Posted on June 16th, 2010
Just because you have decided to work for yourself doesn’t mean that you need to work by yourself. The life of an Internet marketing and online entrepreneur does not have to be one that is led in isolation. In fact, the very success of your online business could hinge on the relationships that you forge.
No Man Is an Island
The truth of the matter is that there are only 24 hours in the day and you are only one person. You only have one set of knowledge and your expertise can only go so far. By networking with other like-minded (and even not so like-minded) individuals, you can advance your business far beyond what you could do on your own.
Capitalize on the knowledge they have that you do not. Learn from the experiences they have gained and the advice they have to give. Share the workload and figure out how you can help one another drive your respective ways toward success.
Networking has the additional benefit of giving you yet another marketing channel. The more people that are in your network, so to speak, the larger reach you may have in the marketplace and, thus, the better chances you have of reaching customers and profit.
Finding Similar Interests on Twitter
Keep an eye out for mentions of your business or any tweets related to your industry. If you see someone pose a question that you can answer, do so. This helps to establish you as an expert in your field and it helps to expand your network to people who actually care about what you care about.
Whether or not they are local, some of these people can not only become good Twitter contacts; they can become friends too.
Engaging with Others on Blogs
Just as you can look out for niche-related content on Twitter, you can do the same in the blogosphere. Leave valuable comments on the blogs you read, especially those related to your industry.
Don’t do so in the spam-like manner, but do engage with the blogger and hopefully they will do the same back to you in kind.
Networking Offline to Network Online
Ultimately, one of the best ways that you can effectively network online is to start networking offline. Many cities and towns have meetups from time to time for just about any industry and any interest. Attend these whenever you have the chance, exchange business cards, and build up your network.
By meeting your “online” friends in real life, the connection becomes much more real and legitimate. You become more than a screenname; you can become a valued business contact, associate, colleague, and friend.
