Social Networking - Are you just a card dealer?

There are more and more people attending networking events and there are a huge number of people networking on the many different social media websites.

But how are you contributing to these different mediums?

Networking Offline

When you attend an event, whether it's a business breakfast; a seminar; a training day with networking breaks, what are your expectations?

Many people attend these events with the definite intention of winning new customers by selling to as many of the people there as possible. We've all been to meetings where there's a guy working through the crowd handing out his business cards, rather like a bumble bee flitting from flower to flower. He stays with a person for no more than a few moments; long enough to impress them with his well honed "elevator pitch" before he's off to find his next victim. He doesn't spare more than a minute to listen to the other person. He doesn't really care what they do. He listens for long enough to discover if they are a potential victim; someone he can sell to.

This is serial networking at it's worst. In business and in life people buy people. So it is important that you learn the art of being a caring networker. People are NOT going to “buy you” if you’re just a card dealer. You have to truly care about the other person and it’s always a good start if you can make a great first impression.

The word SHINE was introduced to me at a recent marketing conference I attended and like any conference or seminar there was an element of networking throughout the event. A great guy called Mark Perl was the host and he explained the concept of SHINE.

   S - Smile
   H - Handshake
   I - Eye Contact
   N - Name
   E - Enthusiasm

Smile as you look at the person and shake their hand firmly but not weakly or with a limp wrist. Equally don’t crush the other person’s hand! Look them in the eye and keep looking at them as you give them your name and listen as they say their name. Be enthusiastic during this. Don’t speak in a boring, monotone voice but introduce yourself as if you’re excited.
Then once you’ve done the introductions ask questions. Ask the person what they do for a living. Ask them how they heard about the event, ask them where they live.

I always try to find out as much as I can about the other person and I always try to ask them the first question. This really puts the other person at ease because people naturally enjoy talking about themselves. Always try to show real interest in what they are telling you and find out if you have some things in common. The best way to do this is to make sure you really listen. Don’t get distracted by other people in the room or a loud conversation going on nearby. Stay focused on the other person while they’re speaking and try not to interrupt them.

I have a general rule that I never offer my business card until either I’ve discovered that the person I’m talking to is someone I want to connect with and stay in touch with; or they ask me for my business card. And if they are someone I want to connect with I always ask them for their card and in most cases they reciprocate by asking for mine.

Networking Online

Many of the same rules apply when you are participating via online social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Ecademy, Bebo, Xing, MySpace or on people’s blogs and your own blog. But the main mistake people make when using these sites is, without realising it they become the card dealer! They just broadcast messages about themselves and their business. They send tweets on Twitter promoting their company.

The art of communication through social media is having conversations. You have to take part in discussions with people and you have to go where the conversation is taking place. If your favourite social network is Facebook and you only “talk” to people on Facebook you are going to be missing out on a whole load of conversations which you might want to take part in.

Use some of the aggregator tools such as FriendFeed to see where the conversations are taking place and then go and join in. This is the beauty of using social media. Unlike a bar or a café where conversations are happening but you don’t feel you can “barge in” and just sit down at a table and join a conversation with strangers. On social media sites you can. You can see a conversation happening around a subject that interests you and you can jump right in by posting your opinion.

You can add your comments to a conversation and people can read them and reply and all in real time. It’s amazing to watch and take part in and it is so exciting when you then make a connection with someone in this way.

I follow some runners on Twitter and I was training to run a half marathon and we were having a conversation about training. I tweeted about why I was raising money for Cancer Research UK and a lady I had never met joined in the conversation. She wrote a lovely reply saying how moved she was by my story about my dad dying of cancer and she very generously sponsored me via my fundraising website! That just blew me away. About a month later on the marketing weekend I mentioned earlier there were over 200 people from all over the UK there and the hosts asked members of the audience to stand up and give feedback. I heard this lady introduce herself and I realised it was the same lady who had sponsored me via Twitter. During the break we met up and it was just amazing to meet this generous person in real life! We are now connected and we have met up since and become really good friends.

So try and take part more in the conversations going on and post comments on people’s blogs. There is nothing worse that writing a blog and getting no comments! It happens to us all, so I make sure if I read an interesting blog that I post a comment and add my opinion. It’s also nice to share things which you have found interesting from other people. Don’t just share your stuff. It’s more rewarding to let people know about other people’s stuff and one day, you never know, someone might just promote our stuff.

Take part in the conversations and start to contribute more, but please don’t be a card dealer.

Part 3 - Fantastic & Rare Tony Robbins Audio from 1989.

As promised Tony Robbins, a world renowned expert on Leadership Psychology, has released an incredible audio this time from 20 years ago!

It's a rare recording Tony did back in 1989 and I'd like to give it to you.

You can download it here for free as a gift from Tony:


http://www.moneymastersseries.com/audiodownload.php

This has NEVER been released before ...but I think it's *critical* that you hear it because you'll discover what Tony calls the "5 Keys to Wealth & Happiness".

Please download this as soon as you can because Tony has said he doesn't think he'll be leaving it on the Internet for long. 

Yes to Facebook in the Workplace!

At a recent Ecademy event in London on Social Media for Business with Louis Gray, the topic of Facebook in the workplace was raised and Louis gave his opinion. He, and most of the audience agreed, that employers should allow the use of Facebook in the workplace.

