Ryze Business Networking

1. Create a free membership account on Ryze - Start out with the free membership until you get your feet wet and know the benefits of upgrading (creating your own network, more advanced features).

2. Find an interesting Network - You can click on the Networks tab and view a random list of Networks or you can search on a topic of interest to you.

3. Join a Network - Each network has a home page with basic information about the group, the latest posts on the Message Board, and a link to the Member's Directory. You can join up to 60 networks with the free membership, but I recommend starting with one or two.

4. Read BEFORE you post - You will need to read some of the posts on a specific Network to get a feel for the people there. I highly recommend you join The Virtual Handshake Network and read the posting guidelines.

Even though Ryze is considered a business networking site, people do not want to hear all about you all the time. Read (listen) first. Then offer specific, related advice to the person who posts. You will get much farther in your networking if you think of others first!

Online networking requires the same skills you would use at a chamber of commerce meeting or a fundraiser at a downtown club.

If you feel uncomfortable networking at all, it's going to show...and confidence is such a huge asset you will not have a successful business without it.

But not that overbearing, overcomfortable, pushy kind of confidence - if that's you, you may think people respect you, but they probably don't.

Visit Non-Toxic Networking and learn more about getting clients and customers by making emotional connections!

(p.s. There's also an affiliate program...)