I would like to refer to an excellent article from Marci Alboher @ the New York Times. Marci explains how important social networking sites could be for networking purposes during crisis times. She also points to niche social networking sites for this purpose. Niche sites has been a recurrent theme in this blog. ( Check niche social networking sites vs mass market social networking sites post)
An extract of Marci’s article:
As the job market continues to sour, it is important to take advantage of all available tools to keep up with your personal and professional network. So if you’ve been joining social networking sites and never taking the time to complete your profile — or if you’ve been hitting the delete button when friends and colleagues invite you to connect on a new online platform, now is a good time to start paying more attention. Here are a few things to think about as you take the plunge or take your social networking to the next level.
LinkedIn has taken hold as the standard for most professionals, but also consider spending time on sites catering to your own industry or profession. Keep up with the trade press in your field to figure out where your peers are congregating online. Specialized communities exist for just about any industry or interest group — like NurseLinkup.com (for nursing professionals), Model Mayhem (for models and photographers), Mediabistro.com (for media professionals) or Lawyrs.net (for lawyers).
Though online social networking sites are newish, the same rules of old-fashioned in-person networking apply. Build your reputation as a giver, rather than as someone who is always asking for favors. If people in your network, for example, ask for help or introductions, check in periodically and respond when appropriate. If you’ve shown that you are a giver, people will rally to help you when you have a need to tap your network.
Use these sites to showcase your experience and achievements. If you or someone in your organization has recently given or heard a terrific presentation, won a case, published an article or appeared on television, post something about it. If you do this in the spirit of sharing good information with others — like this video about the current economic situation that Ramit Sethi, a personal finance blogger, distributed via Twitter and other tools — you’ll have the perfect marriage of self-promotion and sharing good information with your online colleagues and fans.
Build your presence on these networks when you’re not looking for a job. Make sure that your profile is up to date. Periodically check to see if there are people you know that you could be connecting with. Be responsive to requests from your network. Should you then need to look for a new opportunity, your network will be well tended and it won’t be awkward to connect with people who can be of help.
Finally, a few words of caution to keep in mind:
When you create a presence on a social networking site, take the time to learn how to use it properly. If the site offers an online tutorial, do it. If possible, find a friend or colleague who is already part of the community to give you a primer on the site’s etiquette.
Do not join every social networking site that hits your radar — there’s a reason the phrase “social networking overload” has been cropping up a lot on blogs lately. As with professional organizations or clubs, it is hard to be a real contributor when you are involved with too many groups. That said, you might find it helpful to join a handful of sites and then choose one or two on which you will be more active.
Social networking sites make it easy to contact people, but be mindful of your online manners. Do not try to connect with people you don’t know personally. Do not use these tools to stalk or send spam to people who haven’t been otherwise responsive to you. And make sure to review and follow the guidelines of any community that you join.
At rSitez we are helping entrepreneurs and professional to build new niche social netwoking sites every day so if you don’t find the social networking site that will help your professional field maybe it’s time to start one! Let us know we are here to help!
Luis
Rohan
Seeing as that there are now so many social networks catering to such a wide range of niches, my biggest problem is finding ones relevant to me and related to my specific interests or product niches. Google seems to be inefficient and returns alot of irrelevant results. A cool site that I use is this huge index of social networking sites.
Social site forms the best place for selling and buying various items like books, houses, electronic items, tickets etc. Post your items for sale or rent, in the marketplace from any part of the world. It offers additional option to add photos, videos and audios for extra enhancement of the item.Many networking sites offer facility to share your photo. But Kootali facilitates you to tag photo for highlighting the particular person in the photo. With emphasized part, anyone viewing the photo can identify the specific person easily.
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geovani
Influencer
Another great networking site for business professionals besides LinkedIn is Referral Key.
The Referral Key tool allows small businesses to grow by building and managing trusted referral relationships. What makes it a great tool is that it is not at all about socializing. It is focused on helping small businesses drive revenue, which is what we all need and want, right?
I didn’t know it. I’m going to check it out. Thanks
These are all very helpful tips. I think I can use this not only for social networking sites, but also my personal blog. Great post!
I think that’s some great advice. I have a hard time with business networking, I’ll have to try your suggestions. Thanks.
Great advice. I’m gonna check it out. I’ve been thinking of joining some of those sites. I’m still new to the net.
It is a great business networking site.
thanks for the advice
Great advice. Social networking sites are absolutely HUGE now.
I agree. I’ve always been paranoid of applying for a job, and the employer looking me up on MySpace or Facebook. I wouldn’t want to give the wrong impression. Thanks for the advice.
Great information, I know from experience that some of these tools have helped shape and grow my business. Its the new age of silent marketing.
This one is really a very informative article I have ever come across. I do have a LinkedIn profile but never gave much attention towards it. But now I guess I will update the profile and do help others so that I can build a good network around me. Who knows when it might come for my rescue. Thanks Luis for posting this wonderful article.
nowadays social site is a needed one .your site will help all those who need to popularize something or for those who need some ideas about something…it is interesting…
Great Post! I have always wondered exactly how one can use social networking as advertising. Have a Great Day!
Great advice. Social networking sites are absolutely HUGE now.
This post keeps of mindful of resources we often overlook. I would add to that even online it is important to NEVER “burn your bridges”.
This is great! Does this blog have any ways to earn money with it?
I would hope if I joined at least it might help me join a new professional field anyhow.
I found this blog extremely informative. Thanks for posting it!
I’m actually working with Ramit from iwillteachyoutoberich.com, and he pointed me to this post.
We wanted to hook you up with something cool as a thanks – six free chapters from his new book. Email me at andrewlynch88@gmail.com and I’ll send you the link where you can sign up for it in a few seconds.
Thanks,
Andy