A poster on a message board asks for interview advice and receives fifteen suggestions within minutes. Another shares news of her baby and how her maternity leave is going, and she receives congratulatory messages within minutes and more the next day. Someone else tells about impending layoffs at his company, and within minutes receives messages of support and encouragement.

The three examples are from strangers who have formed a community based on a common bond: they are all part of the same Internet message board. There are hundreds of posters on the board, which is viewed by 25,000 people a day. There is a deep bond there, which is shocking to many Generation X'ers and Baby Boomers.

People do develop, form, and maintain bonds via the Internet. In this impersonal work world, it is possible to form bonds and bridges with people without meeting them face-to-face. It is possible to bond with employees who work at different locations, with clients and their different divisions, with industry leaders--all without a personal conversation.

Would forming deep connections with employees and customers help your company?

Rather than resist, fear, or doubt the use of building bridges, learn how to use the systems (social media) out there to make you, and your organization, more productive and profitable.

The following suggestions can help:

Be selective.

There is no need to join every media outlet there is, and then ask the same people to connect, friend, or follow you on each. Join the ones which will help you most and use them appropriately. For example, you might have family and friends on Facebook, business associates on LinkedIn, and a blog especially for clients. Someone who uses all five or so versions of LinkedIn then asks to be connected on everyone is annoying.

Be active.

Update blogs two, three, or four times a month. Twitter daily. Tweet news of blog updates. Update profiles to reflect changes in work, interests, or contact information. Participate in discussions. The discussions form the community, so join in. Avoid being the in-your-face salesperson in the discussions. Repeatedly posting about your company's value-added service is annoying and probably working against those who invade the groups.

Be useful.

Offer advice, when asked for it. Answering discussion questions helps the members of the community and shows your expertise. Share your expertise and give of yourself. For example, offering a free job search target & tracking system has led to revenue for Kelly Tyler Training Services. The system was given free, as promised, then companies wanted additional copies. Revenue is the direct result of using social media well, which means no annoying, constantly repeating sales pitches.

Be humble.

Several sites invite members to post status updates. Pause to consider what that means to readers and post carefully. For example, an entrepreneur twitters about his every move: "I'm starting the day with CNN..." a few hours later, "I'm getting ready for a lunch meeting"..."I'm back from lunch. Ate too much and am tired."

No one cares about his every move. Not to be rude, but the same can be said for any of us. A sales rep who travels for work posts status updates on Linked In about his travels, and they are dull! "Leaving for Mankato...ate at the airport...traveling for work is hard." Blah! Blah! Blah! Share news but make it interesting and useful.

Social media haters are wasting their time. A forty-something executive recently bragged at a meeting about his insufficient technical skills. "When I need something done, someone else does it. When I need to speak with someone, I call them on the phone, the old-fashioned way," he said in front of his open-mouthed peers.

An old-fashioned attitude may be preventing the executive from building bridges with employees who work around the world or with clients who do. As a leader of a high-energy agency, the executive should be seen as more updated, more modern. He may need to be more visible in his industry, unless he is comfortable being viewed as irrelevant. If he wants to build relationships in today's world, he needs to be more socially savvy with regard to social media.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Tyler

Have you ever wondered about the measures that most successful business men and women have taken to gain the success they enjoy? There may not be a set formula, but those who have tasted such success would agree there are certain strategies that can have a dramatic effect on how well a business functions. We reveal seven secrets that could transform your business today:

1. The importance of networking
Many entrepreneurs will devote time to finding and cultivating relationships with key peers, mentors and advisers. These relationships are important for fueling future business and supporting the business with crucial needs. Make the effort to network with people who can help your business become better. Websites like Meeting Wave are being used by more and more companies as a means of business networking.

2. Be 100% customer focused
First identify your customers' needs and wants. What can your business do to make their lives better? Then be committed to delivering the best customer service possible. Master these two things and you will help form a loyal customer base on which to grow your business.

3. Know your weaknesses and strengths
Evaluate what your business strengths and weaknesses are. Don't place the majority of your efforts into resolving your weaknesses. Instead, focus on your strengths and help your company become one that excels in these areas. Mastery will gain attention from potential and existing customers.

