How to Network: 12 Tips for Shy People

by Meridith Levinson

Schmoozing is a trial for shy people, but armed with these common-sense tips they can increase their networking mojo.

Read tips here
http://www.cio.com/article/164300/How_to_Network_12_Tips_for_Shy_People

Etiquette for LinkedIn and the Professional Networking World

Courtesy of Dave Taylor

"My friend and colleague Liz Ryan of WorldWIT recently wrote a piece that she entitled Ten Tips: LinkedIn Etiquette that I thought was excellent and wanted to share it with my own audience. Herewith, therefore, her ten tips for professional networking online..."

Read his blog post here
http://www.intuitive.com/blog/etiquette_for_linkedin_and_the_professional_networking_world.html

10 Powerful Networking Tips Using Business Cards

by Carl E. Reid

"So, you have a resume and don't need business cards. Can you carry 10 resumes in your wallet' Do you or can you carry your resume everywhere you go' A church bell ringing lets people know they are open for business. Your business card is your bell. Here are some proven tips using business cards to increase your chances of landing a job or creating a business opportunity...."

Continue reading here
http://chinese-school.netfirms.com/business-article-business-cards.html

10 Tips for Giving an Important Speech

by Alyssa Dangielis

"Those preparing for this kind of talk have heard "practice, practice, practice" and "less is more," but there are still speakers who make audience members fight to stay awake. With that in mind, experienced presenters offer these key steps for rallying a large, influential audience of peers around a central idea..."

Read tips here
http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/10/10-tips-for-giving-an-important-speech.html?partner=newsletter_Startup

How to Channel Your Twitter Voice

by Diana Ransom

"...For all the benefits social networking delivers — simple, inexpensive and viral — it's also time consuming. And if you're not prepared to devote a sizable portion of your day, or, at least, ask an employee to step up, aimlessly participating in social networks can quickly become deflating."

Read article here
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703363704574503693994521878.html

5 Misplaced Social Networking Fears

by Starr Hall

"Networking is changing, so stay ahead of the curve with these tips."

Read article here
http://www.entrepreneur.com/marketing/branding/webbrandingcolumniststarrhall/article202688.html

Develop Your Business Networking Skills

Learning how to network effectively is a great way to build your business. By taking the time to meet with other businesspeople and discovering how you can help them and they can help you, you can develop relationships that will provide great rewards for you in the future.

Read article here
http://www.gwinnettnetwork.com/networkingarticles.htm

Top 15 Most Popular Networking Sites

Here are the 15 Most Popular Social Networking Websitess as derived from our eBizMBA Rank which is an average of each website's Alexa Global Traffic Rank, and U.S. Traffic Rank from both Compete and Quantcast.

Read complete list with stats, here
http://www.ebizmba.com/articles/social-networking-websites

Who Uses Social Networks & What Are They Like?

by Sarah Perez

A new study by Anderson Analytics looks into the demographics and psychographics of social networking users on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and LinkedIn with a goal of providing marketers with information about users' interests and buying habits as related to their network of choice.

Read Part 1 here:
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/who_uses_social_networks_and_what_are_they_like_part_1.php

Read Part 2 here:
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/who_uses_social_networks_and_what_are_they_like_part_2.php

Why Twitter Followers are Better Than Facebook Fans!

by Biba F. Pedron

An informative article in today’s eMarketer shows that Twitter followers are more likely to induce advocacy and future purchases than those on Facebook. According to their data, 37% of respondents were more likely to purchase from a brand after following them on Twitter as opposed to only 17% of those that “like” a brand on Facebook.

Read article here
http://www.bibapedron.com/2010/09/why-twitter-followers-are-better-than-facebook-fans

6 Things You Should Never Reveal on Facebook

by Kathy Kristof

"You can certainly enjoy networking and sharing photos, but you should know that sharing some information puts you at risk. What should you never say on Facebook, Twitter or any other social networking site?"

Read article here
http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/110674/6-things-you-should-never-reveal-on-facebook

'15 Ways To Maximize Your Networking Result'

Courtesy of Bibi Pedron, Maximize Your Networking Results

Stop wasting your time attending every event and start to
boost your business with networking.

=========================================

Tip #1: Show Up

The #1 success of Networking is to show-up.

