Professional Networking On (& Off) the Web – Part 2 of 4:
Your E-Comfort Zone

One online network has been launched by Triangle resident Pat Howlett, It groups local networkers by telephone area codes. Triangle residents are included in www.inside919.com, a user-friendly way to enter on-line networking if you are just beginning. It is also a great resource for all types of information from local businesses in the 919 area code. You can fill out your profile, join in the forums. and practice online networking skills with the local business community. Howlett has a vision of supporting the web activity with solid face-to-face interaction, having already hosted two social evens for Triangle 919 members.

One woman who attended the first Inside919 after-hours said she was amazed that people she had connected with on-line were seeking her out to find out more about her business. Another person at the same event was hesitant to meet people since he is “more at ease relating at the keyboard.” Although some people tend to be more comfortable in-person and others on-line, it is worth the effort to push your comfort zone boundaries since the combination of personal and computer-based connections can bring powerful results.

Understanding the unique utilities of in-person and online networking and how they apply to your objectives gives a real competitive advantage. Just as with in-person networking, when networking online lead with contribution, not with selling.

If you are not in the 919 area code, you can find your area code group at:
http://www.insideareacodes.com/

Reprinted from Women’s Edge Magazine
by Martin Brossman - www.ProNetworkingOnLine.com

Part 1 of 4: Are you puzzled by the variety of new places to represent yourself on the Web? Concerned about finding the time to create and manage your on-line presence? Blogs, podcasts, Linkedin, Twitter…it’s time for another leap in our technology knowledge! Except for the lucky generation that grew up with computer technology, we are all a bit overwhelmed together. The key is to start learning to use at least one of the many internet networking tools, choosing one that has the value for you.

The Global Profile
Linkedin (www.linkedin.com) is a professional networking site with 25 million users who re-connect with business associates and schoolmates, make career connections and pose questions to experts. Networking on Linkedin and similar sites is a way to show you are a whole person, more than just your job. This applies to management and employees equally, giving you a chance to build real credibility by the quality of your employees who are associated to you on-line, and through the endorsements of colleagues and customers.

Interestingly, the word is out that managers are now turning to job candidate’s Linkedin profiles in addition to resumes to compile a more comprehensive picture when choosing who to hire. In fact, there are employers who actually require an applicant to have at least 5 real endorsements from an online group such as Linkedin in order to be considered for the job.

Two easy ways to get started with Linkedin are to give endorsements to people you admire from your past and to use the Answers section to ask and answer questions, which can build positive connections in the process ( see my Linkedin profile at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/martinbrossman ) .

How It Works

Whitney Hill and I created an in-person networking group called Professional Networking on the Web. It is a team of business professionals sitting around a table with an internet browser projected on a big screen. At a recent meeting our goal was to help Judy in the group connect with someone in a specific company we will call Acme Medical Supplies (changing the actual names here for obvious reasons.) We signed in to her Linkedin account and found she is three hops away from a person she would like to meet in Acme Medical, though she had not realized it. Three hops away means she knows someone (or several people in this example) who knows someone else that she does not know, who is linked to her target person. I asked: “Which one of these people have you invested time in or have a good enough relationship with that they would help you in your pursuit of an introduction?” She said that she knows Debra Jones, the best for this connection, who is directly linked to her Linkedin group. We next look at Debra Jones’ contacts and see who she is connected to. In the process, we find Gary Smith, a better contact into this company and John in the group calls out “I play golf with Gary Smith on a regular basis. Judy, I would be pleased to introduce you to Gary Smith.” Now Judy is closer to this goal with two new opportunities.

To learn more about this group: http://bit.ly/ukPS

Reprinted from Women’s Edge Magazine.
More resources on Linkedin www.UnderstandingLinkedin.com & on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/usinglinkedin

by Martin Brossman - www.ProNetworkingOnLine.com