FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Online Networking Saves Small Business Owners Precious Time, Expands Business Possibilities, says "Schmooze-Ability" Expert
Tampa, FL, March 1, 2000 - Grabbing a bagel to eat in the car, crawling along in rush hour traffic to get to an early morning networking event, many a small business owner wonders whether the investment of time and energy in business meetings is worthwhile. The next event sometimes does include three perfect prospects and two hot sales leads, but oh, the time such events involve! According to small business consultant Denise O'Berry of Tampa, Florida, comparable opportunities requiring less time await business people who network online.
"For the time invested, online networking can provide a bigger payback than networking face to face," says O'Berry. "Online, you never have to fight traffic, suffer through bad speakers or show up someplace at an inconvenient time. Schmoozing on the Net is something you can do even at three in the morning in your pajamas. I recommend both face-to-face and online networking to people seeking contacts and business opportunities."
Through participating in online forums and discussion lists, business owners can enjoy benefits like those O'Berry has experienced, such as someone who does training for the U.S. Navy seeing her comments in a training and development online discussion group and hiring her for a training session in Arlington, VA.
To power up your "Schmooze-Ability," O'Berry recommends:
- Have a goal. Could your business benefit from strategic alliances? Your goal could be to build business relationships with complementary businesses.
- Find appropriate online groups for your participation. The web has exploded with discussion lists and forums on just about any topic. Begin your search at YahooGroups.com or Topica.com.
- When networking online be professional, but let your personality shine through. Never forget you are dealing with people. Relationships must be built online just like they are when you network in person.
Through consulting and seminars, Denise O'Berry helps ambitious business owners find ways to grow their business with less effort. "My motto is 'Don't work for your business -- make your business work for you.' Developing your online 'Schmooze-Ability' is an important piece of that picture."
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Contact: Denise O'Berry, The Small Business Edge Corp, 14502 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 200, Tampa, FL 33618
Phone: 813.671.5996. Email: info@whatspossible.com, Web: www.whatspossible.com