No, I'm not talking about that kind of hooking up.this is
a business article, for goodness sakes! I'm talking about
building mutually beneficial relationships with other online
business owners. That's the kind of hooking up that will propel
your business to long-term success.
Many people get online and think that the more people they
meet online, the bigger customer base they can get. To some
degree that is true, but in this marketing mama's humble opinion,
it's not where you should focus your efforts.
Nearly, four years ago, I started my online business. I was
just a mom who desperately didn't want to return to work after
maternity leave. I had no clue what I was doing. None at all,
but one thing I did do is meet people, but I didn't try to
make these people my customers.
What, you may ask? Didn't I want to get any customers?
Sure I did, but I realized something much more valuable. The
other online business owners that I met online weren't necessarily
my target market and they had something much more valuable
to offer me than a few dollars in my pocket from an internet
sale. They had knowledge, experience and ideas.and I had my
own to share too. So, this is what I did.
I made friends and now I run a 6-figure per year business.
Yup, good old-fashioned friends with a common interest in
online business. I share my experience and knowledge and they
shared theirs. We discovered where we could collaborate on
projects and build lifetime partnerships together. In other
words, I gained a lifetime of value from these friends.not
just another "Notification of Payment Received"
email from PayPal.
Through these relationships, I have found:
A number of partners on numerous profitable projects
that we continue to produce and promote. - Marketing advice
from:
A copywriter who has written million-dollar sales copy
for numerous clients
A guy who works from Florida and makes millions yearly
from his online business ventures; and a bunch more. These
are people that have made vital differences to the future
of my online business.
Someone who has orchestrated 6 and 7-figure product launches
for his friends and clients.
And a bunch of others too numerous to mention, but I
am so grateful for every day of my life.
Indispensable and trustworthy assistants that keep me
inline when my mind wanders or I just can't get all the
little things done in my business.
and a whole bunch more. It doesn't really matter, what I
gained. It's time to ask yourself what you want to gain.and
if you're in it for the long haul. If you decide you are indeed
in it for the long haul, it's time to start building those
relationships.
How to Attract the Right People to Your Network
If you are already networking online, through message boards
or other means, you're already on the way. Here's some tips
on how to make the right kind of friends through your network.
Scrutinize your networking list. If you belong
to a bunch of email groups and even more message boards,
it's time to start cutting out the fat. Your time is valuable,
so choose just a few quality groups and boards where people
are serious about online business. Forget about the ones
where people are out toget rich quick or where you simply
post for "Ad Mondays".
Don't be too eager. Don't start out by telling
the world, you want to "partner" on a project
or anything like that. Take it slow, get to know people
and give your input where you can. I emphasize the "where
you can" because if you don't have any experience on
a subject, just keep quiet. But don't worry, if you feel
you really don't have a lot of experience, you can still
be a valuable community member by giving support and encouragement
to your fellow online business owners. The experience will
come with time.
Share your experiences. Expanding on the previous
point, do share on the subjects in which you have some experience.
The more freely you share your information, the more willing
people will be to share with you. We all have our own experience
and expertise. We can cut our learning curves tremendously
by learning from others.
Make personal connections. If you have something
you'd like to discuss privately with a member, contact them.
It may be to discuss a particular idea you have for their
business or you may want to interview them for your newsletter.
When you do make these connections, always keep in mind
what value it has for your networking partner. If you have
nothing of value to offer them, save your personal contact
for later.
View your competitors as partners. There's nothing
worse than the sometimes catty world of online business
where people see competitors as the enemy. The internet
marketplace is so vast, there truly is room for everybody.
People who reach the same target market are your potential
partners for products, free ebooks, co-promotion and more.
Don't limit yourself.
Bottom Line is.
Stop thinking about yourself. Think about how you can help
other people and it truly comes back to you.
Alice Seba is a solo online entrepreneur who has increased
her profits and reduced her working hours by working with
virtual assistants. For more Internet marketing tips to help
you earn more while working less, sign up for her
Internet Marketing Prescriptions mailing list at http://www.AliceSeba.com
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