We all know advertising is a great way for marketing your small business. The challenge is that to be truly effective, you have to run ads several times to make the impact you need. And, even in a small, community newspaper or online service, those ads can get expensive.

Getting your message out to a lot of people – specifically your target market – is the goal of all small business marketing, but advertising is just a tool. A more cost-effectivetool is business networking. Meeting people face to face provides you an opporunity to get your message out directly to your contact sphere. If you build those relationships the right way, those people will share your message with your target market.

The reasons business networking offers a better ROI (Return on Investment), is that you’re connecting with other business professionals doing the same thing. So, it’s a win-win. If you help them reach their goals and meet their potential customers, they will do the same for you.

I’m not saying advertising doesn’t work, but most small business marketing plans don’t have the big budget needed to make an advertising campaign successful. On the other hand, business networking’s biggest cost is your time. And, if you’re looking for more clients, chances are you have some time on your hands.

So, get out there and do some business networking. Whether you visit a chamber of commerce mixer, attend a service organization event (like Rotary) or go to a business networking group (like BNI), the sooner you start, the sooner you can take control over building your business.

We’ll be offering a lot of tips, ideas and resources on business networking and marketing your small business here. So stay tuned or visit our website at www.bninw.com

FERNDALE, Michigan, December 1, 2009… The Social Connection, a metro-Detroit-based lifestyle and event company, has launched today a one-stop website for all-things New Year’s Eve 2010.  The site, NYEDetroit, featuring all of Detroit’s major parties is designed to meet  the needs of party-seekers of all types – from hipsters, club-hoppers, hole-in-the-wall bar seekers and those looking for a more sophisticated and dressy evening.

“People are busy enough with all-things-holiday at this time of year. Our goal was to make finding a great New Year’s experience extremely easy to do,” said Regina Stocco, Social Connection founder. “With our decade of event planning and promotional success, and our sold-out NYE parties, we know what works for people seeking an unforgettable New Year’s experience.”

NYEDetroit.com zeroes in on what the area’s party-goers want, enabling visitors to—in cafeteria-like style—find information and select what works best for them including party times, prices, attire suggestions and even tips on how to make the night successful. There are also packages with hotel and transportation. Event listings are updated nearly every hour.

NYEDetroit.com is designed for club owners, promoters and party hosts to increase promotion, awareness and to boost ticket sales with no setup fee. Although there are fees for enhanced listings and advertisements, many businesses can get a free listing on the site.  “There are tons of things to do at nearly every price point so no one need stay at home, even during these difficult economic times” Stocco added.

About Social Connection:-

The Social Connection has evolved into a premier lifestyle event marketing company due to the success of creating singles events and popular programs designed to introduce people. Under the company umbrella are three distinct and related businesses. They include Table for Eight, Quick Spark Rapid Introductions and The Social Connection Social Events & Adventures which are an upscale membership dinner club, a “speed dating” service and a social event production company respectively.

Is there a line between business and social networking? Is it okay to blend business and personal? Straight up: Should you use your Facebook account for business? for family and friends? for both? What about Twitter? LinkedIn?

Here’s a cat that, in my opinion, is blurring that line (and a whole lot of others) successfully: http://22m1.sl.pt

Where is the line for you?

Trust you had a great weekend!
One of my facebook contacts sent this through to
me and I thought it might be of some interest to you:

http://marshawright.co.uk/champagnereception.php

Enjoy if you can make it!

Sie interessieren sich für alles rund um das Thema Bildungsmanagement?
XING, dass internetbasierte Netzwerk und größter europäischer Marktführer im Business Networking, bietet Ihnen in der Gruppe Bildungsmanagement die Möglichkeit, sich aktiv an Diskussionen zu beteiligen und sich mit anderen Mitgliedern auszutauschen.

Interessante Foren erwarten Sie:

• modernes Bildungsmanagement – E-Learning
• Bildungsmanagement für Querdenker
• Bildungsmanagement auf der Ebene der Schule
• Bildungsmanagement im Bereich Hochschule
• Bildungsmanagement auf der Ebene der Kultusministerien/Bildungsdirektionen und Bundeseinrichtungen
• Bildungsmanagement im Bereich der (freien) Wirtschaft
• u. a.

