Master Your 'Mingle-Ability': 5 Creative Ways to Network

by Jacqueline Whitmore, Contributor
October 17, 2013

An extensive network is vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Thanks to social media, the process of meeting potential clients and customers has evolved over the years...There are less traditional, yet more effective ways, to stand out from the crowd. Here are five creative twists on networking...

Continue reading here
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/229440?newsletter=true

6 Ways Social Networking Platforms Can Boost Creative Thinking

Published on August 3, 2011 by Mike Brown in Analysis, Brainzooming

In the midst of interviewing people about Google+ and Facebook for an article in the next issue of The Social Media Monthly magazine, it’s helped me better articulate what’s important to me in social networking platforms when it comes to enhancing creative thinking...From this exploration, here are six important things for me when evaluating a new social network for its creative thinking potential...

Read more here http://brainzooming.com/6-ways-social-networking-platforms-can-boost-creative-thinking/8824

How to Network Well: It's Not All About You

Posted by Devin Cole

"Is it an outgoing, charismatic personality or maybe it's experience or practicing proper networking etiquette. While those aspects are all helpful, the key to being a successful networker is understanding that networking is mutual and not a one-way exchange."

Read post here
http://www.boston.com/business/blogs/global-business-hub/2012/01/how_to_network.html

When Business Cards Aren't Enough: Unique Business Networking Ideas

by Scott Ginsberg

"The following is a list of atypical networking techniques that will help boost business. WARNING: They will stretch your courage. They will test your expertise. And they will challenge your creativity. But when business cards aren't enough, alternative ways to develop and maintain mutually valuable relationships are your ticket to networking success."

Read article here
http://www.sideroad.com/Business_Networking/unique-business-networking-ideas.html

Six Essentials for Networking

by Christine Comaford-Lynch

"Networking is about creating an extended family. It’s about developing connections, caring about people, increasing the size of your “tribe.” Here are a few networking essentials..."

Read article here
http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/magazine/six-essentials-for-networking/2089

The 59 Commandments of Business Networking

by Diane Helbig

"...Business networking is really about building relationships. It’s about finding those people with whom you have things in common. It’s like dating. Have you ever met a man or woman who was so aggressive and pushy that you ran the other way? You wouldn’t dream of dating them."

Read article and tips here
http://smallbiztrends.com/2010/11/commandments-business-networking.html

How to Network: 12 Tips for Shy People

by Meridith Levinson

...But networking is a trial for shy people—geeks especially. They view it as insincere at best, manipulative at worst. They eschew networking for a variety of reasons including lack of confidence, fear of rejection and a sense of unworthiness.

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

Effective Networking Developing this Essential Skill

by Gayle Hallgren-Rezac co-author 'Work The Pond!'

The ability to do effective networking is an often overlooked leadership skill, but it’s one that will greatly assist you in getting the career you want. Ibarra and Hunter, authors of “How Leaders Create and Use Networks,” published in the January 2007 issue of The Harvard Business Review, stated that: “Networking is simultaneously one of the most self-evident and one of the most dreaded developmental challenges that aspiring leaders must address.”

Read article here
http://www.bcjobs.ca/re/career-advice/career-advice-articles/networking-advice/effective-networking--developing-this-essential-skill

10 Tips on How to Social Network

by Phillip Khan Panni

Here are 10 of the most important points to bear in mind and apply on how to social network.

Read his tips here
http://www.businesswings.co.uk/articles/10-tips-on-how-to-social-network

The Smart Networking Blog

Posted by Liz Lynch

Read thru her archives and blog here
http://blog.networkingexcellence.com/personal-branding-blog

Networking 101: No, You Aren’t “Just Shy!”

by Samuel I. Diener

Before I start really getting into it, I want to let you know that I truly believe everyone can get the hang of networking, no matter what your hold-up. Let me know what you’re having trouble with, and I will try my best to help you work through it. With that being said, this article on “shyness”. Now, I realize that there are medical conditions that make it extremely difficult for some people to go out and do this stuff. However, I believe that no matter how difficult the affliction, the mind is very powerful. I may be tough, but I kind of understand.

Read article here
http://www.samdiener.com/2009/09/networking-101-no-you-arent-just-shy

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 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

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

Four Barriers to Effective Communication

by Timothy I. Thomas

Why does communication so often go wrong? Here are the top four reasons for breakdowns in communication...

Read article here
http://www.impactarticles.com/artman/publish/Coaching_12/Four_Barriers_to_Effective_Communication.shtml

Top Tips for Attending Networking Events

"Tomorrow I will be attending the Texas Conference for Women; it is the state’s premier networking, educational and job fair event for women. For me this event is a fantastic opportunity to network with like minded individuals....In honor of tomorrow’s event, I am sharing my top networking tips for events, expos, conferences and career fairs."

Read tips here
http://www.theworkathomewoman.com/2009/11/top-tips-for-attending-networking-events/comment-page-1/#comment-3402

Top 10 Networking Tips

by Zita Gustin

Read her tips here
http://www.top10networkingtips.com

Sign up for The Networking Minute at
zitagustin@gmail.com

View her site here
http://www.thesavvynetworker.com

Five Quick Tips For Networking Success

by Cynthia Good

Successful networking is about more than collecting business cards and meeting the right people for your own benefit. It’s also about seizing opportunities to help others – whether it’s making a job referral or just linking two clients with mutual interests.

Read article here
http://www.cnbc.com/id/22302521

What is Positive Networking

by Gayle Hallgren co-author Work The Pond!

Positive Networking is not all about you. It’s discovering what you can do for someone else. While there is a place for transactional networking, the majority of networking opportunities are not about closing a sale but opening a relationship.

Read more here
http://www.bcjobs.ca/re/career-centre/career-tools/networking-tips/what-is-positive-networking

6 Tips for Creating “Sticky” Social Relationships

by Brett Borders

Every day, around 30 new people follow me on Twitter. Then around the exact same number of people usually unfollow me. They’re apparently upset that I haven’t blindly reciprocated their “friendship,” despite the fact that they’ve never even said “hi” or interacted with me. They’re so obsessed with numbers games… that they don’t seem to understand the most basic social networking principle, where you have to be sociable and personally interact with people before you win their trust and friendship.

Read more of the article here
http://socialmediarockstar.com/5-tips-for-creating-sticky-social-relationships