Archive for the ‘Social Network’ Category

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Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

Getting The Most From Networking

Lately, I’ve been talking a lot about getting offline to maximize your online connections, but you can also enhance your online connections with in-person networking events.  It’s nice to get on your computer afterwards, and find your new friends on Twitter and Facebook.

There’s a reason you are taking the time (and sometimes money) to network.  In order to make the event worth your while, determine what this reason is. I recently met a woman at an event, and she said she was there for the food and to get out of her house for a few hours. She works from her home, buying and selling property, and had no need or interest in building a network, which is fine.  She knew why she was there and she made the most of her time. 

Many people, though, are there to specifically build business connections, or expand their potential customer/client base.  But showing up and passing out cards is not going to get you very far.  And just collecting cards won’t help you much, either.  Here are a few tips to help you actually connect with people that are right for you.

*Do not pitch your business. No one is there for a hard-sell and people will start avoiding you.

*If you attend an event with friends, spread out.  Huddling in a corner, catching up with each other, is not going to help you build your business network. 

*Find out what people used to do.  This information can lead to additional ways you can help them, and vice versa.  (I love this tip.)

*Be prepared to write on people’s business cards, if it’s someone with whom you want to stay in touch.  You can quickly forget who’s who after meeting so many people. 

*Connect within a few days of the event.  If you wait too long, they may not remember you, or it may come across as insincere. 

Like every other aspect of business, creating connections takes time and effort, so make sure you’re investing in relationships that are meaningful to you and your company. Not everyone is a fit, personally or for your business, and that’s ok.  When building a network of people, quality is definitely more important than quantity.

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Posted in PR/Marketing, Social Network | 1 Comment »

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Start Mixing It Up – Bring Your Online Connections Offline

I know I keep talking about reaching out to your online community, but for a reason.  I don’t see enough people doing it.  Recent research shows that, even with the emergence of social networking, we ultimately interact in the way we always have. We have the same number of people (approx 4-8) in our “inner circle”, and we form relationships with people whom we make a more-than surface level connection.

Don’t get me wrong. Social networking has changed a number of things; most importantly, the length of our reach and the size of the net we can cast.  The online community we create is significant in the same way as our offline acquaintances.  We frequently hear about opportunities or learn information via a friend of a friend - online or offline, it’s pretty much the same.

But online we also cross paths with people who may be a good personal or business fit, whom we might not have met, otherwise.  To truly benefit from our online community, we need to connect with some of these people offline. But which of your 5,630 followers and 1,216 friends should you contact?  You will figure that out the same way you always have – gut instinct.

By reaching out, you increase the potential for more meaningful interactions.  Not everyone you contact will be receptive. And not all of these relationships will develop past acquaintanceship, but the ones that do will pay off in the form of collaboration and friendship.  So make the first move. You may be surprised how ready and willing people are to connect.

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Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

Join a Networking or Mastermind Group (or Start Your Own)

When I started my t-shirt business 6 years ago, I forged ahead on my own.  My accounting background was a huge help with many of the required tasks.  As far as finding resources and marketing, though, it took about me 18 months to get my footing.  Everything I learned, I learned through trial and error (mostly error).  That is why I believe whole-heartedly in joining a networking or mastermind group.

If I had been involved in such a group 6 years ago, I would have saved myself thousands of dollars and countless hours. To be fair to myself, online social networking hadn’t evolved, yet, and there wasn’t the variety of groups that there are now. 

These days, women can choose from Savor The Success, Smarty, or Ladies Who Launch, just to name a few of the larger organizations.  And social networking has grown beyond anyone’s expectations, with Twitter, FaceBook, LinkedIn and myriad specialty networks on Ning.   The online and offline groups feed each other and there is tremendous value in participating.  There is so much you can learn from others’ experience, and people are very willing to tell you about mistakes they’ve made, so you can avoid the same pitfalls.  

If you can’t find an existing group in your area, set up a casual meeting of local entrepreneurs, yourself.  Visit local businesses and talk to the owners.  Having a group of diverse members will be beneficial.   If you aren’t up for that and can’t find a way to participate in any other live meetings, become an active participant in online discussions.  I know there are people who say online relationships aren’t “real” relationships, but that’s just not true.  There are several people I’ve met online that I speak to regularly.  We support each other and share information. Some I’ve since met in person, and a few I haven’t (yet), but I feel like I know them, because I do.  And I’ve come to trust their input.

