Your online business networking introduction
I belong to a few women in business groups. Some are formal networking groups, and some are online “forums”. The one thing that often astounds me is that people do not take the opportunity to establish business contacts out of these online business networks, groups, and forums.
I am not suggesting you spam your groups with your business. I am talking about REAL business networking opportunities and missing them when you don’t use those opportunities to introduce yourself.
About 10 years ago I attended a series of classes for entrepreneurs starting a new business. A three month program covering everything from business plans to finding investors. Even accounting. I think I went blank during the bookkeeping and accounting, but one thing that REALLY sticks out to me is the entire day we spent on introducing your business when given the opportunity.
With a recent roll call in one of my online Women in Business forums, (OK I started it - I was talking to all these women and I had NO idea what their business were), I was a bit shocked that these women weren’t taking the opportunity to really make an impression, one that I would remember next time I needed a service so I could find them again or remember their business name when someone I know was asking about their type of product.
Let me state, signatures do NOT work as a means of introducing yourself and your business.
I rarely click on a signatures, but if I feel I personally know you AND I have a real understanding of what you offer I will Google for you in the future. Just this week I found a copy writer and hired her, she couldn’t recall how she knew me. Thats OK, because I remembered her telling me what she did and the name “Crayon” ( i recall it being part of her blog domain) two minutes on Google and there she was.
I went online to see if I could find some articles on how to introduce yourself in business networking situations, specifically online. There are many business forums that came up in my search asking you to introduce yourself, however nary an article on HOW TO introduce yourself in these online business networking situations.
So here is what I want and need from you in an online business networking introduction.
1) Tell me what we have in common, an acquaintances type of business ?
Are we both women, do we work in marketing, online, maybe our daughters attend ballet together. Something that we have in common (this will help me trust you).
2) Tell me what your business is and how it might help me one day in a few sentences. You should practice this. Write it out, think about it this first impression will determine if I ever refer others to you or consider your services in the future.
2) Tell me why I should trust you, provide some credibility. If you are an artist mention some shows you participated in. You run a website, how long has it been in business, what skills do you have, who have you worked for?
3) Suggest how we could work together or how we could help EACH other. This isn’t about making a sale. It’s about building a relationship that could lead to future business. If you are a graphic Artist, hey offer to create me a set of banners if I promote your business to other online advertising businesses. Be creative but make some suggestions.
4) Be sure to follow up with people, after you have that first introduction send them an email with all your contact details and ask them for theirs. Extend an offer to help them.
So introduce yourself - right now here in the comments ….
Who are you and whats your business.
On May 20, 2008, Tanya K. Tinney said:
I am suitably abashed. I am part of that forum you are talking about, and I would definitely be one of the ‘guilty parties.’ Your commentary here is very helpful. I joined the forum originally as it appeared to be a fantastic place for women of like-mind to meet (albeit cybernetically! - is that a word? or even the correct word?). At any rate, I am learning so many new ways to network and market myself via this new - and I must admit - scary medium. I have also identified women with just amazing skill and fortitude whom I feel I would DEFINITELY use when the time is right for me to launch back full-time into my career (copywriters, bookkeepers, advertising guru’s, etc.). Just a fantastic group of women. And I agree with your rant (do you mind if I call it that? I use that term affectionately as I love to engage in those from time to time myself). We (okay, I) do a terrible job of selling ourselves - and I mean that in a general sense. Women are often socialized to be more demure, unassuming, and self-sacrificing - thank goodness that is changing (due in no small part to our amazing mothers who forged the way). Even so, it almost seems wrong to ‘promote’ oneself even when that promotion is backed by years of experience, education and success. Am I speaking only for myself?
My profession is psychology. I am a registered psychologist in Alberta with years of education and experience working with adults, children and families. I love my work and have never really thought of promoting what I do in an online fashion, except for having a very basic website (it needs a LOT of help) for clients and potential clients to review after they hear about me and my services (www.atlantispsychservices.ca). Of course, part of the problem is that my current service offering is only a small part of what I do, and I have created this service in the short-term while my babies are small and I am not working from an office setting or full-time. But that is soon to change and I feel myself ‘chomping at the bit’ to get back at it. With that in mind, I am starting to see so many fantastic opportunities to network and provide help in our expanding online world in a skillset I am very comfortable with, via a medium I am not - yet.
The reason I originally found and joined that business forum Karrine is alluding to is that I recently became involved with a nutritional beverage that which has created amazing personal health benefits and for that reason I feel comfortable introducing it to others (www.tanya.myzrii.com). It is in THAT arena that I was (am?) not terribly comfortable - it is completely outside of my comfort zone. Network Marketing is a completely foreign concept - yet I agreed to become involved because I love the product. It also resonates with my evolving knowledge and belief that there is no real health (mental or physical) without proper nutrition - and I utilize this knowledge when working when families and kids as a psychologist. So it comes full-circle. And the way I look at it is if getting involved with that product has led me to getting involved with an amazing online forum with a motivated, energetic and aspiring group of women, then it has already been worth it.
I’d be thrilled to communicate with other women out there with similar, different or ‘other’ skills, experiences or stories to tell. I am open to providing professional information/ content for websites or forums that have a parenting, family, relationship or child focus. Of course, I am also grateful for opportunities to talk with women about their experiences with health and how the product I advocate for my help them - on both a personal and financial level.
Finally, Karrine - if I may - given the discussion you have started here… The interesting note I have about the thread you posted was that it asked other women to (re)introduce themselves and what they do - without including that information about yourself in your opening post. I was left feeling like I would really like to know more about the lady who opened a ‘call to action.’
However, I did follow up on the various posts and threads, and found your note about this forum, and other information about what you do. It refreshed my memory about you and your skillset, and prompted me to respond to this post. So, ladies, I would suggest that marketing your ideas, products and services does actually ‘work’ via these forums (fora).
I realize this may have constituted more of a personal response (rant) than a proper introduction - I am still ‘in training’, but appreciate your tips and suggestions and will definitely take them to heart.
To your good health!
Tanya K. Tinney
On May 21, 2008, Pamela said:
Hello Karrine, I think what you are doing is so great. I admire your interests and what you are doing for new businesses online.
I would love to help you any way that I can. I am a handbag designer specializing in one of a kind handbags made with reclaimed materials and could offer to help with your promotions or sponsorships when needed. Lets stay in touch. Thanks, Pamela Robinson