A vast majority of business organisations are now looking at permanently moving their operations online. In fact many of them have already announced that their employees can continue to work from home. Similarly business transactions, client interactions, networking meetings etc will also be increasingly carried out online as people try to minimize the need to travel. This is leading to a growing interest in perfecting the art of interacting online. Here we will look at certain guidelines regarding one such aspect (of online interaction), namely successfully creating and strengthening online relationships with other entrepreneurs.
Join Social Networking Sites
There are numerous social networking sites like LinkedIn, StartupNation, Perfect Business, Shapr etc which offer the opportunity to meet entrepreneurs from varied industries. These sites also offer forums where ideas can be shared; numerous seminars, articles that offer the opportunity to learn; options to connect with individual entrepreneurs and many more services.
Join Online Communities
To overcome the drawback of not being able to attend social events (like sports events, art shows etc) where you can interact with like-minded entrepreneurs it is essential to join online communities (created by entrepreneurs based on common interests). Pick those communities whose interests resonate with yours. Having common interests and interacting based on these interests will help develop stronger bonds with your peers which extends beyond just business interactions.
Be Genuine
The most important point to remember is that these online interactions are similar to face-to-face interactions with regard to being true to yourself. On any social media platform, networking site or video conferencing app putting forth views and opinions which are in line with your personal beliefs will not only make people appreciate and respect you more but also give you a sense of self-worth.
Create Opportunities for Others
Just as in face-to-face networking, the online networking mantra should also be more about the other person and creating opportunities for them rather than for yourself. There are numerous ways you can do this:
- If you realize you are in a position to help a fellow entrepreneur regarding any concerns they are facing go ahead and offer to help.
- Enable the growth prospects of fellow entrepreneurs by connecting them with suppliers, clients or investors (who are in your contact group)
- Also promote them by sharing their advertising blogs, tweets or Instagram posts
These are a few ways you can expand your online social presence and build stronger online ties with fellow entrepreneurs.
