» Business Meeting

It’s Not Even My Birthday!

netfun5 — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:39:53 +0000

We've all heard that when you get a business lead, or a referral, or a phone query, or…something along those lines, we should follow up. Of course we should. And we should do it in a timely manner. "Well," you ask, "what is a timely manner?" In my opinion, it is within 24 hours. Now this doesn't apply to a phone call from your mother, but I covered that in another post titled, Why Doesn't Anyone Return My Phone Calls? published back in February '09.

Most of us are following up with phone calls and emails. Now phone calls are an excellent way to follow up but it has some definite drawbacks: phone calls are VERY time consuming, and a large percentage of the time you get voice mail and have to play phone tag. In order to do that, you have to keep track of who called whom and when. You have enough to do without adding that stress to your business life. Emails. Ahhhhh, emails. Everyone does emails. They're quick, they're easy. But again, EVERYONE does emails. In fact emails are used for more than just follow up, and therein lies the rub. Most people don't open all their emails because they get so many of them and most of them are bullsh….t. I mean, spam. Emails have lost their meaning and impact. Oh woe is us! What to do?

I have a solution. Send a greeting card.

"Are you kidding," you ask? No, I'm dead serious.

What is your first thought when you get a greeting card? What are you feeling when you have it in your hand and you haven't opened it yet? Your first thought is, "Is it my birthday?" The answer is no. Your second thought is, "Gee, I wonder who this is from and why they're sending me a card?" You're checking the return address. You can't wait to open it and see what it says. Let me ask you something – do you feel and think this way about emails? Do you know someone who DOES feel that way about emails?

Now you are thinking of objections to using greeting cards aren't you? "They're so expensive!" "They're so inconvenient to buy." "I have to write in each and every one, stuff and stamp and take them to the post office." "I can never find on that says exactly what I want to say." "What if I get a paper cut?"

Check this out - and remember, these are REAL PAPER GREETING CARDS that go through the U.S. Post Office. What if you could write one standard card and send it multiple times to people, or send it to many, many people at one time with just a click of a mouse? What if you could set it up so that it sent out cards to many people AUTOMATICALLY as many times as you want whenever you want? What if each card costs less than $1.00? What if you could upload pictures into them, or even make the card out of your photos? You may notice that in the above picture there are cards with our photos on them and some that we got from friends with their photos on them. What if you could insert your ACTUAL signature? What if you could use your actual personal handwriting? What if you could do all this on your computer from anywhere in the world and SOMEONE ELSE would print, stuff, stamp and mail the cards for you?

What if you could try this service out FOR FREE?

Would you take a few minutes to try it? Would you really, or are you just going to read this and then forget about it? Can you see how it could help your business and/or personal life? Do you see how this could be more effective than email, and actually save you money from whatever marketing you're already doing? If you're putting ads in phone books and on billboards, you are wasting your dollars! If you're creating enormously expensive magazine ads, how's that working out for you? If you're not creating relationships with your existing customers or prospects, they will likely never keep doing business with you because they perceive that you don't personally care about them.

Do this NOW! Go to SendOutNow and click on the banner. The founder and CEO will personally walk you through sending a card to someone you love and we'll pay for it. What have you got to lose? 15 minutes of your life? Give me a break! If you want to help your business bottom line, then this is the tool for you. And if you just want to send Christmas or birthday cards to friends and family cheaper and having more fun than you've ever done in the past, then you gotta try this out.

To your business success!

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I’d Rather Die Than Give A Speech

Steve — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 22:33:17 +0000

My wife Sara's popularity is growing on the speaking circuit. She talks mainly about business networking and associated topics. I must say that this is a GREAT WAY to become perceived as an authority on your area of expertise. And, as an added bonus, it puts you in touch with many more people at one time than the traditional networking one-on-one meetings. Granted, they only get to know you a little better and you don't get to find out what their lives and businesses are all about, but it is a "foot in the door" so to speak. What we like to do is gather the business cards of the audience to draw from for door prizes. Door prizes are generally our products or things we've bought at the store (or sometimes gifts that we've received but don't want) that we give away as drawing prizes. So now we have business cards, hopefully with email addresses or phone numbers that we can respond to by way of a Thank You For Attending Our Event, blah, blah, blah. This begins the personal relationships with those people who chose to come to our speaking event. Can you think of a better way to start personal relationships with small or large numbers of people?

"But…" you complain. "This means I have to speak in front of crowds."

Yes, you do.

"But…" you cry piteously. "I am terrified of speaking! I'd rather die than give a speech in front of a crowd. I might even pee in my pants!"

