Well, because I had so much fun hearing from everyone last month, and I really like giving stuff away that I’ve found particularly interesting, useful, or just plain cool, I thought I’d continue with the monthly contests. It’s a great way to interact with you, and for me to give something back.

So, this month, I’m giving away a copy of Sam Harrison’s Zing! Five Steps and 101 Tips for Creativity on Command.

This is an excellent book for anyone who needs to “find big ideas sizzling with zing.” Small, and easy to read, Zing! is filled with little assignments and insights that will help you find those big ideas. From the back of the book: “Zing! fans include writers, designers, PR, ad and marketing people, event planners, sales people, freelancers, teachers, trainers, students. Anyone who has to be creative on a deadline!”

Here’s how it works:

Leave us a thoughtful, legitimate comment on any blog post between now and 11:59 PM (EST) on Saturday, April 26th, and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a copy of Zing! Five Steps and 101 Tips for Creativity on Command. It really is that easy. And, because each comment gives you a separate entry, you can subscribe to the comments, keep the conversation flowing, and better your chances to win!

This month’s drawing will be held on Sunday, April 27th, with the winner announced in the following post (Monday, April 28th.)

Official Rules:

• Earn entries by leaving thoughtful, legitimate comments on any blog post(s) between Tuesday, 4/8/08 (D+MM subscribers get a head start! So subscribe today!) and Saturday, 4/26/08 by 11:59 PM. Each comment will count as one entry and multiple entries are allowed; however, the comments will have to be approved first for legitimacy and posted on the blog site before it is counted.
• The drawing will take place on Sunday, 4/27/08, and the winner announced on Monday, 4/28/08 in our regularly scheduled blog post. We will also attempt to contact the winner via email (if available.)
• In order to claim the prize, the winner will need to contact us with their name and mailing address within 7 days of announcing the winner.
• Our purpose here is to get this creative conversation going, and give someone a free copy of a great book! So play nice, okay?
• And finally, we’ve decided this month to open up this contest to residents everywhere! There is no residency restriction; just please be aware that it could take up to 4-6 weeks for international delivery.
• Oh! One more thing: Have fun! We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Now that we know what networking is (relationship marketing) and what it isn’t (an annoying sales tactic), and how to get the most from face-to-face opportunities, it’s time to tackle the newest kid on the networking block: online networking. Unlike face-to-face networking, where connections can be made and acted upon quickly, online networking takes more time and, well, work.

There’s no denying the convenience of online networking: You can connect with people right from the comfort of your own home or office. Heck, you could still be wearing your fuzzy bunny slippers, and no one would be the wiser. And this convenience helps to make online networking so appealing. However, with so many options out there, it’s hard to know where to begin, or what to do once you’ve started.

1. Start small.
The best way to get the most out of your online networking is to actively participate, so I highly suggest starting out small, joining one to three (max) networking sites. That’s enough to give a nice range of sites, without spreading yourself too thin. Once you get the hang of it, though, feel free to add more sites. Just don’t forget which ones!

2. Variety is the spice of…online networking!
There are so many types of networking sites—from business networking sites like LinkedIn and Biznik, to social networking sites like Facebook and Friendster, to industry-specific networking sites like those that can be found at Meetup.com and About.com. I’ve found the most effective way to work the online networking machine is to join a variety of sites: a business networking site and an industry-specific site, at the very least. That way, you can find potential clients, as well as advocates, partners or even someone to collaborate with in the future.

3. Consistency is KEY.
As with any marketing endeavor, making sure your message is consistent is key. And online networking, which is absolutely a form of marketing, is no different. So make sure your online profiles are consistent with each other, and with the message you want to convey about yourself and your business. Your profile is often the first impression others will get of you and your business, so take extra care to make sure that it’s professional, interesting and consistent!

4. Everyone likes a compliment.
That goes for your business, too! And no, I don’t mean sending a stranger some flattering email (although who knows, that may work, too—if you try it, and it works, let me know, okay?) What I do mean, though, is that you should seek out others in industries that compliment yours. If you’re a graphic designer, find printers or print brokers, illustrators, copywriters, photographers, etc., to network with. Or if you’re a Realtor®, look for mortgage brokers, real estate attorneys, and appraisers to network with.

By reaching out to people who are your natural industry compliments, you’ll help to not only build your network, but also your professional resources, allowing you to better provide for your clients and customers, and hopefully, create a reciprocal referral situation. A win-win for everyone!

5. You’re the expert, right?
So share your expertise! Many networking sites allow you to post articles or answer questions. Take advantage of that! By writing articles, or providing well-thought-out answers to others questions, you’re able to show your areas of expertise without any hard sell. It is truly one of the easiest ways to get your name out there, start building a rapport with others, and hopefully become the go-to person in your industry. And best of all, it’s usually free!

6. Still, nothing beats personal contact.
Once you’ve meet someone online, connect with them offline. If you can meet with them in-person over coffee, excellent! That will help cement the connection, and hopefully build a successful professional relationship.

Of course, as online networking eliminates geographic barriers, face-to-face meetings might not be possible. So set up a phone call. Sometimes, just taking the time to chat over the phone helps to establish that personal connection. And if that still isn’t possible, even sending a “nice to meet you” email can work. The point is to take the initial contact one step further to establish a personal connection. When you do that, you’re more likely to be on their mind and someone they’d consider working with or referring business to.

And there you have it. While I don’t recommend eliminating or replacing your face-to-face networking, I hope that these few tricks help make your online opportunities just as successful as the in-person ones.

Additional Resources:

• LinkedIn
• Biznik
• Meetup.com
• Fast Pitch
• Ryze
• ConnectBuzz
• Wild Women Entrepreneurs
• Business Networking Me
• Bizmeed
• Facebook
• Networking for Professionals
• Start-up Nation
• JumpUp

Well, the Comment Contest is over, and the winner of a free copy of “The Power of Nice” has been drawn.

I’d like to offer a big CONGRATULATIONS! to…(drumroll, please)

DANITA REYNOLDS, Principal of Creative Expertise and author of the all-things-creative blog, Creative Brainstorm.

Thank you, Danita, for participating—your copy of The Power of Nice will be on it’s way in a few days. And I hope you’ll come back often to share in the Creative Conversation!

Oh, and before I forget, I want to say thank you to fellow designer Leslie Tane Hannus, of Leslie Tane Design, who inspired the idea for our comment contest.

And last, but not least, check back often…as we expect to have lots of stuff to give away in the future!