Lara Eve Feltin presented at IABC/Seattle's Social Media Seminar on March 5, 2009 about the organization of Biznik social networking and community building

1. Business Networking with
Social Networking Tools
Lara Eve Feltin
lara@biznik.com

2. Biznik.com
An Online Community that meets in the Real World.

3. Biznik Events
• Relevant to business.
• No sales seminars allowed.
• Can network with the
other attendees online.

4. Biznik Articles
• Authors have profiles
on Biznik.
• All articles have a
comments field.
• Articles turn into
conversations.

5. “Business Networking”
through
“Social Networking”
(how are these related?)

6. “Business Networking”
(means different things to different people)
• job seeking
• passing “leads” and referral marketing
• handing out business cards to strangers

7. If you try to sell to me
with social media,
you will fail.

8. Social Networking
building relationships +
strengthening your reputation
=
Investing in social capital

9. So. Where to begin?

10. In the era of social media...
Participation = Marketing

11. 1. Listen.
(Visit the web site, see who’s there.)
2. Engage.
(Introduce yourself, comment & RSVP.)
3. Add value.
(Participate: host an event, write an article.)

12. Before an event...
• See who RSVP’d
• Make a note of who’d
you like to meet.
• Contact them ahead
of time.

13. At the event...
You would
have spent all
evening with
them.
But you’ll
excuse
yourself soon
and go meet
her.

14. After the event...
(I misplaced her card...)
Her profile.
Your profile.
Find her
via the
event archive.
Send her
a message
through
Biznik.

15. If you have just 10 minutes/day...

16. Three ways to
promote your business
in an online community:
(Hint: direct selling is not one of them.)

17. 1. Ask a question.
“The ten listed were helpful,
can you go into more depth on number 3...?”

18. 2. Extend the conversation.
“Your top ten inspired me to share number eleven...”

19. 3. Challenge the author.
“Thank you for sharing your ten, I disagree with number 6...”

20. Results:
• Building relationships with other members.
• Strengthening your reputation.
• Adding value through participation.

21. Three options for business:
linkedin.com corporate, manage contacts
biznik.com local, independent
quick, easy updates
twitter.com

22. Further reading:
by
by by
Geoff Livingston
Charlene Li Matthew Fraser
Brian Solis
Josh Bernoff Soumitra Dutta

23. Thank you!
Find me on Biznik:
Lara Eve Feltin, Co-founder
biznik.com/members/lara-feltin
lara@biznik.com