Networking is one of the biggest buzzwords in the business world these days and with good reason. If you aren't actively networking, you aren't making those connections to your next business venture, your next client, and your next big (or small) windfall.
What is networking?
So what exactly is networking and how do you do it? You can find thousands of seminars, programs, masterminds, insider’s groups and a hundred other “guru names” that will teach you all about networking for a super low, one time payment of only $$ (insert big buck amount here!)
I'm going to let you in a little secret: Networking is simply a matter of getting out there and letting people get to know who you are. That's it. All there is to networking is to meet the people. You really don't need to wait for some super-exclusive big name expert to teach you how to network before you begin.
You learned it all in kindergarten: Play nice, share and make new friends.
Based on its exponential growth, Twitter is the number one place to get out and network. All you need to do is create a Twitter account and start using it. Use your business name or your real name for your Twitter username and upload a real picture of yourself. Plug in the link to your site or blog and create a quick little bio that tells folks who you are and what you do.
Next, post a few tweets saying hello. Offer up a pearl or two of wisdom relating to your expertise. Then, start following people. Don't know who to follow? Use Twitter search (the link is at the bottom of your main page) and type in a keyword or two describing the topics you're interested in. For business, it's often easiest to begin by following people in your own field. Type in your industry and step back while you watch the results start pouring in. Click on the usernames you see and start checking people out until you find some you like, then follow those people and start interacting.
Do NOT go on Twitter and start posting link after link about your business.
Instead, share some of the insight and wisdom you have about your business. Good, juicy, useful information. Just give it away! Heck, it's only 140 characters, you can spring for it. Share links to great stuff you find on the web. Cut and paste someone else's post with “RT” in front of it. This is called a Retweet and it's an easy way to share and make new friends. We all love to be re-tweeted because it makes us feel important and special.
Yes, there are all kinds of tips and tricks to using Twitter (and other networking sites) effectively for marketing your business. A lot of the teleseminars, books and programs are worth every penny you pay for them, some even more. However, you don't need even one of them to get started using Twitter to network for your business.