Networking Insight

Book Review: Twitter Power by Joel Comm

Twitter Power: How to Dominate Your Market One Tweet at a Time was written by Joel Comm who is one of the world’s leading experts on strategies for making money online. He is an in demand speaker on Internet marketing and business and is the author of The AdSense Code: What Google Never Told You About Making Money with AdSense and Click Here to Order: Stories of the World's Most Successful Internet Marketing Entrepreneurs.

The book is broken up into the following chapters:

Chapter 1: An Introduction to the Social Media Landscape
Chapter 2: What Is Twitter and Why Is It So Powerful?
Chapter 3: Getting Started the Right Way on Twitter
Chapter 4: Building a Following on Twitter
Chapter 5: The Art of the Tweet
Chapter 6: The Magic of Connecting with Customers on Twitter
Chapter 7: Leveraging Twitter for Team Communication
Chapter 8: Using Twitter to Help Build Your Brand
Chapter 9: Levering the Power of Twitter to Drive Behavior in Your Followers
Chapter 10: Beyond Twitter.com: Third-Party Tools You Will Want to Know
Chapter 11: Building Powerful Solutions on Top of the Twitter Platform
Chapter 12: Play Nice: Legal Considerations:
Chapter 13: Putting It All Together: 1 30-Day Plan for Dominating Twitter
Chapter 14: Power Twitterers

As you can see by the chapter headings, the author covers every aspect of Twitter.  For someone who is new to Twitter, this book does an excellent job of explaining how it works, why it works, how to build a following, how to build better teams and brands, and how to use it to drive traffic to your Website.

Twitter is not just for personal use anymore. Countless business professionals and organizations are using Twitter to reach their customers and to generate new business. The book shares numerous examples of well-known corporations who use Twitter – some very well and some very poor.

Twitter is an excellent personal branding tool because you can not only share your thoughts, but also your expertise by joining in on conversations. In networking, branding is so important so you need to take your personal brand serious.

In addition, Twitter is becoming an excellent tool for corporations to provide customer service and enhance their corporate brands.  Organizations need to start using Twitter to keep up with their competition and customers.

Personally, I am not using Twitter yet but have been thinking about it for a long time. After reading this book, I now know that I need to start using it very soon because it is another way for me to share my knowledge and connect with people.

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Interview of Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder of BNI

It is my pleasure to share with you my second interview of Dr. Ivan Misner, who is the Founder of BNI, the world's largest networking organization. You can read my first interview by clicking here.

1. How do you define "business networking?"

I define business networking as the process of connecting people to share ideas, resources, information, and referrals.

2. How did you brand yourself as a "networking authority?"

I was a 20-year overnight success. It literally took me 20 years to brand myself as a networking authority. I believe that we live in a society in which everyone expects instant results.  Instead, brand yourself in steps by starting locally, expanding regionally, and then growing nationally.   Through writing and using a publicist to promote myself, I became recognized as a networking authority.  Sharing knowledge is very important to show that you are an authority.   I was fortunate to have CNN call me the “Father of Modern Networking”. Keep in mind that none of this happened to me until after I built the foundation for a successful business.

3. What are some of the strategies that you have used to build up your own network?

The key is to be a gatekeeper, become someone recognized in the community who knows people. I worked on this and people began to recognize me and my contacts. I used snail mail in the mid 80’s and sent out a letter to all of my clients and prospective clients. The letter mentioned that a large part of my business was through referrals. Attached was a list of people who I could refer by professions only (names and companies were not included). People would have to call me to get the names. I sent it out every quarter. It took until the third letter until people started contacting me.

4. How can someone leverage networking to stay relevant during challenging economic times?

Referrals are always important but during a recessionary period referrals are even more important. People want to do business with people who they know. People don’t want to spend money when money is tight. Therefore, the referral is more important. People may not buy service from an advertisement but are more comfortable to buy from a referral. People who have built a referral based business tend not to feel the burden of a recession.

5. How have you benefited professionally from networking?

I get 100% of my business from referrals and have for decades. I believe in advertising but word of mouth is a form of advertising.

6. How have you benefited personally from networking?

I love what I do. With BNI, we have 4,975 meetings each week and our members so far have made 5.5 million referrals resulting in $2.2 billion in sales.   You may not be able to make a world of difference but you can make a difference in the world.  BNI is changing the way the world does business and I love being a part of that.

7. How have others benefited from your network and/or expertise?

As previous mentioned, in 2008, BNI passed 5.5 referrals and $2.2B worth of business for our members. A lot of people have made a lot of money through the strategies of BNI. We are teaching the world how collaboration is a great way to generate referrals.

8. What is one of the lesser-known secrets to effective networking?

In my book Truth or Delusion?: Busting Networking's Biggest Myths, I discuss the networking myth - you have to be a real people person to be good at networking.  This is a delusion because networking is a 2-part process that involves 1) meeting people and 2) building the relationships. Extroverts are good at part one because they love talking about themselves. However, they are weak at part two because they have to develop better listening skills. On the other hand, introverts are not good at part one but are good at part two because they are good listeners. Extroverts don’t necessarily make good networkers. As long as introverts can work on part one, they can become better networkers than extroverts. I also plan to target chambers and corporations.  My goal is to help more and more people build a network of “knob turners”!

