Networking Know-How

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Saying NO to online networks

If you're anything like me, over the past few weeks you've had your email inbox jammed with invites to online services like Naymz and Affluence.org. It seems that every few months another wave of social networks comes along, fills up your inbox and then shrivels away within a few short weeks. How can you sort the wheat from the chaff and find the most useful online networks?

The first place to check is TweetScan, which scans what twitterers are saying. Many twitterers are early adopters of these networks and may mention if it's worth joining.

Secondly, try googling the name of the site and looking down the results. Often you can find out what people are thinking from various blog postings about the service.

Be very careful about which online services you join, how much information you share and who you invite. Several, including the popular Hi5, have a reputation for spamming all the contacts in your address book with invites. As a rule of thumb, use the site for a few months to judge whether it's worth it before inviting everyone in your address book.

In my own case I stick firmly with LinkedIn and Facebook. There are many pretenders out there, some with much better features, but it's the quality of the network that counts in the end. Right now, only the big hitters can attract all the people in my networking circle, and Affluence.org and Naymz just don't cut the mustard.

Networking in a Financial Crisis

Alex Cureton-Griffiths

With the world economy collapsing around our ears, networking is more important than ever.

While Shanghai has been relatively unaffected so far, we have seen expats and locals alike suffering with the diminishing opportunities for sales, jobs, you name it.

So, what can you do about all this and how can you minimise the effects of the crisis on your life?

1. Network, network, network

Of course, you should have been doing that all along. As Harvey Mackay said in the title of his book, Dig your well before you're thirsty. Still, it's never too late to get out there and expand your network more. More and more people will be out on the networking circuit as they search for jobs or look for ways to streamline their business. Even if they're not personally useful to you, they may know someone who is.

Book Cover Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty

2. Consider which events are worthwhile

Going to networking events is all well and good, but which ones are you actually meeting the right people at? Consider the time, effort and money you're putting into each event and see if you're making the most of them.

Networking links: Nov '08

Alex Cureton-Griffiths

A couple of links today from Lifehacker, one of our favorite sites for just generally useful ideas:

Plus a couple more links we just found handy:

Do you know any useful links or resources for networking? Get in touch or leave a comment today and let us know!

7 Valuable Ways to Keep in Touch

Karen Leong

By Karen Leong

Keeping in touch is the key to nurturing a quality network. How many of you have attended networking events where you collect hundreds of name cards but end up not keeping in contact with any of them? Networking is not just about exchanging business cards, but about keeping in touch and building long-term relationships.

In today's competitive environment, we are constantly being sold to, prospected, and marketed to. If your keeping in touch process is uninspired and self-serving, you will be relegated to the level of spam. One way to be truly memorable is to focus on embedding value in your keeping in touch process. It shows that you have taken the time to understand the other person's needs and interests, and will motivate him to reciprocate in the relationship.

Here are 7 ways to keep in touch by providing value:

Making the most of your network -- follow up

Alex Cureton-Griffiths

Thanks to everyone who braved the rain and came to China Networker and REV's networking training session last night. During the presentation, I mentioned that getting everyone in your network online can really be a boring task, something which I would provide on ChinaNetworker.com rather than including in the presentation proper. You can go to China Networker now to download the presentation and a free handout on how to put your network online. Happy networking!

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