New to online networking? No-one will ever know!

Perhaps you're a "newbie" to the world of online networking. You've probably joined LinkedIn and Twitter, and everyone is telling you to "network, network, network," but you aren't quite sure how to get started.

Maybe you've avoided the social network phases as you don't think you have anything valuable to say. Perhaps you've been actively networking online for several months, but you're having a hard time making personal connections with other social site members. Maybe your struggling to find the right opportunities for your business, and your networking skills are falling on deaf ears.

Well, with fear of being the bearer of bad news, the truth is that there isn't a quick way to build an online network. You can post messages every single day, but unless you reach out and make personal connections, you won't get very far?

There are five key tips for networking online, and here are some quick fire tips to help you get started.

Set networking objectives and milestones.
One of the first things you’ll want to be clear about are your goals for networking online. Are looking for business development? Just want to increase your networking activity? Looking for information? Your objectives should determine which online networking approaches you take and how much time you spend on this.

Assess your skills, talents, experience, and work style to convey your personal brand and unique selling points.
What is the message or “brand” that you want to promote? Understanding your brand will ensure that your online identity is accurate and consistent across all sites.

Develop a profile for online networks and other online media.
Although sites differ somewhat from each other, the basic components of a profile are the same--a qualifications summary statement, summary of work experience, educational credentials, professional affiliations, and sometimes personal interests and hobbies. Sell yourself, your business, your product or your idea.

Watch the conversation before jumping in.
Most online networking sites and forums have their own policies, procedures, and rules of engagement. When you first join a site, take some time to watch the interaction before offering opinions, uploading content, and engaging others. Once you understand the flow of dialogue, you'll be better able to contribute to the community in a positive way. Remember you can only make one first impression.

Focus on relationship-building.
Online or offline, networking is about building relationships. You should never be networking with people only because you think they can give you a job or will become clients. The focus should always be on building relationships. New jobs and new clients are often multiple networking levels away from that initial encounter. The more networking you do and the more connections you make, the closer you come to that new job or next client. You will have found many opportunities to assist others with their networking goals along the way.
Networking is always a two-way street.

If you would like further information on how social networking can work for your brand contact Amy on amy@freerpr.com for a step-to-step guide on how social networking can help your business.