O.K. I hear you. This isn't for everyone, I'll give you that. But for most of us, that's no excuse. Now, no one's going to just throw you up in front of a crowd. First of all, you probably won't get invited to speak until you make it known that you A) want to and B) are capable. You won't want to until you feel you ARE capable. So how do you become capable?

First, you deliberately decide that you want to do this. As with anything else, you take one step at a time. And the best first step is to buy yourself a microphone and speaker and then set up on the sidewalk in front of your house. (HEY, I'M KIDDING HERE!) The best first step is to join a local Toastmasters club. They will teach you how easy it is in a step-by-step fashion and before you know it, you'll be totally comfortable speaking in front of 5 or 10 people. They will become your friends and supporters. That makes it even easier. Speaking in front of a group is to be regarded as telling stories in front of a group of friends you just haven't met yet. They don't want to see you fail – after all, they may have spent good money to listen to you. They don't want to get ripped off and you REALLY don't want them to feel that way. (By the way, always make sure there is a rear exit from wherever you're speaking. If you can afford a body guard, you might consider that as well.) Seriously, they would feel embarrassed for you, so do not think that the audience is out to be hostile towards you. And, you don't have to be perfect! Do you occasionally stumble when you are telling jokes and stuff to your real friends? Of course you do. We all do. That makes you seem genuine.

Secondly, get up in front of people every chance you get. It's called "stage time." The more stage time you get, the better and more relaxed you become. This is no overnight thing, folks. As I mentioned before, like anything else, it takes time.

Third, have FUN with it! It makes you feel powerful to have the crowd laughing at your quips, sitting on the edge of their seats with your stories, taking furious notes from your valuable information which you are SHARING with them for THEIR benefit. You are actually doing this to help people! That is the key!

Sara and I were in Toastmasters for about 2 years and loved it! Sara continued to become a Distinguished Toastmaster, which is the highest achievement you can get in the organization. I chose not to go that far, but I know how to give a good speech and I'm fairly comfortable doing so. Now, I can tell you stories about the times I've screwed up in front of a crowd here, but frankly, I don't have the time.

So…if you want to turbo charge your business networking, and possibly get a little cash on the side, you should consider public speaking related to your industry. And let me know when you do – I'd love to come listen to you and I don't heckle!

To your business success!

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After 2064 Years, What Have We Learned?

Steve — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 21:52:11 +0000

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."

Sound familiar? Who wrote this, do you suppose? It was Cicero in 55 B.C. Holy crap! 55 B.C.! See any parallels with our society and government? So if nothing changes after 2064 years, why are you worrying about the economy? About crime? About who's in office or who's going to be in office? Who cares about who's going to be voted off the island or lose the most weight? What difference does it make who is America's next top model or who wins the dance contest? Start paying attention to the choices you make in your own life. Begin to take action on the things you actually have control over instead of fussing about things that are out of your control.

Want to know what else hasn't changed? Business practices. With the global population increases, most companies still think that advertising is the key. It's not. Advertising may get them in the door, but what keeps them coming back is relationships. Statistics have shown that 60% or more of sales comes from REPEAT BUSINESS. And there is no repeat business if there is no relationship of some kind. Good relationships make the world go 'round. Bad relationships make the world go 'round. That's what life is all about. So how do you begin a relationship? How do you grow a relationship? There is a key word here. It's called "personal." You have to get personal with people and show you care about them. If you don't like people, then this isn't going to be easy for you. Who said, "No man is an island"? I thought it was Hemingway but it turns out it was a guy named John Donne in 1624. Wow, even way back then people knew it was about relationships!

"All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated…As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness….No man is an island, entire of itself…any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." – John Donne

You may notice that there is no new thought here. All this stuff has historical precedence and all we have to do is learn/research it. But I'm saving you the trouble. Just pay attention to our blogs and you will learn all you need to know about relationship marketing and growing your business in a way that will keep it thriving.

To your business success!

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16 Things NOT To Do At A Networking Event

Steve — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:40:12 +0000

1. Dress with your pants halfway down your butt or wear a see-thru blouse (thong underwear is allowed, as long as nobody knows but you) 2. Eat anything with that has to be eaten with fingers (‘cause then you have to wipe them on your clothes before you shake hands) 3. Eat anything that may get stuck in your teeth, tastes like onions or garlic, or can spill on your clothes (this reminds me of me) 4. Get drunk on your ass and try to pick up women 5. Get drunk on your ass and try to pick up men 6. Give a limp fish handshake or a bone crusher handshake 7. Tell anyone that they look hot (even if they do) 8. Talk to a woman’s chest (unless….never mind) 9. Talk to a guy’s crotch (unless…ah, never mind) 10. Try to talk to everyone 11. Go around handing out your business cards and say, “Call me” while making that University of Texas gesture by your head (you Aggies know what I’m talking about) 12. Yammer about yourself or your product/service (people will begin to avoid you) 13. Sit in a corner picking your nose (people see these things)(And it's crass!) 14. Go to the event without a plan and goals 15. Show up late 16. Try to sell, sell, sell. (did I mention “sell”?)

