Exposure is one of the keys to success in business
networking.
The
following quote indicates that the process of building
and maintaining business
relations through the use of Internet is crucial to success:
(Having) ...
a foundational web of contacts, support and resources can be the difference
between success and moderate success, or success and failure ... (source).
If the first four basics for successful networking seem
practical and worthwhile, take heed that you do not overlook the above
quote, especially,
when it comes to listings in online directories.
All too many times we (who
we are) answer requests
for delivery on the search promise of The Network from
members of
its user group because they are frustrated either by a file-not-found message
after making a selection from search
results or by arriving
a
file online, such as an online association's membership
directory, only to be find that access is denied. In the latter case,
we are often call upon for help when directories and other
resources for enterprise
and economic development are made available only after interested
parties, such as prospects,
are informed that they must sign in and provide their contact
data. Savvy resource
and service providers are aware that asking for such information
too soon will drive off prospects concerned about confidentiality.
There is no solution to the real-world problem
The scenario of the The challenge is to capitalize on
exposure. In regard to resources, The
Network places emphasis on the kind of exposure that comes from
knowing where all of the various listings of one's contact
data is online and
cataloging them on a personal
webpage. The list is made useful by creating links to sites
where information is freely accessible.
If you select the links above and below to
Kimberly Clay's article you will see that she indicates social
networking websites are among her recommendations for increasing exposure.
While they have their place, you should be cautious about using social
networking services for business exposure. There are simply
too many non-business contacts that can come from people who network
online as a hobby or for distracting purposes.
Kimberly
Clay offers some tips for business networking at the end of her
article. For example, she recommends creating a website. The
Network recommends personal webpage(s) to go along with business websites
for everyone who has responsibilities to build and maintain working
relationships, in other words, everyone who hands
out business
cards.
The business card in the subject of the second tip. They can be handed
out online. For example, the founder of The Network offers
his business card for virtual
networking.
The third tip advises the business networker to be skilled at customer
service. Customer service within the purview of business
networking starts
with followup, followup, followup.
Kimberly Clay's last business networking tip is a recommendation
that you join social networks online citing ...
Facebook, YouTube, and My Space as excellent
sites to join in order to generate exposure to your
business ... but, as a member
of the target user group of The Network, you will better
served by the last part of that advice: ... there
are of course many others including common interest groups ... (see
special
interest group defined) For example, those who join
in on the mission
of The Network in the US can turn to the file
of economic development directories organized
in Site Location Assistance.com or they can turn to the Global
Registry of Contacts, where they won't be hassled by the hype from
social
networking services to keep things going. The bottom
line is social networks organize around a shotgun
approach, whereas common interest business groups can organize
around a rifle
approach.
go back
business community:
... an association of enterprises drawn
together by a market, location or
situation of production and trade; the identification
of that
part of the larger community in
which commercial, industrial, and professional
activities and dealings take place, i.e., where money
is seen as changing hands; those within the target
audience of
The Network who can be grouped together as
associated with an economy;
one to two parts of the local environment in which
people live, work, and share things
in common; i.e., the community seen as having a social
side and business side more
business-related definitions.
development field:
... the interest and activities that
encompass thinking and work done to make changes with an
aim towards improvement. The interest and activities surrounding
searches for places and real
estate that can accommodate expansions, relocations,
and new
venture startups is referred to as site
selection which is a process within the field
of enterprise
development. Site
location work is one of the most important activities
within the field of economic
development. Site selection brings about economic
development. Site selection is also a most important activity
within the field of commercial and industrial real
estate development. The Network operates within the field
of enterprise
and economic development.
political and economic development model:
... an observed or established plan
which guides an economic
development strategy as
it is manipulated by politics or that
otherwise pertains to public
policy, affairs of state or government administration;
a paradigm supporting an economic development effort that
acknowledges political involvement or control (for
example the western economic development
model);
a set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that
constitutes
a way of politically controlling the economic
development process. For an example of how the
expression is used search the online reprint of an article
from Parameters journal titled: China
through Arab Eyes: American Influence in the Middle East.
Use the keywords political,
economic, development
and model to create a search phrase
at the top of this page, then query the
Web for more information about political and "economic
development model" (set phrases in quotation
marks for
advanced
search).
political interests:
... that which has the attention
of a group devoted to advancing its own agenda. At AllAcademic.com the
expression is understood to mean that ones attention
is drawn to the structure or affairs of government or the state,
or politics pertaining
thereto. See the definition
of politician at BrainyQuote.com. There an explanation
of the term ties politician and statesperson together whereas the
latter is more likely than the first to apply wisdom and a concern
for
the public
interest in negotiating compromises. Politician
are recognized for the role they play in economic
development such that practitioners need to lobby them and maintain
their cooperation.
social networking:
... the activity of building and sustaining
relationships within a society as opposed to doing the
same within the business community. The
latter involves two serious considerations that create the separation:
(1) a demeanor of professionalism in conduct; and, (2) respect
for confidentiality.
The term social network was defined by J A Barnes in the
1950ssee
the resource article about Social
Network Analysis: an introduction by Richard Cross as presented
online at Bioteams.com.
The expression social networking, however, didn't come into wide use until
the Internet. Before that it was associated with trivia and chatty talk
or gossip within a community.
Today there are so called social
network services online. They hype the idea of bringing
social and business networking together. Nevertheless, social networks online are
mostly about finding virtual friends, dating, and using avatars to
create virtual communities. Because social network services have
emerged as yet another fast track idea for Web utilization, advocates
have become caught up in the hype. See Business
Networking - Spiderman's Not The Only One Building Webs by
Kimberly Clay for an example of advocacy as well as some basic
networking pointers.
The serious business
networking that goes on in the development
fields in which members
of the target audience of The Network operate must
be outside of social networks. We (who
we are) clearly have a vested interest in pointing that out because we
provide The Network. On
the other hand, we emphasize that no one network should be exclusive
of others. Point #5 in Eight Essentials for
Successful Networking is where we make make the emphasis.
go back
... The western economic development model demands
'growth' to sustain valuations in the stock markets, and growth cannot
be indefinite. A steady state economy in zero growth equilibrium would
devastate the wealth of the west, since the financial models are
predicated on growth ... (source
of quote). The Network was once asked about
the North American economic development model. Its answer
mentions western economic development model.
go back
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