Want to Make the Most of Ning? Interaction is Key

I've noticed this happen a lot on Ning. People join bunches of networks, post a picture and their link, and then wait for people to come to them. Another variation on this is that they start making friends with lots of people and then they never talk to them. Then they come to this conclusion: This Ning stuff doesn't work. In this article I'll be giving you some tips on how to make your Ning membership work in your favor.

Don't just randomly join Ning groups because they have a big membership. A small network that is related to your business is a lot more beneficial than belonging to a network full of people that aren't interested in small business matters at all. It is important to find networks that fit your business niche or are related to a hobby you have knowledge of. I'm not suggesting that Ning has to be all about business. However, if that's your primary goal, you need to be sure that you maintain a presence in areas where people in your niche are likely to be.

Start your own group within the network. Many groups allow their members to start groups within the network. Basically a group is like a mini network. It's a way of getting more specific in a niche. So let's say you join a Ning network about small business. You could start a group for chiropractors. That way you can know for sure that you're just talking to chiropractors. If you have information that's pertinent to a specific group that might not be specific to the whole group, this is a great way to get that information out without getting in trouble with the network owner. Be sure to read the rules carefully and make sure this is allowed before you do so.

Finally, make a point to talk with the network leader. Find out what that person needs help with. Offer suggestions to make the network better. Community leaders love hearing from their members. It helps them know someone is paying attention. Sometimes we feel like we are talking to ourselves when we don't get feedback.

Just like everything else with social networking, Ning only works if you participate. You have to actually go up to people that seem interesting to you and start talking to them. Most of the time people won't find you unless you find them.Be sure to interact with the people in your network at least once a day if you don't do anything but stop in on them to say hi! I know you've heard this plenty of times before, but it's worth repeating. Networking is a process not a one time event. You have to consistently be interacting with people if you want to see results from your networking.
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