The activity of business networking generally includes a great deal of social interaction and knowledge exchange. Golf foursomes, cocktail parties, and company picnics strengthen business relationships through social interaction. And sharing relevant knowledge is an excellent way to strengthen business relationships. In fact, many people believe that the sharing of knowledge is the primary benefit of business networking. Examples of business-focused online networks include Ryze, LinkedIn, and Ecademy.
When a group is clearly identified as a business networking group, it is a sign that open discussion of business activity, including self-promotion, referral requests, and business opportunities is appropriate and even encouraged. There may be limits placed on the activities, such as no blatant advertising or recruitment for multi-level marketing, but the topic of conversation is primarily about business activities.
Also, in a business networking context, overt attempts to create romantic relationships are not well-received. As a general rule of thumb, if it could be considered sexual harassment in an office setting, it is equally inappropriate in a business networking setting.
Summary
By understanding these three types of networks, you can determine which groups are best aligned with your personal and professional objectives. While a particular site may have one dominant mode for the site (for example, the openBC online community clearly refers to itself as a business networking site -- openBC stands for Open Business Club -- user-created groups within those communities may have a different primary style. The Schlaflos: OpenBC@Night forum, the largest forum on the site, states clearly in its description that "people are expanding their network by talking about personal topics."
Recognizing and respecting the dominant mode within a given group will make the group more receptive to your participation, and ultimately make you more effective in your interaction with the group. When typing with Romans, type as the Romans do.
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