| "> | | | | visited the site maybe twice. Today I mistakenly |
| As a member of several online networking | | | | clicked on the forum and decided to stay on the |
| communities, it occurred to me that I rarely take | | | | site for a few minutes. I was pleasantly surprised |
| the time to participate in any of the forums. Yes, | | | | by the content available to me. Visiting the sites |
| people do tend to blatantly use the space for | | | | of other businesses made me think about a |
| spam or just advertising, but you may want to | | | | make-over for my own site. I looked at what |
| start looking deeper and getting downright | | | | was on the poster's mind and realized we all |
| creative about how you select who you can trust | | | | pretty much want the same thing - to grow our |
| to work with. That's the key, finding partners that | | | | business. I decided to spend 15-minutes replying to |
| you can depend on and who care enough use | | | | as many posters as I could. The good news is |
| their time helping others succeed. | | | | that I've received some great advice in my inbox. |
| Bartering for services has been around for | | | | I'm finding some dependable, reliable people to |
| centuries and I think we, as business people, tend | | | | throw ideas at and who don't mind sharing their |
| to isolate ourselves, because we don't want to | | | | secrets. |
| step outside our comfort zone or harm the | | | | The point is, I am more than willing to get up 15 |
| reputations we've built over time. We roll our | | | | minutes earlier each day and check in on the |
| eyes and shrug with blah attitudes even at the | | | | various networks I belong to and respond and |
| suggestion of exchanging expertise or products | | | | have committed to post to as many inquiries as I |
| when a good fit comes our way. | | | | can in that time span. A nice hot cup of freshly |
| I belong to several small business networks. One | | | | brewed coffee by my side will add to the |
| in particular, I joined a few months ago and have | | | | ambiance of a morning must-do. |