One easy way of sharing and growing your network is to run your own e-mail list. This is even more effective than simply becoming active in a pre-existing list, since you have full control of the list and the participants, and can market yourself readily with every contribution and on the list’s website. It is free and easy for you to organize a group on Yahoo Groups, Topica, MSN, or another similar service.

There are two major categories of email lists: newsletters (only you can send material out) and online discussion groups (anyone can send an email out to the group). If you decide that you want your list to be an online discussion group, we strongly recommend creating some sort of screen. You could manually moderate the list, approving each email that is sent out. Alternatively, you could create a high barrier to membership, interviewing all applicants and making it clear that inappropriate behavior is cause for termination from the list.

Without some sort of filter like the ones mentioned, online discussion lists have a tendency to degrade in quality. Less-desirable members will send out spam, flames, and other undesirable internet traffic. As a result, your quality members will unsubscribe and your list may disintegrate.

Most lists are set up so that anyone can join without screening. The advantage of that approach: your network can grow indefinitely. As list members virally publicize your list to their friends, your list will grow with little effort on your part. You do not have to take the time to screen anyone.
However, there is a downside to keeping the list open and not screening new members. The list loses some of its relationship-building power, precisely because anyone can join. The members do not feel “special” to be in the group, and you will never have had a two-way interaction with most of them. As Groucho Marx famously said, “I’d never join a club that would allow a person like me to become a member.”

You may want to consider the approach of Mike Rosen, who runs an informal list of networking events in Houston. The only way to get on this list is to meet Mike in person. Meeting him becomes a more desirable event, because he can offer you access to a valuable resource.

If you would like to manage your e-mail without the advertising that Topica and Yahoo Groups use to support themselves, you may find helpful ConstantContact.com, CoolerEmail.com, SparkList, Lyris.net, or Ennectmail.com. If you are using a mailing list purely for informational purposes and only need a one-way mailing list, NotifyList.com or EZezine.com may be helpful. Certain lists on the topic of technology and business may be eligible for a free, advertising-free list from FreeLists.org.

It is equally true online as offline that you create greater credibility and reach a larger number of people as a host than as a guest.

At first glance, Lockergnome might appear to be just another set of technology newsletters, Pirillo.com could seem like internet marketing hype, Gnomedex just another geek convention, and RentMyChest.com a silly internet gimmick.

But talk to Chris Pirillo, the creator of this internet empire, or to some of his loyal readers (”gnomies”, as they call themselves), learn how this all came into existence, and you quickly come to the conclusion that Chris Pirillo may be perhaps the greatest online networker on the planet. And he’s done it all independent from the recent surge of online networking communities.

It’s no stretch to say that Chris Pirillo has a personal network of about a million people. He is one of the few people in the world to ever be able to monetize membership in his inner circle (at a stunning $97 a month, which many people are paying, because of the tremendous unique value provided). And how many people hold an annual convention of their personal network? Herb Allen’s Sun Valley Retreat comes to mind, but that’s about it.

Again, this could be just another technology business, were it not for Chris’s radically different philosophy and approach. Chris writes in the first person, sharing his personal experience of technology and how it affects his and his readers’ lives. And while he has a little bit of help now, it’s still basically a one-man show—Chris produces all the content and keeps in direct personal touch with many of his readers, readily publishing his e-mail and instant messaging ID to subscribers.

As Pirillo says in his short autobiography, “They understand that I’m not some guy sitting in an office pounding away at a computer because it’s my job. My writing comes across in a personal way—I talk about my ‘non-computer’ life all the time, and most find that approach refreshing. It’s nice to know your favorite author has a life outside of his writing. I’m a real person, and my subscribers know and respect that. I don’t fake my friendliness—I’m from Iowa. We’re all born that way.”

And while it has not brought him financial fortune, he makes a comfortable living at it. Perhaps more importantly, it has opened doors for many other opportunities. He has been a host on Tech TV, and now has a regular column in Computer Power User. Most recently, he was asked to co-author Online!, a whopping 688-pager, with John Dvorak due out October 24. When pressed as to exactly how he leveraged his network for these kind of opportunities, he replies, “It just happens.”

