Networking Insight

Greater Chicago Networking Extravaganza - April 6

Below is information about my annual networking event:

The annual Greater Chicago Networking Extravaganza is the premier business networking event in Chicagoland, bringing together the business community for an incredible evening of mixing, mingling, education and fun. It will feature an abundance of business-development opportunities and informative presentations from two of Chicago's preeminent relationship-building experts, Lillian Bjorseth and Jason Jacobsohn.

Date: April 6, 2010
Time: 5:30-8:30pm
Location: The Metropolitan Club, Chicago
Hosts: Lillian Bjorseth of Duoforce Enterprises and Jason Jacobsohn of AEGIS Professional Services
Sponsors Include: Microsoft and technology partners, CK Interactive Design, The Metropolitan Club, Keller Graduate School of Management, and Wheatle Peart

For more information and to register, go to Greater Chicago Networking.

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What is Your Secret Networking Weapon?

We all have our own unique items that we carry with us that give us confidence. Also, each of these items can help to make a good first impression.  What is your secret networking weapon? What gives you the extra confidence boost when talking with people? Below are some potential weapons:

• Professional pen that you bring to all meetings
• Lucky suit that you wear to certain meetings
• Professional looking business card holder
• Your own name tag that you wear to events
• Leather bound pad folio
• New shiny pair of shoes
• Lucky coin in your pocket
• Designer purse
• Favorite colored shirt
• Special tie
• Sentimental pair of earrings

For me, I carry my good pen, small notebook, and metal business card holder with me at all times.

What is your secret weapon?

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Oregon Football Player Kicked Off Team for Facebook Usage

Another story surfaces about poor judgment when using Facebook. According to reports, an Oregon football player was dismissed for using expletive and racist comments on his Facebook page. The player mistakenly concluded that one of his teammates was kicked off the team for an arrest. Therefore, he blasted the move as unfair and damaging to the team.

Not sure if the penalty was justified, however, it appears that the team had past issues with this particular player. So, his latest move on Facebook may have been the last straw.

Before posting anything on Facebook, you need to realize that most people can read what you write. This player was angry and may have reacted without thinking about his consequences. Social networking sites, like Facebook, are a great way to build your online reputation if used appropriately.

For more about this story, go to Holland dismissed from Oregon.

What do you think?

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Leverage Business Forum in Chicago - March 18

Below are details about an upcoming forum. I will speaking about funding your business for growth.

LEVERAGE is about evolving your business through smart strategy.

In this interactive workshop for business leaders, you'll learn specific, detailed concepts to build a solid foundation for long-term growth--all while improving your business results today.

With individual sessions on best practices in Finance, Sales/Marketing, Leadership and People Management, Process, and Compliance, every business leader will walk away with some powerful to-dos, as well as worthwhile connections with other like-minded business leaders.

Expert Panel Includes:

• Glenn Turner, Leadership Consultant, LDG Consulting
• Kristi Daeda, Marketing Strategist, Twin Sparks Consulting
• Jason Jacobsohn, Director of Venture Development, AEGIS Professional Services
• Scott Jessup, Owner, Whitfield Consulting
• Mario Feijoo, Vice President, Elite Accounting and Business Services

Title: Leverage Business Forum
Date: March 18, 2010
Time: 8:30am-12:00pm
Location: Holiday Inn Express Palatine, 1550 E. Dundee Rd, Palatine
Cost: $25 pre-registration, $35 at door

For more information and to register, go to Leverage Business Forum.

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Does Your Facebook Profile Reflect the True You?

Contrary to popular belief, a recent study by psychologists at the University of Texas at Austin and Johannes Gutenberg-University in Germany discovered that people's profiles on social networking pages seem to match their authentic personalities.

According to the authors of the study, "Online social networks might be an efficient medium for expressing and communicating real personality, a finding that may help explain their popularity."

The study's results make sense, especially since these sites are designed for you to mirror your offline relationships. Of course, there are those who use these sites to hide, commit fraud, and act like someone else. By and large though, people tend to use the sites as an extension of their offline persona. Also, your online brand is just as important as your offline brand.

To read more, go to Facebook profile reflects the true you.

What do you think?

