business Networking International and LeTip. But it wasn't until a website called sixdegrees was created a few years ago that online networking started to take off - sure chat rooms and listservs had existed in the pre-1995 days but there were never resources online dedicated exclusively to networking. And while sixdegrees sold off their company's assets to other online upstarts, the networking craze had begun. Depending on where you look, there are potentially hundreds of websites where one can network, separated out by interest, industry, and geography and whether the networking interest is for business or personal reasons.
For more business networking, there are 4 primary sites individuals use to expand their network and ultimately their income. The granddaddy of them all is craigslist - a San Francisco-based warehouse of local community news, classifieds, dating options, and job listings started by Craig Newmark that has content specific to the top metropolitan regions in the US. It's a popular site and useful for many things - as ebay found out when they recently purchased a 25% share. ecademy is a UK-based site created by the uber-networker Thomas Power. ecademy requires membership and is set up for pure networking, particularly on a worldwide basis. The site also enables blogging, industry-specific content and chats, and is enabled for heavy-duty networking with known and unknown associates. Ryze is a site focused on business to consumer networking and provides a venue to create a community around your business and personal interests - unfortunately, Ryze use is not regulated too well so the connections and content often related to business opportunities, MLM deals, and value-less connections. LinkedIn is the current disputed leader in the US and worldwide due to its ease of use, practical benefit, and value added features including providing a testimonial for someone you know, passing along requests for connections, job listings, and easy networking with those with similar interests.
Regardless of which site you decide to use, pick one initially and commit to a week or month of consistent participation in the community and decide how you might benefit the work or personal lives of others. As with everything else in life, you get out of it what you put into it - so think both of how you can benefit yourself and others as you participate.
Donna Mann
DEE Virtual Assistant Services
donna@deevirtualassistsvcs.com
"Assistance is only a Mouse Click Away"Private Reply to Donna Mann | | Aug 11, 2007 2:10 am | | re: Improving Your Social And Business Networking | # | 
Scott Allen | | Good article, Donna, but you left out Xing, which is actually currently the #2 business-oriented network in terms of members, and Facebook, which is becoming an increasingly popular place for business.
And there are dozens more springing up -- definitely some that have the potential to be major contenders. Ning is particularly interesting -- there is no one site "Ning" -- it's actually a collection of individually branded networks -- each person can create their own network and their own profile in each network, but your identity is portable, i.e., your basic information is the same across all Ning networks and you only have to log in once.
There's just a lot, lot, lot going on in this space -- going to be interesting to see what happens in the next couple of years.
- Scott -Private Reply to Scott Allen | | Aug 11, 2007 2:24 am | | re: re: Improving Your Social And Business Networking | # |
Donna Mann | | Thanks Scott for your input.
Donna Mann
DEE Virtual Assistant Services
donna@deevirtualassistsvcs.com
"Assistance is just a Mouse Click Away"Private Reply to Donna Mann | | Aug 13, 2007 4:48 pm | | re: Improving Your Social And Business Networking | # | 
DeAnna Troupe, Video Marketing Specialist | | Donna, I would question the part about MLM and business opportunities being "valueless" connections. If I'm looking for a business opportunity or an MLM company to join, then I wouldn't consider that a "valueless" connection. Of course, you aren't supposed to recruit for MLMs on ryze, so if you see that going on, you should report it.
DeAnna Spencer
DeAnna Spencer's Virtual Assistant Service
http://www.deannaspencer.com
Network Leader: Networker's First Stop Training: http://nfst-network.ryze.com/Private Reply to DeAnna Troupe, Video Marketing Specialist | | Sep 16, 2007 10:36 pm | | re: Improving Your Social And Business Networking | # |
carole harris | | Hi Donna
I value your input, and am an uber networker...I belong to many. I also devout my time to many, and have many affiliate businesses I rep for. I also agree with the previous poster about valueless connections. When you are a rep/consultant for businesses, the connection doesn't end/or shouldn't end when someone moves on. I do keep in touch with people once they have quit my business. As far as valueless connections here. Everyone in life has or wants something....Personally Ryze has not done that much for my businesses, but any connection with people, most people I consider the greatest value of all. Just my little opinion. Networking is about creating relationships, respect, gaining respect, sharing knowledge, gaining knowledge, teaching....and everything else that networking encompasses...So how are you making valueless connections?
I also noticed you didn't mention My space. Do you not consider that a network?
I just recently joined Linked in from an associate of mine. I'll definitely be checking it out! Thanks all for the VALUE of your words.
Carole
http://carole.go.cc/Private Reply to carole harris | | Sep 17, 2007 4:36 pm | | re: re: Improving Your Social And Business Networking | # |
Donna Mann | | Carole,
Thank you for your input. At the time I posted the subject of Improving your Social and Business Networking information, I did not think of My Space as a networking tool, but it is a good networking tool. I have a page on My Space and was surprised at the number of people who visited my page.
Donna Mann
www.deevirtualassistsvcs.com
DEE Virtual Assistant Services
"Assistance is only a mouse click away"Private Reply to Donna Mann | | Nov 01, 2007 12:00 am | | re: Improving Your Social And Business Networking | # | 
Sylvia Buetow | | Thanks, Donna. I have never tried Craig's List for social networking, only ads. But I will try it. My Space is a frequent stop. So many friends there.
Sylvia Buetow
http://Crave-energy.comPrivate Reply to Sylvia Buetow | | Nov 12, 2007 2:04 am | | re: re: Improving Your Social And Business Networking | # | 
Sharilee Guest | | Great input, everyone!
I will check out some of the networks that you mention. However, I find it hard to be a member of all of the different networks. It makes it really hard to keep up with everything. Any thoughts on this?
Sharilee Guest
Founder, AmericaTakingAction.com National Education Network
Associate, Bookwise
Winninginthemargins.com (Use passkey: freedom)
Consultant, Simply Fun
Consultant, Stuff -N- Snuggle
Distributor, That's A Wrap
Affiliate, Bare Foot Books
7 Great Lies of Network Marketing
Successful Network Marketing
Private Reply to Sharilee Guest | | |
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