Online networking

Online networking is all about making contacts and connections through the Internet.

There are online networking sites, forums, groups and pages where you can connect with business people and entrepreneurs from all around the world.

And if you find people and sites in your local area, attend meetings and events so you can meet the people and recommend those you have been chatting to and networking with online.

When you do network and exchange business information online and if you do attend a group or meeting, make sure that you are benefiting your business by socialising and networking with reputable online sites.

What is Social Status?

Networking ...

Networking is another word for connecting.

It's really all about building alliances in the professional business sense. It's about chatting to people and handing out your business cards.

It's about seeking opportunities and speaking about your business.

There are so many ways to network and it really depends on your business. You can attend conferences and client breakfasts. Get to know other business people in your industry or connected to your industry and introduce each other to other relevant people.

Exchange business cards. Give people your email address. Talk about business. Have some idea where your connections can go.

There are so many opportunities for you to meet people in your industry. Or for you to connect with and do business with.

It's all about making a connection and talking about your business and starting to spread your own personal brand.

And I can show you how and where to start.

Connecting ...

Everything seems to have become immediately attainable.

From getting in a car and driving to see a movie. Or clicking your computers on and sending/receiving emails. Then there is online shopping and grocery shopping. Everything can be done so quickly and it is becoming frustrating when the system is slow, or the queue is long, or the product we want to purchase is not in stock.

We are slowly becoming used to and expectant of immediacy.

There are meals you can make in two minutes. Everything is faster. We eat on the run, we send emails and expect replies within the hour never mind within the day. And we have our mobile send/receive texts no matter where we are.

We are extremely connected.

We can access news sites from all over the world and radio stations in any language. We can shop from Indie book shops in America to gourmet grocery shops in France providing they deliver to Australia.

And this connectivity, this constant interaction is great for connecting with people. We can send emails within the hour because we have access to our laptops and mobile phones. We can stay connected.

It's important for a small business man to respond to emails and to stay in the loop and to stay connected. It's just a matter of finding the right connections and receiving the right invites and emails.

marketing ...

Marketing sounds like a lot of work doesn't it?

Especially when you own a small business or if you're only a one man team. There is so much to do in a day which is usually just the general administration of a business. You have to buy/sell your products, answer enquiries, attend to customer service, pay the bills, open/close, clean, tally up at the end of the day and constantly monitor and assess your business.

Sometimes some aspects of business can take months to do, if you have conferences or a major purchase, a move or a sale ... suddenly you're inundated with work and very little time and it is so much harder when you have to think of marketing and getting more business, more customers, more ideas and more products.

But I have learnt from having my own small business that marketing is incredible. It is incredibly rewarding. and it is a social aspect of the business. You get to meet people, to talk about your business and your ideas and you find support.

There is a lot of research in marketing. There are a lot of events, groups, clubs and meetings you can attend. A lot of networking is related to an individual industry so you get to meet and liaise and exchange cards with people who not only understand your business but you can somehow connect and exchange ideas and bring in even more business.

And it is amazing how even if you are time poor, attending a specific event or going to a specific function, club or meeting can increase your business exposure.

Blogging

Marketing is on the increase.

Most companies and businesses have websites. A lot of companies and small businesses have blogs, some of which are excellent tools for small business.

Blogs give tips, advice and information as well as links to other websites and ideas for business people. They're also a great way of communicating especially if you are in the industry. You can comment on blogs leaving a link to your blog URL or your business website and increase your business exposure.

And blogs are easy to maintain. You just need someone who will regularly research your industry and contribute blog posts to the blog.

Blog posts are considered online journals so if you're a small business you can inform people who are reading your blog what the industry you work in is like. You can tell people what kind of work you do, what meetings you attend, what projects you are undertaking and share relevant information about your business with them.

Blogs have proven an extremely effective marketing tool, because daily posts make your business more accessible. And major companies use their blogs to inform people about the history of Coca-Cola or flights on airlines or what interns do at newspapers. It is an interesting and informative way of communicating. And you never know who will benefit from the information you are resourcing.

And it works both ways. If your small business is researching your industry news and sharing, you will certainly find people who have something to say about the information or add to a post you will have written. You can communicate with people from all over the world and increase your business exposure in the best way for your business, in the most authentic way.

And I can show you how simple that is.

What is Social Marketing?

To each his/ her own.

In the last 10 years, business has come a long way.

Not only do we have access to business websites where we can get details, prices, product information and location we've also got access to the actual business owners.

Some owners are more outspoken or extroverted if you like and have a business blog or attend networking events or respond very quickly to his/her emails. It seems that we are more communicative, more open with each other, more aware of business and networking than ever before.

You can access anything you like on the Internet. And this is where and how social networking comes into being.

I can show you how social and online networking can benefit you and your business. People are exchanging information and business ideas. Open communication is growing and growing fast.

It's all about networking, marketing promoting and being the 'voice' of your business.

Introducing Social Status

Online social networking, sites and media ... it's a great and inexpensive way to market and promote your business.

Do you have a blog? Do you know about social sites and networking?

Do you have an administrator or office support person who'd love to learn how to market your business? Or a marketing/PR person ... now is your chance to hire someone to network, promote, publicise and market your business.

Are you willing to attend events and meet people in the industry? Do you know about your industry?

Let me show you how to improve your social status.

Email me to discuss consultation fees.