15 Mistakes You're Making With Your Networking Online

No need to watch your head as you turn left across the stairs, no need to back out on the sidewalk if you've noticed a car approaching. These are just some of the common mistakes that we tend to make in our online networking lives and it doesn't stop there...just in case you hadn't already noticed. Here is a list of fifteen mistakes you're probably making with your online networking skills that can be easy correct with just a few clicks.

1) Not checking email regularly, or at all

Email is an essential part of modern society, and new studies show it's an incredibly effective marketing tool. Helping people find jobs has never been easier than when they read your emails. It's all about timing, and emails sent on the weekend or after 5pm are most likely going to be ignored.

2) Not paying attention to spelling and grammar

I'm not saying your message has to be filled with every word in the dictionary, but it's a good gesture if you use three fingers while typing while keeping your back straight. Spell check is a great tool, but so is spell checker.

If you have trouble using spell checking tools that you should start learning how to type properly, or download some cell phone apps that will help you type like an expert, just in case that wasn't clear enough...or maybe it was...we'll just move on cause it's getting awkward over here. We're all friends here after all.

3) Not using different profiles online

The more times we post something online, the more chances there are that it's going to be seen by someone who can help us out or help us get in touch with someone that can help us.

Try setting up your profiles to post new messages from different emails, different IP addresses, etc., so you have the opportunity to reach other people even if you have to do it repeatedly.

Website designers are also a great way to collect contact info for networking events that you plan on attending when they're built.

4) Having just one display picture

There are a lot of good reasons to use a different display pictures on social networks. You can try using a different location, or a certain expression or joke that you like, on your favorite social networks to get people's attention so they click over and read more about you.

As for the same picture on every single network, it's more likely that only your friends will comment if you do this. Make sure you have different pictures set up for each network so people can decide if they want to click on your profile or not.

5) Not adding your website to the search engines

The listing of your website does not have to be included in a Google search in order for clients to find you. That said, it is important that you do it, and make sure it's listed on all popular search engines.

If people are looking for new ways to get work done, they will probably try a few things before deciding on what works best for them. If your site isn't listed in the first page of results or second page of results, that's not good enough. You want to be found easily.

6) Not building your personal brand

Your personal brand is your name. It's everything around you that gives people a sense of who you are, what you stand for, and which colors to use in your business cards when arriving at the office. You can use social networks to build your personal brand and educate others about who you are. It may take a couple years for this exercise to pay off, but trust me, it's worth it.

7) Silly names on the search engines

People tend to use the same name everywhere they post information online. Take your business name and use it as a searchable key word for your website, for the email you use for online networking, and for the social networks you belong to. If you own a company that builds websites and this is part of your personal brand, then use the same name everywhere!

8) Not asking potential clients to connect with you on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great place to connect with other people in a relaxed environment where no one really expects anything from you unless they have something to offer in return. It's easy to find new clients who might be looking for work online without even having to search for them if you're active on LinkedIn. I like using LinkedIn for drawing up to date information about the company I'm working for and its clients, so it's a good way to find people from companies who made it through a Google search.

9) Not having your own personal blog

Blogs are great for marketing your products and ideas on the web, as well as finding new clients. Not only that, but people can also get in touch with you easier when your email address is connected to your blog (please don't add hotmail addresses to any of your profiles). It's very easy to make a blog and there are a bunch of free services online that will help you set one up in minutes.

10) Not using the most popular social networks

Facebook is by far the most popular social networking site for searching, finding and adding new friends. Having a personal profile will help you connect with people from your job, school and previous school, with family and friends. You can even use it to look up old college buddies, co-workers and other contacts that you've done business with in the past. It's a good idea to use Facebook when connecting with people online because it's free, easy to use, and it's great for getting new jobs.

11) Not using a professional email address

If you run out of email addresses to use, make sure you use one that's easy to remember, and is sure to get replied to. The thing is, some people will only respond to emails they receive if they feel they're important enough. A professional email address will help you get more business done faster.

Email works better than social networking sites for networking because it's real time and there are fewer chances for things like "reply all" changing your email message when it's sent out. It's up to your discretion whether or not you want to use a free or paid service for an address, just make sure it has a professional feel about it.

12) Not having a personal website (or more than one)

It's a good idea to have multiple personal websites. Use one for each of your fields of expertise, and another for your favorite topics.

You can use these sites to educate people about the different things that you do, and they can also be set up as landing pages for your other social networking profiles as well.

If you're working with clients that like to track progress on projects, having a website will help them keep better tabs on what you're doing.

It also makes it easier for potential clients to get in touch with you if they have questions or want more information about what you do.

13) Using the same email address for all websites

Having different email addresses helps you to make sure that people get a response, when they need one. Many times, people will use the same email address for every website that they have, whether it's a small personal site or a big social network profile.

If you use the same address as well then when you want to send an email out it will be sent to your personal site.

Email is also used by companies who want to track progress on projects that are being carried out over the web.

It's a good idea to have an email address that is separate from all your other personal profiles.

14) Not using SEO to find more clients online.

It might be time consuming, but it will definitely help you find potential clients online. It's a good idea to spend some time looking at the top keywords in your industry, and writing content around those keywords.

Putting some of your best articles up on sites that focus on your area of expertise will help people get in touch with you.

This doesn't take too much time, but it will pay off in the long run. Search engine optimization is like a drug, you don't ever stop taking it up.

15) Not using search engines to find your next job

This one is pretty self explanatory. If you want to work then do what you have to do to make sure that your profile pops up when people search for internships, jobs and other things online. The thing is that companies often just let the position go unfilled by not filling it fast enough, or they don't pay their employees fully or what they should be paid for the work that they do.

Finally

The above are just some of the things that you should do to get more clients online, but there are of course many more things that you can do. There's no manual, yet. There are just many different little things that can be worked out to get the most of your time, and to make sure you're getting as much work out of it as possible.