If you really want to know what you should be doing online my recommendation is to network in a real and authentic way. We’re not talking about networking like you see at your local chamber of commerce meet-ups where people whip out business cards and throw them around like ninja stars, but networking as in:

• Finding a networking community that shares your interests (and yes, this can be a Facebook page, LinkedIn or a handful of Blogs).
• Making sure that everyone connected in the community has shared/similar values.
• Adding your own value (insights, news, etc…) that helps to elevate to the community and the participants.
• Do much more for others before asking them to do something for you (I think Chris Brogan’s rule is perfect: do twelve things for others before asking them to do one thing for yourself).
• Don’t ask for business, but try to find business for everyone else.
• Plug into the community. Sincerely. Get to know your neighbors and be helpful.

It’s not sexy and it doesn’t add to your bottom line… today.

And that’s why so few people do it so well, and those that do it very well are the true rock stars of their industry.

That’s what you should do online.

Many thanks to Mitch Joel for this post!