The last article dealt with networking inside of your own business; other Realtors, vendors, contractors, and companies, etc. This time, lets look *outside* of the profession and apply some of the same linking and networking techniques....
1) Consider your Niche. - First, decide what your core business and particular specializations or markets are. Think of the things that concern, interest, appeal, or inspire this audience.
2) Consider your assets. - What is your "intellectual property?" Don't laugh, each and every one of us is a treasure trove of contacts, friends, sphere, backgrounds, hobbies, passions, etc. On a more basic level, think of the people you know with whom you can trade services, products, information, and referrals related to your "Niche."
3) Take it On-Line. - Look for opportunities to create something of value for visitors to your web site that also showcase your networking partner in return. (See examples and ideas below) - From coupons to community history, the type of things you can put on line to satisfy viewers and promote business is limited only by your imagination and keeping closely focused on #1 above. The "webmaster" term is called "WIIFM" which stands for "What's In It For Me!"
Here are some random examples and ideas to help you along; but remember, the *Best* ideas are perfect just for you - and they utilize your own particular assets and satisfy your own particular Niche:
Tom Havlish is with RE/MAX and when we were brainstorming his web site he told me he receives most of his business from referrals.... from his friends and sphere as a professional bowler! And so we created http://MNBowling.com - This is probably our members MOST unusual example of networking on-line as his entire site is pretty much a free listing of all the current bowling tournament scores and status from around the state. And he does this himself! Only small "sponsorship links" to his real estate sub-page..... Since Tom is a member of this list, maybe we'll hear from him about how it's working for him!
Jim Hermes has over 30 years in Real Estate so you might imagine his past client list is pretty big. We wanted to use "networking" in a way that would help to gather e-mail addresses from this large (2000+) list. "Way back When," Jim and I used to do corny photo ads in his local "Peach" publication, usually featuring some local business, restaurant, or service where Jim was "networking" with the owners. so when it was time to put all this together, Jim decided to send out the 2000+ plus post cards announcing his new "Friends" web page, just for Friends Of Jim :) The postcard had a web address that was "unlisted" on his site... a *Secret* page just for his friends. And on this page each month is an "opportunity" to fill out the form for a drawing - in his case a local restaurant giveaway. Of course the form provided the e-mail address...
You can see Jim's Friends page too :) --> http://www.jimhermes.com/friends/
I could go on and on about how this "Networking" type of web marketing is so good for us in Real Estate. It reinforces all the right things - local knowledge and connections. Your networking friends will also send lots of visitors to *your* site to see *their* pages. They all advertise your site! "Archive" your various networking pages into a great information packed directory. It never ends! :)
Sharon Myers has a passion and knowlege for cooking that has her experimenting with restaurant reviews and give-aways in her area. Restaurants are particularly attractive, since out-of-towners like to know and locals like to eat! And what a great networking contact! Think of the owner and waiters telling everyone to look them up on YOUR site! Get some snapshots and have some fun. See one of her reviews at --> http://www.recipe4success.com/rest/maggiore/
You may not be a pro bowler, gourmet, or 30-year RE veteran, but you're SOMETHING or your know SOMEONE... :) Put on your thinking caps and you'll be seeing the networking possibilities in YOUR area too!