ANSWERS
1. How does a membership help me reach my China business objectives?
At minimum, our regular
newsletters – sent only to members - provide an
independent, authoritative, and ongoing commentary on China’s influence in the business world.
Content on various channels of the TCBN site provides
exposure to and insights from other professionals active across a wide range of China-facing sectors, as a means to stay up to date and in practice.
Profile Members gain a listing in our
fully searchable online directory of China business people, showing the locations, industries, and skills in each member's China business experience, as well as whatever current projects, ideas, or events they wish to share. Whether you are an applications developer in Shenzhen, an interactive marketer in Shanghai, an IP laywer in San Jose with litigation experience in Shandong, or a textile buyer travelling between Hangzhou and Milan,
your profile helps you to be found based on your real strengths.
Members, when logged in, can
connect with each other through the site's messaging dashboard, so you can
get in touch with the peers, prospects and partners who can keep your career vibrant.
Finally, even if you do not join The China Business Network, next time anyone asks you for China business support in a field outside your expertise - unless you have a good reason to help them - we hope you'll enjoy sending them straight to the TCBN
Directory, and concentrate on your billable clients and prospects instead.
Basic membership is free. Profile Membership costs USD5 per month. We accept all major credit cards and PayPal.
Charter Members, who join by invitation of TCBN management based on a track record of consistent focus and achivement in China's economic relations with the west, receive complimentary membership through 2012.
3. How do I become a member?
Register on the TCBN website under the tab called
Join. Basic Members need to provide only a first and last name and an email address. Profile Members provide, in addition, a description of their China business related experience and current needs (ie. why you would like to be contacted), and pay $5 per month in exchange for tools that increase their professional visibility, voice, and value. The Username and Password that each Profile Member creates during registration enable the profile and messaging functions on the TCBN site.
4. What do I get once I join?
Profile Members in The China Business Network build a professional profile that defines your expertise and showcases your services. Easy to edit, share, and upload content to, your profile (www.thechinabusinessnetwork.com/YourUsername) makes you visible to everyone looking for China business expertise; it establishes your value in specific and searchable terms relevant to China business - skills, industries, locations, projects; and it provides a platform for you to reach out to potential partners, prospects, and peers.
When logged in, members can message each other with the "Send a Message" or "Contact Me" buttons on every profile, or manage their mail from the TCBN Dashboard, visible from any page in the site.
Members will also be invited to our events, receive our newsletters, and become eligible for offers from our sponsors.
5. Any tips for maximizing my Profile Member ROI?
This network is here for the purpose of building success - and your place - in the crossborder space! So take advantage of the features that your membership includes:
a. Be findable. Make sure the Username you pick makes sense professionally. For example, a profile URL of "http://thechinabusinessnetwork.com/ElizabethZhang" is more likely to improve your online searchability than "http://thechinabusinessnetwork.com/HappyCat128"
b. Define and differentiate yourself.
- Your Headline can be "Footwear Developer for Hire" instead of a job title such as "Merchandiser". Or "Tianjin Titan of Titanium Trading" instead of "Trade Documentation Manager".
- Use the Industries, Locations, Talents, "Contact Me If You Need" and "Contact Me If You Have" fields on your profile to attract people who'll value what you do best. Be specific and honest.
- Use the Portfolio section of your profile to showcase your achievements (published works, slideshares, videos, blogs, podcasts, books) or display links that promote your products or services.
c. Network Online. Keep your contact info updated and check your Inbox. Use the directory search and messaging functions to identify and reach out to people who might play a part in developing your business.
d. Expand. Invite your colleagues and associates to join. Forward the newsletter, content items, and profile links to people who you think should be a part of TCBN. Especially because it is indexed and searchable, the more of us who are in Network, the more valuable it becomes.
e. Get out and Meet People. Update the Events section of your profile so people know when and where they might be able to meet you. Look for the events that other members in your regular locations are attending
f. Drop us a line. If you or an organization you are part of has content to post or a publication that needs China business content, a manager we should interview, an event we can help promote, or enough critical mass to start a city chapter, we're at
info@thechinabusinessnetwork.com.
When logged in, TCBN members can access the messaging system three ways:
• On each Profile, the “Contact Me” icon appears next to the member's photograph.
• Click the "Inbox" link that appears in the upper right corner of the screen on every page in the site.
• Use the Dashboard to manage you Inbox, Sent Mail, Contacts list, and Blocked list, as well as Account Settings such as password reset and payment information.
Once in the Inbox, click New Message, select the recipient from your Contacts or Search for the name. You can add names to your Contacts at any time. After typing your message, hit Send.
At present the system does not accomodate multiple addressees - that is, you can only message one person at a time.
Profile members can message any other member in the network. Any time you receive a message from another user you will be notified through email. Basic Membership does not include access to messaging.
8. Can I post content?
Your Profile is designed to showcase your content, so whenever you create or update your Profile, please do post your content there. Add links to articles, white papers, video, podcasts, blogs, or events related to your professional accomplishments or interests.
If your organization publishes research or industry reports related to China business, and you are a Profile Member, let us know at
info@thechinabusinessnetwork.com. We can consider any credible and publicly available materials for addition to the Public Library section of our
Resources page.
Various levels of content posting priveleges are available for channel editors, content partners, and TCBN Charter Members.
Generally one of our TCBN staff will invite an individual active in the China business community to be interviewed. If you think you have made an impact in your sector or are on the cutting edge of your China-related field, email
editor@thechinabusinessnetwork.com.
10. Can a company become a member?
Group Profiles - which will present 10 to 50 Profile Members affiliated in a company, non-profit, agency, or TCBN Chapter, along with the events, products or services related to that Group - is a function now under development and slated for launch in 2nd half of 2010. If you want to get in the loop, email
groups@thechinabusinessnetwork.com
Meanwhile, companies can be more involved with TCBN through sponsorship of TCBN events, or by sponsorsing a content series on one of teh site's content channels. Download our sponsorship packet or email
sponsorship@thechinabusinessnetwork.com for more details.
11. What are Charter Members?
The China Business network is Open, Credible and Accessible. A large part of our Credibility comes from our Charter Members, a limited, by-invitation-only group of highly accomplished or influential people who have a demonstrated consistent focus and achievement related to China’s economic relationships with the west, and who are also willing to support the growth and success of TCBN. Charter Member invitations are sent to those who have been nominated, reviewed, and approved by other Charter Members with experience in the same industry and geography as the nominee. Benefits of Charter Membersip include complimentary membership through 2012, some content posting priveleges, eligibility to start or lead a TCBN Chapter, and participation if desired in our internship and mentor programs.
12. What are the requirements for Charter Members?
Charter Members need to have achieved peer recognition, and be willing to declare their support for TCBN publicly by confirming and maintaining membership status. Charter Members may also contribute content.
13. How do I change my username, password, contact email, or payment information?
You can change your password, payment information, and contact email address in the Dashboard under Account Settings. If you’ve forgotten your password, email
memberservice@thechinabusinessnetwork.com to receive a new one.
Your username is permanent and cannot be changed.
Email
memberservice@thechinabusinessnetwork.com for a new password and reminder of your username.
15. How do I cancel my membership?
Email us at
memberservice@thechinabusinessnetwork.com.
16. Will TCBN share my info with anyone?
Billing, personal email, and contact information which you do not want on your profile stays secure. We do not sell membership lists either. See our full privacy policy
here.
17. Can I create my profile in Chinese language?
Currently, the main profile language is English, though TCBN's website supports Chinese language. If you wish to enhance your English profile with Chinese, we encourage you to do so.