In the year 2013, you as a small business owner know how important it is to have a strong web presence. You most likely already have a website, and you are probably active with social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter. Maybe you have even started a blog. If you haven’t already done so, one of your next steps for establishing yourself and meeting others who can help you grow your business might be joining a web-based community.
Web-based communities, as the name would imply, are groups of people who have come together on the Internet. They have something in common; they might all belong to the same geographical region, for example, or share a particular interest. In the case of communities that can help you in your business, they might be comprised of other entrepreneurs or of people who are interested in your particular niche within an industry. You can usually find a community that interests you on social media sites like LinkedIn or Facebook.
How can joining a web-based community help you as you seek success as an entrepreneur? Here are just a few ways:
Web-based communities can help you network. Any way that you can meet new people, either in person or over the Internet, is excellent for opening up your circle of acquaintances. These are the people with whom you will want to be networking! Since they have joined the same community that you have, they most likely have a vested interest in the glue that holds you together. If you find a community that is based on your industry or a complementary industry to yours, get the word out about what it is that you do! You can meet many potential clients this way, or your fellow members may refer you to their friends.
Web-based communities help you to build relationships. Remember that one of the core commonfig beliefs is that we can accomplish more with others than we can alone. One of the best way to team up with others is to forge good business relationships that go beyond simple acquaintanceship. You can get to know someone on a surface level through these communities, but can take it to another level through the chat and private message features available on the hosting social media site. Be sure to use all of the features that go along with your membership; take advantage of the technology available in order to maximize your relationship-building potential!
Web-based communities will help you grow your business. As you interact with others in your community, you will be exchanging information that will not only help you, but will also assist others in the group to help their businesses grow. As an entrepreneur, you should always be on the lookout for people and situations that will help you expand. From finding a mentor (or a mentee) to sharing hints on providing excellent customer service, these groups are an invaluable tool in your business-growing arsenal.
Browse through the available web-based communities on your social media sites to see whether there is one that fits your niche. If there isn’t one, you might consider starting your own. We will talk more about this possibility next week.
In the meantime, have you joined any web-based communities pertaining to your business or to entrepreneurship in general? How have you found them to be helpful?