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After The Networking Event

Steve — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:44:17 +0000

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Business Networking – Pick A Card, Any Card

Steve — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:00:59 +0000

Ever go to a business networking event and not bring any business cards with you? Believe it or not, we've seen that happen many times. We meet someone whose business seems interesting or the person seems interesting and we ask for a card. Lo and behold, they forgot to bring them! Or they didn't have one for a number of different reasons. We've heard them all – "My dog ate them," "I'm having them made," "I forgot," "They're in my other car," "They're in my other pants." How pathetic! Let's say that you're not one of those folks. Let's say that you DO have business cards with you and you're eager to hand them out. Ah, but what do they look like? What I mean here is, is this a good card design or a bad card design? You didn't know that there was a difference? Let me introduce you to the world of Bad Business Card design. Imagine you have your own construction firm. Your business card tells absolutely EVERYTHING that your business does: commercial construction, home construction, general contracting, plumbing, electrical, air conditioning/heating, roofing, siding, concrete work, fencing, landscaping, windows, garbage removal, we name it, you do it! Then you have 14 phone numbers to be reached at. You have 2 business addresses. You've been in business since the beginning of the century. You service 5 different cities. You have 1389 satisfied customers who can give references. You have a motto. You have graphics. And this is just on the front. I can't wait to see what the back says. Or how about this: you're a real estate agent. You card has your company logo. That's good. You have your basic contact info and a small picture of yourself. Excellent. Unfortunately, you chose a red background and your printing is in black. No one can see it because of the dark background. Also the font is in script. Not good! I've actually got a card in front of me right now that would look O.K. but she's got SIX telephone numbers on it! And a fax number. And an email address. And a web address. I've got another card here that has a leopard skin background. Oh, my! Folks, you have to stop and think what image you're trying to portray here. This business card is one of the first things people will see, and if they actually keep it after you leave it's perhaps the ONLY thing they will have to remember you by. Is it important to you that you don't look like an idiot? What should a business card look like? It should be simple, to the point and perhaps eye-catching, but not for the reason that it's U.G.L.Y. It should look clean. It should have a picture of you so that others recognize you when they see your business card or remember you from your last meeting, whenever that was. Your picture should be as good as you can get it. Your name should be prominent on the card. Your card should have BASIC contact info on it. Perhaps either your cell phone number or your direct line number should be large enough to attract the reader's eye. You don't need to put every phone number that you've ever had on the card. In many cases, you probably don't even need a mailing address or a fax number. If someone wants to mail you something, they can call you for the address. Then you get to talk to them in person if you're not so busy that your machine talks to them instead. Your card might have your logo on it. If you do dark colored background, make sure your printing is in white. If your background is light, make your printing black or blue or some other dark color to contrast with, so people can easily read the information. And don't make the printing so teeny tiny that folks have to squint to read it! If you insist on putting lots of info on the card like experience, licenses, mottos, etc, then put that stuff on the back of the card. Remember, first impressions count even with business cards. Take your time and think out the design. Approach others for impressions and opinions on prototypes before committing to print, and choose a good printer. Many times they can help you with your design. As a business person, EVERYTHING you do reflects on you and your business, whether you know it or not. If you give people extra cards to refer others, if you hand out cards to anyone who asks for them or give them to anyone and everyone, your "reputation" is getting around. Make sure you look professional and competent. Oh, and make sure you actually have them with you! Don't leave them in your other pants! To your business networking success!! If you've enjoyed this article, then please visit www.businessnetworkingmistakes.com for a FREE report on networking mistakes that can cripple your business.

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Business Networking – Do You Meet Quality People?

