Online Netfurking for Business

I love relationship building and it’s clear I’m a big fan of networking, but I also dislike the word. It sounds so strategic and manipulative, like you’re there with a plan to net WORK. I prefer to think of it as focused socialising or ‘netfurking’.

At the end of the day, relationships are everything in business and life. We need to see twice as many people as we did 12-18 months ago to do the same amount of business. Yet, we don’t have any more hours in the day to do this. From a time perspective, it can take 2-3 hours out of your day to attend just one event.

It’s no secret the trend toward online networking has exploded! It’s especially popular with introverts but it’s also a brilliant time saver. You really only need to spend 10-20 minutes every other day to maintain your presence and build relationships online.

I find there’s still a fair amount of skepticism around whether you actually get results from online networks, like Twitter and LinkedIn. For me, the answer is an emphatic yes; you do get results!Personally, I’ve generated work from contacts I’ve met through friends of friends and it has expanded my network immensely. I believe one of the core benefits is that you are able to transition a relationship from business to personal, which means you can forge a connection faster.

There are many online sites out there, and they all serve different purposes and attract different demographics, but the big 4 are considered to be:

1. Facebook

By far the more personal site and if you were in the real world this is more like a family reunion. It allows you to share pictures and posts on what you are doing.

2. LinkedIn

A bit like attending a business networking event; this certainly has a more professional feel. You can ask questions and get advice on business ideas, posts are generally related to what you are doing in the business world, what books your reading or links to information others would find of value.

3. Twitter

Like being at a huge party, with people having 10’s of thousands of global followers. It is based around the question ‘What are you doing right now?’ with answers restricted to 140 characters.

4. YouTube

Last year it became official; the amount of time Australians spend online surpassed the amount of time spent watching television – according to a Nielsen Online study: 10th Australian Internet and Technology Report.

So how do we get to know people online when you’re not face to face? For me, the key is being willing to be open and share parts of yourself. Otherwise why bother being on there? People want to get to know each other on a deeper level. Authenticity is said to be the new buzzword of the 21st century and it’s about people wanting something real from someone genuine. So be open.

The biggest challenge I see most people face with networking. Is they just don’t give it a real go. They get online or turn up at an event and think… ‘That didn’t work, I didn’t meet anyone’. When I first joined Twitter I thought ‘Is anyone listening, or am I tweeting to myself?’

It takes time to get to know the rules of the game and build followers and get to know people. If you’re just starting out:

1. Start slow and learn the rules (a Google search will provide lots of tutorials and webinars that are great resources for starting out).
2. Don’t get overwhelmed (there’s a lot to learn at first so pick one site at a time).
3. Be consistent (allocate 10 minutes a day and start getting followers and uploading info).
4. Be persistent (don’t give up, give it 6-12 months).

Where can we find you online?

If you represent your business via Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube or otherwise – let us know where to find, and support, you by leaving your site details in the comment box. Don’t forget to tell us your business name, and give a brief a description of what you do as well!

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