Interesting to note in this week's issue of Webuser magazine their News Editor, Ben Camm-Jones comments on the same issue and highlights the recent issue Dixons Store Group faced when some staff were insulting customers on Facebook.

See coverage on the story from the BBC earlier this month.

He sums the article up by saying: "So it's simple - let your employees use Facebook. The weakest links in your workforce will soon reveal themselves."

Click the image above to enlarge and read.

I agree. Business owners, directors and managers have to realise that Social Media is an exciting new way of communicating with their customers (not always positvely!) and they should be embracing the likes of Facebook, Ecademy, Twitter etc. When staff are using these mediums employers must ensure the content is monitored and any wrong doings are nipped in the bud.

But I know the power of using these social media sites as an amazing way of connecting with customers and potential new customers in a really positive way. Working for a company that knows and understands this helps boost the morale of it's staff and people feel they can make a difference.

So if you're an employer who doesn't allow access to these social media sites, think about how your staff feel and think of the positive ways you can harness these sites to help your customers. And sure, the odd idiot might abuse the new found trust you've given them, but as Ben Camm-Jones says "Facebook is an excellent way to suss out unsuitable employees".

Business start ups Start with a Domain Name

Have you recently set up a new business?
Are you considering setting up a new business?

The recession and redundancies have caused a large number of people to start up their own businesses. In an article in today's USA Today it says "...starting a business from scratch or buying a franchise has been the way out for many. Of job seekers who gained employment in the second quarter of 2009, nearly one in 10 — 8.7% — did so by launching their own businesses, according to outplacement firm Challenger Gray & Christmas' quarterly Job Market Index."

Read the USA Today article.

No doubt in the UK, some of those who have been made redundant will have started up their own business too.

If you are considering starting up your own business or you have already, you need to make sure you register a domain name for your business. You also need to make sure you choose the right domain name for your business and you need to choose the right domain name registration provider.

The following couple of articles might be of some assistance to you if you are considering setting up your online business.

Domain Name Registration for your Online Business

How do you choose the right domain provider for your business?

The reason every new business starts with a domain name is because everyone now expects a business to have a website and a company email address and if you don't, you'll get left behind.

So don't leave it to chance, take some time and think about the right name for your business and make sure the domain name to match your business name is available. I would always recommend registering both the .co.uk and the .com variations as a minimum. There are other options too, but these are the 2 most recognised.

Then once you've decided on the name, find a domain name provider and get your domain name/s regsitered.

Fundraising can be Heart Warming ...

.... in more ways than one! I am doing the Cardiff Half Marathon on 18th October and raising money for Cancer Research UK. It is such an incredible feeling when someone sponsors me.
 
Because during these tricky times they have put their hand in their pocket and shared their hard earned cash with me for my cause.

Because I think of all the good it will do.
 
Cancer Research UK is entirely funded by the public, so they rely on people like me and you to help them continue their life-saving work.

But on the flip side, the other way Fundraising can be "heart warming" is when a non-runner like me has to go out and run 8 miles!!! My heart rate went through the roof today!
 
This was without any shadow of a doubt the hardest run I have ever done.
You can see details of my workout by clicking here.

The thing people always say about exercise is it's great because it increases the endorphins in your body which put you on a real high.
 
Today was not one of those endorphin enducing days - I was so shattered after the run that my heart rate was still up at 145 as I lay on the carpet trying to recover. Even after my shower those elusive endorphins didn't show up.
 
But I am so thrilled that I was able to run 8 miles without stopping! I still can't believe it! In fact, as I write this entry I can feel the first waves of endorphins kicking in. I think I'll sleep well tonight!

You can help support me in this mad cause by sponsoring me. Just click here.
Thank you in advance for your support.

Remember by giving, you are warming my heart in the right way; without me collapsing on the carpet from exhaustion!

Thanks again.

Part 2 - Fantastic Tony Robbins video - Creating Massive Action!

As promised Tony Robbins, a world renowned expert on Leadership Psychology, has released another incredible video.

Imagine this: You're on the run because your home town is right in the path of a hurricane.

...And you've fled to your parents house in the next town over, hoping the storm will pass and everything will be OK.

Now, imagine that on that very same day, you make ONE MILLION DOLLARS ...with nothing but a laptop computer and a spotty internet connection.

Even though this sounds like something from a movie, it actually happened to the person Tony interviews in his new video:

http://tonyrobbinstraining.com/328/john-tony/

The video is free and it should start playing automatically.

I'll post Part 3 later on this week with details of a very rare recording which Tony did back in 1989 called the "5 Keys to Wealth & Happiness".

Part 1 - Fantastic Tony Robbins video - Creating Massive Action!

Tony Robbins, a world renowned expert on Leadership Psychology, has just posted a brand new video for you on his blog and you can watch it here:

http://tonyrobbinstraining.com/320/interview-with-frank-kern-and-john-reese/

In the video, you'll discover:

• The "4-Square" System For Creating Massive Action TODAY.
• The number one thing that's holding you back...and how you can banish it from your life forever.
• The subtle mental shift that millionaires use to get a financial jumpstart.
• A short exercise that destroys your nagging skepticism and builds your momentum to succeed.

It's free for you and should start playing automatically.

It will really get you excited and motivated to begin taking massive action on some of those things you've been stalling on.

I'll post Part 2 later on this week which is a great video of Tony & John discussing John's million dollar day - the day when he launched a new product and took over $1m in sales in less than 24hours!!