<p>Networking &hellip; it&rsquo;s something we all do.&nbsp;&nbsp; We attend early morning meetings, break away in the middle of the day for lunch hour events, and sometimes get home late in the evening because of business social obligations.&nbsp;&nbsp; You are working to make others aware of you, to promote your business and obtain referrals, while at the same time, meet new people, learn about the services they have to offer and how you can be of help to them.&nbsp;&nbsp; It can be a full time job in and of itself.&nbsp;</p> <p>One of the things you do to help promote yourself is join networking groups, most of which offer a website wherein you are able to create a profile that provides visitors with information about you and your business.&nbsp;&nbsp; In essence, your profile helps you to sell yourself when you aren&rsquo;t around.&nbsp;</p> <p>So how much time and effort do you put into making this sales tool actually benefit you?&nbsp;&nbsp; Do you type in a name and email address, usually the minimum requirement to get yourself listed in the directory?&nbsp;&nbsp; Do you add a few more pieces of information, such as the name of your company, perhaps a contact number, maybe an address?&nbsp;&nbsp; Or are you one of those people who go all out and provide not only your contact information but also a description of what it is that you do and the types of services you have to offer, perhaps even going so far as to include a photograph?</p> <p>Make it easy for people to learn about you!&nbsp; Provide them with information that is useful; doing so will also be beneficial to you.&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Your full name is a perfect starting point &hellip; people aren&rsquo;t interested in playing guessing games when it comes to figuring out who they may be interacting with.&nbsp;&nbsp; They will simply move on to someone else.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </li> </ul> <ul> <li>Contact information.&nbsp;&nbsp; This includes email and a telephone number.&nbsp;&nbsp; Make it easy for someone to find you.&nbsp;&nbsp; If you have a website, include that as well.&nbsp;&nbsp; If you aren&rsquo;t promoting it, why do you have it?</li> </ul> <ul> <li>The name of your company.&nbsp;&nbsp; </li> </ul> <ul> <li>A brief description of what it is that you do.&nbsp;&nbsp; Just as you have worked to perfect your 30 second introduction, you should also be able to describe what type of services you have to offer in a few sentences. &nbsp; Remember, the name of your company doesn&rsquo;t always provide adequate information.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>A photograph.&nbsp;&nbsp; It doesn&rsquo;t necessarily have to be a professional head shot; a nice photograph of your face without a lot of background distraction will also work.&nbsp;&nbsp; This is especially helpful as it can foster name / face recognition when you actually meet someone in person.</li> </ul> <p>If the site allows for you to include upcoming activities you and/or your company is hosting or participating in, list them.&nbsp;&nbsp; If you have a blog or write articles, include them, or a link to them, on your profile.&nbsp;&nbsp; You want to <em>draw</em> people in to your site, spark their curiosity and interest.&nbsp;&nbsp; Just as you strive to make a good impression when you are interacting with someone in person, you want to do the same when your on-line profile is being looked over.&nbsp;&nbsp; If someone is curious enough to look you up, provide them with information!</p> <p>One last important thought &hellip; do you stay the same, day after day, month after month?&nbsp; No, probably not.&nbsp;&nbsp; Nor should your profile.&nbsp;&nbsp; Just because you have posted your information on a website does not mean you are finished.&nbsp;&nbsp; Go back and periodically review it.&nbsp;&nbsp; Does it relay the message you wish to get across?&nbsp; Do you have additional information to add?&nbsp;&nbsp; Has anything changed?&nbsp;</p> <p>Look at the rest of the website.&nbsp;&nbsp; Networking is a two-way street, so who else is on there that you would be interested in getting to know?&nbsp;&nbsp; Read the profiles; hopefully, others are putting as much attention into completing them as you did!</p> 2009-10-26T08:32:43Z -1.1385 187 7121 true 4 31791 make-the-most-of-your-profile 0 2009-10-26T07:53:45Z 2009-10-26T14:54:08Z

You join on-line networking groups to promote yourself and your business. The basic, most important tool is provided for you … a profile. Are you doing all you can to make use of it?

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