Tech Industry Tips: The Power of Online Platforms
Posted by Murshed Chowdhury on Mon, Dec 19, 2011 @ 11:30 AM
By:Murshed Chowdhury
As individuals we can advance our cause, promote our business or build our own personal profiles online while learning and meeting great people. The way we do that is by attaching ourselves to a particular platform. Linkedin is just one example of a platform that showcases the tremendous impact that social communities can have on global business.
A platform, as defined by the Webster’s dictionary, is a body of principles on which a person or group takes a stand in appealing to the public. Platforms are very beneficial for those who want to advance themselves in entrepreneurship, charity, or community affairs to get involved with some organization or association which can help them broaden their horizons. Having a platform can help bring together others who share your ideas and passion.
Online platforms can take the form of a social network, blog, website, business, cause or idea. They are only limited by your imagination. Online platforms enable you to reach a larger number of individuals by having the online community at your disposal. Digitally, you can make your mark through social media, by writing or discussing your interests online. Being a blogger, website founder, writer, publisher, or author, you can gain visibility and credibility in a relatively short amount of time. Whether you choose sports, politics, non-profits or business, online platforms give you access to individuals you may not have been able to engage otherwise. Your interests serve well as talking points when meeting new people who share similar interests.
Online platforms such as LinkedIn are also excellent learning opportunities. You can educate yourself on the business or cause you are working for in the questions/answers section, connect with and learn from others who may be experts in that particular field, or meet many like-minded individuals to network with. As many experts have stated, power or real wealth is dictated by the caliber of your network. Who is part of your network? How influential is it? Use the online tools to make contact and then take it a step further and meet with the person you’ve connected with.
By having an online platform, you can also build your own brand identity. Maybe you are a good speaker, organizer or leader. Maybe you have a talent or talents that you are unaware of or waiting to unleash. That is why it is important to utilize the platform of your choice. There can be more than one. You can use LinkedIn for business, Twitter to follow prominent people in your field of interest or Facebook for news/events. Either way, you can be “out there” meeting people online and/or steering them to your blog/website. Look to the power of online platforms to advance your ideas, objectives and causes. The world is always in need of good ideas, perspectives, thoughts and insights. Why not share yours online and see how many people you can reach?
Please be advised to effectively learn the platform you are interested in and make sure you remain consistent. You have to give it time. Engaging people online takes time and can be a bit overwhelming. So take your time and see which online platform interests you and proceed patiently. The last thing you want to do is start 5 different things at once and get discouraged before you have a chance to bear fruit.
So with that mind, get out there, take your passions online and find the best platform(s) to engage others around you and make the world a more interesting place.
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