Social Networking for Business: Where To Start

Business Networking is Essential

According to Harvey Mackay in Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty, building your network is the most important thing you can do for your business presence.  It can make or break you. 

"It doesn't matter where you start, it's where you finish!" ~ Harvey Mackay

This translates into online networking as well. Here are some ideas to get you started.

• Join groups in your industry (LinkedIn groups is a goldmine)
• Participate in networking events (Chamber, BNI, HUG ME)
• Research your competition are doing (what works and what doesn't?)
• Get introductions (LinkedIn is a great to build your online network)
• Find out who your boss or coworkers network with
• Share your network with others
• Get to know the gatekeeper
• Always be ready to meet new people and add them to your network

Nurture your Network

Remember, meeting people alone is not the answer, you have to be memorable!  You become memorable by being different from the rest and by staying in contact with your connections. Be friendly! Really get to know the people you interact with. What are their interests besides work? How can you collaborate with them? Do you have knowledge or skills that they could benefit from? Could you help them build their relationships with their customers, and make them look like a business star? Send referrals their way. People appreciate it.

New Networking Opportunity in Maine

HubSpot User Groups (HUGs) meet all around the country to connect HubSpot customers and share inbound internet marketing knowledge. Now there's a HUG in Maine, and it's meeting again soon.