when we meet new people, we're fairly formal in our attitude. We don't generally get into back-slapping or joke-swapping within the first 30 seconds.

Call to action

If you can, give people a reason to get in touch (definitely not "if you need a used car call me immediately because we've got the best used cars in town"). It's going to be something like "I really enjoy going to see the Eagles play a home match, so if you're a footy fan too, drop me a line" or "I'd like to have a chat to someone who's had this challenge and solved it, so if that's you and you've got experience you'd like to share, drop me a line", or “We’ve had good success moving int

Especially while this new community is still relatively small, you'll find that a lot of people will go looking to see who else is a member. This is the most important time for you to actually present yourself in a way that lets people understand you and engage with you.

So these are the things that you really should (and some things that you definitely shouldn't) do, in order to ensure that your single most important representation actually does its job, and attracts people to you:

Have a photo

It's so easy to upload a photo. Just go to "My Profile" and choose "Edit". You'll see the box to upload a photo or photos from your computer. I really encourage you to use a photo of yourself (casual or in business attire) but if you really don't want to do that, at least have your company logo, or a photo of your premises.

This may surprise you but most people won't click on a profile unless there's a photo. So if you don't have a photo you're really not going to meet anyone and the whole thing is a waste of your time.

Your photo should be a maximum of 300 x 300 pixels. If you’re unsure how to assess that or how to alter the size of an existing photo, our very friendly and hospitable staff are there to help.

Fill out every possible field

Give people as much information as you possibly can, which you feel comfortable with. We're not asking you to disclose that your grandmother was a bubble dancer (although feel free!), just wanting to get a much bigger "picture" of you from your words.

Fill out your personal, business, and social profiles, and take time to put at least something in the section describing whom you'd like to be introduced to and what your current challenges or foci are.

DO NOT turn the profile section into an advertisement for your product or services. To do that is akin to meeting someone for the very first time, not having a clue who they are, and immediately start spieling on with a sales pitch. Pretty awful, eh? Leave that stuff to the classifieds, event announcements, etc. (More tips on writing classifieds next blog entry!)

Check your prose for grammar, spelling, typos

Because we're a quality business community, people expect to see a certain level of literacy. If they don't see that, they make presumptions about competence that aren't very flattering.

Your profile should be a little formal, but still inviting

The aim is to be warm and engaging, at the same time maintaining professionalism. Keep your informal writing for private messaging once you've got to know people.

This is the same principle as face-to-face meetings. At first when we meet new people, we're fairly formal in our attitude. We don't generally get into back-slapping or joke-swapping within the first 30 seconds.

Call to action

If you can, give people a reason to get in touch (definitely not "if you need a used car call me immediately because we've got the best used cars in town"). It's going to be something like "I really enjoy going to see the Eagles play a home match, so if you're a footy fan too, drop me a line" or "I'd like to have a chat to someone who's had this challenge and solved it, so if that's you and you've got experience you'd like to share, drop me a line", or “We’ve had good success moving into

ly encourage you to use a photo of yourself (casual or in business attire) but if you really don't want to do that, at least have your company logo, or a photo of your premises.

This may surprise you but most people won't click on a profile unless there's a photo. So if you don't have a photo you're really not going to meet anyone and the whole thing is a waste of your time.

Your photo should be a maximum of 300 x 300 pixels. If you’re unsure how to assess that or how to alter the size of an existing photo, our very friendly and hospitable staff are there to help.

Fill out every possible field

Give people as much information as you possibly can, which you feel comfortable with. We're not asking you to disclose that your grandmother was a bubble dancer (although feel free!), just wanting to get a much bigger "picture" of you from your words.

Fill out your personal, business, and social profiles, and take time to put at least something in the section describing whom you'd like to be introduced to and what your current challenges or foci are.

DO NOT turn the profile section into an advertisement for your product or services. To do that is akin to meeting someone for the very first time, not having a clue who they are, and immediately start spieling on with a sales pitch. Pretty awful, eh? Leave that stuff to the classifieds, event announcements, etc. (More tips on writing classifieds next blog entry!)

