Blogs

I have had the distinct pleasure of seeing this grow by over a thousand members in the space of only a few months. In looking throughmy blog posts I noticed that I posted an article about ‘creating relationshipsonline’ and how important it is do so, especially if yours is a strictly onlinebusiness.

Because the group has grown so much in such a short time, I wanted to reiterate some of the points that I wrote about in the blog post.Perhaps this is the first online group that you have joined or you’re an oldonline veteran (like me, lol). Either way, we can all still gain something fromeach other, but only if you’re willing to get in and participate.

Many people join online groups, create a page in this group and expect the dollars to roll in, because of course, your product or service isso irresistible that all you have to do is “be” and folks will come to you. I’mreally sorry to burst your bubble, but, sor-ry – it just ain’t so. You have towork much harder at creating relationships online because you do not have theforce of your physical presence (in person/on phone) to back up your salespitch.

I would like to provide you with a few pointers to find and foster relationships (read network) online.

• Form a relationship based on what you can give, rather than what you can get.
  A lot of people have the attitude "I'm not going to do anything for anyone ifthere's nothing in it for me." We all remember our high schoolliterature, right? "No man is an island". Although you may not beworking side by side with other entrepreneurs/business women, we are allconnected in one way or another. Now I'm not saying talk up someoneelse's product over your own, but there's no harm in giving out the name of asistapreneur who you know can help someone. For example, someone postedon this board about needing a lawyer. I replied that one of the sisterson the board was a representative for Pre-Paid Legal Services - hopefullythese two sisters were able to connect and both benefit from my"introduction".

• Don't wait for people to come to you
  Cruise around BBWO and get the lay of the land. Run a search for yourkeywords or check out a few profiles at random. Leave a comment (yourcalling card) on profiles that interest you. For example, as a naturalbath and body maker, I looked for other bath and body makers. Then Ilooked for holistic/natural practitioners, then I looked for natural haircare. As I ran this search, I found a few sisters who shared my samevision or with whom I could connect with on another level. Reach out,leave a comment!

• Personalize your approach
  Please, please, do not leave a generic comment on 20 profiles. "I've gota great automated business that will generate multiple streams of incomethrough affiliate marketing." You've heard it, I've heard it, we've allheard it. Take the time to come up with something original, likeactually reading the person's profile and asking a question about what theydo.

• Read the boards.
  LaShanda has said this all ready but I'll say it again. Read! Iwas fortunate enough to be interviewed by a lovely lady from Canada AND Ilearned about a trend called New Urbanism. How? If I can't doanything else, I read the front page of BBWO from top to bottom at least threetimes a week. Even if I don't post, I check the newsfeed. Sistersare asking for advice, for information, for guest bloggers, samples for goodybags, article content - there's plenty going on.

• Be professional
  Maybe I'm a prude, but nothing turns me off more than foul language on abusiness board. If I'm on a personal board, hey, I know that anythingpretty much goes. But when I'm reading your blog post request for guestbloggers which used profanity, I'm not sure I want to be associated with yoursite. Save the profanity for your friends, please! You never knowhow people will react to your choice of language.

For more pointers on finding your way around BBWO, see LaShanda's post andmy original post on this topic.

CeeCee Woolard
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