Steve — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:00:00 +0000

What do you look for when going to a networking event? I mean, what is your goal here? Are you actually expecting to get immediate business from some prospect? Some folks are business card collectors. Others try to talk to everyone within sight and feel like a failure if they happen to miss someone. Yet some others are standing around looking as if they are lost and can't wait to leave. Then there are those who are just waiting for someone to come up and talk to them because they don't know anyone there. I kid you not, we've even seen some who didn't bother to bring business cards with them. Which one of these are you? If you really know what you're doing at t business networking event, then you are none of these fine examples of business networkers. You are a business person who has a plan. You know what to say and do and what to NOT say and do. You are prepared. You've got your business cards, your note paper, your pen, your name tag, your firm handshake and your SMILE! Your goal is to meet 5 quality people and plant seeds of friendship. Your goal is to find out what those 5 people need and how you may be able to help them. Your goal is to make yourself stand out from the rest of the crowd by asking questions and not pushing your business. In short, you are a savvy business networker. So. How do you meet quality people? How do you determine if someone is appropriate for your business or service? Well, as I mentioned above, you ask questions. You ask what they do, what they're looking for, what they need. If you get answers that don't meet your requirements, you just politely thank them for their time and move on. Perhaps you introduce them to someone that you know at the event and then excuse yourself while they get to know each other. You only need a few quality people at each business networking event to form relationships with and from them you will get business, repeat business, referrals, friendships and introductions to other people. You don't have to collect stacks and stacks of business cards. You don't have to drone on about your business. You don't have to stand there for hours with boring people. You really don't. I remember an event we went to and while circulating, I came across a lady who was a representative for a kitchen ware company. Boy, was she a talker. She bent my ear about her product line and the parties she threw to show off the cookware to other women, and on, and on, and on….I needed to get out of there before I said something I would regret. About that time I spotted a friend of ours who was a representative for a cosmetics company. I told the first lady to excuse me for a minute and I signaled the cosmetics lady over to us. I made the introductions and adroitly bowed out while they exchanged information and such. Several weeks later I was profusely thanked by the cosmetics friend for the introduction. It turned out that the two of them came up with a way to have combined home parties with each of them representing their own company to more prospects than they would have individually. It was an opportunity that was beneficial to both of them and I didn't have to get stuck listening to someone not suited to my business needs. The goal is to meet about 5 quality people and begin forming relationships of caring and trust with them. Don't be like most everyone else, in many cases wasting their time and efforts at a networking event because they just don't know how to network effectively and efficiently. Learn. Grow. Prosper. To your business success!

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Business Networking – Let’s Do Lunch

Steve — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:59:44 +0000

How do you spell business?
P.E.O.P.L.E.

If you’ve read anything else I’ve written, then you know that what makes the world go ’round is relationships. That is also what makes businesses go ’round. And it goes without saying that you can’t have relationships without people. Well…, you can, but here we’re talking about human relationships with each other. What constitutes a relationship? Interaction of some kind. It could, and generally does involve communication of some sort, perhaps verbal or nonverbal but it doesn’t have to. A non-human relationship could be a tenuous attraction by a person to a thing or organization. For example, the loyalty of a customer to a particular automobile brand. Let’s take another example – soft drinks. Does a customer have a relationship with a soft drink or the soft drink company? No, because there are no people involved other than the customer. Now, I’ve seen people talking abusively to the soda dispensing machine, but that’s not the same thing because the machine doesn’t respond back. In fact, sometimes it doesn’t respond at all. So why are people hooked on soda? Believe me, it has more to do with sugar than with people. However, I digress.

Every business entity out there knows that without people there is no business. Brick and mortar businesses need customers off the street. MLMs need people to continue the growth. I mean, even the government, (and I use that word loosely) needs people to tax. What does a telemarketer need besides a phone? Yep, people.

Before I begin rambling any further here, I’ve got to make my point. And that is, it takes people to do anything in this world. If that’s the case, if you want to establish and grow your business, then you should be interacting with people. Like you didn’t know that. What’s a good way to interact? Well, how about inviting someone to lunch? Someone you’ve been wanting to meet for a long time. Someone who could be a customer or business associate? Someone who could mentor you? Lunch is a terrific way to get to know someone, share ideas. And one of the perks of lunch is that it gets you out of the office! If lunch doesn’t work for you, then how about “Let’s do golf.” or “Let’s go to the track.” (this one depends on which state you’re in). If you’re of the female persuasion you could ask, “Let’s uh,…meet at the spa.”

My point is this – business is about interacting with people. So go out and find someone to interact with. You may be surprised at how fruitful these “lunches” become.

And remember this: don’t talk with your mouth full!
Oh, and TURN OFF YOUR CELLPHONE unless you’re expecting a call. If that’ the case, please have the courtesy to tell your lunch partner before you sit down that you’re expecting a call and ask if that’s O.K. with them! Few things are more disrespectful than having your conversations interrupted with a phone call!

To your business networking success!

If you’ve enjoyed this article, please visit http://www.businessnetworkingmistakes.com to get a FREE report on networking tips and lots of other good information.