Working for yourself is challenging and rewarding, but at times it can be overwhelming and cause feelings of isolation. Participating in group meetings and events (online and offline) will alleviate these feelings, and offer you the chance to build valuable professional relationships.

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Posted in Approach, Social Network | 2 Comments »

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

Use Social Networking To Go Beyond Your Friends And Industry

Use Social Networking To Expand Your Realm Of Experience from Beth Andrus on Vimeo.

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Posted in Social Network, Uncategorized, Video | 3 Comments »

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Stay On Track By Creating A Supportive Network

Starting a business on your own does not mean you have to go it alone. Having your friends and family to cheer you on can mean the difference between giving up and pushing on. It’s obvious that this safety net has a positive effect on your mental and physical state, but even so, it is supported by a gazillion scientific studies.

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If your support network is on the lean side, you need to beef it up. Not just so you have support during the tough times, but so you have people to celebrate with when things are going great. So where do you go to make friends these days? Since this is a site for business tips, let’s start there.

Find an entrepreneurial networking group in your area. Start your search on the internet, but don’t stay there. You want to connect with people with whom you can eventually meet up.

For the women, I highly recommend Ladies Who Launch, Savor The Success, and Smarties. They are large networks, with local groups across the country. If money is an issue (yes!), know that you don’t have to be a paid member to attend many of their events. I have met a lot of wonderful women through these groups, and have become friends with some of them.

For men and women, I suggest attending, or even organizing a Tweetup (a real world meeting of people who have connected on Twitter). Click here for tips on organizing a Tweetup.  You can do the same type of thing with your Facebook friends, using the “events” feature. You can also do a Google search for entrepreneur networks. I came across the Rural Entrepreneur Network, so trust me; you can find a group that suits your needs.

Besides a general sense of security and belonging, interacting with others leads to personal growth. So get out there and make some new friends and acquaintances. Then, if you ever crawl out onto the ledge, we’ll know it’s to appreciate the wonderful view.

Posted in Approach, Social Network | No Comments »

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Building Your Online Community

Building Your Online Community from Beth Andrus on Vimeo.

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Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

Display Your Portfolio On Carbonmade

Carbonmade is a social network for people who are in creative fields. It is a great site to display and manage your portfolio online. And don’t assume this is just for graphic designers or photographers. The site lists portfolios under the headings of printing, interior design, fashion/apparel, marketing, copywriting, branding, and a lot more. So it is also a great site if you’re in the market for a graphic designer, new logo, or web designer.

Artist  

If your company offers any facet of design work, this is a great way to organize and display your work. It would be a great extension to add to any of your other sites or networks. You can put a link to your portfolio on Facebook, or tweet about recent uploads.

As with most sites these days, it is free, or you can upgrade to get more features.  The fee-based plan, The Whoo! Plan, is just $12/month. This allows for more project and image uploads, and allows you to upload 10 high quality videos. Also, you can customize your domain name, which is always good. Check it out for free, and if it works for you, you can always upgrade later.

One more plus; Carbonmade supports Google Analytics (a free statistics tracking tool) to track your portfolio traffic. This way you can see who’s looking at your work, and which images are most viewed.

As I have been emphasizing over the last few weeks, exposure and networking is everything. This is just one more tool to optimize your marketing efforts. Take a look at everything they offer here. Carbonmade 

Posted in Social Network, Websites | No Comments »

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

Move Beyond Facebook With These Three Social Networks

Although I love Facebook, I think it’s a good idea to also join a social network with a small-business focus. Enhancing your online presence is an inexpensive and relatively simple way to market your business. Here are three that are worth checking out.

