Hope Writes

4 Big NO-NOs of Online Networking for Business

Posted by Hope

If you run a freelance business or work totally online, you probably use networking quite often. Networking is a good thing, when done proper. But one wrong turn and it can all head south really fast.

I am learning all the time about networking etiquette. Just when I think I’ve got it conquered, I learn something else. This is a good thing though!

Here are the four most important business networking lessons I’ve learned. I call them the big NO-NOs of online networking for business.

NO-NO #1 - Be disrepectful to your peers. This is probably the quickest way to ex-communicate yourself from anyone who might have considered teaming up with you or offering you work. It’s also the fastest way to make a bad name for yourself. If you constantly put others down or are almost always negative in your responses, you will become known for it.

Respect is a two-way street. In order to get it, you have to give it. Be respectful of others’ opinions and thoughts. Remember the old saying: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

NO-NO #2 - Network only to find business. I have to be honest with you and tell you that in the beginning days of my getting started online, I did this way too much. I was so eager to get started earning money independently online that I neglected to nurture a lot of relationships. Instead, I spent a lot of time getting to know people then trying to find ways to get hired by them.

The problem with this is that you can become known as a leech. It is extremely important to remember that every contact you make could be a potential business prospect…but don’t treat them as such. Remember #1: Be respectful.

Over the last few years, I have met some amazing people who work from home and are experiencing great success in doing so. Some of them have turned into clients while others have become great friends. Best of all, I form mutual relationships from which there is a give-and-take action that happens on any given day.

One such colleague emailed me a couple of weeks ago, asking if I had a solid source of information for “x” topic that he was writing a short report about. I quickly returned his email, pointing him to a few good resources.

Networking online with other business owners is not just a form of advertising yourself or your services. It’s a way to interact with other business-minded individuals where you can learn from each other.

NO-NO #3 - Get on your soap box. I see this more often than I care to lately. Sometimes I get so irritated that I, quite frankly, have to step back for a week or so, just so I don’t get sucked into it myself.

The one thing that really crawls under my skin is watching a thread pop up on a networking forum from a fairly new, or maybe less experienced, member asking a question or for advice, only to get flamed by “advanced” members.This usually happens when someone with more experience attempts to offer well-meaning advice to the newbie, but somehow gets sidetracked. The advice usually turns into a rant about how newbies should know better than to ask dumb questions.

Now I’ll be the first to admit that I can get on my soap box sometimes, too. But when you are socializing in an online (read: open) forum with others, it is important to remember to keep your attitude in check. Ranting and spewing hateful or mean things at someone else, regardless of your social status, just looks plain bad. It’s usually how heated discussions get started. Don’t do it.

NO-NO #4 - Always take, but never give. (This is similar to #2, but a bit different so I’m adding it seperately.) One of the cornerstones of networking is giving back to your (online) community. It’s important to remember that your community will only be as good as you make it.

Some ways you can give back include, but aren’t limited to:

• Write a detailed article for free that offers solid, helpful information to others
• Offer your expert help to others who need it
• Make a donation to the website/forum owner as a show of support
• Reply to questions others have and give informative tips to help them out
• Share business resources that could be helpful to others

BONUS TIP: I just thought of this one, so I’ll throw it in for free. Don’t spread yourself too thin. I have found many networking communities online, and boy have I tried my best to be a part of all of them. It just doesn’t work that way, though. If you try to become involved in too many networks you’ll end up spending more time trying to fit in and be a part of them all, instead of building your business.

Networking is important, but so is your business. Find an equal balance that you can maintain safely without harming your work ethics.

Do you have another tip you’d like to add to this list?

Popularity: 35% [?]

Priming The Pump

Posted by Hope

As a freelancer, there are some days when, honestly, I just want to pull the covers back over my ears and stay in bed three more hours. Now that we’re homeschooling, too, it’s really hard to maintain discipline to wake up and get up and get going because I don’t have to get Emily up early either.

So I thought that would be a good topic to talk about today: How to prime the pump on the days when you just can’t seem to get going.

“Priming the pump” is simply a way of getting yourself started. It’s a kick-start to your work day. It’s what you do to get your juices flowing when you’re feeling uninspired and unmotivated. Here are a few tips to help you prime your pump:

Plan the day before. A really good way to prime your pump is to plan ahead. I keep a steno pad on my desk at all times. I use it to jot notes on and to make my daily TO DO list. I also use it to plan ahead. When you know already that there are certain things that have to be done tomorrow, why not go ahead and start your TO DO list today? The first thing you’ll think of when you wake up tomorrow morning will be what’s on your TO DO list already, which will make you want to get up and get busy working on it.

Read something inspirational. I’m a big fan of inspirational messages. I subscribe to several newsletters and services right now. Each of them delivers an inspirational quote, thought of the day, or message. I love them because it’s like receiving little nibbles of inspiration every day. And since they all arrive in my Inbox every morning, I get an extra shot of motivation and inspiration every morning to start my day off right.

Get excited about your life and your business. Have you grown bored with your life or business? If so, then chances are that’s one of the main reasons why you can’t seem to get going every day. Sometimes you have to stop and dream for a bit. Dream about where you want to be in life “X” years from now. Think about all the different things you want to experience. Get excited about your life and your business again!

Start with exercise. Okay, I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t get nearly as much exercise as I need to. One thing I have learned, though, is that starting the day with exercise will really get you going. It gets your blood moving, which gives you energy and makes you feel alive again. Something as simple as Yoga, or a short walk, can get you motivated once again.

Technorati Tags: priming the pump, get excited, business, life, exercise, freelance

Popularity: 8% [?]