Engaging in relevant conversations with Social Media

I was speaking with the owner of an Internet Services Business last week about the Seminar I attended earlier in the week from Grant Leboff. I wrote about Grant's views in my post 'Are you the answer for your network?'.

During the conversation he said that he wasn't really sure what to make of Twitter. I said that it was helping me to engage with interested people much quicker than has ever been possible before. Also to track the effectiveness of positive Word of Mouth for your business.

For example a few weeks ago one of the attendees at a monthly NRG Business Networking Event tweeted about his positive experience and a great presentation. The presenter, Ant Hodges, retweeted and one of his contacts asked "What is NRG". Ant replied "NRG is the most effective business networking organisation I have been part of - follow @DaveClarke or visit nrg-networks.com"

Are you engaging in relevant conversations online & keeping track of your 'Word of Mouth'?

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Be really specific when defining your Target Market

At Network Central yesterday a photographer new to networking came over to the NRG stand. He wanted to know how networking might work for him. I asked how he got business - through direct mailing.

"What sort of response do you get" I asked - "Oh about 20%" he said. My jaw dropped and I asked how he got such a high response rate. "Well, I photograph babies and I subscribe to a mailing list where I receive details of women who have just given birth. Most women like to have a photo of their newborn!"

It just shows if you have a really specific target market and you know what they want you can get exceptionally good results.

Having conversations that matter when networking

I was asked yesterday for a list of the people and companies that attend our networking events. It's a reasonable request as you want to ensure that you are using your time effectively when you attend networking events.

The question is often asked, but mainly for the wrong reason. People often ask to find out if potential clients will be attending. The right reason is to make sure that other people attend with things in common with you. Others that provide products and services to similar clients to you. That way you can have conversations about the things that matter to your clients and potential clients.

Conversations lead to more connections, relationships and advocates. Ultimately to many more potential clients than you can ever meet yourself. Better to think of the people you meet networking as a route to market and not the market.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Are you the answer for your network?

At a seminar this week at an NRG-networks event in London the speaker, Grant Leboff, shared his insights into the changes taking place in Sales & Marketing. The web has meant a revolution in communication and massive choice in everything that we need. When we need something now we do two things, we ask our network and we search online.

Do you have a strategy for building word of mouth for you and your business?

When someone in your network gets asked about a problem that you solve are you given as THE answer to that problem? You should be if your networking is effective.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success

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Be prepared for speaking slots

The seminar presenter at a recent monthly NRG London Charing Cross Networking Event was unavoidably out of the country and unable to attend. One of the members, Cali Bird, stepped forward and presented a great seminar on Time Management in his place.

She shared her expertise and inspired the audience to take some of the steps required to achieve their personal and business goals. She certainly built her reputation and will be at the forefront of the minds of the attendees when they see an opportunity for someone like Cali.

Sharing your expertise in this way is a great way of giving value and growing advocates for you and your business.

If you get the opportunity are you ready to speak?

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success

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Applying the 7 habits to your business networking

The best selling Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey lists the seven habits that will help you become more effective if you work on them.

The 7 habits (be proactive, begin with the end in mind, put first things first, think "win/win", seek first to understand and then to be understood, synergise, sharpen the saw) are a great place to start with any personal development.

As you might expect they also offer some great insights into how you can be effective at business networking.

* Habit 1: Be Proactive:
You need commitment and the right attitude. Take the lead in conversations, make connections, and share your expertise.

* Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind:
Work out what you want from your networking. If you are not absolutely
clear about this you will be unable to respond when others offer you help.

* Habit 3: Put First Things First:
Set yourself targets for the things that YOU can control including;
• The amount of time you can devote to networking
• The number of events you can attend
• The number of 1-2-1’s you can arrange
• How much time you can spend online
• Building a contacts database
• What introductions you can give
• Choose the right networking organisation for you

* Habit 4: Think Win/Win:
Develop a giving mentality and become an Advocate for others. An Advocate is someone who promotes you and your services without being asked or paid. Remember, what goes round comes round.

* Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood:
When you meet someone through networking you need to bear in mind whether you want to take it further. To help you decide try & listen more than talk, understand their issues and build rapport. Ask open questions and good follow-up questions. Reveal things about yourself to establish common ground.

* Habit 6: Synergise:
Look for synergies whenever you meet people and add them to your network. The value of future collaboration will exceed the sum of what each of you could achieve on your own.

* Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw:
Use the knowledge in your network to constantly learn and improve. Share your knowledge with the network so they can do the same. Look out for networks that value the education that members can share with each other.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success

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Time Management and Networking Follow up

In a recent time management seminar before the monthly NRG London City Group Networking Lunch the presenter, Bob Hayward, shared some time management tips for dealing with new items that come up in our work. The specific context was dealing with emails;

4 Ds & 1 F
Delete it - if it's an email that needs nothing further then delete.
Delegate it - if it's not your job pass it on.
Deal with it - if it's quicker to do something now then do it now.
Diary it - if you need to schedule more time make a specific diary entry.
or
File it - if you don't need to action, but feel you may need to refer to it in future.

The one that seems to get forgotten in networking is the Diary one. People enter networking events and One2One meetings in the diary, but not the time for follow up. So next time you are entering things into your calendar set aside time for following up as well. Also remember that you can make use of time that used to be non productive with the mobile devices that many people carry today.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Shallie Bey Joins New Twitter-based Question and Answer Resource for the Baby Boomers

Baby Boomers, gain access to a community of over 80 professionals and organizations for free timely advice!

If you are a baby boomer looking for help with career choice options, beginning an encore career, or launching a new business venture, there is a new resource available to you.

Shallie Bey of Smarter Small Business Blog, dozens of other professionals and the Baby Boomer Knowledge Center (TM) are contributing to the improvement of communications and relationships between professionals and you, the baby boomer consumer. This new initiative is called @BoomerAuthority. Shallie Bey will serve as one of the authorities on baby boomer entrepreneurs and other business issues.

You can submit questions to @BoomerAuthority through Twitter. It doesn't matter whether you need help with an issue, have a question, seek an opinion, or simply want a recommendation. You just send a public message on Twitter to @BoomerAuthority. The twitter message will be monitored and directed to a person with the appropriate expertise to help you. You will get a direct response back to you in your preferred method of response.

For more information on how to use this resource, go to Baby Boomer Knowledge Center
Or, go directly to @BoomerAuthority to ask your question.

Shallie Bey

How to get 200 people to an event with 2 weeks notice

I went to a great event earlier this week. Described as a networking 'fundraiser' it was organised for Marlow FM's Community Radio Station. How was it possible to get such a good turnout at such short notice?

The organiser has built a powerful network and provided a lot of support to others so that when he needs something they help him in return. His network of people with influence and contacts in the area all got behind this event. They invited their networks who in turn invited theirs. Everyone else involved in the event invited their respective networks.

What could you do in your business with that sort of network supporting you? If you need to build it then do you know where to connect with others with influence in your market? Where are the conversations taking place between other providers of services in your market? Find the answer and join in those conversations.

It could be that you already have a network that would help, but you haven't let them know what the equivalent event is in your world.

It doesn't have to be 200 people at 2 weeks notice. It could be a referral to your ideal client. As well as helping your network achieve their goals remember to help them with how they can help you.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success

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Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs, Michael Gerber Says There Is A System To Create What You Don't Know How To Create (Part 3)

In Part 3 of this interview on The New Millionaire with Kean Wong, Michael Gerber continues his discussion on how to create the system to create what you don't know how to create. He shares his new thoughts on the role of dreaming as the missing ingredient that kept him from inspiring entrepreneurs to the level he wanted to inspire them.

Listen to the concept of the entrepreneur incubator. This incubator is not the incubator of your business but the incubator of your mind.

And please see our free directory of other information about Michael Gerber and the E-Myth Revisited. If you missed Parts 1 and 2 of the interview, you will find them there.

Shallie Bey
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