Posts with the tag 'Social networking'
Do you go to networking events because you know it’s a
great way to meet new people and reconnect with those you’d
met before?
It really doesn’t matter what you’re networking for –
clients, connections, joint ventures, a job…
Has this ever happened to you at an In-Person Networking
Event?
Have you ever gone to a networking event where you made no
new connections, or you couldn’t break into a conversation
with someone you really wanted to meet, or you couldn’t
break away from a conversation that went on and on and on?
Even worse, have you ever paid an annual membership fee so
you could then pay for gas and parking driving to an event
where you then paid to enter and met nobody new?
Use BlitzTime and it won’t be this way at all!
You’re next networking event at BlitzTime will be like this:
You go to a networking event where you make the right
number of new connections, or you have a conversation with
someone you really want to meet, or your conversations are
just enough time at 6 minute each to know whether or not to
reconnect. BlitzTime gives us professionals the ability to
make up to 6 new connections in a single event through
actual 1-on-1 conversations!
* No annual membership fee.
* No paying for gas and parking.
* No driving to an event.
* No entry fee to enter and met nobody new.
BlitzTime combines the personal nature of in-person
networking, the reach of online networking, and the
convenience of the telephone.
While you’re talking with someone, you’re on your computer
looking at their picture and a detailed profile. That means
you know more about them during your conversation than
you’d probably learn about them at an in-person event.
So take this opportunity to join me and others for a
telephone Blitz Event. During each event you have up to 6
short 6 minute conversations with others signed up for the event.
Simply go BlitzTime to sign up.
There, you will be assigned a phone # and passcode to dial
into any event. You can attend two events free-of-charge so
you get to test drive this virtual speed networking venue.
I didn’t choose an event for you so you could choose the
ones most convenient for you. Simply click on the
word “Events” at the top of the page. You’ll see all the
upcoming events in chronological order. Choose whatever
works for you.
FYI: The price is going up from $9.95/month to $19.95 for
unlimited BlitzTime sessions on June 15.
That gives you a week to attend your two free sessions to
see if you love it as much as I do!
I look forward to talking with you on a future event!
P.S. Please pass along this invitation to anyone you think
will be grateful you did. Thanks!
P.S.S. BlitzTime is the perfect venue if you’re shy, an introvert, or new to networking and want to get your feet wet before jumping into the deep end! Yes, it’s one of the best ways I know to overcome Marketing Resistance Syndrome!
One more thing ~ be sure to fill out your profile before getting
on your first BT call. You’ll be glad you did! Trust me!
Tags: Marketing for Professionals, Social networking, word of mouth marketing
June 7th, 2009
Patricia Weber is a new cyberfriend of mine. I ‘met’ Pat years ago when I was signing up for every newsletter and teleclass I could get my hands on. I was impressed with her work and what she stands for ~ helping introverted sales people and other professionals be successful in business and in life by leveraging their true nature to their fullest advantage. Yet Isomehow lost touch with Pat along my journey.
I’ll let you in on a secret: the phrase Marketing Resistance Syndrome, which I coined and helping professionals overcome Marketing Resistance Syndrome is one of the cornerstones of how I serve them, was inspired by by Pat’s phrase “reluctant salesperson.”
Then a few months ago, I got an email from Pat telling me about this new networking thing called BlitzTime. It’s the coolest new virtual networking gig in town. You can click on this link if you just can’t wait for me to tell you more ~ which I promise to do in tomorrow’s blog. For now, back to our story.
I accepted Pat’s invitation, LOVED my experience on my first BlitzTime session, I joined immediately and have been attending BlitzTime sessions every week ever since.
Anyway, Pat and I ended up getting paired in our private BlitzTime sessions. While we talked we could see each other’s profiles on our computer screen. How cool is that!
This happened a few times. We decided to read the handwriting on the wall and connect intentionally outside the BlitzTime setting. And we’ve been connecting ever since. We’ve become part of the Fabulous Four ~ four like-minded professionals who met on BT, resonated together, and decided to support, encourage, cross-promote, and share tools, tips, and trade secrets ~ well, maybe not secrets ~ how to use certain social networking tools better, how to cross-promote each other, and things like that.
So thanks, Pat for showing up in my life!
And here I am cross-promoting and commenting on your blog post Introvert Tip – Three Ways Introverts Can Draw Boundaries.
Pat, as always, your posts inspire self-reflection, and I always love what I discover… even though I’m a flaming extrovert. Actually, I swing both ways. I, too, need my alone time ~ to connect with my deeper self and trusted higher source, to just be. I think is just that I also get LOTS of energy from people, too.
The thing is that this extrovert, and I’m wondering how many others would do well to take these 3 boundaries to heart ~ to practice and live by them:
First, am I going to let myself be fooled into thinking that I’m not good enough as I am? For any reason – for me it’s from being prone to sudden bursts of enthusiasm… even in business settings, oh my!