When you join a group or an organization, it is very
important that you commit to the group, and attend the
meetings on a regular basis. Weekly or monthly depending on
the group you choose.

In order to build a relationships with other members, they
need to meet you more than once and you need to meet them
more than once. The more times you attend the meetings, the
more you will get results you will achieve. At each meeting,
you will learn a little more about them and their business,
and they will learn more about you. The more they see you,
the more they know about you, the more they trust you, the
more referrals they will give you.



Tip #2: Arrive Prepared

Always arrive prepared.

Conduct some research before you decide to attend an event
to know what kind of people will be attending. Are they in
your target market, will you face a lot of competitors or do
you have a clear way to stand out from the crowd?

Spend some time on the website of the group who organized
the event to learn about them. Do they specialize in a
specific industry? ? Does the group focus on small and
intimate events? Do they pack the room with hundreds of
people?

Sometimes I have people who come to my events, and are
surprised to see only 12 to 15 people, but it is mentioned
on the website that is what makes Biba4Network and our
meetings different from other groups' meetings and programs.
On our home page we mention : "Because networking is more
than just shaking hands and collecting business cards, most
of our events are limited to 15 people, to drive better
results. There's more time to introduce yourself and your
business to the group, more time to get to know each other,
so more time to get business." So if they had taken a look
at the website first, they would have known our style and
wouldn't have been surprised or disappointed.

When you go to an event, it is also very important to have
one or two important goals in mind. Are you looking for
leads, partners, new clients, services? You will not
approach people the same way, and you want to be sure to
send the right message and use your time wisely.



Tip #3: Always Have Business Cards

Never leave home without your business cards.

Wherever you go to a networking event, to the dentist, to
the movies, to a party, always bring your business cards
with you. You never know where you will meet an interesting
new contact, and you don't want to miss the opportunity to
exchange cards. Writing your telephone number or email
address on a piece of paper or a paper napkin, doesn't look
very professional.

Always carry a pen, or some people will prefer a PDA, to
take notes on the back of the cards you receive--something
you would like to remember about the person, something they
said, something you promise to send them.

Use your business card as a marketing tool to help you stand
out from the crowd.

Don't put only your name and address, but add your logo. I
know it may sound obvious but many professionals don't have
logo at least on their card. Add your website address, so
people can check it later to learn more about your business.
Ad your tag line which explains your business in one line; if
you don't have tag line or slogan, it is time to think about
it.

Let's say you are a coach or a financial adviser, no doubt,
you have a lot of competition. What makes you unique and
special? When people see your card, they will probably say,
"Oh, another one!" but if you mentioned your specialties on
your card, it will make a difference immediately.

Take my business card as an example.

Very often, when people receive it, even before they read
it, they say "Nice card". First because of the quality of
the paper, very thick, glossy, you can see that I didn't
print the card myself with my printer. It is very colorful
and matches my website. The card mentions "Seminars,
Workshops & Networking" which explains exactly what I do,
and my tag line "Build Your Business While You Build
Friendships" which is the purpose of the networking meetings
that I organize to help people to build relationships to
grow their business through networking.

You can also use the back of your card, to provide more
details about your business.

Use bullet points to emphasize the purpose of your products
and services. Show how you can be a problem solver to
others, to make sure that they will call you the next day.

A business card is a "space ad". When you pay for an ad in a
newspaper you pay a lot of money so you try to use all the
space, to get the most benefit. Do the same with your
business card; use the space available.

Need help for a business card Makeover?
Check Step 3 of the "Power of Networking Secrets"
* How to Design a Memorable Business Card
and an Outstanding Professional Image
Your personal look and your business card are
your first marketing tools.
Having a professional business card will help
to portray your image and make you stand out from the crowd.




Tip #4: Effective 15-30 Second Elevator Pitch

Patricia, do you have an effective 15 to 30 second elevator pitch?

We talked about this earlier in the e-course, but this is one of
the keys to successful networking. Remember to introduce
yourself, and tell them the old adage "What's in it for me"
or more accurately, "what's in it for them." Learn how to
"sell" yourself before you sell your services and products.
People want to learn about you - what you're about, what you
can do before they make a purchase or consider referring you
to one of their valuable contacts.

When you tell others about your business, be passionate,
energized and energetic. Personalize your story so that your
new contacts can picture themselves as part of your story.
This will help them become a part of your mission.

