Tweet

Why You Need Offline Networking Strategies for Your Business

Guest post by: Kalen Smith

Article Overview: Social networking sites have been a great way for businesses to build great relationships without having to step away from their computers. Unfortunately, they sometimes need to take a break from online networking and reach people in the real world.

Why You Need Offline Networking Strategies for Your Business

Social networking sites have been a great way for businesses to build great relationships without having to step away from their computers. The problem is that some businesses have become so reliant on digital communication that they do not know what it takes to develop quality relationships. Social networking sites such as Facebook have allowed users to connect with hundreds of people all over the world. Business-to-business niche networking sites make it possible for their members to find people all over the world who may be interested in what they have to offer. It is easy to see the appeal of online networking.

The question they fail to ask themselves is: "How successful are the relationships I develop through online networking really going to be?" If this question were presented to them, they might stop in their tracks. Trust is one of the most important elements of any successful business relationship and it is difficult to build trust networking when the parties who have never met each other before. When you are attempting to reach out to a potential client over the Internet, they are probably asking themselves many questions about you and there is a good chance they may be suspicious of your motives. It is difficult for them to truly get to know you and that will be a disadvantage as you try to gain their trust.

Offline networking can yield more relationships that are likely to work out successfully, at least without having to put in the same amount of effort. Online networking can be a wonderful way to make business connections, but if you want to make the most out of a relationship with someone you met over the Internet it is a good idea to meet them in person. If you are able to put faces to each other, you are more likely to trust each other than you would if you were dealing with an anonymous person you met through Craigslist. If they are located in a different state or country, you should suggest the next best thing. Offering to speak with them over the phone, through video conferencing or Skype shows that you are willing to put in the effort in making the relationship work which can go a long way in earning the other person's trust.

Going online is a great way to make initial contact, but contact is not enough to create an optimal relationship. Building successful relationships is possible through online networking alone, but face-to-face networking or follow-up tends to work better. Regardless of how networking is pursued, it will take effort to transform an initial contact into a successful relationship.

Related Articles
  Social Media Marketing For Small Business
  How Many Poles Do You Have In The Water?
  Offline is the New Online is the New Offline
  You Must Advertise Your Work From Home Business
  Offline Strategies for Driving Traffic to Your Website
  7 Ways to market your business and attract potential customers without spending a fortune...
  Differences Between Marketing Your Business Online Vs. Offline
  Home Based Business – Offline Marketing Strategies
  Offline Marketing for Website Promotion
  How to Build Your Social Networking Empire: 3 Tips to Get More Friends
  Social Networking Strategies Or Just Good Manners in the Social Web?
  Home Business Expert: Importance Of Video Social Networking
  Networking Not Once, Not Twice, But Constantly
  A Business Owners Look at Online vs Offline Marketing
  Why Companies Should Embrace Social Media Marketing
  7 Small Business Marketing Strategies Every Entrepreneur Ought To Know
  Powerful Business Strategies for 2011 to Ensure Success
  Learn To Network To Build Your Home Business
  Business networking for busy people
  What To Do At Your Next Networking Event

Article Tags: networking strategies, online networking, successful networking



Related Forum Posts
Re: Make Friends...Literally BUILD them! - I agree! Networking is definitely the key word here. What does everyone feel about the different Networking platforms out there? Twitter Facebook LinkedIn what are some others?
My entry - 1. The Best Business Books Ever: The 100 Most Influential Business Books You'll Never Have Time to Read - this is a fascinating book about the history of Business theory, and I'd recommend it to anybody. 2. The Big Book of Small Business: You Don't Have to Run Your Business by the Seat of Your Pants, by Tom Gegax. Ditto. 3. PADI: The Business of Diving Book Okay, so this book won't be of use to anyone who doesn't want to start a scuba store, but I did, and this book was of course invaluable to me in reaching that goal.
Marketing 2012 - I am interested in what works for you in 2012, Social Networking, Search Engine traffic, Blogs, Articles, Forums, what? This is a quote from a 2009 Topic "Twitter, Social Networking, What is your Method? From my experience, social networking traffic (Twitter included) also converts at a far lower rate than search engine traffic. Evan Is this still true, or do you use something that gives us better returns and conversions
Re: FREE Toronto Referral Workshop - Kevin, I'll try to get a copy of the slides and summarize the 14 Strategies. Stay tuned!
Re: Apologizing for my absence, and an update... - Apology accepted and thank once again for reviewing my copy of [i:3v8lr26m]Offline Cash Magic[/i:3v8lr26m] report


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Tips to Take Control of Credit Card Debt

Why Use an Advertising Agency

How to choose your executive coach -1

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.