How to become an entrepreneur through free business networking
By Michiel Van Kets
Quite a few people are dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur, but to take that first step is quite a challenge. The first thing you have to do is to come up with a good idea. This is probably one of the most challenging parts of becoming an entrepreneur, so the best thing to do and what is certainly going to help you is to always carry a notebook around in which you can write down things from everyday life that cause an inconvenience or anything that can be improved. Later, when looking back at your notebook it can often bring up patterns in why problems occur and how they can be solved. This will get your brain thinking exactly the way an entrepreneur’s should.
Once you find an idea you think can be successful you need to do thorough research so you are sure that there is that gap in the market for your project and that there is indeed a real world in need of your idea. However, how to find this market? Well there is no easy way but the best way to do this is to surf the internet and/or pick up a paper business directory so you can check out the competition. Another way to research is to set up a basic website and use Google Pay-Per click advertising to see how many individuals are searching for similar keywords to your project. This way you will also know how strong your competition is. This is a very straightforward technique of market research and you never know you may also get some enquiries from it! The next step is developing your idea.
One thing that makes entrepreneurial success easier is having a business partner who shares your business vision and has skills that complements your own, and which are necessary for your mission. Finding a one however, is usually not that simple. For example, if you have an idea to patent a new computer chip, then a business partner with connections in manufacturing, or skills in developing, would be a huge advantage. It is great if you know business people that can help you straight away, but most of us would not have these connections right from the start.
Because we are lucky to be living in the 21st century things are a little different and networking is much easier thanks to free social networking sites like Friendster, Face book, MySpace and the newly released ThinkBowl. Through these easy means of approach, one can seek for business partners and join like-minded communities to find good corporate links. With free networking websites like these you can also read other peoples stories, questions and ideas, also share your own thoughts and issues, and receive feedback from the community, as well as writing blogs about your projects, which is a great way to get yourself noticed. Who does not want free marketing?
Some basic procedures apply to all online networks and in particularly the business networks; for example to never expose too much about yourself to the general public (basic details are fine), but wait until trust is build up to eventually reveal more. The same goes for your business information. Make sure you only reveal the minimum unless your ideas are protected that is to say patents, copyrights, trademarks etc. Although every safety measure is taken by sites to weed out “scammers”, they cannot and will not guarantee for someone’s character to be protected, nor take accountability for ideas that are stolen etc.
When you look for a free business networking website, make sure select one that is relevant to yourself and therefore cooperative to you. If your business is all about gardening, there is no need for you to be on a diving networking website. Look for the ones with interesting site content, useful tools and a good-sized community with actual active entrepreneurs. Read the forums and blogs, this way you can tell if the users are the contacts you are looking for and if they are serious enough.
Networking websites work like real life communities. When you join one of them enjoy your activity and use it as an effective business tool. Remember, the users on the site most probably will have similar goals and will communally have a wide knowledge base, so do not be afraid to open up and discuss topics you think are important, ask for feedback or share opportunities. Again, it is important to remember to build up trust first.
Marketing resources i.e. internet, television, magazines, radio, flyers etc are most important when releasing your project to the world. You should use as many as possible but if your budget is tight, you usually can contact the local newspapers who will give you free advertising in the form of a one page story if your project is interesting enough. Before you contact a journalist, make sure you have your story ready. Journalists can be lazy so if you prepared everything and they do not have to do too much work adapting the story they are more likely to use it.
When you have launched your project, keep reviewing it at regular basis and set realistic goals to reach at each of those points. All good projects evolve over time so do not just launch your project and think your job is done! Always be active and feed it, the money is not going to grow on your tree just because you planted it.
Be critical and always strive for perfection. Write down things that are going well but more important the areas that have to be improved. Learn from your mistakes by improving them and always ask for help. Once the company is running like a train get back to the drawing board and think up your next entrepreneur project!