Then once they know you and trust you, they will either buy
your services or if they don't need what you offer, they
will [hopefully] refer you to someone else. They will
actually do the selling for you. If they trust you, this
trust will appear in the message they send to others.

When a friend tells you how much they loved a book, a
restaurant or a product, they put such passion in their
message that most of the time, you will buy the book or the
product because you want to have the same feelings. Do you
personally know the author of the book? No, but you buy it
anyway. So your friend did the selling, not the author. Do
you see want I mean?

Clearly introduce yourself, in 15 to 30 seconds, so people
will understand exactly what you do; that will help you
attract your target market and you will not lose potential
clients.

Don't have only one elevator pitch but 3 or 4, to be able to
adapt your message depending of your audience.



Tip #5: Do Not Sell

DO NOT SELL

Networking is not a place to sell. You have to be prepared
to give your elevator pitch to introduce yourself - who you
are, what you do, how you can help people. You attend these
meetings and gatherings to get contacts and build
relationships, not to sell.

That is the ONE AND ONLY purpose of a networking meeting.
The selling part will come later on.

If you attend an event expecting to find a client to close a
sale right away, chances are you will be very disappointed.
Furthermore the other attendees might not appreciate your
attitude.



Tip #6: Meet People, Make Connections

Meet people, make connections, ask about their business or
services. Be curious, ask about them.

People love to talk about themselves, so ask questions and
more important, listen to their answers. Use those answers
to see how you can help them, how you can assist them, what
resources you can share with them...And as I mentioned
earlier, this will always come back to you. People you meet
will also be able to help you, give you referrals and
resources, even if is it not today, the time will come.



Tip #7: Solve Problems

Be a problem solver.

People will be more interested in you if you tell them how
you can solve their problems and challenges instead of just
telling them your story. Blah, blah, blah. Be different from
the crowd. Over the long run, you'll win all the business
you desire.



Tip #8: Go to People

Go to people; don't wait for them to come to you.

Some people are very shy, and they will be very happy if you
make the first move. Remember, people attend networking
meetings to meet other people and expand their circle of
contacts. Help them ; make it easier for others to meet
you.

Go to events with a friend, colleague, or client, and
introduce people to each other.

You will be considered as a "PRO Networker." People will
think that you know almost everybody, and as a result other
people will come to speak with you. This tactic puts you in
the center of the group and brings people to you.



Tip #9: Present Professional Image

Give a professional image.

Maintain a brochure and/or a website. Some people will
probably want to learn more about your business later, so
give them the opportunity to get the information they are
looking for in a format they can digest and on their own
timetable. Make it easy for people to get to know you.

I get very frustrated when I meet someone and can't
understand what they do. Sometimes the reason is that we met
only for a few seconds and other times because they were not
very clear when they described their business or because I
just didn't understand. Remember English is not my first
language, so sometimes I can get "lost in the translation."
When I came back home and wanted to look at their website to
learn more about them, I noticed that they didn't have a
website. If you don't have a website now, put this task high
on your to do list. In the meantime, at least create a
brochure.

Personally, I don't like brochures. I realized that a
brochure wasn't the best medium for my business. I use
postcards instead. Postcards are relatively small, more eye
catching than a brochure and easier for people to read
quickly. Postcards send your message immediately.

I increased by 20% the number of members as soon as I
started using postcards. It is an intro to learn more and to
invite people to visit my website.

I don't like to receive brochures either, because it takes
too much room, and I don't know what to do with the paper
once I get home. I already have hundreds of business cards
in my organizer; that is enough.

But this is my personal opinion. For some industries
brochures work very well.



Tip #10: Make the Right Impression

Project the right image, make the right impression, and
create the right impact.

What makes you unique? Every person I have ever met is
different from all the other people I know. Everyone is
unique in one way or another. This carries over into the
business you create. When you display your individualism-
your best traits- you will stand out from the crowd. When
you are proactive, you will meet many new people, and you
will ensure that others remember who you are.



Tip #11: Send a Thank You

In the 24 to 48 hours after an event, send a 'thank you'
note or email to your new contacts.

Thank them for their time and reintroduce yourself in a few
lines. They probably met many people during the event and
your business card cannot say everything about you,
especially if you had a meaningful conversation with the
person. So, it's worthwhile to reinforce your introduction
and reestablish that connection.

