The Power of Networking from the b5media Business Channel

Last week, the b5media business channel bloggers each submitted a post about networking for a big wrap-up post chock full of networking tips, ideas, suggestions and more.  Check out the posts below to see what everyone was talking about!

Here at Brandcurve, I wrote about SocialVibe.com – a social networking site with a charitable twist.

Jennifer has more to say about the power of networking here – but then, her whole blog is about networking.

If virtual networking is more your style, try popping over to Buzz Networker to find out what’s at the top of the social media heap these days.

At Leadership Turn, Miki says that in the category of “if you learn nothing else…,” there are three networking basics that guarantee results of solid gold. Find out what they are.

Don’t get fooled into believing that networking is only for Fortune 500 companies – one size fits all here. Networking the for a home business involves making friends in a global environment. Home Biz Notes has some tips.

Similarly, Bridget, of Biz Chicks Rules, reminds us that you have to be creative to network if you have a non-traditional schedule and work in a non-traditional environment.

Speaking of non-traditional, consider finding your niche in networking by thinking outside of the business box. What kind of people do you like to be around? It could be gender-based, alumni groups, hobbyists – or even defined by age: at Small Business Boomers, Jean takes a look at the popular Red Hat Network.

At Successful Blog, Liz is a master at making you feel like part of the conversation. When it comes to networking, she touts online tridimensional conversation (try saying that three times quickly) – check it out for the cool picture alone!

And networking can also be profitable. At Yielding Wealth, Miranda shares how the power of networking can help you fund a college education.

For some reason, networking has this really bad reputation as being something only used car salesmen or cutthroat politicians do to get what they want, but there is nothing nefarious about networking. It’s all about getting to know people with whom you have a common interest, and according to Kristen at Biz Chicks Rule, “that, my friends, is a heck of a lot of fun.”

And what if, after you’ve tried and tried, you just can’t find an opportunity to network that appeals to you? Try creating your own! Kelly, at taxgirl, chimes in that networking, if you do it right, is tax deductible.

Finally, keep it all together. Don’t be a scattered networker – that takes all of the fun out of it. Becky shows you how to stay organized and make sense of it all.