The networking game has changed.  In 2008 the business card is not yet obsolete - but alone this marketing piece is not enough to spark a long-term business relationship.

While you are introducing yourself to a new sales lead know that in the wee hours of the night or first thing the next business day your name will be typed into Google for a little covert net spying and prying.

Here are three tips to online marketing beyond the business card; plus three pitfalls to avoid.

Start managing your online reputation today

Sign up for Google and Yahoo email alerts using your first and last names as the desired keywords. (Put your name in quotes to receive information about your name. ) Whenever someone posts something online about you, good or bad, you will be alerted within 24 hours via email.  Visit http://alerts.yahoo.com and www.google.com/alerts  to start this free process.

Be visible through online forums or popular blogs

There no better way to position yourself as an expert than through online conversation.  Build trust in you reputation with on topic comments that are relevant.  Try to speak in a manner reflective of your position and knowledge.

Use an effective email signature for every email address and text message 

Too often people use a quote of the day or some personal motto for their email signature.  You are wasting precious marketing space by not reminding each contact of your expertise, service offerings or products.

3 Online and Offline Marketing Pitfalls To Avoid

Your business card is too confusing, busy or outdated  

Unless you are an artist or a graphic designer, forget the fancy business card.  Put your name, email address and phone number on the front of the card.  Include one descriptive line that describes exactly what you do on the back.  Use this same line as your email signature, when you introduce yourself and following your web posts in forums.  

You are an online writing perfectionist

No need to worry about what other people will think about your website or blog.  You are bold enough to pass out a business card when networking; so back up your bravado, fight your fears, and start connecting with people online.

• Start a blog. 

• Create a Squidoo page. 

• Join Linked In, Facebook or Twitter. 

As you start connecting with more people you'll find the first couple pages of a Google search with your name will be filled with your own posts and not somebody's else's random information about you.

You have a website listed on your business card, but you have the Go Daddy parking page as the opening advertisement  

Why advertise the website url on your business card, if there's not any additional information on your website?  Set aside $50-150 dollars and hire a young art student to design your logo and upload a one page website. There's no excuse for you to be in business without a website or even a blog. There are many free tools available for you to start marketing yourself online. Head on over to blogger or wordpress and start marketing online today.

In the past networking and marketing consisted of new contacts filing your business card into their rolodex alphabetically and possibly calling you the next day to follow up.  Today, even the most enthusiastic contact is secretly performing a covert search engine operation to determine whether you are who you say you are.

The tips above can make even the most timid networking newbie say with pride, " It's a pleasure to meet you. But if would like more information, Google me baby." 

Mechele Pellebon's career advice gives working women the know-how to turn failure into success, and the encouragement to not spend another second in a job they don't absolutely love. Follow Mechele on Twitter and join her network of friends on Myspace and Facebook.

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