Have you ever had one? I have had several lately.  I have found easy ways and free ways to network. Yes, I said free! Social Networking sites are great for networking. You can find others with similar interests to yours by joining the groups on the social sites.  A warm non pushy introduction is the best way to get to know others in the group.  Once you know the others in the group and they know you some,  you can start networking.  You can  send them a message about your business and offer your services or help.  Even better yet, ask them about their business as a conversation starter.  I usually ask if anyone is a Wahm like me, if it is a parenting type group or small business group.

I recently ordered a gift for a family member from a local business.  I looked it up online because it’s easier for me to compare businesses and products. It turned into a networking moment, because we live in the same area, there was an instant trust. I called the company to follow up on my order after I placed it.  I asked about her business. I told her I like her products and I told her about my businesses. I complimented her on her shopping cart and website (Which she did, herself.  I was impressed and told her so) and the conversation grew.  There are many honest good business owners out there. Share with other business owners and learn from them. During the process of networking and growing your own business.

Networking Wahm

For Internet entrepreneurs and home-based business owners, forum networking is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to build online business connections. It makes sense – a business is built on relationships, and online forums are the best places on the Web to meet people, share your knowledge, and ask your questions.

But before you log on to the first forum you find and start promoting your new business opportunity, take a moment to brush up on your forum etiquette. Like any other social activity, forum networking has its own mores and guidelines. Follow these seven steps to become a savvy forum networker.

1.    Read the rules before you play the game. Most forums have threads that explain how they work. Look for threads titled Forum Rules and FAQ and read them before you make your first post.

2.    Get a feel for the forum by reading previous posts before you jump in. This will help you find the right place to invest your valuable time.

Who are the members? Do they discuss issues that interest you? As a writer and a mother, I look for forums that discuss writing and the challenges of being a work at home mom.

Do you have the answers they’re looking for? If you have the expertise that the members need, you can make a valuable contribution to the community and build your reputation as an expert in your field.

Forum networking is also one of the best ways to learn about your ideal client. Join some of the forums your target market frequents and you’ll learn what’s really on their minds.

3.    Once you’ve found a forum you like, take the time to introduce yourself. Look for an Introduce Yourself thread, or something similar. Share who you are and what you do. Let the other members know you’ve joined their group and that you look forward to getting to know them.

4.    Don’t mistake “telling them what you do” for “advertise your business.” Ads are not welcome in any your forum posts, and they make a particularly bad impression in your introduction. Look for a thread called Ads and save your promotional material for that thread only.

5.    No ad you post will ever be as persuasive as engaging in meaningful conversation with the other forum members. Let others get to know you through your friendly and informative posts, and you will win their trust and loyalty for your business.

6.    Place a link to your website in your signature and add your signature to the end of each of your posts. Here is where you get to advertise your newsletter, describe your latest business opportunity, brag about your newest e-book. If you’ve made an interesting and helpful comment, other forum members will be tempted to click on the link and learn more about your business.

7.    Spend some time every day visiting each of the forums you participate in.  Create a folder of forums in your browser’s Favorites folder to help you keep track. It’s a good personal goal to submit an informative post and welcome a few new members each time you visit.

Combine your informative posts and signature with regular visits, and you’ll be well on your way to building your network and making friends online.

Denise Willms,a homeschooling mother of two, helps work-at-home-moms get targeted traffic to their websites through copywriting, article writing, and press releases. Subscribe to her newsletter, WAHM-Articles Ezine, and receive 105 Power Tips to Get Your Online Business Noticed and Profiting.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

You’ve finally created your website and you need ideas to promote it!

But where do you promote your website? How do you promote it?

There are literally tons of marketing ideas out there. But I wanted to focus on the concept of Forum Marketing. There are message forums everywhere.

Work at home, home business, webmasters, affiliate programs, and articles…are just a few of the various types of forums out on the Internet today.

So which forums do you promote on?

Well, this will depend on what your website is all about. Is your website about working at home? Is it about a particular home business you are a representative for? Is your website about affiliate programs?  You will need to base your marketing around what your website is about.

For example…If your site is basically about “work at home,” you will want to join “work at home” forums. Makes sense, doesn’t it?

So…you’ve joined some message forums that relate to your website, what is your next step?

Here is a simple laid-out plan on forum marketing:

1) The first thing you will want to do is find the “Introduction” folder. Make your first post, introducing yourself to the forum members and share a few things about yourself. Important…NO ADS in this post! If you post an ad here, it will most likely get deleted.

2) Browse the forum and get aquainted with the community. Take the time to read through a few threads and get a feel for what the forum is focused on and what it has to offer.

3) Check out the Forum Posting and Signature Rules. On most forums, this is usually located fairly close to the “Introduction” folder. Make for sure you fully understand the rules of the forum and follow them carefully.

4) Post in a few topics that you are interested in or share some advice. Try and make your posts consist of as much quality as you can…not just, “I agree” or “nice post.” Forum members usually just scroll by these type of short and sweet messages and don’t even bother to find out what YOU have to offer the community…thus, resulting in a complete waste of time on your part.

5) Create your signature. While doing so, make for sure you follow the forum signature rules. A signature is a block of text that displays your name (if you care to share that information), and links to your website or affiliate programs. There is usually a character count limit. Always include your signature in all your future posts. If you are unsure of how to create a signature, click on the FAQ link, (usually found at the top of the forum).

6) Post your ads ONLY in the advertising folder. If you post your ads elsewhere, you run the risk of losing your forum account. ALWAYS read the rules of this section.

7) Get to know the community…have fun and make friends. Share your work at home experiences and any knowledgeable advice or tips. Ask questions on areas you need knowledge or more information about.

The idea here is to establish a good reputation for yourself and gain trust and loyalty from the forum members. You will quickly discover that you will bring in far more traffic to your business or website by doing this rather than spamming ads in the advertising section and not engaging in good quality work at home conversations.

Something that most forum spammers are not aware of…I have found out through forum marketing, most people don’t read the advertising section anyway. Most of them are there for searching out knowledgeable marketing techniques and related business resources. So, it is much more beneficial for you if you utilize the message forum for what it is really intended for…NOT for spamming your ads and then leaving.

The forum members will get to know you and grow curious about what your signature links have to offer. The end result…they will be much more inclined to sign up for a business opportunity under you if they grow to trust you by conversing with you on a day to day basis in a friendly forum atmosphere.

This is called “Proper Forum Networking.”  Give it a try…it works like a charm everytime.

Article written by: Tammy Embrich

Tammy is an Internet Marketer and is the

Owner of: http://www.onestopwebemployment.com
And Owner of: http://www.real-wah-jobs.com/

Tammy’s two WAH websites focus on free telecommute job leads and more.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com