Online networking offers easy access to experts without
charging your credit card. So...does it really help?

(1) As with any networking effort, ask for information, not
advice. Write your question carefully.

"Do you know a good agent for my book?" may lead to advice,
like, "Skip the agent -- go right to the publisher."

Ask, "Has anyone on the list worked with a reliable agent
who handles autobiography?"

or (better) "Has anyone on the list gone through the process
of choosing a literary agent? What did you do?"

(2) When you send off a letter to a few hundred or a few
thousand strangers, you can't expect privacy. Ethically and
legally (though it's tough to enforce), nobody should copy
your email and pass it off as his or her own work.

However, a social scientist may perform a content analysis
of your postings. A newsletter editor or self-help writer
may get ideas for an article or book. And if you shed
virtual tears over your horrible job, anyone on the list may
recognize your name and forward your email to your boss.

I have no idea whether you would win a court case but I can
guarantee your life will be pretty awful for awhile.

(3) "Dear Abby" never claims to be a therapist and online
networks cannot substitute for hiring a career or business
coach. You can't plan a coherent strategy by asking a series
of questions to a group of strangers.

When experts offer advice in a public forum, they're
presenting generalized approaches. If they're smart, they're
combining altruism with advertising.

If you like a particular expert's answers, consider hiring
him or her for a private consultation, where your interests
will come first -- and your communications will remain
confidential.

(4) Want to get some reaction to your redesigned website,
your latest slogan or your most recent resume? Market
research won't yield useful results unless you find subjects
who resemble your target customers.

A group of web designers may not be ideal judges of your
website. I prefer to hear from visitors who resemble my
actual and potential clients -- and am always happy to hear
from ezine readers.

Job-hunting? Show your resume to managers who have achieved
success in the industry you want to target -- preferably
those who have experience hiring at your level.

(5) Finally, be aware that anyone can join a virtual
discussion group. You can't make assumptions about members
who reply to your emails.

I have no children, but many aspects of home business are
universal. So I signed up with a discussion group of
parents working at home. "Anyone with a dog as large as
yours can qualify," the moderator assured me.

---------------------------------
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., author of Making the Big
Move, helps midlife professionals navigate
career and business transitions.
Complimentary Special Report:
"How Smart People Can Derail During Transitions"
http://www.cathygoodwin.com/subscribe.html .
Contact: http://www.cathygoodwin.com/feedback.html
Phone: 505-534-4294




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Tags: email, web designers, easy access, market research, target customers, business coach, court case, slogan, autobiography, altruism