Networking Online In The Forums-Where & How

Succeeding at any business takes time, effort, money, learning, growing, communicating, and focus—especially with online marketing!

Here are some valuable tips when communicating with people in online communities:

• It’s best to use the same username and password for all of your forum registrations. This makes it easier to remember them! You could also make a list of all your forums and memberships and put them in an online file for quick and easy access to all your links.
• It’s also best to use your real name in your username to brand yourself online! I always use sueseward, and many people know and recognize that name after being online since 1996 and contributing consistently to the forums.
• Be professional at all times. Do not use the forums to advertise your business. Only place ads in specified areas. Be prepared for spam, which is other people sending you their business info. This is where focus comes in!
• Forums are for giving and receiving advice, and contributing information and content that people can get some value and benefit from
• Always make sure you set up your signature file with your website link and your sig line will show up on all your posts. If someone wants to get in touch with you or learn about your business or products/services, they will visit your link.
• Try to only spend 30 to 40 minutes a day in forums. Be consistent, but be careful of how much time you spend in the forums. Time can pass by very quickly online and before you know it, you’re spending hours in the forums and haven’t done anything to build your business; and the laundry can pile up pretty high too! Your children can go hungry and your dog will explode if you don’t take him out for a walk!
• Try not to get into arguments or debates about who has the best company, comp plan, etc. This will only waste your time and theirs! Everyone thinks that their company and product is the best!
• Read over a few forum posts first to get a feel for the members and their personalities and then contribute. Everyone has something to learn and everyone has something to teach! Remember that everyone has something of value to contribute even if you’re new to the forums or the industry!
• Be polite. Remember, what goes around always comes back around sooner or later. Never burn your bridges or your relationships! Treat people like you would like to be treated! Remember, they have a company and product they love, so respect that! Always respect other people and what they are doing, and respect their business.
• Remember, people are lurking on the forums looking for a company, products, and a sponsor, and when they see people who are professional, polite, giving, and have a serving attitude, guess who they’re going to contact?
• Make sure you first introduce yourself in the introduction area. This is actually where people will expect you to share all about yourself, what you do, and what your business/product is. Make sure you’re personable and it doesn’t look like advertising! This is crucial even in this area.
• People don’t like to be sold, they like to be heard; so listen to what people are saying in the forums and respond to them with something of value!
• Remember, the most important thing about marketing online is to brand yourself. You do this by being real, personable, and letting people know you and what your gifts and talents are, as well as how you’re willing to contribute and serve others.

Networking in discussion forums is a great place to start the process! When done properly, it’s a great way to make connections, build relationships, and make friends eventually new business partners. We had seven new partners at a recent company event from online! Three were from online forums.

Here’s a list of discussion forums and organizations that I contribute to and recommend for networking online:

https://www.mlm.com

http://www.mlmwoman.com

http://www.mlm911.com

http://www.ryze.com (online community, has free and paid membership)

http://www.dswa.org (Direct Selling Women’s Alliance paid membership)

http://www.powerfulintentions.org/m/profile?screenName=20e9g76zwoftn(online network has free and paid memberships)

True leaders are not those who strive to be first but those who are first
to strive and who give their all for the success of the team. True leaders
are first to see the need, envision the plan, and empower the team for
action. By the strength of the leader’s commitment, the power of the team
is unleashed.

Author Unknown