Networking Insight

Five Ways to Help Others

Helping others is an important piece of building quality and sustainable relationships. By acting as a giver versus a taker, you will be highly regarded in business circles and your network. Below are five ways to help others, which will elevate your personal brand:

1. Make introductions – One of the best ways to build your network is to introduce people together. By doing so, you are in a position to help someone grow personally and professionally. If you especially help someone find a job or new customer, then they will be very loyal to you.

2. Perform research – As you get to know people, find out their needs. If someone is looking for some information, then offer to help with the research. You will be appreciated and remembered.

3. Acknowledgement – Whenever an opportunity presents itself to thank or acknowledge someone publicly, take the time to do so.  Your good gesture will not go unnoticed. Those that were acknowledged will feel appreciated and will be more dedicated to you.

4. Provide advice – From time to time, people in your network may ask you for advice on a subject that you understand. If you have done a good job branding yourself, then your network will know your subject matter expertise.

5. Provide opportunities – Share new opportunities with people in your network whether it is a job, project, or chance to meet people. Take the time to let your network know. They will appreciate you thinking about them.

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Personal Branding Magazine - Issue 14

Issue 14 of the Personal Branding Magazine will be available on November 1. According to the editor, Dan Schawbel, this issue is focused on dressing for success both in person and online. What you wear in your online pictures provides a first impression to the majority of the world. What you wear in interviews is just as important as your attire on the first day of work. When it comes to looking professional, stylish and showing personality, this issue will navigate you in the right direction. With interviews from three editor-in-chief’s from Hearst Magazine, you will know what to wear, and be confident in who you are.

Interviews included:

Kate White (Cosmo), Joanna Coles (Marie Claire), Ann Shoket (Seventeen), Nancy Lublin (Founder of Dress for Success), Hitha Prabhakar (CNBC contributor), Patricia Handschiegel & Meghan Cleary (Huffington Post columnists), and Silvia Tcherassi (Latin America’s leading fashion designer).

Click here for a free sample and here for a paid subscription.

Previously, I was a contributor to past issues. This magazine is a great read about personal branding that is important for every professional to understand.

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How to Pitch your Company to Angel Investors - Oct 26 WebEx Seminar

Below are details about an upcoming event that I will be moderating:

How to Pitch your Company to Angel Investors

Date: October 26, 2010

Location: Webinar via WebEx

Time: 10:00 AM PDT | 11:00 AM MDT 12:00 PM CDT | 1:00 PM EDT

Host: Cisco Systems and SCORE

For more information and to register, go to WebEx. 

Are you an entrepreneur, small business, or start-up seeking investment? Learn how to give a pitch to investors in this free WebEx event. Watch a real-life entrepreneur as he pitches his company to angel investors. Then watch the panel analyze, critique, and share thoughts on ways to improve the pitch. 

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Do What You Say You Will Do

How many times do you talk with someone who says he/she will do something for you but it never happens?  This happens all of the time for a number of reasons: people get busy, they forget, they were not serious, etc. Whatever the reason, it can put a negative mark on someone’s reputation.  Don’t let this happen to you.

We are good at remembering people for letting us down. If you say you are going to do something, then follow through. If you are not able to do so, then let the other person know. We are all human and can’t always fulfill all of our obligations. However, we can all communicate when we won’t be able come through. As long as you do so, you will save your reputation.

Building relationships is about trust and credibility so don’t blow it by not fulfilling an obligation. Don’t obligate yourself to too many people at once. Otherwise, you may get overwhelmed and have a difficult time following up with any one person. With that said, helping others is an important part of the process so from time to time you should obligate yourself to doing something for someone else.

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Social Networking Humor

Book Review: Competitive Selling by Landy Chase

Competitive Selling: Out-Plan, Out-Think, and Out-Sell to Win Every Time was written by Landy Chase who founded his own sales training and consulting firm almost 20 years ago. He has clients in more than 60 industries around the world. In addition, he is a professional speaker and holds the Certified Speaking Professional designation.

Landy shares winning sales techniques and tools for closing more business over your competition.  In today’s environment, only the top performers survive, which he calls “dominant predators”.  In his book, he provides a step-by-step process on how to be a more prepared and confident salesperson. You will learn how to:

• Identify your competition before meeting with the buyer
• Open competitive selling opportunities
• Out-flank your competitors using the Client Needs Analysis
• Eliminate competitors without badmouthing them
• Stand out to the decision makers
• Win sales even as the higher-prices option

Landy organizes the chapters in a logical manner and provides some real world examples of successful selling techniques that you can implement right away.  

The book is divided up into the following chapters:

Chapter 1: Value versus Price

Chapter 2: Due Diligence

Chapter 3: The Notorious D.I.G.

Chapter 4: Role Call

Chapter 5: Games People Play

Chapter 6: Face Time

Chapter 7: The Process of Elimination

Chapter 8: Forget the Budget

Chapter 9: Gaining the Upper Hand

Chapter 10: The Art of Closing

Chapter 11: Behind Enemy Lines

Chapter 12: It Is What It Is

If you consistently lose sales to your competition, then this book is for you. If you are a successful sales person but need a refresher, then this book is for you. Competitive Selling: Out-Plan, Out-Think, and Out-Sell to Win Every Time is a book designed to help sales person at any skill level.

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10 Reasons to Be Happy That You Network

Networking is a process that takes time to see results. With the right amount of effort and patience, it is well worth the time.  Below are 10 reasons to be happy that you network:

1. You will make new friends that could bring a lot of happiness to your life.

2. You will make new business contacts that could generate new business for you.

3. You will have built up a sizeable and diverse network of people who you can call upon.

4. You will be seen as an expert in your field so your personal brand will become stronger.

5. You will be able to find new opportunities (i.e. jobs, clients, partners)

6. You will be able to help others through introductions, guidance, etc.

7. You will become more confident in talking to and meeting new people on a regular basis.

8. You will become creative in the way that you leverage your network to find the right people.

9. You will be able to build up a network of resources.

10. You will become a worldlier person by meeting various people and learning from them.

What other reasons can you think of?

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Chicago Event - Business Networker's Expo - Oct 22

Below are details about an event some friends are hosting. I was on a panel the last time they hosted this event.

Host: Coe Financial, Owlish Communications, Socialable, Bloom Intuitive
Date: October 22, 2010
Time: 10am-5pm
Location: The Arboretum Club, Buffalo Grove
Cost: $25 in advance, $35 on-site

The Business Networker’s Expo & Social Media Fair is a unique opportunity for Chicago area entrepreneurs, business leaders, and companies to showcase their products and services.  The Expo will provide a forum for networking and developing valuable business connections.  The event will also feature several renowned experts who will present on various topics in Social Media.

For more information and to register, go to BizNetExpo.

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Connect Others and You Will Be Rewarded

As you build up your network, you will start to realize that many people who you know have synergies. When this happens, it is time to connect people together. It is important that you build a diverse network of people so you are able to make various meaningful connections.

One of the best forms of flattery is to show that you are thinking of others. Everyone likes to be remembered. Better yet, by making a connection, you are trying to help your contacts with their business. They will appreciate your efforts and you will now be better remembered in their eyes as well, especially if you positively help them grow their business.

By connecting people together on a regular basis, you will be deepening your bond with others. Your personal brand will be enhanced and people will think very positive of you. In fact, they will start to make introductions to you as well since you will be more top of mind.  With relationship building, it is important to continuously find ways to stay in front of people so making connections is a great way to achieve this goal.

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Networking Humor Cartoon