Business Marketing Monday: Should Telecommuters Network?

Are you a telecommuter? Meaning, do you work from home, representing a company? There are many telecommuters who work from home each day and never think about networking or marketing to others. After all, they’re employees of another company, so what’s there to market, right?

Wrong.

Telecommuters can benefit tremendously from the aspect of networking. Finding and networking with others in your industry can prove to be valuable to you for a number of reasons:

Your connections can also be your back up. If something comes up in your personal life that prohibits you from completing an assignment, you can call on your new “networking friends” to ask for their help in a pinch.

Your connections can also be a gateway to other lucrative jobs. Everyone who telecommutes isn’t happy. Perhaps you’re one of them. Ask around and see what else lies above yonder mountain.

Your connections give you a much needed distraction, when appropriate. Stop and chat online for a few minutes. Exchange photos. Have water cooler talk. It’s called down time.

Your connections can help answer any questions on computer problems, how-to’s or whatever else there is relative to your job. I know, I know, you know all there is to know about what you do. But just stop and think for a moment that maybe there’s that one thing you don’t know. Ask. It never hurts…to…just…ask.

Do you telecommute in your job? Have you found it to be a challenge for you? What about networking - - is that something you’ve ever considered in your telecommuting lifestyle? Do share.