Check your prose for grammar, spelling, typos

Because we're a quality business community, people expect to see a certain level of literacy. If they don't see that, they make presumptions about competence that aren't very flattering.

Your profile should be a little formal, but still inviting

The aim is to be warm and engaging, at the same time maintaining professionalism. Keep your informal writing for private messaging once you've got to know people.

This is the same principle as face-to-face meetings. At first when we meet new people, we're fairly formal in our attitude. We don't generally get into back-slapping or joke-swapping within the first 30 seconds.

Call to action

If you can, give people a reason to get in touch (definitely not "if you need a used car call me immediately because we've got the best used cars in town"). It's going to be something like "I really enjoy going to see the Eagles play a home match, so if you're a footy fan too, drop me a line" or "I'd like to have a chat to someone who's had this challenge and solved it, so if that's you and you've got experience you'd like to share, drop me a line", or “We’ve had good success moving int

bly can, which you feel comfortable with. We're not asking you to disclose that your grandmother was a bubble dancer (although feel free!), just wanting to get a much bigger "picture" of you from your words.

Fill out your personal, business, and social profiles, and take time to put at least something in the section describing whom you'd like to be introduced to and what your current challenges or foci are.

DO NOT turn the profile section into an advertisement for your product or services. To do that is akin to meeting someone for the very first time, not having a clue who they are, and immediately start spieling on with a sales pitch. Pretty awful, eh? Leave that stuff to the classifieds, event announcements, etc. (More tips on writing classifieds next blog entry!)

Check your prose for grammar, spelling, typos

Because we're a quality business community, people expect to see a certain level of literacy. If they don't see that, they make presumptions about competence that aren't very flattering.

Your profile should be a little formal, but still inviting

The aim is to be warm and engaging, at the same time maintaining professionalism. Keep your informal writing for private messaging once you've got to know people.

This is the same principle as face-to-face meetings. At first when we meet new people, we're fairly formal in our attitude. We don't generally get into back-slapping or joke-swapping within the first 30 seconds.

Call to action

If you can, give people a reason to get in touch (definitely not "if you need a used car call me immediately because we've got the best used cars in town"). It's going to be something like "I really enjoy going to see the Eagles play a home match, so if you're a footy fan too, drop me a line" or "I'd like to have a chat to someone who's had this challenge and solved it, so if that's you and you've got experience you'd like to share, drop me a line", or “We’ve had good success moving int

eave that stuff to the classifieds, event announcements, etc. (More tips on writing classifieds next blog entry!)

Check your prose for grammar, spelling, typos

Because we're a quality business community, people expect to see a certain level of literacy. If they don't see that, they make presumptions about competence that aren't very flattering.

Your profile should be a little formal, but still inviting

The aim is to be warm and engaging, at the same time maintaining professionalism. Keep your informal writing for private messaging once you've got to know people.

This is the same principle as face-to-face meetings. At first when we meet new people, we're fairly formal in our attitude. We don't generally get into back-slapping or joke-swapping within the first 30 seconds.

Call to action

If you can, give people a reason to get in touch (definitely not "if you need a used car call me immediately because we've got the best used cars in town"). It's going to be something like "I really enjoy going to see the Eagles play a home match, so if you're a footy fan too, drop me a line" or "I'd like to have a chat to someone who's had this challenge and solved it, so if that's you and you've got experience you'd like to share, drop me a line", or “We’ve had good success moving int

when we meet new people, we're fairly formal in our attitude. We don't generally get into back-slapping or joke-swapping within the first 30 seconds.

Call to action

If you can, give people a reason to get in touch (definitely not "if you need a used car call me immediately because we've got the best used cars in town"). It's going to be something like "I really enjoy going to see the Eagles play a home match, so if you're a footy fan too, drop me a line" or "I'd like to have a chat to someone who's had this challenge and solved it, so if that's you and you've got experience you'd like to share, drop me a line", or “We’ve had good success moving into overseas markets, so if you’re a small business who’d like to do the same, why not drop me a line”.

I hope these tips have been helpful, and welcome any questions about using any of the resources on My Speed Business Network to get the results that you want.