Madison Who’s Who Blog

Peer to Peer networking can help in all aspects of growing a business. From learning who to contact to create your marketing materials to how to set up your office, who to consider when ready to incorporate, to how to deal with particular types of clients all can be discussed with others. It can also help to answer questions that maybe you don’t know where to go to ask. Peer networking not only gives you a network of professionals with whom to consult, but gives you the opportunity to share your insights with those who may be new business networking. Building these bonds of friendship can pay off huge dividends down the road. A colleague has become a very good friend and also someone who often refers organizations to me for speaking engagements. Both of these are examples of how peer to peer networking helps with business.

In order for peer to peer networking to really help you grow your business, you have to be seen. Don’t attend just one or two networking events a year, or post an email every couple of months, and expect to become known in your geographical location or specialty. People have to see you often, and for a long period of time. They have to get to know who you are and what you are like. They must know you are a permanent part of the community and are there for others, as well. They need to know you care enough to show up.

Have you recently decided to do some peer to peer networking? Maybe you’ve even signed up to attend a business luncheon, or perhaps you want to share more on the professional social networks you belong to. But, as you head into that luncheon, you freeze. What ever could you have to offer? And, when you read the various postings on your business networking sites, you ask yourself why would anyone want to read YOUR post?

Welcome to the world of peer to peer networking. When creating a new business, or expanding a current business, entrepreneurs are always in need of support and guidance. None of us can succeed on our own. This is why having quality professionals to network with is key. One way to find other professionals to network with is through who’s who directories such as Madison Who’s Who. If you ask almost any professional what one of the major keys to his or her success is, they will almost always tell you that professional networking has played a large role in their success.

So, have you decided to do some peer to peer networking?  Maybe you’ve even signed up to attend a business luncheon, or perhaps you want to share more on the professional social networks you belong to. But, as you head into that luncheon, you freeze. What ever could you have to offer? And, when you read the various postings on your business networking sites, you ask yourself why would anyone want to read YOUR post?

Welcome to the world of peer to peer networking. When creating a new business, or expanding a current business, entrepreneurs are always in need of support and guidance. None of us can succeed on our own. This is why having quality professionals to network with is key. One way to find other professionals to network with is through who’s who directories such as Madison Who’s Who.  If you ask almost any professional what one of the major keys to his or her success is, they will almost always tell you that professional networking has played a large role in their success.

Whether you are sole proprietor, a small start up, a locally grown business or an international conglomerate, effective global networking forms a backdrop to and is an essential component of a prospering business.

The sole proprietor of a decade ago, or even five years ago, when initially setting up his business model probably didn’t think in terms of effective global networking.  Prior to today’s technological and telecommunications cornucopia, effective global networking was the concern of the internationals or the rare local business who had commerce outside of the country.

Effective global networking has also totally transformed the expat experience with families undertaking international assignments now able to arrange schools, search for staff and familiarize themselves with more ease to their new host country.  Effective global networking allows for that same family to keep consistent communications with friends and family in their home countries.

Effective global networking is as integral to the continuity and free flow of commerce today as was the telephone and telegraph one century ago.

There is no excuse at all for attending a networking event without business cards, and yet people do it all the time. If you want to achieve effective global networking, business cards are an important tool. Excuses range from forgetfulness to new jobs and having left them in the car in the parking lot. If you tell people you forgot your cards, many will assume you are as lax in your business habits and you might lose opportunities. Even if you dont have your new cards yet, you can easily produce a temporary supply on your computer. When you give them to people you can mention that they are temporary and offer to send them your new one when you have it. That, of course, is a built-in reason to contact people again! A business card is an essential networking tool. Make sure you have a supply with you at all times.  I’ve had people contact me about jobs from a business card I handed out more than a year ago.  You’ll never know when someone will need your services, or have an opportunity for you, but one thing is certain.  If they don’t have your business card…they won’t be calling.

Because of the importance of effective global networking, the number people using social networking to advance their careers is at an all time high.

It’s no secret that quite often in life who you know is more important than what you know. These sites help automate the former so efficiently that I would unhesitatingly recommend them to everyone. Choosing the right social networking site to advance your career isn’t a serious problem. If one doesn’t pan out, you can always try another, perhaps more or less specialized one. When considering a social network the ability to connect with others is most important. Effective global networking requires the ability to connect with like-minded individuals who you can help and that can also help you in both business and personal life.

Although many of these sites may seem similar, they aren’t interchangeable. This means that joining one site doesn’t open you up to others. So don’t be afraid to try something completely different. Try a social network you haven’t tried in the past. Sometimes a new set of connections is the perfect way to broaden your horizons.

Lately security industry leaders such as Sophos are working to protect social networkers. They are warning users of the dangers of allowing strangers to gain access to their online profiles. This comes following new research into the risks of identity and information theft occurring through social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook.

While these sites can help achieve effective global networking, recent research shows that 41 percent of users will share their personal information with a complete stranger. Information such as email address, date of birth and phone number are bits of information that ID thieves love to get their slimy hands on. Freely giving strangers access to this information greatly increases a person’s susceptibility to ID theft. While there are few documented cases of ID theft occurring from social networking sites, given their popularity it won’t be long before thieves are fully exploiting them. Protect yourself by limiting the amount of personal information you divulge to strangers.

Peer to peer networking between physicians has gotten a vote of confidence from the AMA.

“The American Medical Association and a Massachusetts-based company have teamed to create a Web-based professional networking community for physicians.

Cambridge-based Sermo, the network’s creator, and the AMA said Wednesday they were collaborating to create an interactive network that would allow physicians to share information with other doctors to address a variety of professional and public health issues. Consumers will not have access to the information.”

The AMA is free to develop networking relationships with other physician networking sites but their collaboration with Sermo connects them with the largest existing network, consisting of 16,000 physicians. Unlike MySpace and FaceBook, the network is open only to physicians.

Physicians typically have less networking opportunites than other professionals, even amongst peers. Netowking sites such as Sermo provides forums for physicians to discuss public health matters and issues confronting the medical community.

“Engaging with Sermo’s virtual community adds to the resources the AMA can call upon to rapidly assess and respond to the issues and concerns of physicians across the United States.”
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Sermo generates revenue from clients who pay fees to access information from the doctors in the network. Clients, for example, could be financial services firms, drug makers or government entities who would pay for access to survey results from posts on the network. Individual physicians are kept anonymous.”
(source)