As I’ve noted in related threads, I’m helping a friend launch a small internet-based service business. We’ve hit various free classified ad sites (and would still like more suggestions), found a free site provider, and are looking for various ways to advertise her site & her services. So who knows of some good small businesses networking resources on the Net- ESPECIALLY ones you have experience with?
Another question- part of her services involves listening to peoples’ concerns & helping persons look at various perspectives and possible options. She thought support & help groups may have a ready clientele for her services but is concerned about venturing onto sites & forums because of the possibility of looking like an ambulance chaser. Anyone know of any such sites which would be open to people looking for clients, like perhaps forums where service providers & those in need meet?
My experience with small business networking (and advertising in general) is this: If you aren’t shaking their hand, you’re wasting your time/money.
I would really recommend seeking out local networking events, even for an Internet business. The local Chamber of Commerce, BNI, LeTip, eWomen or similar group can be essential. (My wife and I have used all of these). You’re not just there looking for customers directly, but for a group of people who know you personally and can help connect you with services you need and the customers you want.
As for online networking, I use LinkedIn, but have not had any business from it. I also use Biznik, and have had a great deal of business from it. Biznik has the advantage of letting you do events that range from standard networking to subject-specific workshops. For example, you could find a dozen workshops on promoting Internet businesses just next week (in the Seattle area anyway). Biznik is also great because your Biznik page often gets higher rankings in search engine results than your actual web site.
A word of warning about a certain class of internet advertising companies. There are a growing number of quote-unquote internet advertising programs that promise to actually pay you to advertise with them, or rather they promise that if you purchase X amount of advertising from them at some later date you will receive that entire sum back and more. You’ll be required to view websites from other people advertising with the same program but it’s in the order of a few minutes a day. It sounds like a great deal, but it’s a ponzi scheme.
When asked to explain how he could offer such astounding rate of return Charles Ponzi would tell people about postal reply coupons. Of course he was really paying old investors with new investors money but the postal reply coupon story was clever enough to convince many people to give him money. The “advertising” being sold by these modern ponzi schemes is their version of the coupon story. In fact some don’t even require you to have a website to advertise.
As with any ponzi scheme the vast majority of people who invest in them will lose their money but a select few promoters can turn a fine chunk of change before the bubble bursts or the Feds kick the door down. But like any ponzi they exist only as long as they can attract fresh money so you have a small army of people promoting these scams. If your friend was approached by one of these promoters, it might sound like an a good oportunity but it will not end well.
If anyone’s interested google the following:
12dailypro
AdSurfDaily
Colon End Parenthesis
There are literally hundreds if not thousands more. The three I listed are defunct so I have no fear of giving them publicity.