Business Networking is not only a great way of building corporate contacts but is also an amazing tool for driving quality fans and clusters.

Business Networking even though not practiced as a “marketing strategy” to a large extent still is a very powerful medium and is harshly under-rated.

I have listed over 10 popular Business Networking Sites and Marketing Tips for Each Site.

1. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the numero uno business networking site having a whopping market share.

It just doesn’t hold to upper hand on the “number of users” front but also holds the upper hand on the features front.

Marketing tips:

• LinkedIn allows you the feature of maintaining a profile with which you can connect with Business Associates and share recommendations. Make sure that your profile stays updated and remains ahead of the curve.
  
• LinkedIn also has a Q & A or FAQ’s section where you could answer industry relevant questions and “establish” yourself. You can answer questions on key areas to get “noticed” and drive in sales.
  
• The key with LinkedIn lies in making sure that people searching for goods/services relevant to what you are trying to promote are able to “find” you inside their network or inside the Linked In network. You could work around it with by having a powerful profile and making sure you have your target tags on your profile and the search can match you to it.
  

2. Plaxo

Plaxo is an advanced address/contact book service coupled with business networking

Plaxo was essentially meant to store and share contacts and has moved onto collaborating and social contact management.

Marketing tips:

• Plaxo is all about contacts – Make sure you have your contact book updated and make sure you have RELEVANT contacts.
  
• Keep adding new contacts at regular intervals
  
• Make sure that you keep your contacts “in the loop” as in keep them informed of changes and encourage them to do the same.
  
• Eventually, try to move your contacts “out” of Plaxo and also interact with them over other platforms.
  

3. Ryze

Ryze is a Business Networking site built to link users – Especially new Entrepreneurs.

Ryze boasts of a large pool of users over a large geographical region and relevant sub clusters.

Marketing tips:

• Ryze is about reaching the right “clusters” – Make sure that you reach the right sub hubs where you can sell your ideas/products
  
• Contribute and Collaborate more and act more responsible and less spammy
  
• Keep your cluster engaged and make sure that you provide them some value – Value translates to fans which translates to buyers.
  

4. Xing

Xing is a mostly Pan German Business Networking site even though it claims to have a wider geographical reach.

It is a large repository or directory of business contacts whom you can connect with.

Marketing tips:

• Make sure you add yourself to the Xing Database and add yourself based on niches people are “looking for”.
  
• Add relevant contacts from related fields
  
• Keep improvising target niches and make sure you cover more as time goes by.
  

5. Ecademy

Ecademy aims at connecting Business Owner’s worldwide to enable them to use Ecademy better to improve their Business Standings.

Ecademy has community, club, network and marketplace features

Marketing tips:

• You can join a varieties of clubs or communities in Ecademy – This is definitely a great way to get in touch with people you “want” to connect with.
  
• Ecademy allows members to communicate internally and it is a great tool to build business contacts.
  

6. Konnects

Konnects allows you to create a profile and connect with other members thus making it easy for you to build contacts and relationships.

Marketing tips:

• Konnects has a “Community Talk” section where you could have your voice “heard” and essentially promote.
  
• Konnects has a “Popular Events” section where you could keep in tune with the latest events and also add your events.
  
• Connects has the public profile feature which helps you in being seen outside the community.
  

7. Zaabiz

Zaabiz is a Web 2.0 Oriented Business Social Networking Site.

It allows professionals to interact providing features like newsletters, groups, forums and power searches.

Marketing tips:

• Building contacts or adding contacts is very vital when it comes to using Zaabiz as a marketing strategy.
  
• Zaabiz has geographically targeted clusters which enable you to “sell” better.
  

8. FastPitch

FastPitch is a Business Networking site where you could build a business profile, add contacts, engage in conversations, promote your blog and post press releases.

Marketing tips:

• FastPitch allows you to distribute Press Releases which essentially means that you can easily make your information “travel”.
  
• FastPitch also allows you to engage in conversations and thus, you can leverage on the community to generate that “buzz”.
  

9. BizNik

Biznik is a Business Networking site which aims at connecting Business Owners.

It focuses more on “collaboration and “participation”.

Marketing tips:

• The primary focus in Biznik is to make sure that your “voice is heard” – and collaborate and contribute.
  
• Biznik lists quality resources and advice so it’s a very good way to get “seen”.
  

10. SiliconIndia

SiliconIndia is more of a Pan India network of Business Professionals where you can create a profile, add contacts, join communities and engage in conversations.

Marketing tips:

• Silicon India allows you to add contacts by industry – Adding contacts is essential to proper penetration.
  
• Communities and Conversations are good ways of “getting seen” here.