Networking Your Way to Online Business Success

Ever wondered how to meet people and start networking? Are you too shy? Too scared? Too busy? Too lazy? Or just not sure of the social etiquette involved in making connections with people from all walks of life, or without wanting to “sell” them on yourself or your goods and services right away?

Check out these five steps for help with that.

1. Find like-minded folks.    The internet offers you instant access to millions of people – mostly online, but also at meetings, conferences, and in public spaces. You just have to know where (and how) to look for opportunities. I've just listed six (6) of these popular places for you below—but keep in mind that the internet is a vast and thriving resource, with thousands of options. If you can't find what you're looking for there, try some other options too.

2. Mingle, mingle, mingle!    Social networking sites like Facebook (web + mobile), LinkedIn, Twitter, and many others provide enhanced opportunities to network with people like yourself and with others for whom you share common interests or professional affiliations. Search "online networking" on Google or Bing (or any other search engine) to get a better idea of what's out there, who else is doing it, how they do it... and what the benefits are.

3. Embrace the 'give and take.'    Successful networking isn't just about 'getting' something from someone else; it's also about giving something back. The 'give and take' approach is a very effective way to create, foster, and nurture a number of mutually rewarding relationships with like-minded people in various online communities over time.

4. Give freely to others who seek your help.    If you love helping others, this is a terrific way to do it in an indirect but still very beneficial way! Find others who need your expertise or services—and be generous with them by offering your help (see #5 below).

5. Give freely to others by offering your expertise and services.    Sites like Elance (web + mobile), Guru, and Odesk (web + mobile) are great places online to post your expertise for consideration by others who need it. Make sure you post a link to your personal or business website in the "About Me" section of your profile so that people can find out more about you while they're on there looking for what you have to offer.

6. Be patient with the process... and keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities.    Remember that networking is a long-term process. You'll find out about many things and meet many people this way, but you'll also find that some of your new contacts won't be able to help or assist you when or if you need it. As such, be prepared to let go of people who don't help you in the ways you need them - while at the same time welcoming friends who are eager to share what they can do for you.

Yours in success,

Karen Wilkes, Founder and CEO of The Business Women's Network

This article was written by Karen Wilkes and originally appeared here.

Karen Wilkes

Karen Wilkes is the founder of The Business Women's Network (www.TheBWNet.com), an online community and social networking site that helps business women feel part of the larger business community, find mutually beneficial connections with other successful women, become better connected to the resources available in their communities and beyond, learn social skills including small talk, body language and appropriate ways to say "yes" or "no" to requests for help or information from others.

The BWNet is also the official online media partner of The Conference Board, a leading global business membership and research association that conducts more than 40 conferences annually with an audience of over 60,000 corporate executives and experts.

Karen is also a regular contributor to U.S. News & World Report online, the premier news source for U.S. business leaders. She has contributed to their Advice & Opinion section on topics related to entrepreneurship, small business marketing and networking since November 2010.

Find out more about Karen at www.karenwilkes.com or at The Business Women's Network (www.thebwnetwork.com). To follow her updates via Twitter, go to http://twitter.com/karenwilkes.

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The comments & views in every article on this site are the personal opinions of Karen Wilkes and may not represent the views of The Business Women's Network or any other organization or individual mentioned on this site.