Online business networking groups provide opportunities for you, your senior management team and your sales staff to meet and build relationships with other business professionals who can send you sales leads, set you up for inside prospects with those on the online business networking list as well as become customers and suppliers for your company.

You can save valuable time by networking through an online business networking website. Have your staff follow the trend of using online communities to do their business while participating in social networks. Members on a business networking web site attend the online meetings and events of the networking groups for the same reasons and expect to find business opportunities through the relationships they build. Use the online business networking web site in a number of different ways.

1. Ask employees to join an online business networking website

2. Put your business on an online business networking list

3. Advertise with an online business networking vendor

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find an online business networking website

Turn socializing into a business opportunity through a business networking web site. Some of the most effective sales techniques can be applied to friends and others who trust you through social referrals. You can make the networking phenomena a part of your corporate culture by encouraging employees to utilize online blogs and business sites to promote your business.

I recommend: Advancing Women is a growing international business networking vendor that focuses on women business professionals and entrepreneurs. Facebook recognizes the inherent value of online networking and offers the business community the Visa Business Network..

Join a business networking website

The more exposure your company can get, the better. Salespeople and company executives should find a group in which they can participate on a regular basis to build the kinds of business relationships that pay off and show up on your bottom line. Online business networking groups that charge fees for membership tend to have a more committed roster of members, while groups with no membership fees attract a wide variety of participants.

I recommend: Membership in a local BNI group gives you access to online networking and events with an international community of business professionals. LeTip offers local chapters as well as online groups in which you can participate with other professionals to further your business goals.

Spend marketing dollars with an online business networking vendor

While you are looking at new media on which to spend your advertising budget, consider the online business networking sites to reach professionals in need of your products or services. Business people who participate in networking websites and meetings tend to support their fellow members and they expect the same support.

I recommend: The eWomen Network puts on a slew of events that need backing and offers online advertising opportunities to reach female business owners and professionals. Konnects is a professional business networking group that accepts advertising to reach its members online.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When you can, support your network by making purchases from the members of your business networking website.