Showcase your business with online networking
Online networking is a great way to meet new people, recruit skills, share ideas and look out for new sources of funding.
You can put as much or as little time into networking as you want. Maybe you just want to keep your ear to the ground and sign up for email alerts and newsletters. This is passive networking.
You can take a listing in an online directory. Some are free and some are reasonably priced when compared with advertising. Many give you a chance to write a profile of yourself and your business.
Do you want to take part in online forums and discussion groups? The best way to post to a forum is to be helpful and constructive and show that you have an expert knowledge or insight. Don't complain about something without offering a solution. People will soon lose interest in you if you are grumpy and opinionated. You'll find some specialist online directories and forums in Trade Directories / Online communities .
Other online communities include Projects ETC: a new resource for people creating interactive projects in education, technology and culture.
A blog can give you an identity and keep people aware of you, your business and your activities. But you need to make sure you have the time to keep it up to date and promote it - or no-one will go there.
Many film, broadcast and new media professionals use trusted business networks to build up their contacts lists. You place your personal profile and some keywords. Then you start looking at other people's profiles and you make contact with them - to share experiences, to offer your expertise or hire theirs, or because you think they might be able to help you finance your ideas.
Trusted business networks include:
Ecademy
Soflow
LinkedIn
And there's more about networking in Business Link's Learning through networking with others.
