How to Network your Home Business
Finding ways to get your home business noticed has always been
at the forefront of a successful home business.
With the Internet giving us all a much more level-playing field,
the opportunties for getting your home business noticed by
potential new customers is through a networking strategy.
There are many ways to network your business but in this article
I am looking at just the one: networking through online forums.
Online forums have never been as popular as they are today.
Basically, a forum is a online public meeting place of
like-minded individuals who raise and discuss topics of interest.
The beauty of online forums is that you are not restricted by
your location. You are potentially networking with anybody,
anywhere. Some bigger forums have members into the tens of
thousands from all across the world.
With so many forums to choose from it is best to select a few
and dedicate your time to those, remembering that it is better
to go after quality and not quantity. What I mean is that it is
very easy to find 15, 20, even 40 forums that you could easily
join. But you will be spreading yourself far too thin.
My suggestion is that you select at most, 5 forums and focus.
Most forums have an introduction section, where new forum
members can introduce themselves. What you will want to do
though is, before posting, go through the forum and get a feel
for it. Notice the type and tone of the discussions. Is it dry
and serious? Is it light and funny? Is it a tough and dirty
place?
Once you feel comfortable with a forum start posting. Most
newbies (that's what you are called when you first join up a
forum) maybe hesitant to get into it, feeling they may make
themselves look silly. There's no need. Most forums are very
open and helpful to newbies.
Make sure you ask and answer posts as well. Don't just make a
quick introduction and come back every other week, expecting
leads to come your way. Visit every day, post welcome posts to
other newbies, answer questions you know, even chip in with your
views.
Sure enough, you will develop a reputation. Hopefully, one of a
person that is helpful and knows what they're on about. This
translates into an asset for your business. As you gain
credibility amongst your potential market, the barriers to a
successful business: building trust, are well ... being built
day-in, day-out.
>From a home business perspective, developing a forum strategy is
a highly cost-effective way of marketing your business and
building your credibility.
Conducted with a long-term view, networking via forums can lead
to a strong and loyal customer base.