But regardless of the finances of it, Pirillo finds his work immensely satisfying. This can be attributed primarily to his truly inspiring philosophy: “I have a mission to help others, and I’m succeeding every day. Some people measure success in money. I measure it in relationships.”

“Networking” has a bad name among some, in large part because it is perceived as being centered on how you can exploit others. On the contrary: true networking is all about you finding out how you can help others. In Donna Fisher’s book Professional Networking For Dummies®, she defines networking as “people sharing and caring for one another.”

This is equally true when you are building relationships online for business purposes. It is critical to keep in mind that the true spirit of networking is based on the age-old premise that people most like doing business with people they like. With the internet, you simply now have access to more people with which to develop business relationships.

Keeping an attitude of service and kindness present in your networking interactions will attract more people to you. Networking without heart and kindness is cold, calculating, ultimately unfulfilling, and typically unproductive. Networking with heart and kindness leads to opportunities to be of service and create mutually beneficial business relationships.
Networking is not just about taking certain actions and creating certain results. It is the process of building quality relationships and experiencing the satisfaction that comes from contributing to someone else’s success.

An attitude of lovingkindness will affect the way you respond to people online and in person. Here are some ways to support others in your online business interactions, regardless of the industry of your counterparty:

• Mentor someone who is just starting in business, or newly entering your field.
• Help other people prepare for a major presentation by coaching them.
• Make sure to contact people when they are in difficulty (just had a baby, just lost a job, etc.), not just when they are flying high. They will be eternally grateful, and you will prove that you are not a mere fair weather friend.
• Give industry colleagues a “heads-up” about a news item that affects them, or co-workers a tip off about a surprise visit by upper management.
• Do someone else’s dirty work for them, particularly when the dirty work is thankless drudgery and the person is overwhelmed.

Remember, what you put out into the world is typically what you receive back from it.

The idea for eWomenNetwork was first conceived in 1999 by Sandra and Kym Yancey. That led to research, software development, pre-launch and the official launch in 2001.

“It takes teamwork to make the dream work.” Their focus is to create a vast network of female business owners and professionals all connected to each other—to give success-minded women easy access to each other’s skills, talents, knowledge and resources.

eWomenNetwork.com is a membership-based organization focused on connecting and promoting women and their businesses worldwide. Their membership consists primarily of women business owners, entrepreneurs and corporate professionals. There are over 500 business categories represented in their online search engine.

eWomenNetwork.com is focused on being a community of women who have an interest in doing business with other women in business. Their networking philosophy is based on the concept of giving as a means for building relationships and doing business with other members. Members are invited to use their online profiles and search capabilities to support their businesses.

Members are also encouraged to participate in monthly, quarterly and annual meetings and conferences held in major cities around the country. These “Accelerated Networking” events include a networking activity that guarantees that attendees will meet other people at the event.

The eWomenNetwork Radio Show broadcasts every Sunday evening. The radio show highlights members, interviews people with valuable information for members and promotes members doing business with each other.

Members are encouraged to bring in other members and can earn money, and even earn back their membership fee, for helping to grow the organization and sponsor other members. Visitors can participate in their forums by signing up for free as a registered guest.

One of their goals is to “connect 1-million+ women to a community that is focused on giving, sharing, and being there for each other”. They also utilize the power of their network to create buying “power” for retailers, manufacturers, and various service providers.

The eWomenNetwork Foundation helps “not-for-profit enterprises meet the challenges of helping our communities cope, grow, and heal”. A portion of their corporate gross “before tax” revenue is set aside to distribute to other organizations focused on making a positive impact on the lives of others.

The latest Houston Business Journal features a commentary by Scott Allen entitled
Online networking entering flow of mainstream business methods, in which Scott discusses the rapid adoption of online social networking by the business community as part of their overall marketing and business development strategy.

One of the best places to network is in volunteer organizations. Besides putting your skills to good use at a cause you believe in, you demonstrate your expertise and commitment to other like-minded individuals, who may become, or refer you to, prospective clients, partners, or employers for you.

Nonprofit organizations all over the world are benefiting from the addition of virtual volunteer opportunities to their volunteer programs. With these online opportunities, volunteers often find that they have more time to give because there is no travel time required and they can often be even more efficient in their own environment. Listed below are some of the types of projects that are easy for virtual volunteers and valuable for the organization.

