SHOWING UP ISN’T NETWORKING!
Have you ever attended a business networking event hoping to meet some new potential clients?
You bring lots of business cards + give them out during the event. You go home thinking you’ve done your part to get some business.
WONDER WHY — no one contacts you!
Because coming with business cards in hand is only one of many steps to effective networking.
Here is a few ideas to think about.
a) Are you going unprepared to a business networking event?
b) Do you go to a networking event with no business cards
Networking Tip: – have several areas that you have extra business cards, wallet, in your briefcase, trunk of your car, glove compartment,
c) Do you have a prepared 30 second introduction-
Effective Networking Tip: Plan an your introduction with a new feature and benefit each time you go to an event
d) Are you being very… specific in what you are looking for in a referral.
Networking Tip: Specific is: Would like to meet the General Manager of Staples Business Supplies in Coquitlam
e) Do you give before you receive — Effective Networking IS Giving
f) Are you talking a lot instead of LISTENING first. -
Business Networking Tip: Spend time finding out about the other person to see how you can help them.
g) Are you handing out business cards to people who haven’t asked for them? Do you think this is networking?
h) Networking is: Meeting someone NEW and finding out what you have in common.
i) Networking is: Introducing two people who have a common interest.
We’re going to work on those other steps . Keep Posted You’ll learn to develop your networking techniques and how to get more business from networking.
There is lots of networking opportunities available – including on LINKEDIN — are you connecting on line and taking an interest in people you are connecting with.
Donna is a professional networker, and trains people in networking and…on how to have an effective LinkedIn profile in order to network more effectively.
Donna Willon
Focusednetworking.com
604-328-2290
Are You Measuring Your Progress?
WHAT MATTERS MOST #12
“When we deal in generalities, we shall never succeed. When we deal in specifics, we shall rarely have a failure. When performance is MEASURED, performance improves. When performance is measured and REPORTED, the rate of performance accelerates.” — Source Unknown
We suggested you use the BE SMART format for writing out your goals. The “M” stands for measurable. If your goals aren’t concrete and measurable, they’re not goals–they’re simply wishes or dreams and good luck in bringing them to fruition.
The more clear you are in identifying where you are going, the easier it will be to mark your progress and to know when you get there. So ensure that you have measurement criteria and target completion dates for each of the goals you are working on at this time. Find ways to plot your targets and your actual progress each week or each month so you can clearly see how well you are doing. Remember, your subconscious mind will help you achieve your goals if you clearly tell it where you want to go.
“Goals are dreams with deadlines.” — Diana Scharf Hunt
Steps To Working A Room Tip #13
Networking Take Time
To build a strong network that will help you build your business you need to invest your time in business networking techniques that work for you
Understanding the importance of finding the right network is the first step. From there, you need to develop a network structure and plan
Donna Willon
President & CEO of Focused Networking Ltd
Office: 604-328-2290
Email: donna@focusednetworking.com
Web: http://www.focusednetworking.com
What Matters Most Tip # 11
A LIttle Time Is Better Thank No Time
I hope that by now you have found a block of time that works for you for your weekly and daily goal planning. If you haven’t already established a consistent routine, whether it’s daily or weekly, you need to take both a hard and soft approach to this new challenge.
First, you need to be firm in making a commitment to do this for yourself. Obviously, you want more success in your life or you wouldn’t have signed up for this Automated Personal Coach series. So commit to seeing this through. By the end of the year, you will be managing your life more effectively–count on it!
But you can be gentle with yourself about the time you spend. If you really can’t squeeze 20 minutes from your morning schedule, then accept 10 minutes. Even 5 minutes is better than nothing. What is most important is that you get into the habit of spending regular time to connect with what matters for you. Our experience is that if you start small so you can keep it up, you’ll find yourself getting hooked on the benefits and the results. And then it will be easier to block more time. Trust this. So find what’s going to work best to get you into this new routine.
“The ability to concentrate and to use time well is everything.” –Lee Iococca
Steps To Working A Room Tip #12
Be sincere, be on the lookout for how you can help other people.
Focus on WE not ME” approach.
Express why someone should deal with you
What can you do for them that someone else can’t or doesn’t do?
Donna Willon
President & CEO of Focused Networking Ltd
Office: 604-328-2290
Email: donna@focusednetworking.com
Web: http://www.focusednetworking.com
What’s New At Focused Networking
I continue to be creative and find ways to make Social Media easier for my members
I get bogged down with trying to keep up with it all so have decided to focus on Linkedin.
Tatsuya Nakagawa of Creative Atomic http://www.atomicacreative.com/ suggested years ago that this was a great focus — I wish I had listened to him now.
I believe Linkedin is one of the more professional networks where you can create some very good business relationships.
Focused Networking is focusing on Linkedin – with their members as well as to bi-monthly social media groups “Focused Business Networking with Linkedin”.
We are teaching Linkedin Step By Step and with a process so our members and audience have a better understanding how to use it and how to benefit their business.
Creating a step by step process so that our members can network face to face as well as on-line and find future clients and still have access to building good complementary partners in business.
I am also available to train on line, to companies, and/or individuals on the benefits of using Linkedin.
This reminds me of the days when George Moen (now President of Blenz Coffee) and I use to hold events to introduce Email to everyone — Can you image doing everything by fax — like we use to in the old days. Imagine – if you didn’t accept email way back then.
Check out our our website under events: http://focusednetworking.com/events-2/
Bi-monthly events on Linkedin — We have a great bonus offer and will be expanding.
