Networking Insight

Will Banter, CEO of Banter Connections - Cartoon #4

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Click here for Will Banter Cartoon #1
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Grow Your Network Slowly and Smartly

Your network should consist of quality relationships, which takes time to develop. Don’t get caught up on seeing how many people you can add to your newsletter list or LinkedIn contacts. It is not about numbers but rather quality.

Face time is a very important part of this process. Get to know people one-on-one.  You don’t need a large network to be successful. Spend some of your time connecting with super connectors – those people who have large networks that you can eventually tap into.

Make it a point to meet new people every week either at networking events or through referrals. You don’t have to integrate every person who you meet into your network. Just focus on the people who you find a connection with and enjoy. 

Once you connect with certain people, get to know them by staying in front of them by helping however you can (i.e. making introductions, sending valuable information) and meeting with them for coffee or lunch.

Over time, you will have built up a quality and sizable network of people who trust you.  Just be patient and don’t try to connect with everyone who you meet.

Also, keep in mind that technology such as social networking sites should not be the only way you interact with people. Rather, leverage technology to maintain relationships. Of course, you can meet many new people this way too but try to also connect outside of these platforms.

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What are You Thankful for This Past Year with Networking?

At the end of every year, it is a good idea to reflect on what has worked and not worked for you with networking. Since Thanksgiving just passed, I thought that it was appropriate to list what I am thankful for this past year. Think about what you are thankful for as well. Here are my top five.

1. Started using Send Out Cards – helps me stay in touch better by sending more frequent personal cards

2. Expanded my network significantly – met dozens of new people by leveraging my existing network and had meetings with as many people as I could

3.  Became a writer for Soho Magazine – met publisher through an existing relationship and became a monthly writer about networking; has helped with my personal brand

4. Leveraged my network to generate business – started a new job this year that tested my business development skills

5. Ran a business leads group with a friend – gave me the opportunity to connect even more people on a monthly basis; great way for me to stay in touch with people

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San Francisco Chronicle Interview of LinkedIn CEO, Dan Nye

Several staff members of San Francisco Chronicle recently interviewed Dan Nye, CEO of LinkedIn. To read the interview, go to LinkedIn CEO touts growth of network.

Very interesting interview about the massive growth that this site has experienced over the last year. I anticipate a lot more growth going forward.

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What Not to Do When Talking with People

It is critical that when you talk with people that you give them the respect that they deserve. If you don’t treat people appropriately, then you will not be able to build relationships with most people. Here are ten “no nos” when talking with other people:

1. Don’t glance around the room looking for someone else to talk to – Make sure to give the other person good eye contact and focus only on this person

2. Don’t shake hands with a loose handshake – Focus on giving a firm handshake

3. Don’t give your business card out at the beginning of a conversation – Wait for the other person to ask for your card

4. Don’t interrupt people – Let others finish their sentences and thoughts before you start talking

5. Don’t try to sell your product or service – Focus on getting to know other people without trying to sell them your business

6. Don’t have food or drinks in your right hand – Keep your shaking hand free so you can properly greet others

7.  Don’t talk about controversial topics such as religion and politics – It is better to not talk about topics that cause you to choose sides

8. Don’t pretend to care about what is being said – Make sure to show respect and interest, otherwise, end the conversation early

9. Don’t promise anything you can’t deliver on – If you say you can do something, then you better be serious and follow through

10. Don’t be too serious – Make sure that you smile and make other person feel comfortable talking to you

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Will Banter, CEO of Banter Connections - Cartoon #3

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Click here for Will Banter Cartoon #1
Click here for Will Banter Cartoon #2

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Interview: TECH Cocktail Founders Frank Gruber, Eric Olson in Chicago

Below is my latest article written for MidwestBusiness.com.

Over the last couple years, Frank Gruber and Eric Olson have brought together the technology communities in various cities with their mixer TECH cocktail. They started their first event in Chicago and have quickly grown to hold events in Boston; Boulder, Colo.; and Washington, D.C.

In May 2008, they expanded their idea and held their first TECH cocktail conference in Chicago. Their work has been recognized by the Illinois Information Technology Association (ITA) by winning the prestigious CityLIGHTS Award. Here is their story.

MidwestBusiness.com: What was your reason for organizing the first TECH cocktail event?
TECH cocktail: We saw that the Chicago technology community was fragmented and there was a need for something to bring everyone together. After thinking about what could reduce the fragmentation of the community, we came up with TECH cocktail and started planning the first one that same day.

While we went back and forth on the name for a bit, we eventually decided that TECH cocktail fit well since we were looking to create a “cocktail of tech people”. At our first event in July 2006, we expected a few-dozen guests. We were delighted when we had more than 200 guests arrive. After the first event, we decided to have additional events in Chicago. The rest is history.

MB: How has TECH cocktail grown beyond your initial vision?
TC: Our initial vision was simply to get 50 people in a room and show off some of the start-ups from the local area via demonstrations at the event. We immediately grew beyond that initial vision with the first event.

