Entrepreneurs using the Web to get well connected

The latest issue of MyBusiness Magazine, the journal of the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), reports that small business owners are flocking to online networking sites like Ryze, Ecademy, LinkedIn, and others, to expand their reach, gain a competitive edge, barter for services, and get invaluable free advice and industry information.

“Small-business owners don’t have a big brand behind them, so they’re using the network more than those at large companies,” says Konstantin Guericke, vice president of marketing at LinkedIn.com, a networking site launched in August 2003 that currently has almost 400,000 members. [Ed. note: LinkedIn has over 650,000 members as of June 2004]

“If you’re IBM, and you’re calling a potential partner, people are going to pick up the phone and talk to you, because you’re IBM,” says Guericke. “But if you’re XYZ company, and you’re trying to call someone at IBM, you’re probably not going to get through.”

Unless, that is, you found in your network a friend of a friend who knows someone at IBM. Then, you’re golden.

LeeAundra Temescu, owner of communications consulting firm The Contrary Public Speaker, credits Ryze for helping her launch her business on a very tight budget:

“Dollar for dollar, it’s one of the cheapest ways to market yourself and get your name out there,” says Temescu, who credits the site for scoring her clients from as far away as India, a place she’d never reach through her own marketing efforts. “Even if you’re only going to get one or two customers out of it, why not do it? It’s so cheap.”

LeeAundra has also been a guest columnist here on About Entrepreneurs. Check out her articles:

• Your First Time
   
• The Missing Link – Communicating your Message

Paola Miranda, owner of Prestige Maid Service in Tampa, Florida, explains why small business owners are willing to place their trust in strangers they haven't even met in person:

“We’re all in the same boat,” says Miranda, who likes the online group because she says she doesn’t have time to attend traditional networking events. “Someone who just sends you a spam e-mail about a product or service has no idea about your situation. But people in this group are very familiar with my business. They’re all working hard and striving to get their companies to the next level just like me.”

Joanna Pineda, owner of Web design and development firm The Matrix Group, sums it all up beautifully:

“It’s always good to be face-to-face, but that takes time, and it doesn’t always yield results. Online networking is a razor sharp way to find what you’re looking for.”

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