What are the meanings of the expressions site, site selection and site selector?

Site, site selection and site selector are defined in the .network glossary. Within the context of the The Network as an a search resource for those who want to gather information about places of interest, site selectors may be distinguished by the fact that they either have networks of contacts or they know to build them. Take a look at the answer to the question below to learn more about where site selectors fits into global enterprise and economic development.

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Where does it say Area Development is an non-biased resource for site selectors?

The following quote is from the entry page to Area Development in Economic Development.net. It speaks for the neutral position of all the The Network as well as Area Development when it comes to serving the wants and needs of our target user group.

You would find every country listed with a link under Area Development were The Network a more perfect online informational service. Theoretically, it was planned as a one-stop resource for site selection; however, we are unable to make that work practically.

Listing places throughout the world that want economic development and providing links to the websites of those who supply information about them to prospects demands continuous update and correction. The minute after, say, any site selection directory or economic development directory is published something changes.

Area Development will always be building and it will always be incomplete. For that reason The Network offers a search promise, a commitment to answer requests for free, non-biased, personal search assistance from those who join in on its mission ... (source).

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I found information on a .network webpage that is not correct. Now what?

Send an email telling us what problem you found and where. Please include a URL address string that identifies the webpage and briefly describe what is not correct. We (who we are) would welcome any suggestions that you care to offersee how to submit comments and critiques as well other informational items and resources to help improve The Network.

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What does it mean for a site selection network to have an MO?

MO is an acronym for mode or method of operating. The Network is dedicated to site selection as a process of enterprise development. It is a site selection network operating in the mode of a typical online information service. In that regard it has a non-biased operating principle.

Maintaining a neutral position as a search resource for a target user group is at the lead point of its MO as expressed by a commitment to provide free personal assistance to all who join in on the .network mission. In addition to it unique neutral position, The Network has other core operating policies, such as providing free access to all of its webpages with informational resources as it stands back from transactions between users. Visitors and users are not monitored in any way that allows us to know who they are are what they are doing personally at any given time. The Network MO is reflected in a privacy policy and disclaimer.

In addition to indicating a non-biased position of service through the search promise, the answer to the question below also shows how we mean business in that regard.

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What does it cost to become a member of The Network as a contact?

The word member is used in conjunction with an explanation of who makes up a target audience. As such it is not meant to imply that there are fees involved in visiting .network websites or using it resources. By definition contacts are resource suppliers and service providers for members of the target audience. They are are also included in its membership.

The Network maintains a Global Registry of Contacts. A member of the .network target user group who wants record in it has the opportunity of seeing that its created and maintained without cost or obligation. It's free! Those who want to enhance their listings online (example of a page of listings) from the database have the opportunity to step up to participate in The Network as contacts. For information about what it costs to participate, CLICK HERE.

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What benefit is there for having a paragraph about services and service area online?

The question is answered within the context of Eight Essentials for Successful Networking (see item #3). If you are involved in building working relationships, you are no doubt aware that promoting services and service area is equally important with putting contact data in front on prospects. If you are involved to the extent that you make use of a variety of opportunities for business networking, including the Internet, it seems likely that you are aware also of the practicality of making contact data available (and accessible) online for prospects to find.

The obvious benefit is in having information about what you can deliver to prospects and where published online with instructions on how to get in touch with you. The benefit is based on universally accepted belief that, on the Internet, search engines rule. The best search engines, Google for example, zero in in on keywords and well-phrased keyword combinations. They report findings impartially although results may be surrounded by advertising.

The benefit gained from publishing any information online in support of networking doesn't come from sitting back and waiting for search engines to do their thing. If having an arm's-length relationship with the Web is your approach, then lower your expectations.

On the other hand, resources that facilitate virtual networking such as the Global Registry of Contacts, are organized to serve those who are savvy and aggressive as well as those who are serious but laid back.

Take a look at Using the Global Registry of Contacts, paying special attention to the fact that users of The Network can request free assistance which facilitates the searches (the assistance offered is referred to as a search promise). Resource and service providers who take the initiative to apply or keep their records in the GRC up-to-date obviously benefittheir efforts are no doubt cost-effective. They have the opportunity to tag paragraphs about services and service areas to information already published online from their GRC records.

Do you maintain the Global Registry of Contacts as a list of marketing leads for sale?

No. The sole purpose for maintaining the database is to support the mission of The Network.

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Do the initials shown on the file-folder-buttons below stand for .network websites?

They are acronyms that from left to right respectively stand for Site Location Assistance, Find Me Here and Economic Development Network, all domain namessee the definition of domain name extension in Appendix I. Either CLICK HERE or anywhere on the graphic below to learn more about .network websites and how to use the file-folder-buttons elsewhere to enter them.

Suggestion: Publish your name twice on a a personal webpage, once the way it is used in amicable networking. Publish it also in the more formal manner by which it is most often seen, for example, printed on the business card. In this way you cover all name-related keywords.

Suggestion: Summarize your services in a short paragraph that can be seen at the top of a personal webpage. More information may be added further down the page using keyword links to the summary. Networkers have only a few seconds to get the attention of the people that they meet; therefore, you should take this into account when writing a summary.

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