Einfach kostenlos anmelden, sofort im Forum mitdiskutieren und ganz nebenbei neue Geschäftskontakte knüpfen.

Bildquelle: business; by nkzs; Lizenz

Power Team Player – George Lodge: Interview
by Erica Lee

George Lodge is an Eldercare Advisor, and runs Sage Senior Planning Services (www.sageseniorplanning.com). When he’s not an active member in the Beverly Hills Breakfast Club, or an Assistant Director for BNI, George regularly attends meetings of the Health & Wellness Power Team.

EL: Hi George, thanks for agreeing to this interview. How has being in a Power Team helped you?

GL: Being part of a Power Team’s helped me focus and get clear about my business presentations. Also it’s helped narrow down my market niche. I’ve found the suggestions and coaching from Power Team members to be incredibly helpful.

EL: Can you name an example?

GL: During my spotlight moment, I was going through my menu of important services, and how my business can help others, and Marion [Simms of SkinSense Wellness Spa] stopped me, saying, “I’m confused…there are so many options. Could you just pick one or two so we can focus to help you get referrals?” Her statement really helped narrow my sales pitch. Now I highlight the two things in my business that I’m passionate about: creating a plan, and emergency help for your senior.

EL: How have people reacted to your new message?

GL: I’ve received much better referrals through BNI. Interestingly, clients fall into the latter, emergency situation.

EL: So now you’ve not only got a refined market niche, but you’re also noticing a trend in your demographics.

GL: That’s right.

EL: Can you describe your current market niche focus now?

GL: Specifically: baby boomers with aging parents living at home alone.

EL: In what ways has refinement helped your marketing campaign?

GL: With organizations other than BNI, it’s helped me located eldercare resources, and I can provide suitable clients to other eldercare providers that my services do not cover. My narrowed focus has helped in attending events and meetings. And also it’s helped determine whether or not I should invest my time in pursuing a lead. I ask myself, “Would this be a good strategic partnership?”

EL: That’s awesome feedback, and your last sentence leads right into my next question: how important are Strategic Partnerships in your business?

GL: Strategic Partnerships are critical in my business! Since it’s about providing the best possible care for a senior, I might need to pair a client to homecare, a nursing home, or assisted living facilities. For example, I met a woman in a placement service. She initiated the meeting to see if we could help each other. After just one dance card, we discovered that we’re a perfect match! Why? I can advise her clients in areas that aren’t her expertise, and she helps me place clients by finding out specific care needs, facts about the facility, and its price range. We work like hand in glove.

EL: I can only imagine! Your service is so specific, sensitive, and personalized that this Strategic Partnership enables you to provide top-quality care to your clients.

GL: To be honest, there are very few services I feel comfortable recommending. It’s really the ones that have taken the time to know their clients’ needs that stand out in my mind.

EL: Definitely – going above and beyond is what counts. In closing, George, can you name five things you do for your business that enable you to pursue your passion?

GL: I’m passionate about coming up with a plan that works for my clients, and giving them a solid peace of mind. My clients know that, because of this plan in place, mom or dad will be taken care of. In order to achieve this, I do these five things for my business:

• Outsource research – the information accrued is valuable and I don’t have to spend hours doing it!
• Outsource copy-writing – Syd [Mooney of WordPhase] has such a sharp eye, and is such an impeccable wordsmith, I’d never trust any of my literature to anyone but her.
• Hire a good business coach – it helps to have someone hold you accountable in your business direction.
• Hire a marketer – I hire a firm that goes around to facilities and markets a care resources service with which I am listed. Not only are they doing all the footwork, but because of this, they have their ear to the ground so I stay current.
• Hire an accountant – get someone like Eryn West of Castillo and West Accountancy! There are so many tax laws that I feel it’s best left to the professional as I wouldn’t want to deal with it!

Erica Lee is a Sports Flexibility Specialist with TORQ 4 Sports (www.torqenterprises.com). She is a member of the Beverly Hills Breakfast Club BNI Chapter, and regularly contributes to the BNI4Success: BNI Greater Los Angeles Regional Resource.

