| How do you run your own small business web site or | | | | promote your businesso How to choose a web site or |
| business and also keep current on new internet and | | | | hosting packageo How to improve web graphicso |
| technology developments? One solution is to set up an | | | | Optimizing web sites to be search engine friendly |
| internet networking support group. Participating in an | | | | Members can take turns preparing and giving a short |
| internet support group allows you to tap into the | | | | 5-10 presentation about the main topic with handouts |
| combined knowledge and experience of various | | | | and information sheets. Suggest that people not only |
| businesses from different industries. The members of | | | | talk about what they know but consider taking on a |
| the group learn together the ins and outs of doing | | | | topic they want to know more about. Their research |
| business online and help each other keep up with the | | | | can then be presented to the group and all will benefit. |
| latest internet technology. This article will outline the | | | | It's important to keep everyone up to speed during the |
| steps to start your own Internet Networking Support | | | | presentation and to allow for questions and additional |
| Group so you can start getting the help and input you | | | | information. A computer projector will let everyone see |
| need to grow and keep your online business up to | | | | the web sites that are being discussed. If you don't |
| date. | | | | have a projector you may be able to use a couple of |
| How do you begin? Start by finding a place to meet. | | | | computers or laptops. Be sure to give a hand out with |
| Check with local libraries, churches and schools for | | | | the sites that were mentioned in the presentation so |
| available meeting space. Ask local business help | | | | people can look it up later on their own. Choose one |
| groups, the local Chamber of Commerce or SCORE if | | | | person as the moderator to keep the discussion going, |
| they will help or sponsor your group. They may even | | | | to be sure everyone has a turn to speak and to help |
| have space for you to meet and materials that the | | | | wind it up to go on to the next section of the meeting. |
| group can use. Next you'll need to find people who run | | | | For the Open Discussion section of the meeting |
| online businesses that would be interested or who | | | | encourage people to share information about a project |
| would benefit from belonging to a support group. Send | | | | that they are working on, to ask questions they might |
| a press release to the business editor of your local | | | | have or ask for advice or assistance. It's up to the |
| paper about the group you are starting. Post it on | | | | whole group to try and answer the questions and |
| online boards, send emails and ask people to pass it | | | | share their know-how. This open ended discussion is |
| on, post a flyer at the local library and Community | | | | very useful. Not only will it help anyone who is stuck or |
| Center. In your publicity be sure to mention that the | | | | needs inspiration but it's a good way to find out what |
| group is for established and new online businesses, | | | | the group is interested in and to develop a list of future |
| that the purpose is to share knowledge and | | | | meeting topics. The moderator can help here to keep |
| experience and that all levels will benefit. | | | | the talk focused in the group and on the topic. Anyone |
| Experience has shown that an effective support | | | | who needs extensive help can be referred to the right |
| meeting lasts from 1 and 1/2 hours to 2 hours. The | | | | person or place or worked with after the meeting. It |
| meeting can be divided into 4 four sections, | | | | helps to get everyone involved in the discussion and |
| Introduction, Main Topic Presentation, Open Discussion | | | | keep it moving. |
| and Social Time. Meetings should be held once or | | | | Try to allow time at the end of the meeting for Social |
| twice a month. Have a sign in sheet at each meeting | | | | Time and casual conversation. That's often when |
| to start an email list and use this list to send an email | | | | connections are made, help is arranged and people get |
| reminder about the next meeting date, time and the | | | | to talk one on one for encouragement and inspiration. |
| topic. | | | | Be sure to announce the next meeting time, date and |
| Start each meeting with a quick Introduction. Go | | | | the topic. |
| around the room and ask people to say their name, | | | | All types of businesses and business people can |
| type of business and web site. This should be done | | | | benefit from an internet networking support group. Ask |
| quickly. Assure everyone that they will have a chance | | | | your members to talk it up, mention it on blogs, on |
| to bring up their questions later. After the introduction, | | | | networking sites and web sites. Consider starting an |
| introduce one topic to discuss or learn about during the | | | | online discussion board for the group as a place to |
| Main Topic Presentation. Having a topic will help to | | | | make announcements, to let members connect and |
| focus the meeting and get the ball rolling. Allow 30 to | | | | stay in touch between meetings and to keep the |
| 40 minutes for this section. Here are some | | | | group lively and current. Soon you'll have a diverse |
| suggestions for a main topic presentation:o Pay Per | | | | group of business people working together to grow |
| Clicks - How does it work and how to decide if it's | | | | their online businesses. |
| worth it?o Using Social Networking to effectively | | | | |