9. Please share a successful networking story

BNI was just highlighted on British TV, The Last Millionaire. The show is a reverse apprentice. They get a bunch of millionaires together and have to share dorm rooms. The only way to get out is by winning. In last year’s show (2008), they flew the two contestants to Hong Kong and dropped them off with some money and said start a business. Whoever made the most would win and be able to get out of the current situation. Both were given a name of people to talk to. One used this list and one used the Internet and typed up business networking and found BNI. She called the local BNI chapter, asked if she could visit, networked one morning, got the suppliers she needed, got great connections, started the business, and won the competition. She stated that BNI was the reason that she won the competition.

Networking is more about farming than hunting. It is all about building long term relationships with people. It is not a get rich quick scheme.

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Which Social Networking Site is Good for Your Business?

The Courier Post article Which social network site is right for your small business? provides a comparison of the following popular tools: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube.  The author discusses some of the advantages and disadvantages of using these sites for a small business. Below are a few of her thoughts:

Advantages:

• Connect with lots of new people, just as with real-life networking.
• Establish yourself as an expert in a field.
• Connect with your own customers.

Disadvantages:

• Can consume a huge amount of time.
• Most connections will never convert to paying clients or customers.
• A zillion of your competitors are out there.

Her thoughts are good. What do you think?

Make sure to read the entire article at Which social network site is right for your small business?

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10 Solid Reasons to Attend Networking Events

Attending networking events is a very important part of networking. While it is not the only strategy you should focus on, you should still spend time participating in these gatherings. Below are ten reasons why you should attend networking events:

1. Meet new people to integrate into your network
2. Re-connect with existing people in your network
3. Be visible in your community so people know who you are
4. Chance to get to know event organizers who are usually well connected
5. Opportunity to practice your personal introduction
6. Opportunity to get feedback about your product/service
7. Chance to connect people in person
8. Chance to plant seeds with people that could turn into business or employment opportunities
9. Ability to speak in front of groups or individuals about your expertise
10. Fun to meet people in new environments

What other reasons do you attend networking events?

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Be Careful with Who You Connect with Online

Online networking is a great way to meet new people and to build your existing relationships.  The more you take advantage of sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace, and Sohobiztube.com, the more you will be able to connect with a lot of people.

However, be careful with who you connect with because you don’t want to just connect with anyone.  You should focus on quality not quantity of the people within your network.  Online networking should, whenever possible, mirror your relationships in the offline world.

Many times people who you don’t know will ask to connect with you, which is okay. Before you connect with them, make sure that there is a compelling reason. In fact, I usually won’t connect with someone unless we have had a phone conversation or even better met in person.

You want to be able to trust people within your network. One of the neat aspects of online networking sites is that you can connect people from your network to other networks and vice versa. Well, if you don’t know people that well, then it will be harder to ask for a referral.

These tools will be more effective with people who know you well. So be careful and don’t just let anyone in your online network.

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Reminder - E.Factor Chicago Fashion Entrepreneur Panel - 6/4

I co-organized the below the event for E.Factor, which is a global online/offline network for entrepreneurs. As a reader of my blog, I am offering you 25% off the ticket price. Use the discount code below when you sign up. I was able to assemble a great entrepreneur panel.

Title: From Style and Beyond - Breaking Into The Fashion Business
Host: E.Factor
Date: June 4, 2009
Time: 6-9pm
Location: Eugenie Terrace, 1730 N. Clark, Top Floor, Chicago
Cost: Free for premium members, $40 for basic members and guests (if you sign up as a Knowledge Member, you can attend all events for free) - for 25% off, use the discount code: CHISAB81

Click here for more information and to RSVP

After the models have cleared the catwalk, The E.Factor has a show that will leave you wanting more! Join us for an exclusive behind the scenes look at what it takes to make IT in the Fashion Industry. With industry experts in the fields of Fashion Design, Marketing and Operations this one night event will answer all the questions you ever had putting you at the top of the A List!

Speakers include Chicago entrepreneurs
- Sandy Rueve, Founder, SheBeads
- Jenny Dombroski, President, Evolve Intimates
- Lee Allison, Founder, The Lee Allison Company

Panel moderator: Lara Miller, Chief Executive, Macy's Chicago Fashion Incubator , Chicago fashion designer of the Lara Miller collections

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The Social Media Tsunami by J.D. Gershbein

J.D. Gershbein, the Founder and President of Owlish Communications, wrote the following article:

The Social Media Tsunami

Nobody saw this coming.  A few hints were given that something was looming on the horizon, but not to this extent, to this fanfare.  It struck suddenly and has pounded down on us with no quarter.  In describing the impact of Social Media, the tsunami metaphor works—and mainstream business better be ready to accept it.  Rather than being crushed under its immense force, individuals and companies must now learn how to surf—and very quickly.  But what exactly triggered this tectonic shift in habit?