Second, I have some traits that could be helpful if everyone had them! Passion and compassion, energy, ideas, creativity to share and joyfully do, the ability to connect heart-to-heart with friends and strangers…
Third, there are certain skills that we are all smart to learn. How to play fair and care, how to cooperate and collaborate, how to co-create win-win resolutions to conflict, how to take good care of ourselves, how to shift our attention from what we don’t want to what we want, how to be grateful and appreciative for what we have and for what we’ve asked for and yet to see evidence of.
So thanks, again, for bringing to the forefront of my consciousness who I am and what’s really important to me.
The Energizer Bonnie
http://MarketingToYOURworld.com
Tags: Information Marketing, Marketing for Professionals, Social networking, word of mouth marketing
June 3rd, 2009
You know the importance of social networking and you’re actively engaged in the world of Web 2.0. Congratulations! You’re playing in the big league. Social networking is becoming more and more a critical part of your media mix for taking your message to YOUR world.
There are lots of social networks where you could already be a member. The top ones I’m in are LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
You may be a member of one of the many more niched ones, like these for professoinals, business owners and entrepreurs: Think Big Revolution, Biznik, StartUpBiz, to name a few.
And there are thousands of others to choose from. For example, CollectiveX and Ning are the popular platforms for creating your own network. Each has their place in your media mix.
Your presence on any and all of these sites is only as powerful as your profile. Here’s why:
1. Your profile is where someone gets to know you and discover what you have in common.
- Maybe you are interested in the same subject, you have friends in common, you live in the same town, city or state.
- You could have gone to the same school, be a member of the same organization, or be in the same or complimentary businesses.
The richer your profile, the more likely someone will discover what you have in common. This is a great starting point for building relationship.
2. Your profile includes your picture, right?
You’ve heard the saying your eyes are the windows to your soul.
You’ve had the experience where at first glance you know you like someone ~ this could be from seeing someone in person or looking at their picture. This works both ways.
So choose a picture that captures and shares your special energy.
3. Once someone knows about you, they can choose to reach out and engage in dialog with you. At first, this may only be via emails on the social network. That’s okay. This conversation builds trust.
4. Trust is the prerequisite for taking the conversation to the next level. The next level might be sharing private email addresses and writing without having to go to the network’s site.
5. Many online asynchronous dialogs on social networking sites and email will lead to phone conversations.
6. And guess where some of these phone conversations lead? To face to face meetings, of course!
“But we live thousands of miles apart.”
Who knows! You may travel to each other’s location on business or to attend a conference. And if the connection is strong enough, you may plan a trip just because you have to meet!
7. Once you know, like, and trust someone, you’re ready to explore how you might help each other.
- You could become a client of theirs or visa versa.
- You might have a referral for them and they for you.
- You could cross-promote each other’s products, programs, or services to each other’s lists and communities.
- You could comment on their blog posts or retweet their tweets.
- You might even create a joint venture project together.
These are real possibilities. How do I know? I’m doing all of the above with people I’ve met in the strangest of ways… on these new and unusual social networking sites.
So here’s my recommendation, my ‘Call-To-Action” for you:
If you’ve joined a social networking site and have yet to create a profile and upload your picture, do it ASAP!
Even if you created profiles when you joined your groups, I recommend you revisit and update them on a regular basis.
I’m always amazed when I read what I posted earlier. I’ve gotten clearer, more concise and compelling in the way I tell my story. I’ve got a new picture, or I’m just ready to see a different one, so probably are others. Each picture tells a different story all by itself, doesn’t it?
And be sure to be active in the communities where you’re a member. That doesn’t mean every day. Show up and partipate on a regular basis. Maybe rotate among them and spend 15-30 minutes becoming part of the buzz.
- Answer a question or ask one.
- Comment on someone else’s good news or information they’ve shared.
- Share a link to a resource you found helpful.
- Lend support and encouragement to someone in need.
And of course, mix in an update about what you’re working on and what you’re offering that might be of interest to them. Just don’t get pushy or self-centered. People will unfollow, un-friend, unsubscribe, and delete faster than you can say just about anything you could say 
People want to spend time with and do business with people they know, like, and trust. In the world of social networking, this starts with your profile. So make sure yours is powerful. It’s the key to the city. It’s the invitation to your party. It’s your song from the mountain top.
Tags: Information Marketing, Marketing for Professionals, Social networking, Web 2.0
May 30th, 2009
I love following relevant discussions on my favorite social networking and group collaboration sites.
I know it’s easy on LinkedIn and sites built with Ning and CollectiveX. With discussions on these sites, I see all comments regarding one discussion below the initial post. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since my last visit. It’s all in one place. I don’t have to go anywhere else to follow what’s been said or to post my own comment.
So far from what I’ve been able to figure out, the discussion threads on these Facebook and Twitter are spread out on different people’s profiles/sites. Things don’t seem to be archived for a long time either.
Is there any way ~ especially an easy one ~ to follow the threads of a discussion on Facebook and Twitter? I’m hoping I just need a few tips here and there to do this, right?
Thanks in advance to any of you who can help me (and I’m guessing many others) follow and participate in the great conversations happening out here in cyberspace.