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Ten Ways to Build a Network of Advocates

Building a network is one thing but building a network of advocates is another thing.  In order to have a quality network that is there to help and support your efforts, you need to find ways to develop a network of advocates. Below are ten ways to help you build this type of network:

1. Build your personal brand – spend time branding yourself as a subject matter expert

2. Connect online – take the time to get to know people via tools such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter

3. Face time – take the time to meet with people in person for meals, drinks, or coffee

4. Consistent communication – make sure to connect on a regular basis by phone or email

5. Speak at events – seek out opportunities to speak in front of groups to show your knowledge

6. Host your own events – organize your own events and invite your network

7. Always respond to requests – take the time to get back to everyone who reaches out to you

8. Provide referrals – make it a priority to connect people together

9. Provide testimonials – give people good recommendations whenever possible

10. Be courteous – always act professional and nice

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Networking is More Than Looking for a Job

Most people who don’t spend much networking think that it is mostly a job hunting activity. During bad job markets, you see a lot more people networking, many for the first time. LinkedIn has skyrocketed in users over the last couple of years.

Networking is really something that you should be doing continually whether you have a job or not. Building relationships is a key component to business and personal success.  Naturally you are doing this every day with people you meet either at work or elsewhere. Take the time to nurture these relationships so when you do have needs such as a new job, you will be able to go to some of your network for help.

Finding a job takes time and will not happen overnight. People tend to help others that they know well first. So, make sure that you spend the time getting to know people before you ask for help.

It takes time to build quality relationships so don’t wait until you need a job to start networking. Building relationships should become ingrained into your daily routine. If you do it effectively and consistently, then you won’t even realize that you are doing it because it will be very natural.

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Using Social Media To Align The Corporate and Personal Brand Conference: March 4-5

As a reminder, the below two-day conference is coming to Chicago in March. Some top notch social media and business experts will be speaking. Also, I will be co-emceeing the conference.

Title: Using Social Media to Align the Corporate and Personal Brand Conference
Organizer: SOHObiztube.com
Date: March 4-5, 2010
Time: 8am-5pm
Location: Loyola University Chicago, Lake Shore Campus, Simpson Center, 6333 N. Winthrop Ave., Chicago
Keynotes: Corporate and Personal Branding Experts Olivier Blanchard and Dan Schawbel
Cost: $599 for 2 days. To receive $200 off, use my special link below
More Information/RSVP:  Special Registration Link

Learn how to Use Social Media To Deliver and Drive Your Internal Branding Campaign and Enhance ROI. For your online brand's promise to meet or exceed customer or client expectations, the promise needs to be lived and delivered throughout your entire organization.

By the end of the conference, you will be able to:

• Develop a communications policy that enhances internal branding programs and allows employees to maintain their personal brand without compromising the value of the corporate brand
• Participate in panel discussions & Town Hall Meetings with Keynotes
• Walk away with a SOHO's exclusive "The Draft" A Social Media Policy Workbook.

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Social Networking Usage Rises With Younger People

According to research from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, social networking has risen among all age groups in the past few years, especially among teens and younger adults. Below are some results from this study:

• 73% of online teens used social networking sites in 2009, compared to 47% of online adults. Breaking down online adults into older and younger demographics, 72% of adults 18-29 use social networking sites, compared to 40% of their counterparts 30 and older.

• Social networking adults in all age brackets favor Facebook by a wide margin, with older adults preferring it slightly more. Seventy-three percent of all adults 18 and older who use social networking sites have a Facebook account. Broken down by age demographic, this includes 71% of adults 18-29 and 75% of adults 30 and older.

• 48% of all adult social network site users have a MySpace account. The younger generation is much more apt to use MySpace, with 66% of social networking adults 18-29 having a MySpace account, but only 36% of the 30 and older bracket.

• Twitter and other status-updating sites are more popular with younger adults than older adults.

• Blogging is becoming more popular with older adults and less popular with younger adults.

The results of this study are not surprising to me at all. To read more, go to Social Networking Rises, Especially Among Younger Set.

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7 Reasons Why Blogging is Good for Relationship Building

Blogging is one of many tools that can be used for building quality relationships. Below are seven reasons as to why blogging is an important piece of this puzzle:

1. Enhances your online presence
2. Opportunity to share with others your subject matter expertise
3. Enhances your personal and professional brand
4. Ability to connect with people by responding to comments that people leave
5. Ability to provide valuable content to others
6. Opportunity to share information that others send to you
7. Provides another talking point when having a conversation

What other reasons can you think of?

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