Social Media is the 500 lb gorilla in the room that nobody knows what to do with. Ignore it,  feed it, befriend it,  fear it, or understand it. Ultimately they will embrace it and accept it, and not worry about the ROI. Business is about connecting with people and people drive business and referrals. – Web Success Team

Source: Inc. 500

Inc. 500 CEOs Use Social Media for Business

By Tamara Schweitzer

A new study shows that the use of social media is particularly prevalent among Inc. 500 companies and provides new insight on the role social media plays in running a business.

For the third consecutive year, the Center for Marketing Research at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, has conducted a study on social media usage among Inc. 500 companies. The 2009 results confirm the upward trend of social media adoption rates among some of the fastest growing private companies, and provide a useful comparison of social media trends from 2007 on.

This year’s study, which was conducted by researchers Nora Ganim Barnes and Eric Mattson, included 148 of the 2009 Inc. 500 companies. As with the past two years, respondents were asked about their usage and familiarity with six types of social media tools, including blogging, podcasting, online video, social networking, message boards, and wikis. In the past year, social media usage by the Inc. 500 has grown, with 91 percent of companies reporting that they use at least one social media tool, compared to 77 percent in the 2008 survey. And, of the six social media categories, the one that continues to be the most familiar to Inc. 500 companies is social networking, with 75 percent saying that they are “very familiar with it.” Read more

When I speak with start-up entrepreneurs and at business groups I am always amazed that so many intelligent business people hold onto the illusion that, “If I build it, they will come.”

Don’t get me wrong here… the occasional lead can be generated by an excellent tweet or someone’s random search on Google, but I think (deep down) most of us realise these are happy, but infrequent events.

And that’s why I don’t believe that online social networking is a new way of promoting your goods/services – it’s just the old way facilitated by new technology.

If you are unprepared to share your knowledge, help people out and put your own ideas “out there” then you’re just wasting your own time. Selling has always been about reassuring people that you are the best course for resolving some, or all, of their business challenges.

So here’s the Top 11 from my perspective:

1. Focus hard on “who” you want to network with and “why”.
2. Establish where these people gather and get in there.
3. Be prepared to talk on the phone and meet too.
4. But don’t be scared to work globally and virtually either.
5. Remember, a purchase order is not a piece of paper – it’s a transfer of trust.
6. Be ready with additional information when asked, e.g. PDF brochures, testimonials, case studies, etc.
7. Have a LinkedIn or Plaxo account (or both) and use them.
8. Honour your followers, friends and recipients, i.e. succinct, useful information.
9. Keep “fun” networking (i.e. friends) and “business” networking separate wherever possible.
10. Look for complementary contacts where you can help one another generate sales or improve mutual propositions.
11. Be consistent.

All sounds like basic common sense doesn’t it? But I continually shock myself at how bad I am at actually doing it.

100 Supporters

Lately, I’ve been helping several friends start their businesses. While writing up their business plans I developed a step by step networking plan to establish their first 100 supporters:

1. On average each person is connected to about 100 friends, family, and close acquaintances. You will need to reach out to these people, let them know about your business and ask them if they need your services, then ask if they know anyone that may need your services, and would they make introductions to their personal network for your business. Once you connect with everyone you know, stay in contact with them either through Facebook, other social networking sites, email, or good old fashion phone calls. If you think about it, if an average person is connected to 100 people and each of them are connected to another 100 people, that’s a really good pool of prospects to establish your business.

2. Next, reach out to your neighbors, walk around the neighborhood, pass out flyers about your business and send out  postcard about your business like realtors. Place a vinyl business sign on your car, let people know about your business, and start getting to know your neighbors and develop friendships. Every time you connect with someone, keep in touch with them on social networking sites, and/or mommy groups and/or any other social event/groups.

3. Continue to reach out to your community by providing free workshops, volunteering and joining organizations like  a church, temple, community center and professional association. Continue to befriend people and stay in touch with them. 

4. Reach out to your neighborhood businesses, offer to help promote each others businesses, you can offer to place a free ad on your flyers, or wear their business T-shirt during community events, and in return you place a contest poster or  win a free offer for your services/business (drawing contest box by the register). Remember to stay connected with new people, you want to continue to add to your list of contacts, prospects, and ever-growing base of friends who will refer your services.

5. Ask your personal network and clients for testimonials, written, and/or even better a video that you can share online and have spread virally to expand your network.