P.S. Learning things like this one step at a time is one winning strategy for overcoming Marketing Resistance Syndrome. It helps so much to have specific know-how to take the fear out of jumping into the deep end. Having someone teach us how to swim or throw us a life preserver ~ either way we all win!
Tags: Information Marketing, Marketing for Professionals, Marketing Resistance Syndrome, Social networking, Strategies for Success, Web 2.0
May 25th, 2009
I just read a post on Patricia Weber’s blog. Patricia is a Sales Coach for the Introverts, Shy and Reluctant. Her most recent post, Social Networking Tip – Top 4 Energy Vampires for an Introvert, contain gems of wisdom whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert. Click on the above link and see what you think.
I agree with what Pat said and I’m an extrovert. Pat and Jim are wise to recognize that we can get sucked in, only to come up hours later to ask ourselves, how have I benefitted from the time I’ve spent. I am reconnecting with old friends from school, work, and life. I’m meeting great new people whom I’m getting to know, like, and trust. I want deep, meaningful conversation online just like I do offline. We all need to find balance which is dynamic making it a bit tricky to plan.
That’s where Pat’s second tip comes in. Listen to your inner guidance… follow your heart. That goes for who to connect with and follow. I’m imagining myself an introvert and thinking it also depends upon my energy level and mood. I may want to connect… after I recharge from within. Listening to that inner voice is key here. Oh, that applies to me as an extrovert, too, now that I’m thinking about it.
Another tip is to put social networking into perspective with everything else on your plate, personal and professional. How often I start my day with email and social networking, only to find the business mission critical tasks and projects have been untouched. Social networking is, as one of my mentors Bonnie Dillabough, The Web Woman, says The Internet isn’t instand pudding. That includes social networking. Make sure you’re putting important, though maybe not so urgent tasks and projects on your plate and spend some time every day working on these, too.
Bottom line, whatever you’re doing, if it’s aligned with your vision, mission and purpose, if you’re enjoying the work when you’re doing it, if you’re showing up and doing your best, that’s what really matters. All roads lead to Oz as long as you’re looking toward Oz and moving in that direction.
What do you think? What’s your experience been? Do you have any other tips that have helped you manage your social networking? Please share them with us. We’re all learning in public and can use all the support, encouragement, and guidance as we co-create this new world of Web 2.0.
Tags: Social networking, Web 2.0
May 10th, 2009
Just a quick note to share my excitement about the joys and rewards of social networking.
I’ve been connecting with people I’d never have met had it not been for participating in just a few of these new-fangled online networking opportunities: Facebook, Twitter, BlitzTime, Sta.rtup.biz, Think Big Revolution, and Space Coast Women, to name a few.
Yes, participating takes time. Yes, you do need to become familiar with a new software platform. Think of social networking as the new word-of-mouth marketing. Remember, word-of-mouth is still the best promotion you can ask for… people who already know, like and trust you are creating buzz about you. How cool is that!
There’s good news about the learning part. The basics are pretty easy… jump in, don’t dive. Post a profile, explore, see what others are doing and model the best you find.
And is there are tons of resources ~ people in the groups you join, e-books, blogs, videos, and more. Do a search on what you want to learn. You’ll be amazed at what you discover.
And please keep in mind all the other social networking strategies you’re already using… email, newsletters, blogs, ezines… you remember those, don’t you? Well, they’re now included under the relatively new phrase social networking.
So are those we used in ‘the good old days.” Remember to get out and attend live networking events. Go to events where you get to do things you love with friends and family. Be present when you our out shopping and running errands. You never know who you’ll meet. Friends and acquaintances you hadn’t seen in a while. New friends you form while online or walking down an aisle. The opportunities are endless.
And especially juicy… there are now so many options for how to reach out and touch someone. Some are ideal for introverts, some for extroverts. Some are well suited for people who like to read, some for those who like to listen, and others for the visuals in the crowd. Use the ones that are most comfortable and effective for you, then stretch a little and add a new one every now and then.
Here’s another suggestion to help make your connecting and taking your message to YOUR world more enjoyable and effective.
Pick a few and master them. Stay active. Participate. Start dialogues and share your thoughts and suggestions. Being a wall flower whether in an in person event or in cyberspace won’t get you the results you want. Get involved… in your own time, in your own way.
And if you know you’re suffering from Marketing Resistance Syndrome, if you’re letting MRS steal your dreams, if you’d like some help to overcome this energy-draining state of mind help is just an email or phone call away.
Know you’re not alone and you’re not broken. Everyone’s got MRS in one form or another, to one degree or another. Reach out and ask for a helping hand. You’d be amazed who’s waiting in the wings, ready to pull you up out of those negative feelings. Like me!
Then, before you know it, you’ll be ready to be that helping hand to someone who’s just like you were. Isn’t that what social networking is all about!
So reach out and touch someone today. And let us know how it goes…
Happy social networking!
Tags: Social networking, word of mouth marketing
April 1st, 2009
