20Oct 2019 by Miss Kemya
The Most Critical Element of the Networking Process

The Most Critical Element of the Networking Process

Networking
You’re out there networking like crazy. You’re chatting with people about your business, you’re attending networking mixers. You’re meeting people at luncheons, workshops and conferences. You even met a couple interesting people in that long line at the grocery store and exchanged business cards. Now what are you supposed to do, other than file a bunch of business cards somewhere? You shared small talk, now what? The Most Critical Element of the Networking Process   The "now what" question is where many business owners get lost. Here's the thing: people who are successful at networking, a la connecting with others, are successful because they understand the importance of building relationships. So, what's the first step in building relationships with people you meet while networking: follow up! Follow up is the…
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03Jul 2017 by Miss Kemya

Networking Effectively Increases Your Opportunities, Leads and Sales

Networking
Most of us experienced folks will give you a side-eye at the mere mention of the word networking. It has connotations of uninteresting salespeople, shoving their crap ass business cards into your hand without so much as a care about who you are and what you do. This post is NOT talking about that kind of interaction. For our purposes, we're talking about true networking, building relationships, anywhere and everywhere. NOT those spammy networking events. Well they're spammy to me, so I guess I'm biased, but I digress. Networking has always been the best way to find a job, get recommendations, and increase the buzz about any business. Yes, always. It's been going on since there has been trade and barter. The golf course, working lunches, after-hours business functions, and…
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10Mar 2014 by Miss Kemya
Networking Tips That Actually Work

Networking Tips That Actually Work

Networking
Mention the word “networking” and you’re certain to get a reaction from most business professionals. The question is… what kind of reaction? You’ll probably make people either frown in agony or get people excitedly pulling out business cards. Either way, you’re bound to start a conversation around networking, and it’s easy to see why. All those articles on networking tips seem to only add to the confusion! When most people think about networking it seems insincere at best — and selfish at worst. Too many networking tips focus on strategies that come across as pushy, needy, or self-serving — even though the people using them rarely act that way in daily life. This, of course, is the complete opposite of what networking is supposed to be — friendly, useful, and…
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27Jul 2013 by Miss Kemya

The Power of Introductions: You Had Me at Hello

Branding, Networking
If you were at a networking event and a colleague introduced you to one of their friends, what’s the one word they would use to describe you? This scenario plays out all the time when we introduce two people, but really think about your personal brand for a second. What one word would a colleague or business acquaintance use to describe you to a new person? Would they say something like, “Hey I want you to meet <yournamehere>, she’s great.” or would it be something more splashy? The “she’s great” sounds pretty typical, like your standard introduction. Therein lies the problem. I read an insightful article on LinkedIn regarding personal branding and it talked about this typical introduction. How we describe people reflects their personal brand. So what one word would someone…
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06Apr 2012 by Miss Kemya

Networking Tip: Never Run Out of Business Cards Again!

Networking
Have you ever attended a networking event and run out of business cards? You reach into your pocket, wallet, briefcase, business card holder, or purse - and come up empty? How embarrassing! It doesn't have to be awkward. Here's a quick networking tip for you to use to make sure you never run out of business cards again. Make an e-business card (also known as a .vcf) of your business card in your phone, complete with your full name and picture. Yes, add yourself as a professional contact in your phone. When you run out of business cards, you can simply email and/or text your e-card to the person you're talking to, while you're still in conversation. This way, you make sure they receive your email and they associate you with the email.  …
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30Dec 2011 by Miss Kemya
A Few Simple Ways to Leverage LinkedIn

A Few Simple Ways to Leverage LinkedIn

Networking, Social Media
Are you using LinkedIn to build your personal brand and expand your professional network? If not, you should be! Assuming you already have your basic profile complete, don't you want to have a profile that commands attention and makes people want to connect? Of course you do! So here are five quick tips to round out your LinkedIn activity and make your profile more robust. (more…)
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20Dec 2011 by Miss Kemya
5 Factors To Consider Before You Pay For A Professional Membership

5 Factors To Consider Before You Pay For A Professional Membership

Networking
We’ve spent a little time talking about professional memberships. In the first post, we talked about building your network with professional memberships. Next, we detailed five easy ways to maximize your membership dollars. What’s left? We need to tackle the most critical question of all: how to decide which professional organizations to join You may use these 5 factors as a starting point. 5 Factors To Consider Before You Pay For A Professional Membership Membership Base Who are the members? Are you looking to get exposure to your target market, vendors, and/or competitors? Do the members constitute your audience? Are they your peers, potential affiliates or partners, or a general mix of professionals? Is the membership with a local chapter of a national organization? Is it exclusively local or simply…
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01Dec 2011 by Miss Kemya

5 Easy Ways to Maximize Your Membership Dollars

Networking
In the previous post, I started you on the path of building your network with professional memberships. Next, I want to tackle the benefits of such memberships and affiliations. If you’re not yet a member of any professional organizations, think of this post as an overview of the benefits you can reap. If you’re already a member of professional organizations, are you maximizing your membership dollars to build your network and expand your circle of influence? 5 Easy Ways to Maximize Your Membership Dollars Here are just a few of the typical benefits of professional memberships that I’m almost certain your business can use for marketing purposes.   Membership Directory Use the membership directory to cross promote, build your network, and advertise. Some organizations post a directory online and make it…
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