To succeed in online business, you have to be able to adapt.
Not only has the way we do business changed but where we do business has evolved, as well. Thanks to technology, you can do business with anyone regardless of where they are in the world.
Sometimes, business etiquette can fall to the wayside when operating your business online.
But, we’re here to change that!
With the right business networking strategy, you can maximize your impact and increase sales. These online business networking tips will:
- Push you to adapt to a digital environment
- Encourage you to realize your potential
- Propel you to your desired success
Now is the time to commit to YOU and what you can achieve.
Online Business Networking Tips and Strategies
These business networking tips will help you thrive and make meaningful connections as an online entrepreneur:
- Use the right platform
- Be professional with your communication
- Be personal
- Give first and then take
Let’s explore these a little more!
1. Use the Right Platform
When it comes to online networking, social media is one of the easiest and fastest tools to use.
However, there are a number of platforms to choose from, and not all of them may be compatible with your brand.
Prior to jumping on a particular platform because it’s popular, you should consider who your target audience is.
Knowing your audience’s age group as well as their gender is just a couple of ways that you can narrow down your social media choices.
One of the easiest ways to find this data is to go to your Google Analytics account. This has a wealth of information, including the demographics of your website viewers.
Just go to Audience -> Demographics -> Overview and you’ll see the same exact thing I have below. Make sure you set the date range to at least a month for a realistic sample.
Take a look at mine for example.
Because certain apps tend to draw more of a specific demographic, you should decide which social media network fits your brand the best.
I think that for most bloggers and online entrepreneurs, Pinterest and YouTube work great for getting your content and brand visible, Facebook works great for networking and building connections, and Twitter and Instagram work great for making connections and doing sponsorships with brands.
LinkedIn is a network that is mostly professionals, so if that’s your audience, then you may want to consider making connections there and authoring posts on the platform.
If people on these social media sites do not fit your brand, then your efforts may be in vain.
Because social media is constantly changing, a certain platform may have been right for your type of business before may not work now, so you have to find what works best for your business today.
Does anyone remember the decline of organic traffic from Facebook?
2. Be Professional With Your Communication
Despite technology improving, email is still the preferred communication method for 86% of professionals, so it’s important to appear professional in your emails.
Your email should be concise yet informative and be structured in a way that is easy to read or skim through.
Here are a few tips:
- Include a subject as this will help to prevent your email from being unread.
- Add a greeting relative to the nature of your relationship with the individual.
- Use the person’s first name to be personal.
- Use pronouns like “you” to help the recipient feel more engaged in the conversation.
- Make sure that you proofread your email prior to sending it out so you can catch any typos or grammatical errors.
A poorly written email can be a deal-breaker when working with some brands or clients.
I will say, though, the undo function in Gmail has saved me quite a few times…
3. Be Personal
Although the goal is business, networking shouldn’t feel contrived or forced.
It should feel organic like you’re reconnecting with a long-lost friend.
Take your time and try to wait for the right moment to approach. When writing emails or messaging someone on social media, include what you have in common to help build rapport.
This is especially relevant when connecting with editors to get major media features.
Noting their recent publications or referencing fun stuff in their bio can help get you noticed.
A good way to catch a prospect’s eye is to add value by sharing their posts and/or liking and commenting on their page. Adding value is a great way to make someone be more willing to give you their time, money, or support.
Remember…
Just because business networking is happening online doesn’t mean it is any less professional.
Even though social media tends to be a laid-back environment, you have to strike a balance between fun and professional.
Don’t be afraid to inject your personality into your social media bios and email correspondence. If you’re pitching a fun and exciting story on how you paid your debt off, don’t make the email prim and proper.
You’ll confuse the editor.
The more information you add, the greater the chance that you will have something in common with who you’re connecting with, which can increase your chances of forging a long-lasting relationship.
With the right connections, you can leverage your network to make big bucks and reach people all across the globe.
4. Give First and Then Take
One of the best business networking tips I can provide is to first give and then take, which is why I saved it for last.
The BEST online entrepreneurs I know (cough cough Sarah Titus, Tracie Fobes, Cate Rosales, and more) all lead with generosity.
Coming from a position of humility can be so powerful.
This is why most online gurus will always tell you to provide value before you ask for the sale.
It’s the same concept here.
If you give first (say, for example, create a free 1-hour training for someone’s audience), you’ll more than likely impress them, which means they will follow through (such as do a joint-venture sales promotion with you).
This tip also works for getting coaching clients.
A little compliment or freebie won’t take that much time, but I guarantee you it will win over your new connection 🙂
Conclusion
In case you scrolled to the end of this article, here are the business networking tips we discussed:
- Use the right platform
- Be professional with your communication
- Be personal
- Give first and then take
I was prompted to publish this article because a friend reached out wondering how I was able to network my way into going full-time with my business so soon and get featured on major media platforms to maximize my influence.
Flattered that she came to me for advice, I wanted to create this resource to begin a conversation on business networking tips for busy online entrepreneurs.
I was fortunate enough to build a thriving virtual assistant business off Facebook groups exclusively and that still remains the core of my business networking strategy.
But, I want to hear about yours.
What’s working for you? Let me know in the comments below.
Does your business need some help? I offer personalized coaching services.
