Online Business Networking- A Tool to Increase Business
Opportunities
By Joseph L. Rosenberg CPA
As the internet continues to grow, business owners find new
ways to increase productivity and take advantage of modern
technology tools to grow their business. One such vehicle is
the use of online business networking sites.
Just as email allows individuals to communicate over the
internet, and a website allows a business to promote itself,
take orders and provide information about the company, online
business networking sites allow a business or individual to
promote themselves on the internet, obtain information about
others and even develop a sense of community among like
minded individuals. Some sites offer the individual the
opportunity to create a home page, putting your picture,
business interests and other pertinent information on the
site for viewers to see and respond to. Networks where
individuals can discuss topics of mutual interest are
prevalent. Other sites are useful for hiring managers and
people seeking employment.
While you can develop business relationships with individuals
you meet on the internet at these sites, this will not
replace the need for in-person meetings either with these
contacts if they are local, or others. Joining and actively
participating in your local chambers of commerce, trade
organizations and other groups are still an essential way to
get your message across in your local market. Some of the
online groups also host in-person events. This becomes a good
way to connect the individual you met online to an actual
person. You will also find that some of your local chamber of
commerce members are also online at these sites. And some
sites offer the ability to form groups so that your local
chamber of commerce can form a group where members can
communicate with each other.
While the business networking sites are setup for business,
many people join for social reasons as well. The line between
professional and social settings is not always marked, so
make sure you investigate each site and be prepared for
possible overlap. Many sites are free to join, although some
have limitations for use by non-paying members. The cost is
generally nominal to have unlimited use, given the benefits
they offer.
Where to find a list of the networking sites and reviews of
the major ones? A good place to look is at
thevirtualhandshake.com where there is a social software
guide under the list of free resources. My experience has
been with Company of Friends (run by Fast Company magazine at
fastcompany.com), Ecademy (ecademy.com), Linkedin
(linkedin.com) and Ryze (ryze.com). All but Linkedin have
held in- person meetings in my area that I have attended.
However, Linkedin is probably the largest of the four, with
about 2.5 million members at this writing. Ecademy has a
small presence in the US but is good for those looking for
overseas contacts, too. Company of Friends has a couple of
groups in New Jersey in addition to New York City. Ryze also
has a strong presence in the New York Metropolitan area.
I’m also a member of a Linkedin forum on yahoo on which
members offer tips to improve their Linkedin. experience.
Through these online business networking sites I have learned
about other people’s businesses, obtained new business
leads, contributed to discussion groups in areas of my
expertise, attended in-person networking groups, learned
about new technological advances to improve business, and
made lots of contacts. I even met an individual who was
related to cousins I didn’t know about, thereby
expanding my family tree. You can email me at
joe_rosenberg@hotmail.com for more information about any
of the sites I frequent. Otherwise, hope to see you or hear
from you at one or more of these online business networking
sites.
Note: This article appeared in the May/June 2005 print
edition of the Caribbean American & Hispanic Business
Journal (www.cbji.com) and the April/June 2005 print edition
of Diversity Plus Magazine (www.diversityplus.com). ©
2005. All rights reserved.