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Business Networking – To Dress Or Not To Dress (this is the question)

Steve — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:00:28 +0000

People form an opinion of you within the first 7 seconds of laying eyes on you. Notice I did not say meeting you. Once that opinion is made by someone, the rest of the time is spent by that person trying to find evidence to support that opinion.
Terrific news, right? On the one hand, we should not waste our lives trying to please others, but on the other hand, should we try to influence their opinions about us with our appearance? Well, why the heck not? I mean, it’s an easy thing to do and there is an added benefit to us – if we look good, we generally feel good, too. And our attitude helps not only our productivity, it also helps our health.

Now I have been guilty of this myself, so don’t think I’m trying to preach here. Say that you’re a landscape contractor or that your business is personal training. Should you attend a networking event in your “industrial” uniform? I mean, in you dirt covered dungarees or shorts? Perhaps in your sweaty leotards? You may be thinking, “I want them to know what I do and how dedicated and busy I am, and besides, I just came from work.” I’ve done that. If timing is tight and this only happens occasionally, that’s okay. Not the end of your business world. But think about this – no matter what you do for money, whether it’s bronc riding, personal fitness training, putting out fires, chasing UFO’s, whatever, you want to be seen as a “Business Professional.” That means that you take your business seriously and you DO your business whether or not you’re working IN your business. Doing your business is different. It means that you are outside the day to day technical aspects of keeping it running and that you are MARKETING and PROMOTING your business. To do that, you want to look Business Professional, and that means dressing appropriately at the networking events. Now, you can do business casual if you want. I personally hate suits and ties just as much as the next guy, although a supplemental sports jacket now and then helps considerably. But don’t think that you can wear Bermuda shorts and a sports jacket and you’ll look okay, especially if you wear those knee-high socks with them (and don’t get me started on sandals!) – you will probably generate a couple questions or comments which, trust me, you don’t want! As for the women, I am smart enough not to comment here about their appropriate or inappropriate dress. It’s all I can do to get my socks to match.

The point is this…if you wish to be taken seriously at a networking event, if you want others to know that you take your business and your image seriously and that you are a business professional who is here to stay, then you want to dress appropriately. Image is everything and once again, people form an opinion of you within the first seven seconds of SEEING you. Once that opinion is formed it is almost impossible to change it in the eyes of the opinion holder.
So…unless you hang out with blind people, be aware of how you look to others. Remember to dress for success!

To your business networking success!

Please visit businessnetworkingmistakes.com to get a FREE report about how networking mistakes can cripple your business. You may also visit networkingfun.com

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Business Networking – Visual Cues and How To Spot Them

Steve — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:00:28 +0000

Have you ever been so engrossed in what you’re telling someone that you failed to see that they weren’t listening? I have. Sometimes I’m even aware of it and I ignored it while continuing to talk my talk. Afterwards, I wondered why I wasted that 5 or 10 minutes when I could have been talking to someone willing to listen to me.

Now the key here is not to just be blabbing your sales pitch. As I’ve discussed in other articles, you must be attentive to the other person, ask questions, take notes if necessary and generally be interested in helping the other person. But let’s say you’ve done all that and now they ask you what you do? You begin talking and after a few minutes you notice that they are looking over your shoulder, or looking at the floor or the ceiling, or worse still, at your chest (you women know about this, right?). Perhaps they’re fidgeting. Maybe looking at their watch. Tapping their foot. Maybe they keep interrupting you.

Hey! These are CLUES!

So what does this mean? Well, it could mean that you are a boring talker. It could mean that they are rude and impatient. It could mean that you have a remarkable chest. (sorry, couldn’t resist that one) It could mean that they have a medical condition. The problem is, what do you do about it?

First, ask someone you can trust if you could improve your speaking skills. Quite possibly you could develop a standard “sales pitch” that doesn’t sound like your reading from a script. Make it interesting. Phrase it in such a way that it prompts questions from the other person. Second, if your speaking skills are good, perhaps you can just call the other person out and say something like, “Am I boring you?” Now that’s kind of harsh but sometimes a person needs to be made aware of how they’re acting. You could also say, “It really bothers me when you….” You could politely excuse yourself and just walk away from that person. If you’re in Texas you could pull out your concealed .38 and say, “You’re really making my day.” Or you could just signal the Networking Police and have them hauled away.

The point here is to be attentive to people you’re talking to. You may discover all kinds of things that will tell you what’s really going on with them and perhaps you can tailor your discussion to be more meaningful to them so that they will feel pleased and gratified that they talked to you. After all, that’s what networking’s all about – relationships. Hopefully the ones where people feel good about knowing you and not the ones where they’re looking down the barrel of a gun.

To your business success!

Please visit businessnetworkingmistakes.com to get a free report about how networking mistakes can cripple your business.

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