Finding and using online networks
Gareth Edwards, NB2BC associate eBusiness consultant, examines the business benefits of online networking.
What are they and how do they help?
Online networks are mainly website based tools where you can interact both commercially and socially with people and businesses nationally and internationally. Generally they work on the basis of you creating an online profile which can then be searched on and viewed by other people in the network. Depending on which online network you use (and how much you are prepared to pay) other services are also provided such as the ability to set up clubs or to enter blogs.
There lots of potential benefits, particularly for sole traders and micro companies from using these networks;
- The ability to promote your brand, your products and your services to both a very wide audience and to a well targeted audience.
- Some online networks are quite general (e.g. Craig's List), while others (such as Facebook) are for more specific groups – in this case mainly teenagers and young adults.
- Access to skills and knowledge of other participants. People using online networks are frequently very helpful and very knowledgeable.
- Opportunity to research potential markets by participating in discussions and forums
- Improvement of website performance through targeted inbound links to your own site.
- Development of "face-to-face" business networks based on shared needs.
The disadvantages are that it takes more effort than you might imagine to participate successfully in online networks. You have to be prepared to respond to other people's queries as well as make your own. It also helps to engage with contacts beyond the online network either with a face to face meeting or using video or teleconferencing.
Key networks
Business oriented
The following list identifies some useful business oriented networks that provide facilities to connect you with a wide business community.
UK Business Forums, the UK's most active online business forums, allows entrepreneurs to seek advice from and interact with fellow small business owners. Split into several forums, members can debate issues ranging from accounts and finance to green business and e-commerce. General membership is free but for £36 a year business owners can upgrade to full membership which bring benefits include including a username shown bigger and bolder, the ability to add signature links, access to private forums and the ability to post events and polls.
Linkedin is an US centric international network based around the principle of referrals. You can invite your contacts on to the network and then get referrals to their contacts. Linkedin is particularly good for connecting back to University colleagues or to co-workers if you worked in a large company. You can use it for free (and the facilities are quite extensive) or pay, as with ecademy for better search and contact facilities.
Xing has a European base and is similar to Linkedin in the way it works. You can join for free but additional search and contact facilities are charged extra.
See also Yahoo Groups, Spoke and Ryze.
Social networks
We have already mentioned FaceBook and Craigslist. These socially oriented networks may be of personal interest but they also represent opportunities to see what potential target audiences are interested in, as well as places to promote your own business. Social networks are usually completely free but in return expect ads and more unsolicited contacts.
Friends Reunited How many of your old school chums now run their own businesses?
Fashion businesses use Myspace as places to promote to their key target audiences.
Orkut is Google's social networking site.
Flickr is a photo sharing website that has been used by product marketers to show off their wares and generate good search engine rankings.
For more information on the National B2B Centre please click here.
Post a comment
BusinessZONE - 19-Nov-2007
Categories: e-Business
Story read: 6736
Number of comments: 3
Also WeCanDo.BIZ
Ian Hendry, 05 September 2008 @ 09:26 AM
We hadn't launched when Gareth wrote this piece, but WeCanDo.BIZ has growing base of small and medium sized business owner/managers networking for free. Our membership, 3 months after launch, is now approaching 2,000 and we provide tools to help valuable introductions to get made quickly.
Ian Hendry
WeCanDo.BIZ
http://www.wecando.biz
You couldn't be more correct
derek andrews, 16 May 2008 @ 17:04 PM
I have just joined this site and having spent about an hour reading through the various blogs, have found a lot of the information extremely useful.
In my line of business (tax advice) I get a lot of enquiries from using various forums and postings to business forums of one sort or another. I completely agree that you need to get your name around in any way you can.
What about Ecademy?
Leo Ludwig, 20 November 2007 @ 15:11 PM
Would you not advise accountant firms to join the above network? It has work very well for many of our clients and we advise most of them to join and give them tips on getting the best out of it.
Leo
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Accountant Websmiths
