Do you use the Ryze Business Network to promote your company Web site and make new connections in the professional world? On Ryze and other online networks, human connections are happening everywhere.

Online networks such as Ryze have live links built into them for a reason. They’re your opportunity to directly connect with people who can help you achieve your business goals. Such links enable you to “trace a path” from connection to connection. You can shorten that path to the best connections if you incorporate a sound linking strategy into your networking plan.

How to go about this? Use keywords and “key people” who can help you get to the place where you want to be.

Include Keywords In Your Personal Profile

As you build your personal Ryze page, you’ll notice that you get to add descriptive words to your profile to define who you are. You’re free to use any words you want, but the idea, again, is to take the most direct route to success. So choose words, or keywords if you will, that will help you “find and be found.”

Let’s use your location as an example. If you click right on the state where you live, you can “pivot” on the word to see a list of every Ryze member who lives in that state, too. The same goes for every other live link you get on Ryze. You are in control of these links.

Now suppose you want to link up to people who share your personal hobbies and interests. Type in the words to describe your interests as they’re most commonly known.

Let’s say you’re a golfer. You can attract other golf enthusiasts with the simple keyword “golf.” You can of course type in something like “putting around” but what other golfer is going to choose those exact words for his interest list? Maybe one other guy, and if you can find him then you’re soulmates and should probably marry each other. Just kidding!

Remember, the point of online network links is not to be original, but to make connections. If you feeling like getting creative, you can always do that on your homepage. Write fabulous copy. Include breathtaking photos. Just make sure that your links are beefed up with common keywords for prime networking opportunities.

Adding Key People: Target Your Links!

In much the same way that a smart advertiser pulls in his audience using keywords and highly targeted copy in every ad he writes, you should be pointing all your Ryze links to the people, groups, and opportunities that will point your business in a highly focused and profitable direction.

Some Ryze members try to really work the Friends List angle, adding everyone they meet to their friends list. But I have my own theory about Ryze: adding everyone to your Friends List defeats the purpose of being there in the first place.

Think about it: what would happen if you could add every single person on Ryze to your friends list? You’d be right back where you started on Ryze. A massive pool of connections to pore through to do some decent business, and you don’t know where to start.

The solution, of course, is to be more selective in who you link to. Hook up with those who offer services, information, support and advice that you need to grow your business. How to do this? Join networks. That’s what they were created for.

Joining the Right Networks Will Bring Targeted Traffic to Your Page

When you first get on Ryze, join networks. Not necessarily a ton of networks, but the ones that will help forward your business objective along. This is how you get good traffic to your page. The thing is - you don’t want “just any” traffic. You want traffic to come from areas where there are already a lot of people who are interested in the same things as you.

An example: let’s say that you sell all-natural coffee, and you want to do some writing for the coffee industry as well as put out a newsletter to your email subscriber list of coffee drinkers. You don’t have subscribers yet because you only just started your business. Also, somewhere down the line maybe you’d like to revamp your Web site, but that’s not in the budget right now.

Your networking strategy whould be as follows: join a network of coffee fans, another network of natural foodies, a writing group, an email and/or ezine publishing group, and a Web design group. Participate in each of those groups. Jump right into the conversations. Then watch as “people whom you’d like to know better” come flocking to your Ryze page in droves.

You’ll find that networks which coincide with your personal goals are appealing because members are often interested in achieving the same things as you are. In talking with them over time, you’ll develop mutually beneficial relationships that lead to new business opportunities.

Another perk of joining the right networks: new Ryzers and “floaters” who “Ryze on by” the networks will scan the list of network members, see your name, and maybe reach out to make a connection with you. This is a method for getting “found” by the right people. People who don’t bother to join topic-specific networks on Ryze don’t ever get the traffic they expected to their page. That’s because they’re not using the system to its fullest potential. So target your networking, and carve a path to success and prosperity for your home-based Web business.

Your Friends List is Your Circle of Trust

Your Friends List can include anybody you wish, but ideally it should consist of people you know and trust. ONLY add people with whom you’ve had positive prior experiences, are making current plans with, and have established solid, long-term relationships.

Some people scurry around Ryze, adding everyone they meet as a friend. This doesn’t work to bring you valuable connections, and I’ll tell you why. Because when the time comes to “seek out a trusted source,” you won’t have one because you actually don’t know many people on your list.

Example: suppose you’re looking to hire a tech guy. You think, “Oh, I know… I’ll ask around my network for a good computer guy to use.” You look to your list… that circle of trust… and if it’s a group of people who you actually know well, then you can rest assured that referral will be a good one.

Of course, not every network you join will be related to your business. You can join for the social aspect alone, and that’s perfectly okay. Because another cool thing about online networking is that you can keep your groups separate if you want!

The best online networks, like Ryze, are ingeniously designed to make the most of your connections in every facet of your business and your life. In much the same way we make real-time connections, online networks afford opportunities to build profitable and trusting relationships. Why not use that to your advantage?

Copyright 2005 Dina Giolitto, Wordfeeder.com Copywriting and Marketing. All rights reserved.

Dina Giolitto delivers copywriting direction, support and implementation to businesses throughout the United States. Want free tips on how to write great copy and drive more sales? Sign up for the Copywriting and Marketing Ezine from Wordfeeder today.

Tags: online networking, ryze, ryze network, networking tips