Typical virtual volunteer job opportunities:

• Web development – an online community must have a strong web presence designed to provide maximum ease and efficiency of participation.
• Translations – with global online networking there is more and more need to have websites, press releases and other literature available in numerous languages so that diverse communities can connect.
• Writing press releases – writing and sending press releases online can make the difference in a cause getting public attention and support.
• Writing and Proofreading – Sites that want people coming back on a regular basis have to keep updating their information and must make sure everything is accurate and professional.
• Graphic design – graphics are compelling and help to paint an emotional picture and create a powerful image of the problems and solutions addressed by online communities.
• Research – if you love to surf the internet, you’ll love this. And you’ll be generating valuable information for a good cause.
• Track legislation – if you are fascinated by the ins and outs of government, you could be a valuable resource for a nonprofit advocating legislation to further their cause.
• Creating online forums – these organizations need people who are tech savvy to host chat rooms, create online forums, develop blogs and other internet activities.
• Writing emails – you can be a valuable resource by helping to respond to the many emails that these online communities are generating.
• Generating sponsor support – utilize your sales, marketing, and negotiation skills to get sponsorships, support and alliances that help further their cause.
• Database management – you can help an organization be more efficient and effective with their online contacts.
• Professional advisor – if you have legal, financial or management expertise, you could be a valuable on call advisor or member of a virtual advisory board.
• E-zine and newsletter development – Making regular contact with members of an online community are vital for it’s longevity.
• E-mentoring – depending on your background and expertise, you might be a great e-mentor at an executive, management or leadership level; or as an e-mentor for volunteers in the organization or the people served by the organization.

Some people don’t like to donate their services, thinking that it somehow devalues them. In truth, there is nothing that demonstrates the value of what you do more than to put it to good use for a cause you believe in.

NetAid.org represents a “growing network of people and organizations committed to ending extreme poverty”. They focus on bringing people together in a way that helps them achieve the United Nation’s goal of cutting poverty in half by 2015 by raising awareness and offering people concrete ways to take action.

NetAid.org represents the true spirit of networking by building direct connections of people to projects and people to organizations where there is someone with a need and someone who wants to help satisfy that need.

This beauty of this is evident in their program, NetAid Online Volunteering, run jointly by NetAid and UN Volunteers. Through NetAid.org, thousands of volunteers have partnered with organizations to address issues around the world in developing countries. Volunteers from all around the world are writing articles, writing grant applications, conducting research, translating documents, creating websites, monitoring discussion groups, managing email lists, and sending group emails.

“We pride ourselves in our ability to take a complicated weighty issue and present it in such a way that people can understand and relate”, says Joy Portella, Director of Communications for NetAid.org. “People tend to think there’s nothing they can do and we like to set up interesting things that people in developed worlds can do for people in the undeveloped world.”

“We also believe in getting information to people quickly so that contributors know where there money is going and so that they feel like part of the community. Their monthly newsletter goes out to approximately 35,000 subscribers and is also stored on the website. With their desire to keep creating a community experience, they send out quizzes, petitions, trade links with other sites and have a “Tell a Friend” option at the bottom of their site.

Success stories listed on their website include:

• Canada volunteer helps to develop web site of an African organization that helps people with disabilities.
• A volunteer in Turkey helped to add 1,150 publications to the library on HIV/AIDS run by Mgbala Agwa Youth Forum in Nigeria.
• United States volunteer established the first regional office of World Computer Exchange in California. This Boston based organization was looking for someone to help establish the organization in San Francisco.
• Costa Rica volunteer finds sponsors to establish a library for children with disabilities and their parents Uganda. She sent hundreds of emails out to librarians, advocates, disability specialists, publishers and doctors, asking for information resources, brochures and children’s books.
• A volunteer in Nicaragua is technical advisor on IT/web problems for the Nile Basin Society in Canada.

Ten virtual volunteers are honored every year with their photos and stories posted online and kept in archives. Volunteers get to know and appreciate each other even though they are in different countries, working on different projects and never meet in person.