As business professionals, we often find ourselves at mixers, lectures and other events that are meant to get us together, to broaden our professional networks and get our names out there. After all, for most of us, warm referrals are much less painful than cold calling! But when it comes to the Internet, it is sometimes difficult to see the networking potential – especially when our main focus is often on how to get our information out to the world.

 But the Internet can be an amazing tool for starting dialogues and building relationships. In its most basic application, we can use the Internet to locate businesses like ours (or maybe complimentary to ours). These types of websites provide great link building resources, so it’s important to contact the owner and talk link exchange. In doing so, you’ve reached out, sometimes across town, sometimes around the world. You’ve started a relationship that can lead to business and can be mutually beneficial.

So, what’s the bottom line? If you’re not using the Internet to reach out, to get your names out there and to build relationships, you’re not using it to its fullest potential. I should know, I’ve been asked to speak at events and have gotten jobs from people I met through link generation work.  I’ve also built some of my most important business relationships with people who I may never meet in person, but would never have been able to connect with any other way!

1. Ask for links anytime you begin work with a new client or vendor. Whether you’re on the giving or receiving end of a product/service, its important to ask for a link and to be willing to provide one for the client/vendor – its mutually beneficial.
2. Ask colleagues, business partners and mentors to link to you. These are people who know you and can provide not only a link, but some related information to provide context for site visitors.
3. Request a link from any organizations  you belong to. And once the link is live, verify that the information is correct and that the link works.
4. Post press releases on online PR distribution sites like PR Web and PR Newswire. Be sure to include a link to your website in your press release.

Extra tid-bit: Allocate 5 minutes everyday to identify new websites that would make good link partners for you. If you make this task a part of your work schedule everyday, it will soon become second nature.