Stay networked. Get informed. Broadcast your projects.

[Tutorial] How to create an effective profile for great online networking

How can you get any concrete benefit from being part of our Community? Some of our members changed careers, got fellowships, were nominated to the MAG, became speakers in conferences and others organized successful events... How does one accomplish all that? What's the secret?

Networking.

And to have effective networking, the first step is to improve your profile so people who do not know you yet will feel compelled to say hello and start an exchange.

A boring, zero-results profile:
- does not have any photo
- does not say anything about you:
-- Where do you live? Africa? Asia?
-- What are your fields of interest? Are you a cybersecurity expert or you are more into open source? Or child protection?
- looks ¨corporate-formal-serious-and-cold¨ and does not convey you as a human being, so it is more difficult to set rapport in the communication
- does not give any reason why people should connect to you

An interesting (thus effective) profile tells something about your current interests, and explains why people should get in touch.

For example, you may say something like:

¨I was born in Hyderabad, India and have just moved to California, where I'm working as a software engineer for ACME, a company who develops online game security solutions so players around the world cannot cheat on the point system.

Since encryption and security are my fields of passion, I'd love to share articles and news with you on these subjects. In fact, I might be interested in volunteer for projects that you may have on online security. Just send me a message if you need a hand (or two!)¨*

What do you think?

The idea of volunteering for projects is recommended by many business experts. Keith Ferrazzi, author of the bestseller ¨Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time¨ defends that volunteering is the best way to meet new people.

Keith Ferrazzi: How do I start networking?
Get active in projects and fields that will lead you to the career that you want, and will train the skills that you find relevant.

This will lead you to interact and have a stronger network of people to inspire, help and grow with you.

Share your passions!

Steps to action
1. Click on http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profiles and ask yourself: - is this an effective profile... or a boring profile? In case you want to improve it, just click ¨edit your profile¨ and tell us what you are interested in, giving a more personal touch to it - share your passion!

2. Find some colleagues who are interested in the same areas, or located close to your region, or whom you shared discussions during the Internet governance capacity building programme (IGCBP) and add them as a friend, leaving a message.

*(As advanced steps, you may even create a Blog post, initiate a Forum discussion and create a Group for these purposes. We may explore these options later)

Comment

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Comment by Shepherd Mulwanda on January 17, 2013 at 8:30pm: Good information here thank you

Comment by Sérgio Alves Júnior on May 26, 2009 at 6:39pm: Dear Seiiti and friends,

What should I do with this?

“04/20/2009 (Monitor de Políticas TIC en América Latina y el Caribe ...”

How can I use that in my favor? Where, how, who to I should divulgate this?

It all started as a personal interview from the "Monitor de Políticas TIC en América Latina y el Caribe de APC, to which I answered by presenting myself, saying where and how I could contribute to the IG debate. When the complete interview were launched online, I felt as if I should change the focus from the "MEs" and "Is" to the “WEs”, the “ANATELs”, the “BRAZILs”.

What do you think? Can anyone help me with revising it?

Abraços,
Sérgio

Comment by Telojo Onu on May 22, 2009 at 5:27pm: This is very timely... I happened to be working on a similar guideline.

Comment by Prince Amadichukw on May 20, 2009 at 5:52am: Regards to all, mwenden and the dilpo family, well its great been in this platform that is informative,interactive and faciliating....I will be interested in making friends, gettings new skills,information and comunicating with all in this community...I welcome your invitations and comments.....

Comment by Babatunde Adedokun on May 17, 2009 at 8:06pm: Greeting to all participant on just concluded IGCBPO9A. AFRICA-1 group. Am very new in this forum, l hope to network with others.

Thank.

Comment by GATETE Jean-Yves on May 11, 2009 at 4:26pm: hello dear Seiti and friends,

thanks for you all and am pleased to be apart of this community,

take care

Comment by Minhaz Uddin Ahmed on May 9, 2009 at 5:06pm: Thanks Seiti -really great.

Comment by Anju Mangal on May 7, 2009 at 11:13pm: Greetings from the Pacific - This looks good - thanks Seiti, great way to facilitate online networking.

Comment by Godfred Ahuma on May 7, 2009 at 8:15pm: Hmmmmm! very important points often overlooked. Thanks Seiti.

Comment by Aramanzan Madanda on May 7, 2009 at 4:29pm: These are interesting ideas and they work. Being passionate and positive rather than laid back and letting things take their course on you can be disastrous. Great ideas, I have picked a leaf.

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