You want to quickly establish your first 100 supporters, these are people who will share, promote, be excited about you and your business. This special group of people will tell everyone, word of mouth, online, and continue to sing your praises to their personal network and many others. In essence they are your walking billboards! Your goals is to develop clients into friends and friends into clients.

If you would like me to share more ideas specific to your business needs please contact me or just ask in the comment section. How’s the plan working for you? Does the plan work for your business? Do you have any suggestions?

When one door closes another opens!

John

Photo by shioshvili

Business Networking International Grand Fortune City Event. A day before Halloween, GFC put on an event at the inspiring home of Eric Lee or Victor Eric Design Group; the owner of an award winning commercial and home interior design firm. The result was a beautiful time spent with beautiful people in a beautiful environment. To all at GFC a heart felt thank you.

Connecting LinkedIn to In-Person Networking with the Poken, an electronic business card and much more.

LinkedIn is just one of the many “Networks” that directly connects with the Poken. You meet in-person at something like LinkedIn Live or a Linking Raleigh event(two in-person Linkedin events in the Raleigh NC areas) . You both have a Poken and touch Pokens. They glow green to show the connection worked and you have now transferred all you Social Media links and Linkedin link that you want to share to each other.

Here is more about the Poken:

Understanding the Poken which represents the next generation of business cards by Martin Brossman

This is a new electronic business card that stays up-today-date and includes Social Media links as well as your picture. In the old days we traded business cards that were often hard to read, when we got back to the office we had to type or scan into our computer and used paper from trees (NOT Green).

Today instead of the business care we use the  Poken which cost from $20 to $35  (much less then a bunch of quality business cards) .  You meet someone; touch your Pokens together that with sort range wireless transmits a code to each Poken. You plug your Poken in to your computer back at the office using a standard USB port and all their info shows up on the screen including web address, social media sites, videos and their picture. You can export this data electronically to any other system you want.  If they change a website, a phone number, a job, their picture then you get updated with the change automatically! It also shows you where you met them in time.

The Poken is much, much more than just a electronic business card sharing device. It is a fun way to share your social media and contact information with someone you meet who also has a Poken. It can include your photo, all your social media sites, your websites, phone, address..whatever you want to add. Links are active hyper links AND they don’t have to type your contact info into their computer. You can have it on you keychain and when you find someone you meet that also has one and you would like to share information with them, you just touch your Pokens together. They glow and that means the transfer of the ID’s occurred. Next time you are at your computer you plug your Poken into the USB slot and it transfers all your contacts to the web based Poken contact page. It is a new product by a new company that is already turning a profit. I believe this or something like this will be used more and more in the future over just a business card.

Their are two models of the Poken and the Hub:

• PokenSPARK: Cost less (~$20.00 + shipping ), are the the little things with the big hand, has no extra memory.
  http://www.poken.com/spark
• PokenPLUS: Cost a bit more (~$35.00 + shipping), looks like a USB memory stick and had 2Gig of re-usable memory as well as the Poken electronics and storage for the Poken data. To see the PLUS:
  http://www.poken.com/pulse
  
• PokenHUB: This is the website you use to maintain and keep all your contact data. Since it is web based you can be a different computer and both view and update it. To see more about the HUB:
  http://www.poken.com/website

Benefits of the Poken:

• Don’t have to type in their contact information or re-check check scanned in information like a business card.
• If they change their connections or content information your information on them is automatically updated.
• It includes the time / date when you met them on a time-line.
• Their photo is included.
• You can easily export the data to other electronic devices.

What is required to make this work for you:

• You both have to have a Poken.
• You both have to have internet access.
• You need to carry it with you.
• Every 4 to 8 months you will have to open the little case and change the battery that you can find at Radio Shack.

