start online business relationships

You can start online business connections and succeed faster by building your social networks. You can do this in person, or use the new web 2.0 websites to build a social connection with others, and get closer to your customers and prospects. It lets you reach new prospects that you might not otherwise meet.

These new sites are called social networking sites, since each person can contribute and interact on these websites. Normally, you start by creating a profile about yourself, giving enough information about you and your business so others will feel more familiar with you. You can also list your interests, which will attract others who are looking for help or for friends with similar interests.

Some social networking sites are really easy to use - like Twitter, where you sign up and post 140 characters or less about what you are doing. Other social sites, like Facebook, are even more addictive, since you do hundreds of things with millions of users. Just remember that everything is public, and you are building your reputation on these sites. You can contribute often in different groups and discussions, and become the authority in your area of expertise.

Another powerful benefit of these social networking sites is the ability to connect with hard to reach people - gurus, millionaires, famous people - and build a connection with these people to really start online business connections that can make a big difference.

These social networking sites will also give you clues about things that others are doing to start a online business, and you can use these ideas and processes for starting online business ideas you have.

You can also meet and interact with people that have problems and unfulfilled wants. These problems and desires are seeds for future online business success - things you can deliver, and make money online.

Another benefit of these social networking sites is the ability for them to create traffic to your money sites, creating better search engine results, and more links pointing to your web site.

Social networking is only one of the many steps you need to start a online business, but it is key. Without other people, a business will not succeed, so get out there, connect with others, and start online business connections today. You'll never regret it.

I should spell out some basic rules of order when it comes to connecting with others online.

#1. Don't ask others to promote your stuff right off the bat.

No one likes to be hit up by strangers, so don't befriend someone and then tell them you are paying 50% commissions on something. We are all overloaded, and don't need more work.

#2. Be useful

Kinda obvious, but here's how it works. Meet someone, ask questions, learn about them, and then think how you can help them. If it's useful to them, offer to do something for them, and you'll make a very good impression.

#3. Be friendly

We are doing business online, but there is no need to be stiff as cardboard. Be friendly, be funny, and be yourself. Just don't go off the wall and do anything too extreme...no one wants to be associated with wackos. Funny but not inflammatory.

#4. Connect often

Make it a habit to visit the groups you join, make valuable contributions, help others, share experiences, and you'll become a good member of the group with lots of respect.

#5. Do not spam

Some of the sites let you do things like request "friends", but avoid the urge to automate these things and add 5,000 friends per hour...it's usually a surefire way to get your account deleted.

Here are ten reasons to be active on Facebook:

1. Meet your peers.

Facebook is not just for college kids anymore. Members are typically older and more mature than on other sites, and there are more white collar users.

2. Find business contacts.

With more than 100 million active users, and predicted to be 500 million by 2011, not only are your friends on Facebook, so are your prospects, your customers, your JV partners and, of course, your competitors. You need to be on too.

3. Instant gate opener.

Facebook members are open to connecting. You can easily begin a dialog with highly successful-even famous-people who were previously otherwise unreachable.

4. Build relationships.

By engaging in conversations with your prospects and customers, you can better adapt your marketing and business services to meet their needs.

5. Raise visibility.

By consistently showing up, posting relevant information, and being a thought leader, you can increase visibility and credibility as an expert in your area.

6. Develop your personal brand.

The lines between business and personal have become blurred. You can reveal as much or as little about yourself as you wish, allowing you to personalize your brand.

7. Target your niche.

Users volunteer vast amounts of information about themselves that you can readily access. These kinds of demographics, psychographics, and technographics would previously have cost fortunes to access. Author, John Battelle, calls Facebook a "database of intentions."

8. Get rapid top Google placement.

Create a Page for your business and "push" information to your "fans." Pages (for business) and Profiles (for personal) are indexed for optimal search engine positioning. Facebook has a page rank of #5 according to Alexa.

9. Place targeted ads.

With Facebook Social Ads, you can test out extremely targeted advertising for minimal cost.

10. Free marketing.

Aside from paid ads, Facebook is totally free to use and with regular activity you'll end up with more traffic, more subscribers, and more paying clients.

Visit Mari's blogs for two free e-courses: 21 Keys To Profitable Relationships at mariSmith.com and 7-Day Facebook Marketing Tips at WhyFacebook.com