Since then, TECH cocktail has continued to grow to about 600 people per Chicago event. Another instance is the growth of TECH cocktail to other cities. Though we certainly didn’t think TECH cocktail would go beyond Chicago when we started it, now we are in a handful of cities in the U.S. The brand is becoming more well known each and every day.

MB: What is your long-term vision for TECH cocktail?
TC: Our long-term vision for TECH cocktail follows our mission.

We want to bring TECH cocktail events to communities where there are interesting technology companies being built but where people don’t really know each other and the companies the city is producing aren’t getting the attention they deserve from the media. We are currently thinking through a couple models that will allow us to continue to expand TECH cocktail in this manner.

MB: What does TECH cocktail provide that other technology events and community organizations lack?
TC: The key to TECH cocktail is that the event is very open and loose. We think communities need that openness to get things jump-started.

There are good reasons to apply various levels of structure to events, but considering what we wanted to do with TECH cocktail, openness was crucial. If we added too much structure to the event, the outcome would be very different. Our goal is to offer a comfortable and fun environment for sharing and interacting with the local tech community on your own terms.

MB: Do you feel Chicago and other underserved technology communities lack good networking opportunities? If so, why?
TC: We do feel that some communities lack good networking opportunities while others may have too many.

For example, San Francisco may have too many while other cities (like Chicago a few years back) may have too few. We are not sure why some communities have too few networking opportunities. It may simply be because networking events take a lot of time and effort to organize and no one has decided to step up to make one happen.

MB: What impact have you noticed that TECH cocktail has had on the communities it has served?
TC: Chicago (being our flagship city) is probably the best example of what TECH cocktail does for communities. TECH cocktail – along with other top-notch events like BarCamp, the TiE events and others – has brought the community closer together.

People in the technology community in Chicago now know each other. This leads to more companies being founded, more ideas being shared and generally a better tech community. Washington, D.C. and other communities we have brought TECH cocktail to have also evolved in the same way.

Demonstrating at TECH cocktail has also helped a few start-ups meet their first investors and even their potential acquirers. Would those deals have been done without TECH cocktail? Who knows, but it’s good to see that people are having an easier time making the connections they need to get to the next level. If they get to the next level and others do as well, then the community as a whole will begin to step up.

We also offer an opportunity for more established businesses to support the TECH cocktail community while also growing their businesses. ChicagoMicro is a great example of a company that has served the TECH cocktail audience and has done well in the process.

MB: What other plans do you have in the works for TECH cocktail?
TC: There isn’t anything groundbreaking to share in terms of new ideas. We’re just trying to think through a couple ways we can keep TECH cocktail moving forward while lessening the burden on us (after all, we have day jobs!). We certainly want to keep bringing TECH cocktail wherever it’s needed so we can continue to help people.

MB: Why do you feel that networking is important for the technology community?
TC: Networking is important for any community whether it be technology, retail or anything else.

Knowing people in one’s industry (and outside one’s industry) is important for a number of reasons. Knowing more people allows you to stay up to date on current trends, to learn new things and mentor each other, to share and refine ideas with others, etc. People need to work together to solve big problems. Networking is crucial to getting the right people working together.

MB: How has networking affected you personally and professionally?
TC: We have enjoyed helping people in the local technology communities we serve. We never really think of it as networking (per se).

We feel that networking isn’t about handing out your business card to a bunch of people. It’s about helping others. When you focus on helping others, what typically emerges are long-lasting relationships that will create value on both sides for many years. These relationships are what we try to build.

In terms of how we have been affected, let’s just say we have made some great friends and have been able to share ideas and work with them. That’s all we can really ask for. Having a lot of top-notch people around with whom you can share your passions is an incredible thing.

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Google-owned Orkut Dominates Social Networking in Brazil

comScore recently released study results of Internet usage in Brazil. The study revealed that 85% of Internet users use social networking sites. In fact, Google-owned Orkut topped the list beating out other social networking sites.

"For Internet users in Brazil, social networking continues to flourish as a hugely popular activity," said Alex Banks, managing director of Latin America for comScore. "One likely reason for social networking's success in Brazil is that its concept of online community closely aligns with the culture in Brazil, which is also centered on a strong sense of community and social activity.

It is very interesting that Orkut has become the dominant player in Brazil. Why do you think that they won the market?

To read more about this study, go to Eighty Five Percent of Brazilian Internet Users Visited a Social Networking Site in September 2008.

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Why You Should Connect Before Business Takes Place

When meeting people for the first time, you need to get know one another before you talk about business.  Building trust and credibility with one another is very important.

Never lead a new discussion with you trying to sell your product or service. You will immediately turn people off. Generally, individuals like to do business with people who they consider friends. Once you get to know people more on a personal level, the business will naturally follow.

If you get a reputation as a taker (because you are consistency trying to sell), then it will be very difficult for people to trust you and want to do business with you. Spend time helping others.

It takes time to build relationships so invest in the effort.  It will pay off in the long run and you will be happy that you were patient.

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Will Banter, CEO of Banter Connections - Cartoon #2

In a previous post, Meet Will Banter, CEO of Banter Connections, I shared with you a networking character created by business cartoonist J.D. Gershbein. Below is another cartoon featuring Will Banter.

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