A smart networking within your business community could be your big ticket to become a multi-millionaire. With internet connectivity at offices and homes, keeping in constant touch with like minded people to share ideas and information with each other is no more a problem. And we are not talking of emails and chats.

A high percentage of professionals from IT , ITeS, finance, travel, media and health sectors do that. They have formed their own open and closed user groups on the Net. They exchange information on the latest developments in their profession or new business opportunities and help each other in their career advancement.

On the internet , there are millions of communities comprising of professionals from across the world. Take Ryze for example. The website has more than 2.5 lakh members from varied interest areas from more than 200 countries connected to each other through a number of groups.

There's more. You have a group dedicated to only BPO professionals . The members exchange information ranging from new business opportunities in the US and Europe for BPO companies based in India to job openings in the companies here. “I got my current job thanks to a posting on my Ryze group by the HR manager who is also a member of the group,” says Shikha Sharma, a senior trainer with a US-based BPO company. That's the power of business community networking!

There are groups which belong to a particular business enterprise as well. Take Infosys for example. The professionals who have joined Infosys can become part of the Fresh Infosys online group. The group's 140-plus members help each other in getting accustomed to the company culture and provide counseling.

One can find an online group focusing on job openings with a particular company too. Accenture Technology Solutions in India has such kind of a group. The group Jobs ATS has 86 members working with companies such as Microsoft, Oracle, Peoplesoft and SAP.

The phenomenon is not restricted to IT pros alone. Medical practitioners are not far behind. “I was trying to treat a patient of mine suffering from a very peculiar kind of a disease. I had not seen such a case in my career before. But when I posted my predicament with the patient's case history and reports in my online doctors group, a medic from China posted back with the right treatment to be given to the patient. The Chinese doctor had specialised in treating such kinds of patients,” says Dr Harpreet Arora, a Delhi-based neurologist. Where else do you find such kind of quick knowledge sharing?

No matter what your interest area is, there are millions of online communities you could be part of. Take Crimson Feet group for example. It has 85 members with a creative bent of mind. The group members focus on evolving new ways for the creative enthusiasts to work, exhibit and support themselves. It publishes discussions, arguments, ideas and creations by seasoned as well as emerging artists and writers.

If you believe in astrology, you can exchange thoughts or obtain personal astrological consultations. Offering anything and everything related to astrology, Vedic Astrology online community comprising of astrology experts and followers, has over 200 members.

The alumni communities, where professionals belonging to a particular educational institutes form their own online groups, are immensely popular in the virtual world. “We formed a closed user group of our batch. And today most of us live in different parts of the globe but we still keep in touch with each other through this group. We keep the group posted on job opportunities and developments in the business circles. The tips come in very handy as we get to know lot of privy information which provide us with good leads for our scoops,” says Rajesh Kumar, a Mumbai-based television journalist.

A tour to different online communities would surprise you with the kind of business value they carry. You could find a US-based entertainment production company looking for readymade Indian movie scripts; or a foreign designer looking for sourcing a particular kind of embroidery from India; or an Indian software developer looking for buyers in the US and Europe for his software; or a painter inviting his rich online friends to his forthcoming painting exhibition. The list, as well as business opportunities, are endless.

Online business networking is a serious business with an element of fun.