Some resource to lean more about the Poken
A videos about the Poken:
http://vimeo.com/6985456
More about it: http://vimeo.com/6955476

More about the Networking concept related to Poken:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61jYzrR5MN4

What the Poken looks like inside:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js2R6E4Q82k

Text explanation of the Poken including the manufacture and technology from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poken

Blog post comparing the Poken to other Digital Business cards:
http://technology.inc.com/hardware/articles/200906/businesscard.html

Placeto buy your Poken!:
http://www.pokenzoo.com

Also you can get them from a link on inSide919.com
At FindaPoken

And I am often carrying around a few that I will sell at $19.95 for the PokenSPARK and the PokenPULSE for $34.99 (you don’t pay shipping).
Call me for info (919) 847-4757

Now that you own a Poken, how to connect it to your computer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-JFOqeULU0

Hope this was informative and please post your additions and comments. If you have a Poken let us know! I have a new list on Twitter called Poken Owners of RTP, if you are one and want to be on this list send me a tweet! Here is the link to the list: http://twitter.com/martinbrossman/poken-owners-of-rtp
Post a note here or to my Twitter account: http://www.twitter.com/martinbrossman

Martin Brossman
ProNetworkingOnLine.com
Raleigh NC

Linkedin Live is run by Chuck Hester and Linking Raleigh is run by Greg Hyer – www.LinkingRalighNC.com

When you go to professional networking events like receptions, mixers, conferences, fairs and seminars, it is “etiquette” to talk about the professional parts of our lives first.

However people make better, more interesting and more lasting connections when they talk about more personal topics like hobbies, interests, family, schools (of themselves and of their children). When we have found this mutual interest, interesting things happen: the atmosphere changes, we feel more relaxed and many times we become more ourselves. (Note: I see so many people acting like someone they are not at networking events; it is pity because they get frustrated with that and it doesn’t bring any results either: people feel it on a subconscious level and push them (mentally) away instead of getting more interested in them)

The question now is: how do I go from professional and business to personal in a conversation?

What Jan De Boeck, one of the trainers at Networking Coach, has found is that the magical words are: “Where is your company situated?” or “Where do you come from?”

When people answer this question, it is easy to tie in some more personal questions and comments like “I have a cousin who plays tennis there” (of course only when this is true), “Have you been living there for a long time?”, “Is there anything interesting to see or visit there?”, “Are there any good restaurants over there?” and many others.

So after listening to each other’s Sticky Stories so you will be remembered professionally, switch to the personal side and make sure you will be remembered as a whole person to make life lasting connections!

Have a great networking week !

Jan

Jan Vermeiren is the author of the networking book “Let’s Connect!” and the audio CD “Let’s Connect at an event” (or in Dutch: “Let’s Connect op een evenement“) which contains 30 tips to listen to in your car when going to or coming back from a network event so you will not only feel comfortable, but also get results!

People are people not objects. Social media is about relationship building and trust in whose delivering the information. Be sincere and helpful, be active and participate, give more than you get and you will develop a following and be in a better position to benefit from others needs. – Web Success Team

How NOT to network in LinkedIn

By Doron Gez

We wrote here about LinkedIn’s groups, and how to network through them. An associate of mine told me that it didn’t work for him. When I asked him why, I understood his that he came in too strong by putting a link immediately after joining. This was considered spamming, and he paid the price. Here’s a lesson for all of us.

Joining a LinkedIn group gives you the opportunity to communicate with other members of the group and also to post your content there. My associate was thrilled to find another place to put links to his site.

While this can indeed be a nice platform for receiving quality traffic, from a well targeted group of professionals, this approach doesn’t always satisfy the group administrators. Read more

Source: Social Media Today

Kingstone Group anunţă lansarea Octo (http://www.octo.ro/ ), cea mai dinamică comunitate de afaceri din România. Proiectul este dezvoltat în parteneriat cu Vitality Media si cu sprijinul The Adgency.

Kingstone Group este compania care a dezvoltat proiectul Romanian Managers (http://www.romanian-managers.ro/), o comunitate de 2500 de manageri şi antreprenori români. În opt luni de evenimente Romanian Managers am identificat o nevoie în creştere a oamenilor de afaceri, aceea de a intra în legătură cu alţi profesionişti şi de a identifica oportunităţi de colaborare şi creştere a afacerilor. Succesul modelului de networking propus de Romanian Managers a determinat crearea Octo, o comunitate de afaceri extinsă pentru toate segmentele de business şi pentru toate nivelurile de carieră. Promisiunea pe care Octo o face membrilor este de a oferi oportunităţi infinite de afaceri.

