Business networking resources

You might have joined a few social networks in the past. My guess is Facebook or even MySpace! And you might have joined at least 1 business networking site such as LinkedIn. In fact, some people look to LinkedIn as more of a job networking site for career advancement as opposed to being a pure business networking site. LinkedIn, in fact offers both opportunities - a great resource for all of us.

What you need to know as entrepreneur, business owner or an investor, is that there are many niche business networking sites out there that can truly give your business an edge. Here is a list of a few of them that my clients have benefited from (and feel free to comment about other sites that I have not covered here):

• Biznik: Biznik is a community of entrepreneurs and small businesses dedicated to helping each other succeed. It was created to serve small business owners who hate feeling isolated. It allows the members to raise their visibility and credibility. They serve major communities in most major cities such as New York, Los Angeles and others.
• Fast Pitch: It claims to be one of the largest professional organizations worldwide. It sets itself apart from LinkedIn by focusing on business networking (as opposed to offering job and career networking possibilities). By combining networking tools online with a social media platform, business owners can receive real return on their investment.
• Entrepreneur Connect: This is an impressive business networking site offering a great amount of resources, information and news. Make sure to check out the sections on discussions, tools and resources, and upcoming events. You should join one of their niche groups related to your business or industry.
• Partner Up: This is a very good online community for business owners and entrepreneurs. It helps you to find people, business opportunities, partners, real estate and of course, build relationships. They offer good business articles and their blog is informative as well. Check out their search tool that would allow you to find partners based on various keywords, industries, job titles and locations.

In fact there are many more sites that you can investigate and join. These include Cofoundr, E.Factor, Ecademy, Active Rain, Real Town, and Plaxo. To maximize your ROI, join a few of these business networking sites and focus on building a long term strategic relationship. As an entrepreneur and investor, you might feel isolated in your office, but you will never be alone again!