Web: Social Networking for You and Your Company

How are you using the social networking tools available in LinkedIn, Facebook, Yahoo! Groups, w2wlink.com’s Network Circles, and other online tools? I get asked questions about online and social networking more than any other after I am introduced as a former match.com key player or as the CEO of w2wlink.com, a professional community of tools and networking for women.

Here is an example of how I use LinkedIn to network effectively online.

Pick an objective and be disciplined in the pursuit.

Objectives. My four main objectives are to 1) to network with people I know directly 2) to develop new business for my company, 3) to hire people for my company and 4) to mutually help others in my direct network for their goals.

I use LinkedIn to stay connected to my direct network. (When I was in a larger company I would work with an HR leader to contact within my Linkedin network). People change companies and email addresses at such a high rate. LinkedIn helps me to stay in touch, update info and learn of progress.

Discipline. When I sign into LinkedIn, I am focused on reconnecting with specific people, companies, titles or areas. I catch myself when I begin to wander or spend excess time poking around the site. Some meandering and browsing is productive, but with balance between time spent and achieving my objectives.

I also use other social networks, but I think the key is balancing the objective and the discipline. This includes social networks which I visit in order to learn, explore and stumbleupon ideas. But, that discussion is for another blog post.

Lisbeth McNabb, Guest Blogger
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Leave a Comment January 16, 2009

Being a Business Owner: Have I Created a Job or a Business?

If we look at history, true wealth in this country has been created by two sources. The first is buying and selling real estate. The second is being a business owner. It’s not necessarily when you own the business, but when you sell it. The number one question you need to ask yourself is, “if I don’t work, does my income stop?” If you answered yes, you may want to take the steps to create something you can sell at some point. There is a universal truth, at some point you will leave your business. If you have a business and it’s time to sell, what should you do first?

You should define your objectives. Recently at a meeting of WPO, 6 of 7 women business owners whom had sold their business were disappointed. Mostly because they didn’t have any idea what to expect during and mainly afterwards. Some of the objectives include;

• When is my departure date & what will I do after I sell my business;
• What is my business worth, will I achieve financial security with that number, is the number real;
• If I have a sole proprietorship, a C Corp or an LLC is an S Corp. status better;
• Do I have a partner, are our objectives the same, do we have a business will;
• Do you want to leave your business to a child, a key employee or sell to a third party

Next time; “what’s my business worth?”

-Anne Groth, Guest Blogger
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Leave a Comment October 17, 2008