Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Are you casting your net too wide?
When you are networking you don't want to miss on any possible opportunities that the people you meet may know about. This can lead you to casting your net very widely and talking about what you do far too broadly. In this podcast 'What is Your Niche?' I take the fishing analogy further to help you really focus on your target market. Listen here:
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Monday, December 14, 2009
What Matters Now
In 'What Matters Now: get the free ebook' Seth Godin writes about a new ebook he has organised. In it 70 big thinkers each contribute a page in which they share an idea for you to think about as we head into the new year. Then after thinking about them to do something with what you learn. Download and read it below.
What Matters Now
The overall idea I take from it is how much more we can achieve when we collaborate!
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
What Matters Now
The overall idea I take from it is how much more we can achieve when we collaborate!
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
A simple way of helping
Have you ever listened to someone introduce their business at a networking event and thought to yourself "I have no idea what that means"? It happens a lot, but most of the time that person will be unaware that they are not communicating effectively.
Whenever it happens I am reminded of a scene from the film, "I, Robot". In this scene Dr Calvin (played by Bridget Moynahan) was asked by Detective Spooner (played by Will Smith) “What do you do?”
She replied "My general fields are advanced robotics and psychiatry although I specialise in hardware to wetware interfaces in an effort to advance our anti-amorphisation project.”
He clearly had no clue what she was talking about and asked again, “So what exactly do you do?"
She replied, “I make the robots seem more human.”
The next time you hear someone and have no real idea what they mean you can help by asking them some questions to find out exactly what they do and who for.
Then suggest that they might want to use the simple version next time.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Whenever it happens I am reminded of a scene from the film, "I, Robot". In this scene Dr Calvin (played by Bridget Moynahan) was asked by Detective Spooner (played by Will Smith) “What do you do?”
She replied "My general fields are advanced robotics and psychiatry although I specialise in hardware to wetware interfaces in an effort to advance our anti-amorphisation project.”
He clearly had no clue what she was talking about and asked again, “So what exactly do you do?"
She replied, “I make the robots seem more human.”
The next time you hear someone and have no real idea what they mean you can help by asking them some questions to find out exactly what they do and who for.
Then suggest that they might want to use the simple version next time.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Friday, December 11, 2009
Networking with Decision Makers
"I need to be networking with decision makers and budget holders" or something similar is a phrase I hear often. It is often a result of a misconceived idea about networking. The idea that networking is about finding a room full of prospects, exchanging business cards then moving on to the next. That is not networking, it is selling.
Business networking is about building relationships with your peers so that over time you help, support and introduce each other to opportunities to sell your services. Over time you build trust through a series of exchanges or networking transactions. The people you meet in business networking are decision makers and the route to those budget holders you want to meet. They are constantly making decisions about whether they like you, trust you and are prepared to refer you.
The quickest way to get them to make a negative decision is to constantly sell to them. In short, as I have said and written before, networking is not selling!
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Business networking is about building relationships with your peers so that over time you help, support and introduce each other to opportunities to sell your services. Over time you build trust through a series of exchanges or networking transactions. The people you meet in business networking are decision makers and the route to those budget holders you want to meet. They are constantly making decisions about whether they like you, trust you and are prepared to refer you.
The quickest way to get them to make a negative decision is to constantly sell to them. In short, as I have said and written before, networking is not selling!
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Survival of the kindest
On his blog this morning Internet Psychologist Graham Jones poses the question "which kind of people do you like the most? Those who divide and rule, or those who are less selfish and try to help others?".
He asks this in his article, Helping others online could boost your business, which is well worth a read. He writes about recent research from the University of California at Berkeley which suggests that the helpful, altruistic individuals around us are the ones that are doing best in our modern society. The article referred to by Graham is entitled Social scientists build case for 'survival of the kindest'. The article includes this
"In a wide range of studies, social scientists are amassing a growing body of evidence to show we are evolving to become more compassionate and collaborative in our quest to survive and thrive."
Good to see some solid academic research into the whole ethos of how networking works. As we know the more you help others the greater your chances of success.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
He asks this in his article, Helping others online could boost your business, which is well worth a read. He writes about recent research from the University of California at Berkeley which suggests that the helpful, altruistic individuals around us are the ones that are doing best in our modern society. The article referred to by Graham is entitled Social scientists build case for 'survival of the kindest'. The article includes this
"In a wide range of studies, social scientists are amassing a growing body of evidence to show we are evolving to become more compassionate and collaborative in our quest to survive and thrive."
Good to see some solid academic research into the whole ethos of how networking works. As we know the more you help others the greater your chances of success.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Networking and starting a new business
Someone said to me yesterday, "there are a lot of people starting new businesses so where you advise them to start networking?"
My advice was that they should start by listing all the people they already know. They will already have trusted relationships amongst their existing social and work contacts. They should make contact with those people and re-establish those relationships if necessary. They will then be able to identify any gaps in their network and where they need to start addressing those.
