Could I have started a chain reaction yesterday?
No, I didn't slam on my breaks in the middle of Shaw and Blackstone Avenues. I presented 18 people with ideas, suggestions, and strategies for social networking. If I'm completely successful, each one of those people will get online and start increasing their personal visibility and credibility. As they start seeing benefits from their actions, they'll tell other people. They might even share some tips or knowledge of their own. Those people may be enthusiastic and they'll share ... etc. There's your chain reaction.
This is what every internet marketer hopes they can do with their product - go viral. Very rarely does it happen that way for a small business owner using the web to promote. It's more like dropping pebbles in a pond. Each one causes waves for a little while, then they subside. You have to keep dropping pebbles in to keep the waves going. But if you keep going, you can throw harder, or drop bigger pebbles and the waves get larger and go on longer. Even better, you can recruit others to help you.
Networking tips and the best way to network ... by Networking on Purpose! Professional business networking strategies from Beth Bridges, speaker, and author.
Social Networking Presentation Today
Clovis Chamber members got a valuable dose of information today about getting more out of Social Networking. I presented it as the December installation of our Seminar Series. We had a great time with 18 people attending. A few came back to the Chamber office afterward for a little trouble-shooting on their profiles.
Instead of step-by-step how-to's, I wanted to instill in them a sense of the possibilities with Social Networking.
Here are a few of the key points:
Instead of step-by-step how-to's, I wanted to instill in them a sense of the possibilities with Social Networking.
Here are a few of the key points:
- It is a "people" thing, and not a "computer" thing.
- All the rules of good networking apply: create visibility through consistent participation, develop relationships based on what you have in-common, and give first.
- Focus your time and efforts on a few key Social Networking sites.
- Manage your time: keep your eye on the ROI or you'll waste time.
- Don't sign up and abandon your profile after one day; apply regular effort to see results.
What are the benefits of Social Networking?
- Visibility: for you and your company
- Search Engine Results: Google likes LinkedIn
- Targeting: key contacts within companies you want to reach
- Selling: product and services
- Finding: lost friends and customers
- Relating: to current customers
I recommend starting with www.LinkedIn.com, because of the well-developed Fresno community, and www.FaceBook.com. Especially consider using Facebook's Groups and Fan pages to promote your business. Search for "Clovis is a way of life" to see what I mean.
Are You King of the Geeks?
"Yeah, but the thing is I'm kinda like the leader, y'know...kinda like the King of the Dips#!$s."
- Farmer Ted in Sixteen Candles.
It's okay to be king of the geeks. Be confident when you are marketing yourself (i.e. networking). You don't have to be the greatest in the world. You can be the best in your town, an expert in a specific target market or the leader of your group. As you gain more experience and develop more expertise, you expand the sphere of your influence and therefore enlarge your "kingdom".
Are you the king or queen of something? Hugely famous in a very tiny specialized niche? Be proud and develop this expertise. You'll find it easier to network and grow your reputation.
- Farmer Ted in Sixteen Candles.
It's okay to be king of the geeks. Be confident when you are marketing yourself (i.e. networking). You don't have to be the greatest in the world. You can be the best in your town, an expert in a specific target market or the leader of your group. As you gain more experience and develop more expertise, you expand the sphere of your influence and therefore enlarge your "kingdom".
Are you the king or queen of something? Hugely famous in a very tiny specialized niche? Be proud and develop this expertise. You'll find it easier to network and grow your reputation.
Why Giving Builds Relationships
I had a terrific conversation today with Rick Itzkowich of www.ProductiveLearning.com and www.QuoteActions.com. We talked about social networking and I came away with a lot of information. One of the most important points that Rick made explains a great deal of why networking fails for many people.
We meet someone, have a nice conversation, and exchange cards. Then we go our separate ways. What happens next? We pile their cards up or put them in a rolodex, but we don't move the relationship along any further. Hopefully, your big idea is to not give them an unsolicited sales pitch for your product.
So what do you do? Send the obligatory "itwasnicetomeetyouletmeknowifIcanhelpyouinthefuture" email? Sign them up - unsolicited - to your newsletter or email list? (I have two real estate agents who send me the nearly identical newsletter each month.)
People do a poor job of starting a back-and-forth relationship because they have nothing to give, says Rick. A gift is a way of offering something of value to keep the conversation going or develop the relationship further. Bags of money are ideal, but if your supply is low, try something else of value. Invitations to events, information, or a tip about a service someone can use. Here's one for you from me: check out Rick's website at www.QuoteActions.com for a free trial of his service.
We meet someone, have a nice conversation, and exchange cards. Then we go our separate ways. What happens next? We pile their cards up or put them in a rolodex, but we don't move the relationship along any further. Hopefully, your big idea is to not give them an unsolicited sales pitch for your product.
So what do you do? Send the obligatory "itwasnicetomeetyouletmeknowifIcanhelpyouinthefuture" email? Sign them up - unsolicited - to your newsletter or email list? (I have two real estate agents who send me the nearly identical newsletter each month.)
People do a poor job of starting a back-and-forth relationship because they have nothing to give, says Rick. A gift is a way of offering something of value to keep the conversation going or develop the relationship further. Bags of money are ideal, but if your supply is low, try something else of value. Invitations to events, information, or a tip about a service someone can use. Here's one for you from me: check out Rick's website at www.QuoteActions.com for a free trial of his service.
Face to Face Still Has Benefits
Before you make the decision to jump into social networking, brush up on your time management skills. What a sink-hole of time! How easy it is to follow one interesting thread of conversation or information until you're so far from the original query that you've forgotten what it was.
Face-to-face networking still has many advantages. Unlike on-line networking, in-person is self-limiting on the amount of time you spend. The event or activity is going to end at some point, reminding you that you've got to get back to the grind of getting paperwork done.
Face-to-face networking still has many advantages. Unlike on-line networking, in-person is self-limiting on the amount of time you spend. The event or activity is going to end at some point, reminding you that you've got to get back to the grind of getting paperwork done.
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