Give them the link to your website, so they can learn more
about you and your business. Tell them about your newsletter
if you have one, and invite them to subscribe. That will be
the best way to stay in touch on a regular basis, so they
will always know what you are up to. Hopefully they will
forward your publication to others and this will expand your
network further.



Tip #12: Follow Up

Follow up, follow up, follow up.

Schedule follow up meetings with the people you had a good
connection with, or if you think that you can help each
other. Put an organization and a follow-up system in place;
don't become overwhelmed with all your business cards, be
organized; put your cards in a binder, for example a
business card file or portfolio. Or, use a database system
like ACT® or Microsoft® Outlook ®.


Send follow-up emails; contact your new contacts on a
regular basis; again sending your newsletter is often the
ideal way to stay in touch. Develop your A, B, C lists to
know how often you should contact people and reconnect with
them. Follow up as soon as possible, when someone gives you
a referral. Your contact took the time to give you a
referral, so don't spoil it; contact the referral source to
thank them and then let them know how your interaction went.
If the association works well, they will be glad to be part
of the success and more than happy to give you more contacts
in the future. Volunteer to give them contacts in return.


Stop wasting your time attending every event and start to
boost your business with networking.

Do not attend another event without reading
"Power of Networking Secrets"
Get Your Own Copy NOW >>>
==> http://tinyurl.com/PON-StudyCourse


Biba Pedron, Maximize Your Networking Results
http://www.TheConnectionQueen.com
http://www.bibapedron.com
info@biba4network.com

Biba4Network, LLC
3625 N Country Club Dr
Aventura FL 33180
Tel: 917-573-9808

Free Social Networking Report

You will have to fill out your email address and name to receive this offer. Scroll down towards the bottom.

Get Report here
http://www.howtousesocialnetworking.com

10 Tips for Public Speaking

How to find your confidence.

Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and even beneficial, but too much nervousness can be detrimental. Here are some proven tips on how to control your butterflies and give better presentations...

View tips here
http://www.toastmasters.org/MainMenuCategories/FreeResources/NeedHelpGivingaSpeech/TipsTechniques/10TipsforPublicSpeaking.aspx

Twitter Group's Index

Search through Twitter's Group Index list here
http://twittgroups.com/index.php

What is a Business Network?

by Donna Reynolds

"A business network is formed because a tangible need exists. Members are seeking solutions to specific problems and looking for new opportunities for growth. These groups can be highly structured, holding regular meetings and with a set membership, or more loosely defined..."

Read article here
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-business-network.htm

FBI Warn on Social Network Scams

Posted by Ralph DeFrangesco
Oct 5, 2009 11:11:20 AM

"The FBI has issued a press release warning that there has been an increase in the hijacking of social networking accounts...."

Read article here
http://www.itbusinessedge.com/cm/blogs/defrangesco/fbi-internet-crime-complaint-center-warn-on-social-network-scams/?cs=36359

Networking Directories

Christian business networking groups A-Z Directory
http://www.a2zbizdir.com/christian-business-networking.html

Directory of Professional and Trade Associations
http://www.marketingsource.com/associations

Directory Search by State
http://www.e-magnify.com/resources_groups.asp

Find Business Strategy and Networking Groups In Your Area
http://businessnetwork.meetup.com

GOOGLE Main Group Index
http://groups-beta.google.com

GOOGLE Business -
http://groups-beta.google.com/groups/dir?sel=16823574,16823570

Group Search Index (USA) -
http://www.bizdir.org/index.phtml?browse=/Regional/
North_America/United_States

Index for networking thru Tagworld -
http://www.tagworld.com/-/Main.aspx

International/Other Topics Directory -
http://www.meetup.com/browse

iToolbox Network Search Index -
http://networking.ittoolbox.com/groups

Library of Associations on the Net -
http://www.ipl.org/div/aon

MSN Main Groups Index -
http://groups.live.com

National/ Online Business Networking Directory -
http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/networking-national.html

Networking For Professionals! -
http://www.networkingforprofessionals.com

Regional Search Index USA -
http://directory.google.com/Top/Regional/North_America/United_States

Regional Search Index -
http://directory.google.com/Top/Regional

Search variety of countries/regions -
http://directory.google.com/Top/Regional

Search your local area -
http://www.truelocal.com/topicsearch.aspx?q=networking

Women Owned.com Networking Index -
http://www.womanowned.com/StartingUp/Relationships/Networking.aspx

Yahoo Groups Main -
http://finance.dir.groups.yahoo.com/dir/Business___Finance

Yahoo Groups Business -
http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&fr=sfp&p=Networking+Groups

Huge List of Networking Links

Through this page, you will find a huge list of a wide variety of all sorts of sites that deal with networking (social-personal); video/photo sharing; bookmarking and so on. Worth taking a peek!