Obiectivul principal al Octo se construieşte pe două planuri majore: promovarea brandului personal al membrilor şi construirea unor comunităţi puternice în jurul unor subiecte de interes profesional. Un alt obiectiv este impulsionarea dezvoltării comunităţilor de afaceri locale, precum şi a colaborării între oameni din diferite oraşe. Referitor la structură, în Octo sunt în acest moment 16 domenii de activitate, în cadrul cărora există grupuri construite în jurul unor subiecte de interes specifice. Fiecare grup are un formator care facilitează comunicarea dintre membri. Grupurile nu sunt prestabilite, ci determinate de disponibilitatea unui membru de a deveni formator. Există trei tipuri de conturi care dau acces diferenţiat la o serie de instrumente de promovare personală sau a afacerii proprii: video de prezentare, evenimente, profil recomandat, platformă de webinarii. Ciprian Trandafirescu, Managing Director Kingstone Group, detaliază ideea care stă la baza Octo: „Afacerile se fac în primul rând între oameni, şi apoi între companii. De aceea cred că este esenţială implicarea într-o comunitate, în cadrul căreia să relaţionezi şi să te pui în valoare. Mizăm foarte mult pe disponibilitatea membrilor de a împărtăşi din experienţa lor şi de a se deschide spre noi colaborări. Mai mult, comunitatea creată online va fi dezvoltată prin întâlniri organizate între membri.” Obiectivul Octo este de a reuni 10.000 de membri în primul an de la lansare. Primele evenimente Octo vor avea loc la începutul lui 2010. Despre

Kingstone Group: Compania a fost fondată în 2007 şi este o companie specializată pe servicii de business networking, cu accent pe organizarea de evenimente şi dezvoltarea de comunităţi de afaceri.

Mark your calendar for December 17th, 9AM at the Westport Country Playhouse. Tracy Boyce, a master practitioner of Feng Shui, will give us some advice on taking a Feng Shui approach to organizing our business.  She will also offer some Feng Shui tips for enjoying the holidays! Tracy can be found on the web at www.tracyboycefengshui.com.

“It’s not what you know or who you know but who you will ask.” – Rob Coats

Getting help from people is one of the main reasons for establishing a large network but if you never take the time to tap into your network you will waste a heck of a lot of time.

For most people, asking for help isn’t an easy thing and it’s because in life usually at a very early age we’ve asked for something and were either scolded or hurt in a big way as a result and that experience has shaped our current reality. I’ve read that most people do things for 2 reasons in life: to avoid pain and/or to gain pleasure.  Most people would rather suffer than actually take the chance and get help to fix the problem. I will do my best at helping you over this hurdle in your life.

Most people don’t like asking for help when networking because it makes them feel vulnerable and they feel that they will either owe the person or the person will hold it over there head forever.

I recently read a blog post by Dr.Deb (a psychologist that specializes in trauma and depression) who was interviewed for The Tyra Banks Show on How To Ask For Help.

This is what she listed as being some of the most common myths that  hold people back from Asking today.

Myth: It makes us look vulnerable.

Truth: Asking for help creates an atmosphere of empowerment. It communicates to others that, while you may not have the answers, you are willing to find them and make things better.

Myth: Holding things in and keeping personal issues under wraps keeps us secure.

Lastly rember these 3 things when asking for help;
1. What type of help you need- Be specific. Let people know exactly what it is you want so they can know how to assist you.
2. Why you need it
3. When you need it

When you practice these simple truths you are much more likely to get help when asking then to not get it at all.

Please leave comments so I know that your alive.

As the President of BNI Strategic Partners, you might expect that I would be biased about the benefits I receive from my membership in this vital group.  You would be absolutely right!

Watching the group come together, become a Chapter and then grow to a vibrant, caring team of business “partners” has been a distinct pleasure.  The relationships we have built follows the BNI motto of “Givers Gain”, if you refer good business to a member of the group, there is a high likelihood that they will refer business to you as well.

Our Chapters credo “Teamwork, Competency, Integrity and Trust” is our expectation of our members, both at our meetings and in their day to day business lives.  Think about the business out there to be done, do it with the BEST referral partners you can hope to find.

Judi Johnstone
VP of New Business Development for First Vancouver Finance, Eastern Canada
President, BNI Corporate Strategic Partners