Use Online Networking to reach new people!

Aiming to reach:
Individuals or organisations that have a relationship with your project or area of work. For example, beneficiaries, partners, customers, clients, suppliers, funders, national bodies, local charities, agencies and government bodies.

Idea:

Online networking enables you to find people fast - it’s much easier to search a database than a room full of people.
Before joining or creating an online network, work out exactly what your organisation wants to achieve from it. Be honest with yourself and consider how much time you have to allocate to the network. Beware online networks can be a distraction – especially if you enter into a chat type situation. However if you are disciplined an online network can be used as an additional organisational tool for :
• making new contacts
• promoting your work
• find new clients or suppliers

Could lead to
• Identifying more efficient ways of working
• Better communication with and understanding of  client / beneficiary needs e.g. using online polls to gather client feedback and data.
• Accessing a wider market

Links
• www.bebo.com www.facebook.com as prominent online social networks that organisations are using to interact with their clients
• www.ning.com and www.socialtrak.com enable you to build your own branded online network.