View list here
http://www.addtoany.com/share_save?linkname=Network%20Plus&linkurl=http://www.joinnetworkplus.com

Defeating the Dark Side of Social Networking

by Joseph Hughes and Chris Boudreaux

Companies can't rein in the conversations happening on social networks and blogs, but they can respond to their most vocal customers...

Read post here
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2010/tc20100325_074058.htm

Maximize Your Networking (Free Copy & Audio)

Grab a free copy of "15 Ways to Maximize Your Networking Results" and free audio of "Networking Know How" offered by Bibi Pédron, the Connection Queen.

Read details and sign up here
http://www.theconnectionqueen.com

Top 6 Things You Need to Know About LinkedIn Etiquette

Excerpt:
"In both our business and personal lives, etiquette holds lot of importance. However, on the Internet, the rules of etiquette tend to blur...What makes LinkedIn so different from other networking sites is that people you are networking with can be your next boss or colleague, people who can make or break your career."

Read etiquette tips here
http://tastingtheinternet.com/top-6-things-you-need-to-know-about-linkedin-etiquette

6 Entrepreneur Networking Tips

Business networking is not easy, but a true asset to your company's long-term success and growth. One of the most essential tools for entrepreneurs is their ability to network.

Read article here
http://www.morebusiness.com/entrepreneur-networking

How to Network in Person

[Corrie is a senior TeamMom member]

How to Network in Person
by Corrie Petersen

Have you ever gone to the grocery store and talked to someone standing in line at the check out stand and wished you had a business card to give? Did you know that what you did there is a form of networking? Networking is when you talk to people about your business and they talk about theirs.

The appropriate way to network is to talk to people and learn as much as you can about their business. You need to gather business cards and learn about their target market so you can refer people to them. When you refer people to the business owners you meet at networking events, they will begin to trust you and they won’t have a problem referring people to you.

There are many ways to network with people. The most popular way to network is online using social networking sites. One thing you need to remember is there are a lot of people that don’t use the internet to find what they are looking for. That is one reason why it’s so important to network offline as well.

Think about the business you are in right now. How many of your customers or clients are local? Look at all of the people in your community and how you could help them if they were to know about your website and business.

There are several ways you can network locally. I will share these with you in this article.

• Business after Hours

Most communities have Business after Hours meetings. These are local events where all different types of business owners gather together. These are usually sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and other businesses.

• Breakfast before Business

These are not as popular as Business after Hours meetings, but you can still go to them and meet some great people. You may get a whole different crown when you attend this type of meeting.

• Training classes or sessions

Some communities offer training classes or sessions. When you attend these not only will you learn new things, but you will meet people that you can network with.

• Conference

Have you ever attended a conference for women or men? Maybe you attended a conference for a product or service where there were people networking all the time. You can do the same and help them even if they don’t live in the same city or state as you.

When you attend any of these meetings, you need to make sure you bring some items with you. You will want plenty of business cards. Bring a stack in with you, but have more in your car just in case you run out. You should also consider bringing flyers, brochures, or postcards with you.

When you collect business cards from others, make sure you write down who each person’s target market is and what they think their ideal customer or client is. After the event you need to think about the people you have contact with and see if any of them can be helped by any of these people you have met. Also, remember these people when you are networking.

Referrals are the best for everyone!

About the Author:
Corrie Petersen runs a successful Virtual Assistant business. She submits articles for her clients at more than 20 sites saving them time and getting their name in front to more people than they thought possible. If you’re ready for maximum exposure from your articles, check out her site at http://www.virtualfreedom4you.com.

P.S. Are you looking for more work at home information? Check out http://www.WAHM-Articles.com