There are many pros and cons to starting a business from home and working remotely. While you get to avoid the long commute and have a better work/life balance, you also need to be a one-person show. You are often your own marketer, accountant, inventory specialist, and everything in between. But even though you are on your own, you still need to network and build your enterprise.
The good news is that you can build a strong professional network from home by utilizing social media and digital tools at your fingertips. If you need help in this area, then we are here to talk about the idea of networking online and how you can make the process easier.
Using Facebook and LinkedIn
The trick to networking on social media is to find the platforms that work best for meeting and communicating with other professionals. One go-to is Facebook because it hosts a number of professional organizations where you can introduce yourself and get a foot in the door. Facebook was initially designed so that former classmates could reconnect, and you can do that here by finding fellow college alumni who share the same interests or business ideas.
If Facebook doesn’t have what you are looking for or you want to meet people from different social media platforms, then consider LinkedIn, which was designed to be a space where you can manage your professional identity and engage with a network of other entrepreneurs and skilled employees.
In order for Facebook or LinkedIn to be effective, you need to set up a solid profile page. Start by adding a flattering photo where you are pictured in professional attire, as that will do wonders to help your credibility. On LinkedIn, you can also create a headline, which should be engaging and promote your business or area of expertise. You will then want to write a summary of yourself and your work and then add a list of your past positions, educational milestones, and relevant skills.
It is essential that you have a professional profile because regardless of whether you search for connections or they find you first, you want to make a good impression.
Crafting a Smart First Message
Once you’ve joined the social network of your choice, communication is key. You need to reach out to professionals in your niche or join groups and start making friends. It is important to put some thought into your initial introduction with a well-crafted message that makes your intentions known and sets a goal. Your goal could be to generate more leads, learn the industry, increase brand awareness, ask someone to be your mentor, or anything in between.
Your initial message should be brief but meaningful. Think about the three main bullet points that you want to convey and write them in a short message that should be easy for the recipient to read on a phone screen in between meetings or whenever else they have time.
At a minimum, your message should introduce yourself, mention your shared expertise or another fact that connects you to them, and the reason for reaching out. Don’t require a certain time to meet or talk or put any other pressure on them. Just mention your goal for the relationship and see where it goes.
Once you have your message completed, you need to find the best time to send it. When it comes to LinkedIn, the best time to post or reach out is Tuesday through Thursday between the times of 7am to 6pm. Mondays are very busy for most professionals, and there is a good chance that your message will be overshadowed by the other emails they receive, so it is good to avoid Mondays. Always make sure that you are sending your message in the correct time zone.
Staying Active
While messaging an individual directly is a great idea, you can also continue to stay active on social media by joining groups and participating on a regular basis. Both Facebook and LinkedIn have a group for just about every area of expertise, and you can join one or several. In addition to meeting other people, you can also use these groups to learn industry news that can be valuable to your own individual efforts.
When you join a group, it is a good idea to introduce yourself and explain why you are glad to be a member. Some groups will even require that you do so. Your introductory message can be just like the message you send to direct recipients, where you state your name, your current position or company, a fun fact about yourself, and what you hope to gain from being in the group.
Once you have been accepted, try to stay active so you can build relationships with the others in the group. You can do that by posting your own ideas or commenting on other posts. You can also be helpful and uplifting when the time comes. Wish someone a happy birthday or wish them good luck on a project. You could even offer to help out with your expertise. These simple messages are a great way to be remembered and you never know where these new relationships will go or how they will help your company.
Consistently practice networking on social media, and you can grow your network without leaving the house.