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Sohobiztube (“Soho” stands for Small Office/Home Office) is set up to optimize the features of social networks for business promotion. It centers on business-to-business interaction and offers a platform to effectively showcase your company. There are plenty of good articles and you can connect with companies that interest you. I am a member of this site, but to be honest, have not spent much time sorting through all of the features. A basic account is free, so start there and cruise around the site to see what you think. If you like it, you can upgrade to a premium account. They also have a Facebook page and send out information on upcoming events, etc… SoHo Biz Tube

Fast Pitch is a network that also is set up with an emphasis on marketing and networking for businesses. A basic account is free, so start with that. Create a profile, check out the blogs, etc... If you like what you see, you can try out some of the fee-based tools and features that are relevant to you. Fast Pitch

Dreamers Into Doers (hosted by Martha Stewart’s company) is different than the first two, in a few ways. First, it is promoted as "for women" (although I see men are starting to join). Second, there are no fees or premium levels. It is set up similarly to Facebook.  And last, the number of members is relatively small, at about 1700. I think this is a good thing because it feels more personal. I am a member of this social network and have made a number of valuable contacts.

Additionally, the site highlights a member every week as the "Doer of the Week." Each of these people has the opportunity to win the People's Choice contest this fall. The winner will receive $2,500 for their business. Dreamers Into Doers

I will share any other social network sites I come across. When you find one (or more) that you like, take full advantage. You will get some great information and connect with other entrepreneurs.

Posted in Social Network, Websites | No Comments »

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

Savor the Success

Savor The Success is a boutique social network and PR Co-Op for female entrepreneurs & professionals. I know this is now the second or third “for women only” business group I’ve written about, and I apologize for that. I will address this after I tell you about Savor The Success.

Women

This social network was co-founded by Anjela Jia Kim after building her own business, Om Aroma & Co., from the ground up. She wanted to help women, not only set bigger goals, but reach them, using her very basic approach. She is serious about helping those who are serious about helping themselves. The tagline for her seminars and programs is “This isn’t for the dreamer—it’s for the doer.” Check out the site here .

There is a great blog, and a list, by region, of really useful events. These vary in price from about $35 - $75. You can register for the network for free to obtain more access to the website, or you can upgrade your membership for $49/month (or $500/year). With the premium membership you have access to media lists, free PR seminars (PR Booty Camps), a variety of networking opportunities, and a lot more. It’s definitely worth taking a look.

Now, back to the issue of these “women only” groups. If you all have checked out these sites that I’ve talked about recently, you’ve seen that they offer a lot of useful information and events for free, and for a very affordable fee, you can get so much more!

The groups that I’ve seen that are open to everyone (men and women) are totally different. Paid membership is required before you can gain access to pretty much anything that is useful, and the membership fee is usually really high. Besides that, they seem corporate-y and not necessarily right for brand new business owners. I find this odd, because the men I’ve heard from, who read this blog, or who have gotten my book, or made comments on Facebook, are supportive, creative and are very generous of spirit.  It seems like they would be an asset to one of these "women only" style groups.

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If any of you know of a co-ed (for lack of a better term) social network with a small business/new entrepreneur focus, that isn’t expensive, boring, and kind of exclusionary, and that offers a decent amount of free info/support, please let me know. I would l-o-v-e to write about them, because we all need information, fresh ideas, and support, especially when our businesses are in their infancy.

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Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

LadiesWhoLaunch.com – A Great Resource (For Women)

So, I excluded everyone outside of the Los Angeles area on Monday, and now I’m excluding the men. I promise this is not a trend, just a coincidence.  There is a great site called LadiesWhoLaunch.com. It is filled with tons of resources and connections for women entrepreneurs. Women are starting up businesses at twice the rate of men. A change in lifestyle is their primary motivation, looking for more choices and deeper fulfillment.

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The Ladies Who Launch mission is to make entrepreneurship accessible to any woman with a project, dream or aspiration to start her own business and be successful. The company offers online resources, tools and inspiration as well as in-person local communities and workshops around the globe.

Registration is free and comes with many benefits, including a weekly newsletter and the opportunity to list your company in the Ladies Who Launch Directory. If you want to, you can upgrade your membership.  It’s pricey (about $750) for the first year, but you get a lot for your money, including exclusive events, PR and marketing services, free classified listings, and more. You may find, after receiving the newsletter and learning more about the organization, that an upgrade is worth it to you.

It's a great site designed with new business owners in mind, so it's definitely worth checking out.  And I'm sure they wouldn't object to any visits from the men.  www.ladieswholaunch.com/

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