In this podcast, 'How to start building your network', I talk about how to identify the people already in your network. Listen here:
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
My advice was that they should start by listing all the people they already know. They will already have trusted relationships amongst their existing social and work contacts. They should make contact with those people and re-establish those relationships if necessary. They will then be able to identify any gaps in their network and where they need to start addressing those.
In this podcast, 'How to start building your network', I talk about how to identify the people already in your network. Listen here:
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Are you willing to share?
In a meeting yesterday with a couple of people who run mastermind groups we were discussing the attributes of people who are successful in those groups. First and foremost they need to be open minded and keen to grow. They also need to be willing to share, learn, contribute, take responsibility and apply what they learn.
Very similar attributes to the people that are successful in networking. They are also willing to share, learn, contribute, take responsibility and apply what they learn.
They share their knowledge and contacts and learn all they can about those they meet and their needs. They contribute fully to the groups they belong to and take responsibility by providing leadership and inviting others. They apply what they learn about the others by connecting them to the things and people they need to succeed.
All that motivates others to do it for them too.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Very similar attributes to the people that are successful in networking. They are also willing to share, learn, contribute, take responsibility and apply what they learn.
They share their knowledge and contacts and learn all they can about those they meet and their needs. They contribute fully to the groups they belong to and take responsibility by providing leadership and inviting others. They apply what they learn about the others by connecting them to the things and people they need to succeed.
All that motivates others to do it for them too.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Monday, December 7, 2009
Building friendships that will lead to business
I was chatting on Friday with someone about my last blog post, Should you join that networking group? She agreed with the view that you need to like the people when joining a networking group.
She said that she also looked for groups with professionals from similar backgrounds to hers and who operate in similar markets. She is not looking to just make friends, but build her business along the way.
It struck me that 'building friendships that will lead to business' is a pretty good definition of the process of business networking in a group.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
She said that she also looked for groups with professionals from similar backgrounds to hers and who operate in similar markets. She is not looking to just make friends, but build her business along the way.
It struck me that 'building friendships that will lead to business' is a pretty good definition of the process of business networking in a group.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Sunday, December 6, 2009
About InCouraged- Because Courage is Contagious
Who is Megan? Honestly, I don't have a clue. But Megan encouraged me today with a blog post.
Her blog is called InCouraged. The sub caption is..."Because Courage Is Contagious".
Megan shares a series of five posts this month that I have really enjoyed:
Dec. 1 - Being A Better Decider
Dec. 2 - Liberating Your Emotional Real Estate
Dec. 3 - Rounding Out Your Inner Circle
Dec. 4 - Adding Structure to Gain Freedom
Dec. 5 - An Open Letter to Aspiring Entrepreneurs
If you are considering becoming a baby boomer entrepreneur, I encourage you to check out InCouraged.
On her blog, Megan talks about an epiphany she had one day in the shower. She shares the story behind the birth of the blog. Let me just share with you this part of the story:
I hope you will be encouraged by InCouraged. Let's prove that Megan is right...that Courage Is Contagious.
Shallie
Follow me on Twitter
Her blog is called InCouraged. The sub caption is..."Because Courage Is Contagious".
Megan shares a series of five posts this month that I have really enjoyed:
Dec. 1 - Being A Better Decider
Dec. 2 - Liberating Your Emotional Real Estate
Dec. 3 - Rounding Out Your Inner Circle
Dec. 4 - Adding Structure to Gain Freedom
Dec. 5 - An Open Letter to Aspiring Entrepreneurs
If you are considering becoming a baby boomer entrepreneur, I encourage you to check out InCouraged.
On her blog, Megan talks about an epiphany she had one day in the shower. She shares the story behind the birth of the blog. Let me just share with you this part of the story:
So why are we doing this? Because it takes courage to look fear in the face, embrace it, learn from it and convert it into a positive force that only you can create. And in this day and age, we need more of it. A lot more.
I hope you will be encouraged by InCouraged. Let's prove that Megan is right...that Courage Is Contagious.
Shallie
Follow me on Twitter
Friday, December 4, 2009
Should you join that networking group?
At the end of a recent event a visitor said to me "do you think I should join this group". I replied that I was biased, but could he answer yes to the following 3 questions.
1. Do you like the people in the group?
2. Over time could you introduce them to your trusted contacts?
3. Do you have the time in your diary for attending the events and following up?
He asked why those questions and I said, "Unless you like the people you are not likely to make the effort. If you can make introductions for the others then it is likely they can do the same for you. Finally, you need to have the time to invest in building relationships."
He smiled and asked for an application form.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
1. Do you like the people in the group?
2. Over time could you introduce them to your trusted contacts?
3. Do you have the time in your diary for attending the events and following up?
He asked why those questions and I said, "Unless you like the people you are not likely to make the effort. If you can make introductions for the others then it is likely they can do the same for you. Finally, you need to have the time to invest in building relationships."
He smiled and asked for an application form.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)