networking (161)
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Are you a sistapreneur, entrepreneur, mompreneur?
Of course you are! Check out my new site:womenpreneurs.info
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 WoolardDry Skin? Eczema? Try our Megamix Whip!
new signups receive $3.00. Use code HAPPY2006
An Introduction
Why Twitter?
I've heard many ask the question: why Twitter? Twitter is more time efficient than sending an email and it allows users to maintain a personal identity while participating in a community.Even though it can be a bit confusing at the start, effectively using Twitter can help increase awareness of your blog or business and strengthen relationships both on and offline. Additionally, once you learn how to use it, it can be a great tool for branding and customer service (which I'll get into later). I understand the trials of a new Twitterer. I'll admit that I had my Twitter account for months before I posted my first tweet, but getting started is actually much easier than it seems.First Steps...
First, signup with a username. I chose my own name because I have so many blogs and online properties that I wanted to eliminate any confusion, but using your brand or blog name is always a great idea (branding101). Usernames may be 15 characters long (I learned that one the hard way).Sidenote: Make sure to signup on all social media sites with your blog and/or brand name before someone else does. Malicious users have been known to stakeout well known names in order to damage the personal or professional reputation of their rightful owners (more on that later).read the rest...
As many of us are online merchants of goods and services and may not have regular face to face contact with our clients it is important for us to present an online image that is personable and approachable. I have visited many websites where I cannot get a sense of who the vendor is. There are no pictures, no “about me/us” profiles and sometimes the vendors offer only an email address or a number where they can be reached. I visited a website the other day where they had beautiful scarves and children’s attire from Kenya and Ghana, but I could not locate any information about the vendor besides an address, a number and an email address. I could not get a sense of with whom I was dealing and thus was reluctant to whip out my credit card and make a purchase, even though the prices were great!Some may say, ‘well you don’t know who owns Target or Walmart, so….’. Well, we’re not Target or WalMart. Actually, on second thought, I do know the face of Walmart – Sam Walton! Remember Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s? I do. How about Colonel Sanders? I remember the KFC commercials when they were Kentucky Fried Chicken and the Colonel had that commercial wearing that ol’ white suit! They put themselves out there as teh face behind the chicken, the burger, or the really inexpensive short set for your child. The point is, who are you to visitors to your website. Are you a jar? A bag? A scarf?I’m going to talk about few of our members here, and I hope they don't mind. I ran upon the Smell Goods Lady, Itiel, a long while back (when I was still mashing my shea buttah with a spoon) before I “met” her on BBWO. And I remembered her…why? Because I remembered her picture with the beautiful, long dreadlocks and I thought, wow, this picture really embodies the whole ‘natural bath and body products”. How appropriate! Erin Anthony is the face (and hair) of Nappturosity. When I think of Nappturosity, I see her artfully braided hair.Now, I’m not saying everyone has to do as Itiel or Erin. But think about it, what is your online presence….what do people feel is the “real you” when they visit your website. Do you have a picture? Do you have an about us/about me page? Are you accessible? The Internet can be an very impersonal place - how do you make yourself stand out?
