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Networking Strategies / Joint
Ventures
Finding Contacts on the Internet
By
Nancy Roebke
We will begin our series on Internet
Networking with the first thing it takes to network and that is contact with
people. Statistics vary but most will agree that there are upwards of 40
million people in the world with Internet accessibility. That's a heck of
a lot of people to get to know.
But we also know that we can't get to know them all..in fact, we don't want
to. Not all those people could be in a mutually beneficial business relationship
with us. If we are here for business, we need to narrow the field of contacts
down to ones that we can help and/or that can help us.
Where do we start? First, decide WHO you need to get to know. Not their names,
but what they do. Who can refer you clients the easiest? Are they Bankers?
Lawyers? Realtors? Printers? Contractors? What fields of business would help
you most by having associations with them? What fields of business are you
currently looking to expand your client base in? Are most of you clients
doctors? Would you like more? Or what fields of business DON'T you have any
clients in but would like to? Would you like to START servicing CPAs? You
need to make a list of the FIELDS of business that would best help you.
Once that list is made, you want to narrow down the volume of people you
associate with to those in places where your target professions can be found.
How do you do that?
1. Find lists that your target professionals participate in. You can contact
http://www.liszt.com/ for Liszt Searchable
Directory of E-mail Mailing Lists. Here you can search by profession if you
wish. If you already HAVE contacts in the fields on your target list, ask
them what online lists they participate in.
2. Find Newsgroups that your target professionals participate in. Visit
http://www.dejanews.com. This Web Site
that keeps track of all the Internet Newsgroups and the postings to those
groups. Using keywords for each of the professions you're seeking, you'll
find newsgroups that discuss topics that are relevant to those professions
via Deja News. As with any keyword search, the more specific you are, the
narrower the search, and the easier it will be to pinpoint the information
you're seeking.
3. Search on the Internet for associations that your target group might be
members of. Chambers of Commerce, Trade Associations, Fraternal Groups, and
various civic groups would be excellent places to start.
4. Read sig files for everyone who posts to the lists and newsgroups that
you are currently active on. Watch for your target professions.
5. Put a request at the end of YOUR sig if there are specific fields you
are looking to make contact with. Something like:
I am currently seeking Realtors, Bankers, Title Companies, and Attorneys
for possible business referrals.
6. Use AUTORESPONDERS to provide information about who you are looking for
and why (looking to exchange referrals, expand your client base, get opinions
on new products and services, etc.) These work 24 hours a day for you and
are so reasonably priced, I don't understand why EVERYBODY doesn't use them.
I have 25 running right now.
7. Participate in online networking groups.
Lesson 2
Copyright c 1998 Nancy Roebke
Nancy Roebke
Execdirector@Profnet.Org
http://www.profnet.org
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