As I get closer to writing my series of blog posts about social networking for the business professional based on my own recent experiments I thought you might like to read a great post by my friend Liz Handlin. She wrote a post called Social Networking for Professionals where she gives 6 tips to keep you out of trouble. The most important thing you need to realize about social networking is that it's public. Anyone, and I mean anyone can see what you've written now and in the future.  You have to consider what you're posting ALWAYS. For example I would love to Twitter about who I'm meeting with; prospects, clients, etc. This would be a huge help to those in my network who follow me who could benefit from an introduction to some of these folks for reasons I might not have even thought about. But two things stop me from sharing this much detail. #1 the privacy of those I'm meeting with. Without their permission I'm not sure that this is appropriate. #2 If my competition were smart they would follow me, and this information would incredibly useful. That's just one example of a present tense situation. Where it gets really tricky is considering how something you post now might create a problem 5 years from now. You just never know. I don't say this to scare you away from the great online social networking opportunities for professionals right now: LinkedIN, Facebook, Twitter, Plaxo, etc. Just tread very carefully and make sure you consider each and every action. Now go read LIz's post, you'll thank me. Happy Networking! Scott Ingram NetworkInAustin.com

For many networkers lunch is probably their most productive time of the day. While everyone else is taking a break to eat they’re going to work. It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it.   Many entrepreneurs, business owners and sales professionals know this and take full advantage of their lunch. Lunch may provide an even greater opportunity for someone looking to advance their career, or trying to find their next job opportunity. Sadly most people will have lunch with the same people, day after day after day. This is truly a missed opportunity.   If you’re looking to advance your career have lunch with people in other areas of your organization. Get together with folks in other departments and learn about what’s happening in other facets of your company. Go to lunch with your superiors and learn to see the enterprise from their perspective. Learn more about those who report to you, or others in the organization and see if there’s a way that you can help them advance their career. You’ll quickly become a more valuable employee with a better understanding of the bigger picture. This will improve your chances of advancement, or at the very least insulate you from the next downsizing event.   Next look outside your organization. Ask your counterpart at a competitor to lunch. Learn about their successes and challenges. See if you can’t build a relationship where you can help each other out. These can be invaluable should you ever find yourself without a job or if a better opportunity presents itself within your industry you’ll be one of the first to know.   This certainly isn’t rocket science, it’s just lunch. Don’t be afraid to ask ANYONE to join you for lunch. You’ll find that you’ll rarely if ever be turned down.   Who are you going to ask to lunch today?   Happy networking!   Scott Ingram NetworkInAustin.com

When I was growing up my mom frequently told me: "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all." An experience just this last week showed me just how important that advice is.I was speaking with someone (who will remain nameless) on the phone this last week. We were catching up on several things and as we were talking he was browsing the business directory on NetworkInAustin.com to see who else was a member. He stumbled across one of his competitors and basically said that she had no clue what she was doing and the advice that she gives publicly is all misinformation.Unbeknownst to this nameless individual the competitor he was referring to has been a very valuable asset to me. She has helped me tremendously and has provided some very useful advice. This causes me to have a lot of trust and respect for her.As I result of our conversation I now have no respect for this person who recklessly trashes his competitors.Since I was watching some college football this weekend I'm reminded of the commercial where the referee tells the fans: "You have to give respect, to get respect." That guy is almost as smart as my mom!You never know what kind of relationships folks have with your competitors. Saying anything negative about them is NOT going to help you. If anything it'll make you appear weaker. Respect your competitors, and work to demonstrate that you are the better person and have the superior product or service.Happy networking!Scott IngramNetworkInAustin.com