Women’s Network Australia Blog

Networking - The Social Norms

The business community is currently a-buzz with the virtues of social networking and how it can return results for business success. Just to get a feel for what all the hype is about, this past week-end I decided to bite the bullet and spend some time familiarising myself with the Top 5 social networking sites.

It was a bit like doing 5 networking events in the one day. I was totally exhausted and over it by the end. My conclusion after the exercise was that exactly the same mistakes being made by those networking real time have now transferred to social networking sites.

Here are my thoughts:

Be Selective: As is the case with networking organisations, joining multiple social sites won’t help you achieve better business results. You’re much better off selecting two favourite social sites and spending time working them to their fullest extent. Throwing enough mud hoping some of it sticks doesn’t work real time and it’s not going to work online either.

Stay on Target: If aiming to attract and influence potential clients, select social sites where your style of clients hang out. At all times keep your branding and position in the market place top of mind.

Maintain Image: Decide how you want to be perceived in the market place and write your content with this point in mind. Balance it with the type of personal stories your target market can relate to and if you have a keen sense of humour share this along the way.

Stay on Purpose:  Sure building your business and product profile online is the aim of the game but full on selling inhibits relationships. If you don’t want to be avoided like the plague provide content rich information and resources and you’ll attract a steady stream of followers.

Lynette Palmen AM, Founder and Director, Women’s Network Australia. Subscribe free to WNA’s weekly eNoticeBoard service or attend a WNA networking event in your region.

Growing Your Online Business

Frankly these days if you don’t have an online presence you have no hope of succeeding in business. Over the past year I have spent a vast amount of my time soaking up everything I can about everything online.

At times it’s been a real struggle but I am so enjoying developing my new skills set. Very soon Women’s Network Australia will celebrate its 20th year and I know that for the organisation to be relevant and celebrating its 30th birthday we have to progress and build our online and multimedia functions.

For those who still question the success of online marketing take note of Sportsgirl’s Chief, Elle Roseby and what she has accomplished in the last 12 months. Imagine if she’d sat there relying on foot traffic into their stores. Doesn’t rate thinking about really!!

Social Web Attracts Women

Women are emerging as the queens of social online networking, according to a recent study by Rapleaf. Women have always been the biggest users of networking skills, nurturing relationships, exchanging info and igniting trade with each other. But this study reveals that women are currently the biggest users of the social web. 

The report is not small either, it includes 49.3 million users. It’s not surprising really, women are time poor and they have always enjoyed communicating and socialising more than men. The researchers indicate that men do network, but to get them interested networking needs to go hand in hand with transactions and outcomes. After all, why bother talking unless you have to?

If your website and eMarketing tools are still on the back burner in your ‘to do’ tray, you best get moving. The study shows that the emerging market of 14-24 year olds are currently the biggest users of the social web. Women outnumber  men 3 times in this age group with 16 million female users and 11.5 million male users in this demographic.

The lesson here is that if you run a business and have plans to be running a viable business in 5-10 years, you best get eMarketing and Social Web savvy. In the blink of an eye the  14-24 year olds will be 24-34 years of age. How are you going to connect with them is the question you need to be asking yourself.

Lynette Palmen AM is the Founder and Managing Director of Women’s Network Australia, the leading business and professional women’s networking organisation in the Nation. Subscribe FREE to WNA’s weekly eNoticeBoard.