Networking Success

Corporate Alumni

Corporate Alumni

Focus:  Business

Description: Contact former business associates

Link:  http://www.corporatealumni.com/

People Spot Network

People Spot Network

Focus:  General

Description:  Networking site with links to other informational and networking sites.

Link:  http://www.peoplespot.com

Zoom Info

Zoom Info

Focus:  Various

Description:  People information summaries

Link:  http://www.zoominfo.com

Reunion

Reunion

Focus:  School Alumni Networking

Description:  Find classmates you went to school with

Link:  http://www.reunion.com

Research and Development

Research and Development

You may want to use the networking process to test out new ideas or to provide samples of your product or service.  You can invite people you meet to join your research and development team.  You might consider giving out coupon for free consultations or product samples.  You can ask to follow up with each person who participates, then use that data to refine your products and services.

Build Your Business:  Networking Success by Tara Kachaturoff

Classmates

Classmates

Focus:  School Alumni Networking

Description:  Find classmates you went to school with.

Link:  http://www.classmates.com

Partnership or Affiliation

Partnership or Affiliation 

You might network to find others with whom you can collaborate or pursue a joint venture.  By attending events that focus on your target market, you can more easily connect with others who are serving that same market.  Two heads are better than one.  You might uncover an opportunity to work with someone that can benefit both of you in a big way.

Build Your Business:  Networking Success by Tara Kachaturoff

Linked In

Linked In

Focus:  Business

Description:  “With LinkedIn, you find the people, jobs and services you need through the people you know and trust, while you strengthen and extend your existing network.”   (source: website)

Link:  https://www.linkedin.com/

Take Your Time

Networking takes time. 

We live in a culture driven by immediate gratification.  If something takes more than a few seconds to download to our computer, we click away.  Unfortunately, this “I have to have it NOW” mentality is spilling over, at alarming rates, into other parts of our lives.  I can assure you that this approach does not work well in the world of networking.  Relationships are not built in one meeting or even several; they are not built by exchanging business cards, emails or telephone calls.  Instead, they are nurtured over time, through careful cultivation and care.   Don’t expect immediate results.  Consider any friendship or meaningful relationship you currently have; it wasn’t built in a couple days, weeks or months.  The same thing applies to building business relationships.

Build Your Business:  Networking Success by Tara Kachaturoff

Alumni Net

Alumni Net

Focus:  School Alumni Networking

Description:  “View all the company, university, high school, & other organization affiliations of your fellow alumni. Find people that could help you in your career, your college application, your own business, or just making new friends!”  (source:  website)

Link:  http://www.alumni.net/