Best Networking Chat Rooms?

HomebuyerConsultancy · #1 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008, 17:26

Are there any online business chat rooms that anybody speaks highly of?

They sound a great idea to spread the word regarding your product or service, but I haven't heard of any that cut the mustard as yet.

wecando.biz · #2 (**permalink**) 08-10-2008, 16:04

Do chat rooms still exist? I thought forums like this, business focused social networks and Twitter had picked up the mantle?

IH

VisionStorage · #3 (**permalink**) 08-10-2008, 20:33

Forums are great for networking and so is Ecademy in principle. Problem with Ecademy and in fact networking online in general is that it's neither live or structured. I have messaged many contacts on who I thought I could do business with (both giving and taking) and have had very little response form them, not event a simple acknowledgement. I find I get much more out of offline networkingas it's a proper stuctured event where as promoting yourself online often causes its own problems.

wecando.biz · #4 (**permalink**) 08-10-2008, 23:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by VisionStorage

Forums are great for networking and so is Ecademy in principle. Problem with Ecademy and in fact networking online in general is that it's neither live or structured. I have messaged many contacts on who I thought I could do business with (both giving and taking) and have had very little response form them, not event a simple acknowledgement. I find I get much more out of offline networkingas it's a proper stuctured event where as promoting yourself online often causes its own problems.

Don't tar us all with that brush!

There are some networks where you are required to tread carefully as far as it comes to promoting what it is you. On Ecademy there are clubs that are marked as "not for business" and promoting company is frowned upon. LinkedIn still recommends that you do not accept invitations to connect from people you don't know. Neither assist with business networking of course.

Before you write of the genre give WeCanDo.BIZ a go!

IH

sharp end training · #5 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008, 07:26

Trouble is with most online networks is that as soon as you join - you get pm spam from people you have never heard over offering to "help" you now you are part of the "trusted network"

Also, where some people pretend to be a 17 year old boy online to lure young women, I am sure that some people (maybe even on this forum?) pretend to be a successful businessperson when really they work on the co-op checkout...

Indizine · #6 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008, 07:56

not everyone is genuine and not everything you read on forums is true, but I think with time, you get to see through those that are not genuine and just avoid them. Not much you can do about it unless they are scamming people.

The only online networking I do is via A1, the rest is in offline networking in person. Both are good IMO.

KeyMark Services · #7 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008, 08:52

IMHO if networking online, as Indi states, it takes time to sort the wheat from the chaff.

That is why I favour face to face...you can draw impressions and form your own opinions.

It all depends on your marketplace, company demographic, products/services and business reach.

JMTC.

OtisOgle · #8 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008, 09:06

4Networking, it's a breakfast group type of thing. Great for advertising your product, plus a great group of people.

It has an interactive forum, just like here, and is almost identical except it hosts breakfast groups

Petnanny · #9 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008, 17:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtisOgle

4Networking, it's a breakfast group type of thing. Great for advertising your product, plus a great group of people.

It has an interactive forum, just like here, and is almost identical except it hosts breakfast groups

Yes, 4N is the only other forum I visit and many of the regulars there are known on A1. However, there has been no opportunity for me to attend a breakfast since people from Beds are thin on the ground.

VisionStorage · #10 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008, 17:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by wecando.biz

Don't tar us all with that brush!

There are some networks where you are required to tread carefully as far as it comes to promoting what it is you. On Ecademy there are clubs that are marked as "not for business" and promoting company is frowned upon. LinkedIn still recommends that you do not accept invitations to connect from people you don't know. Neither assist with business networking of course.

IH

I'm not writing the genre off, I just happen to think that online networking doesn't work as well as offline as it is not structured the same. I mean there is very little on the net which put's people in a live environment solely to do business, it's much harder to forge relationships. There are a few chat rooms about but things tend to get diluted as everyone is talking over each other. Offline works well for me at the moment.