4. Be adaptable
Nothing is ever certain, especially in the business world. As the world changes, so do people and their needs. Make your company one that is able to change and adapt according to these needs. Be willing to do things differently or offer different services if you see the need arise.

5. Keep looking for better ways
High productivity is a key function of successful businesses. Evaluate the way your business works and always look for ways to improve productivity. Examples of methods used to achieve this are technology, automation, outsourcing and improving business processes.

6. Balance your business lifestyle
It's easy to become totally consumed with your business. Many successful entrepreneurs agree it's important to maintain a healthy balance between business and personal pursuits. Plan your time well and you will develop a business life that is more enjoyable.

7. See failures and problems as opportunities
When you come up against a difficulty or failure in your business, turn it into an opportunity for growth. Problems are a regular part of business life but how you deal with them could be the difference between true failure and success.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Boyd

Everyone gets nervous the first time they attend a business reception because they may not know how to approach and meet people, and this makes them uneasy to the point where they decide not to go. What they don't know is that, with a little planning, they can get there and turn it into the best night ever, one that may change their lives for good! Here is how:

1. The first thing is to decide to go. Mark the date and start thinking about your wardrobe and the image you want to give. Practice the attitude you want to face the crowd with and be bold.

2. Think about what you want to achieve by attending this event and what is the best thing that could happen to you. Maybe you can make new contacts, learn something new, improve your self-confidence, or just have fun.

3. Do not forget your business cards! If you do not have any, make some for the event. When you receive one from someone, on the back, write where you met the person and some key notes about him or her and what he or she does.

4. Greet and talk to everyone. Forget about appearances, if someone is there, it is certain that they have something that could benefit you, and that is why you are there. Introduce yourself and ask them why they are there and how they learned about the reception. Invest around fifteen minutes per person, turn off your phone and be present.

5. Share your knowledge. Start interesting conversations, talk about yourself and make contributions on different topics. Beforehand, take the time to make a list of interesting topics you can talk about, like great restaurants, recipes you like, cool technology, funny anecdotes, or even a joke (but only if you are good at telling them!).

Approaching a business reception with a purpose and a positive attitude will guarantee your success. We are all capable of contributing, thus, allow yourself to open up and share, you never know who you will meet!



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Boyd

"Knowledgeable people know facts. Successful and prosperous people know people." John Demartini

Networking has been recognized by many business leaders as one of the best ways to be successful socially and in business. It has been described as the highest form of service; people getting together to help each other for the benefit of all.

For someone who knows about networking, it becomes an inexpensive marketing tool, assisting him or her in getting new contacts, meeting the right people, finding a great job, or discovering new ways to be the best.

Business networking is an attitude, a way of seeing life that helps people relate in a new way to other people and to the resources available. Remember the saying: "It is who you know, not what you know"? It is absolutely true, and networking is the proof.

It has been proven that a referral is 80% more efficient than a cold call, that over 70% of jobs are secured through networking, and that for most people who have more than 250 contacts on their lists, hiring costs are virtually null.

So, what is the secret behind networking? How do you make it work for you? Very easy, help others succeed. When you do this, people will look for you. Here are some tips to improve your networking skills, increase your contact list, and become stronger professionally and personally.

1. Help others meet their goals. If you help them, they will help you back.

2. Host some networking events and make sure you meet everyone there.

3. Hand out business cards to everyone.

4. Keep in touch and follow up with calls, assistance and appropriate gifts.

5. Be grateful for any help you receive, acknowledge the giver appropriately.

6. Decline events that are meaningless to your goals, but do it politely and with class.

7. Ask for help in a direct but courteous way.

8. Request advice from your new contacts as to who could help you with a specific project or idea.

9. Become a member of professional organizations that promote networking and skill development.

10. Become a renowned networker with a valuable and respected network.

Today, networking is recognized as a lifestyle, as a way of doing business and as a way of helping other people reach success. It is a direct way to care about others and support them, creating long lasting relationships, quality connections, and even friends for life.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Boyd