How to Network Online
The online world made it possible for me to become a full-time freelancer. All of my clients come from outside of my home state. Here are examples of where I met clients and people online:
Through blogs (especially in earlier days). We bloggers left comments or sent emails to each other. Over time, we learned about each other and became friends.
Through an interview. I found the client because I interviewed (by email, of course) a co-worker of his who connected us.
Through referrals. Two other clients come from referrals from someone I met on the Internet - one through his blog and the other from working on a Web site together. An online networking group, also brought in more clients and friends.
Through searches. One gig came from the editor’s using the search engine to find me. He did a great job because my experience fit well with what he needed.
Obviously, the Internet offers many routes for meeting people and finding gigs (emphasis on gigs as the chance of finding a full-time job is only about 8% as reported in a career-related column). The following lists ways to meet others online:
- Blogs: Leave a comment and link to another person’s entry from yours.
- Forums and email mailing groups: Join discussions.
- Email newsletters: As an editor, I respond to all reader emails and survey feedback.
- Online groups: Mailing list and forum discussions.
- Web site: One that’s content-rich and frequently updated (this is where a blog or blogging-tool can help).
- Emails: Contacting people. Compliment a writer on an article. Congratulate a business on a recent success.
- Articles: One of my first freelance gigs came from a guy who contacted me based on an article I wrote. There, I met another editor and we recently connected and helped each other.
- Chats: You might attend a chat where there’s a guest. Usually chats are secondary — meaning you meet the person some other way before you talk in instant messenger.
You never know who you’ll meet through the Internet. Interact with the virtual world — you never know who you meet.
About the author
Meryl K. Evans is the Content Maven behind meryl.net, helping companies build relationships with clients and prospects through content.
