Thursday, May 24, 2007
Monday, May 7, 2007
Thoughts on Networking With Ning
In 1999 Magenta launched http://www.magentacircle.com/ – The Self Employed Consultants Network, by 2007 the world of networking had changed so we re-launched it on the Ning platform (http://www.ning.com/). At the same time we launched http://www.hrdcafe.com/ - The HR and Training Professionals Network.
The Ning platform provides a host of great resources to “network creators” at no charge. However it is fundamentally a platform which was designed for “social networking” rather than “business networking.” Ning does however have an impressive development programme which will give “business networking” functions to rival any other platform by the end of 2007.
How can you use membership of a Ning Network to help with your networking?
Networking is about relationships and interaction, it is not a “numbers game” about collecting as many “friends” or contacts as you can. You can’t get more out than you put in.
12 Ning Networking Tips
1. Try to contribute to the forum regularly, add questions and provide answers. In the long term adding to forums with a link ancored on a key term may also improve your Google rankings.
2. Post leads and opportunities for others – no matter how weak they are. Be seen as a giver.
3. Add content and information – post - photos videos, news, events and coments – regularly.
4. Write up your profile in full, make occasional changes.
5. Add your picture on your Ning profile and check the country is correct for your location – apparent laziness or sloppines is likely to promote a negative attitude from fellow network members. Other members also want to know you are a real person.
6. Make contact - send some personal messages to people you know and add them as “friends”.
7. Make more contacts - write freindly introductions to people you don’t know yet – try to give someting that is useful to them in them a message, and ask nothing of them.
8. Up-date your page – you have options to add a blog and an RSS feed. It is better to create your own blog – perhaps like this one (created in blogger) and use a “feed” from it on your page. You may not be sure what a blog is and be conserned how diificult it will be. Blogger is very easy to use.
9. Join other relevant “active” Ning groups. Many Ning Networks have less than five members, several only have their founder as a member. Thousands of new networks are created every month, most fail completely. There are too many poor networks – there is still room for one or two more good ones.
10. Networking (on-line and off-line) has become super saturated – one day there could be more networks than there are networkers! Ning has not helped as they have made network creation a fifteen minute, zero cost exercise. Creating the network is easy – growing it and developing it is another matter. You could create your own successful Ning network if you can make it different, relevant and valuable. Don’t be distacted by the thought of trying to “monetrise” your membership – those days are over – just focus on networking. Generally your potential customers will have little incentive to join in a networking group. Think about networking with the people who are likely to be able to introduce you to potential customers, you have to think about what you will give them.
11. Networking will continue to change, networks big and small will come and go. Don’t focus too much on the “network” (even if its your own creation) , focus more on building your relationships with individuals within the network – organise your own one to one meetings / chats and link up with people across multiple platforms and networks. For example if you have contacts on LinkedIn – invite them to your Ning Networks, Invite your contacts on Ning to join you on LinkedIN. Introduce your network members to one another - bringing your personal network members together can strengthen your network.
12. Re-distribute YOUR networking content – if you ask a question on a Xing forum there is nothing to stop you from asking it on LinkedIn or on a Ning group too. Don’t re-post anybody elses words – your are sure to be discovered and rightfully publically shamed.
The Ning platform provides a host of great resources to “network creators” at no charge. However it is fundamentally a platform which was designed for “social networking” rather than “business networking.” Ning does however have an impressive development programme which will give “business networking” functions to rival any other platform by the end of 2007.
How can you use membership of a Ning Network to help with your networking?
Networking is about relationships and interaction, it is not a “numbers game” about collecting as many “friends” or contacts as you can. You can’t get more out than you put in.
12 Ning Networking Tips
1. Try to contribute to the forum regularly, add questions and provide answers. In the long term adding to forums with a link ancored on a key term may also improve your Google rankings.
2. Post leads and opportunities for others – no matter how weak they are. Be seen as a giver.
3. Add content and information – post - photos videos, news, events and coments – regularly.
4. Write up your profile in full, make occasional changes.
5. Add your picture on your Ning profile and check the country is correct for your location – apparent laziness or sloppines is likely to promote a negative attitude from fellow network members. Other members also want to know you are a real person.
6. Make contact - send some personal messages to people you know and add them as “friends”.
7. Make more contacts - write freindly introductions to people you don’t know yet – try to give someting that is useful to them in them a message, and ask nothing of them.
8. Up-date your page – you have options to add a blog and an RSS feed. It is better to create your own blog – perhaps like this one (created in blogger) and use a “feed” from it on your page. You may not be sure what a blog is and be conserned how diificult it will be. Blogger is very easy to use.
9. Join other relevant “active” Ning groups. Many Ning Networks have less than five members, several only have their founder as a member. Thousands of new networks are created every month, most fail completely. There are too many poor networks – there is still room for one or two more good ones.
10. Networking (on-line and off-line) has become super saturated – one day there could be more networks than there are networkers! Ning has not helped as they have made network creation a fifteen minute, zero cost exercise. Creating the network is easy – growing it and developing it is another matter. You could create your own successful Ning network if you can make it different, relevant and valuable. Don’t be distacted by the thought of trying to “monetrise” your membership – those days are over – just focus on networking. Generally your potential customers will have little incentive to join in a networking group. Think about networking with the people who are likely to be able to introduce you to potential customers, you have to think about what you will give them.
11. Networking will continue to change, networks big and small will come and go. Don’t focus too much on the “network” (even if its your own creation) , focus more on building your relationships with individuals within the network – organise your own one to one meetings / chats and link up with people across multiple platforms and networks. For example if you have contacts on LinkedIn – invite them to your Ning Networks, Invite your contacts on Ning to join you on LinkedIN. Introduce your network members to one another - bringing your personal network members together can strengthen your network.
12. Re-distribute YOUR networking content – if you ask a question on a Xing forum there is nothing to stop you from asking it on LinkedIn or on a Ning group too. Don’t re-post anybody elses words – your are sure to be discovered and rightfully publically shamed.
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