Business Blog Networking Tip

 (www.businessandblogging.com) I am attending a conference next week in Las Vegas in which I don’t know anyone. I have some knowledge of the topic (mobile phone web applications) but I am attending in order to learn more and to make contacts.  In other words, education and networking.

A fellow attendee (who is obviously proactive about networking), sent out a note to all the conference attendees inviting people to get together Sunday night before the formal sessions begin.   

To my delight, he included a link to his own blog that he writes on the conference topic.

I immediately linked to his blog, read his bio and a few of his posts. I quickly realized that I could learn a lot from getting to know him further and sent an acceptance for the Sunday evening get-together.

Leveraging your blog this way is a great way to network:

• it establishes your credentials without you having to brag about them
• it enables people to learn more about you and formulate discussion topics
• it provides a better assurance that the people you meet will remember you over all the other people handing out business cards
• it ensures that acquaintances have your contact information to reach you after the conference
• it enables you to network with people who don’t have the chance to talk with you in person at the conference

So how are you using your blog to network? How could you be using it more effectively?

photo credit: Beneath B1ue Skies