Back in the day of no Internet (imagine that!), when companies marketed instead of branded and the traditional portals delivered the message, there were no follow-up opportunities to engage the consumer base.  Touchpoints were few and far between.  There were limits to the extent that the small- or medium-sized business could promote a product or service.  Certainly, the entrepreneur lacked a vehicle through which to promote, weigh in.  The emergence of Social Media has wiped all that out in an instant.

Social Media describes the fusion of technology, telecommunications and social interaction with the sequencing of words, text, graphics, symbols, pictures, audio and video.  It strikes a harmonic blend of advertising, marketing, public relations and networking to convey concepts and opinions.  This volley of interaction plays out in real time on the so-called “Social Networking” platforms (e.g., LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace) and on copious blogs.  The messaging ranges from a few simple words to a lengthy discourse.  Social Media is more than an interactive forum or a means through which individuals and companies can communicate with clients and potential customers.  People morph and reinvent themselves constantly, some even daily.  As the scope of a business expands, the social networks offer the most readily available channel through which information can be shared.  They are flexible, elastic, easy to maintain and offer opportunities to cultivate relationships that otherwise may have not existed.

Ready or not, Social Media is changing lives and redirecting popular notions about people, places, products, services and all aspects of lifestyle in between. It has permeated the corporate culture.  Marketers that bring the subject to the think tank frequently speak about going viral, initiating Social Media strategies or launching Social Media campaigns.  There is an all-out assault on the search engines.  All these machinations are happening independently from the intact website yet are creating untold visibility for businesses.  Reputations are being built and destroyed on blogs.  The Social Networking sites are accessible and free.  Word of mouth is driving consumerism more than ever before.  People are tweeting, chirping, squeaking, squawking and engaging others.    

These days, companies are urged not to lead with their left brains but, rather, to be open-minded and, yes, creative in accessing the minds of potential buyers.  It’s time to be reactive and adapt to the changing requirements of the marketplace.  Yet many in the executive sector remain resistant to the draw of Social Media and choose not to participate.  Who has the time?  Where is the ROI?  Perhaps they feel that it’s a fad and the momentum will die down.  But these are large waves rapidly advancing on them ~ with tremendous push~ and failure to respond makes them sitting ducks on the shore.

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Book Review: Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die was written by Chip Heath and Dan Heath who are brothers. Dan is a professor of organizational behavior in the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, and Chip is a consultant to the Policy Programs at the Aspen Institute and co-founder of Thinkwell, an innovative new-media textbook company.

The book is broken up into the following chapters:

Introduction: What Sticks?
Chapter 1: Simple
Chapter 2: Unexpected
Chapter 3: Concrete
Chapter 4: Credible
Chapter 5: Emotional
Chapter 6: Stories
Epilogue: What Sticks?

Chip and Heath wrote this book after many years of studying how ideas stick.  The above six chapters are the principles that the brothers discovered are what makes ideas stick.  As mentioned in the book introduction, the authors said that this book is a complement to Malcolm Gladwell’s bestselling The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference . If you liked Gladwell’s book, then you should like this book as well.

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die is a very interesting read because the authors provide several real world examples of why and how certain successes (some we all know about) have stuck. The authors pick a good variety of examples that we can all relate to no matter our own interests and individual situations. Examples include:

•    Army commanders forcing simplicity into their battle plans
•    Nordstrom managers getting new employees to embrace high-customer service standards
•    Elementary school teacher who cured her students of racial prejudice
•    Texas persuading its truck-drivers to stop littering
•    Subway campaign with Jared becoming a big hit

The principles described in this book are important to understand for any ideas that you need to communicate to the marketplace, your boss, your children, etc.   Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die has enough good information that you should come away with some new thoughts about business and life.

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Four Sure Fire Ways to Brand Yourself

Personal branding is a very important component of relationship building. You need to find ways to stand out and provide value to others.  Brand yourself around a subject that you are passionate and knowledgeable about. Below are four ways to brand yourself around your topic of choice:

1. Speak at Events – Seek out organizations and inquire about speaking opportunities. Also, consider hosting your own events where you speak as well.

2. Publish Yourself – Find ways to get your words out there so people know about your expertise.  Consider starting a blog or writing articles for publications.

3. Create a Newsletter – Develop your own email newsletter around your expertise that you can share with people. When you meet new people add them to your distribution.

4. Improve Your Social Networking Profiles – Make sure that your profiles on sites such as LinkedIn are reflective of your expertise. Include links to your profiles in your email signatures, newsletter, blogs, etc.

What other techniques have you used to brand yourself?

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Do You Have a Better Business Card?

Mike Maddaloni of The Hot Iron shared the below interesting video about business cards. I agree that it is important to have a good brand and to stand out. However, this guy's approach is questionable especially since most people file away business cards after they record the information electronically.

What do you think?