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How to use the (mostly free) resources on the web to network and build relationships -

Why? 

Networking and relationships have always been the base of any successful business effort. Whether you are managing a for-profit product or service business or a non-profit base of donors and volunteers, it is who you know and who they know that will help you succeed.

How?

There are multiple tools that are available on the web to power-up your networking and to help you successfully and very quickly build relationships.  Many of these tools are free, or at the very least, extremely cost effective.  Here is a list of those that have been the most helpful for me --

Email for Correspondence -
Take advantage of the business-oriented services that are now offered by Google & Yahoo.  You can claim your company domain with Google and quickly setup an account that allows you to email from yourcompany.com.  This is much more professional looking that an extension of hotmail / yahoo / aol or even gmail.  The service is called Google Apps -- go to google.com/services and follow the links for google domain mail setup.  It is $50 per year per user and you have almost unlimited storage space.

A benefit of google domain mail is that google is excellent at filtering spam (so this frees up lots of time in your day and you don\'t need to worry about spam-filters that keep the mail you want).  Google is also good at getting the mail through - so you rarely get caught in someone\'s spam filter.

Email for Marketing -
Don\'t use your business email account to send marketing emails.  This has the potential to get your domain on the black-list (which means it will get caught in spam), and is unprofessional looking to the recipients.  Use a professional email marketing program that allows for unsubscribes, forwards and subscriptions to newsletters.  I recommend Constant Contact - it is very cost effective and extremely easy to use.  You can design emails with images easily and quickly and also can upload your permission based lists.

Join Social Network sites -
One of the best ways to chat with colleagues and create relationships is to use social networking tools.

My favorites are Linked In and Facebook.   

Linked In allows you to invite people from your email correspondence list to connect to you -- and more importantly for you to search for people from past jobs, schools, groups, etc.  A really nice feature of Linked In is that you can \'ask questions\' on the site -- and these are posted publicly and experts will answer them.  You can also browse others\' questions.  This is a great way to get \'consulting\' for free - and to present yourself as an expert on a topic (potentially earning business).

Facebook has more of a personal spin to it, but it is also used extensively for business & non-profit oriented networking.  Non-Profits can create \'causes\' and use their facebook accounts to solicit members and donations. And businesses can post local events and send invitations.  I use it for a mix of personal and business communications and there are extremely deep resources to learn from others & have fun.  This is like meeting people in the local coffee shop - and those lighter connections are extremely valuable.

Search for your industry-specific social networking sites as well.  My industry is Advertising Specialty and there is a trade-association networking site by ASI that allows professionals to chat, blog and view industry resources.

Your industry has this too -- just google \'social networking and your industry name\' and you\'ll find them.  If you are in non-profits, google \'cause networking or social networking for causes\'.

One of the side benefits of joining social networking sites is that your profile is then made public by the search spiders - so when someone (like a potential client) googles you, they find more than your High School swim team records - they find valuable business information and it validates you and your role.

Create a blog & post on blogs in your industry -

Use Typepad or Blogspot or Wordpress (which are all very cost effective tools) to create a blog & post into it frequently.  These posts are searched by the yahoo & google spiders and when someone googles your topic or you, the posts show up quickly.  This validates you as an expert.  Use our blog as \'resource\' for clients - maybe post documents, case studies - make it a go-to reference site.

Register your blog in Technorati (which is the premier search for blogs) to make your posts more visible.

Read blogs in your industry -- post comments and introduce yourself to the authors.  Only comment when you have something relevant to say, and don\'t shamelessly promote - - but present yourself as a resource and you will likely be called on and referred when appropriate.

Craft News Announcements & Release Publicly -

There are many free Press-Release sites -- google \'free press releases\' and you\'ll find them.  You can use them to make announcements of newsworthy events or services.  For example - if you are announcing a new product or have hired a new person, or are moving or are opening a new location.  Many of the local newspapers and blogs monitor the press-release sites and will see your announcements.  At the very least they get searched by the spiders and will show up in yahoo and google searches. 

Once you have created some connections to bloggers -- email them your releases as well -- they may post them if they are relevant for their audience.

The for-pay press-release sites are also great - I use PR Web and for as little as $80 you can get great exposure for a news release with images and targeted market options.

Analyze / Improve your Performance -
Google offers a hugely robust set of tools that will allow you to analyze your web site and make it more visible to the search engines.  Go to google.com/services to see the full-list.  Most are free.  Here are some highlights -

All of the above are free.  Google also offers Adwords - which is a pay for keyword click.  Similar services are offered by Yahoo and MSN.  All are expensive.  Do the above first to increase your organic -- or free - search & find performance.

Make it clear what you do -

Bonus free web-tips -

To get this information sent to your mobile phone -

text \'MOM\' to 78247

About Allison Gower -

President - The Platform Group Gallery, President - qtags

The Platform Group Gallery manufactures eco-friendly printed boxes under the tradename galleryboard packaging. The over 300 stock Press Kits, Gift boxes, binders, mailers and portfolios can be printed traditionally via offset or screen or digitally, including with variable data.  Made in the US from 100% recycled content fiberboard.

qtags provides mobile communication services to advertising agencies, sports teams, trade associations and corporations. The services include keywords, short-codes, text-messaging, mobile websites and can be off the shelf or customized.

Allison supports Communities in Schools Houston and Pink Ribbons Project.

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