Networking Insight

Social Networking Humor

Book Review: The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success by Wayne Breitbach

The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success was written by Wayne Breitbach who is a seasoned professional who shares his passion for social media through his private consulting business as well as his presentations to local and national audiences.  He was once a skeptic but now an outspoken proponent of LinkedIn.

The book is divided up into 20 chapters, which includes the following:

• A New Way to Look at Social Media
• Your 30-Second Bumper Sticker
• Resume on Steroids
• What Do You Want to Find?
• I Found You-Now What Do I Do with You?
• Keywords are King
• How Do Companies Fit into the LinkedIn Landscape?
• Revving Up Your LinkedIn Efforts by Joining Groups
• Your Account, Your Settings – Your Way
• A Job Seeker’s New Best Friend

The premise of this book is to help you better understand LinkedIn and how it can help you accomplish your business goals. While much of the material is geared towards the novice user, more experienced users should come away with some new ideas.  At a minimum, it will help to reinforce some of the aspects of LinkedIn that you may already know about but are not using very much. LinkedIn has many tools that most of us are probably not utilizing to their fullest.

The author does a deep dive into LinkedIn to discuss key features such as the following:

• Your profile
• Recommendations
• Searching
• Groups
• Application and tools
• Introductions
• Keywords

What is interesting about this author is that he is relatively new to LinkedIn but once he saw the power of it for business, he quickly became an advocate and power user.  The content in this book demonstrates his expertise and passion for LinkedIn. He does a great job explaining all of the core features. 

For the novice user, you can use this book as a guide as you learn to better navigate LinkedIn.  For the power user, you can use this book as a refresher and may come away with a couple of new ideas.

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Seven Ways to Take Advantage of Memorial Day Weekend for Building Relationships

 
Each year, we get together with family and friends for Memorial Day weekend. It is a nice time to unwind and socialize with some of the people we care about. It is a great opportunity to get to know people better, which can strengthen your relationships.

Below are seven ways to take advantage of this holiday weekend to build stronger relationships:

1. Accept a colleague’s hospitality, whenever possible, to join in on his/her celebrations

2. Get to know people on a personal level by socializing in a new environment

3. Follow up and follow through with email communication since you will have some down time

4. Strategize on who you want to connect with when the holiday is over

5. Share with family and friends what you do for a living and what you are looking for

6. Write blog entries or articles that you can leverage for your personal brand

7. Relax and show your fun side with people

What other ideas do you have?

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Video Tip: Don't be Funny when Networking

Book Review: Engage! by Brian Solis

Engage! was written by Brian Solis who is a global thought leader and author in new media. He is principal of FutureWorks, which is an award-winning consultancy in San Francisco. In addition, he has led social program and change management initiatives for various firms including Fortune 500 and Web 2.0 startups.

The book is divided up into 26 chapters, which includes the following:

• The Social Media Manifesto
• Make the Case for Social Media: The Five Ws+H+E
• The New Media University
• Fusing the Me in Social Media and the We in the Social Web
• Learning and Experimentation Lead to Experience
• Defining the Rules of Engagement
• The Conversation Prism
• Unveiling the New Influencers
• The Human Network
• The Social Marketing Compass

The premise of the book is to demonstrate how social media is leveling the playing field for individuals and businesses. Now more than ever, there are many tools that exist to build your brand, generate an audience, and bring in more business. The author recommends that you become a champion or leader of social media so you can make your company more visible. 

It may take some time to learn all the nuisance and tools of social media. However, it is important to keep up with the social web and all of its interconnectivity. You can influence conversations through the empowerment of social networks, which in turn can generate more revenue for your business.  As a result, the author suggests that this is our time to “engage” with our brand and customers who are seeking solutions today and tomorrow. 

Throughout the book, the author shares tools, methodologies, and stories that will reveal a wealth of principles and strategies to help you in your marketing efforts. In a world of two-way and one-to-many communication, you need to have a good handle on how to interact with others. Engage! can serve as a reference for all of your social media efforts.

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Ten Words that Describe an Ineffective Networker

With networking, you need to take the time to build relationships in an effective and mutually beneficial way. Too many people build relationships one way by being takers more than givers.

Below are ten words that describe an ineffective networker:

1. Self-centered

2. Rude

3. Controlling

4. Pushy

5. Short-term

6. Dominating

7. Uncaring

8. One-sided

9. Forgetful

10. Taker

What other words come to mind?

For a similar post, go to Nine Words that Describe the Feeling of a Successful Networker.

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Take a Genuine Interest in Others During Conversations

By attending a mix of networking events each month, you will have an opportunity to meet a variety of people. In order to build relationships with new people, you need to feel a connection during your conversations. When this happens, your follow-up is a key to taking the relationships further.

How do you guarantee the other person will enjoy talking with you? One way is to take a genuine interest In the other person. Ask questions and get to know the person before talking about yourself. By doing so, you will make the other person feel comfortable.   At the same time, you will be able to find out how you can help this person, which is great for follow-up.

In order to build long term and sustainable relationships, you need to find ways to add value to the relationship. Therefore, the more you know about someone, the more you will be able to help.  

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Social Networking Humor

Entrepreneurs in the Food Industry - Chicago Event on 5/23

Entrepreneurs in the Food Industry

Date: May 23, 2011

Time: 6-9pm

Location: TechNexus, 200 S. Wacker Drive, 15th Floor, Chicago

Host: EFactor

Cost: $15

More Information / RSVP: www.efactor.com

EFactor would like to invite you, any "foodie" or the "Next Top Chef" to an evening of devouring food that will invigorate and inspire. Come support and see various entrepreneurs from the sustainable food industry that are making a name for themselves. They will be showing off what they've been cooking in their kitchens and talking about the challenges they have faced during beginning phases of their businesses and how they were able to build a following of hungry patrons with a sustainable business model.

Speakers:

• JD Kemp - heads up CropCircle Kitchen and Organic Renaissance
• Alexis Leverenz - owner of "Kitchen Chicago" - a shared kitchen space
• Marco Bahena - student and Almost Famous Chef from Kendall College

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Seven Ways to Start a Conversation at a Networking Event

When attending a networking event, it can be intimidating for some people to have conversations with others whom they don’t know. In fact, many people would rather have someone else start the conversation. Below are seven ways that will help you to start the conversation versus waiting for someone else to approach you first:

1. Act as a host – Stand near the door so when people come in you can greet them. You will get to meet everyone, which will help for future conversations at the event.

2. Structured networking – Attend a structured event, such as speed networking. These events will provide you with opportunities to speak with others.

3. Comment on the featured speaker – Discuss the featured speaker with other people in the room.  The speaker’s content will give you something to talk about with other attendees.

4. Be the featured speaker – Whenever you have the chance to speak at an event, take the opportunity. By doing so, people will automatically come up to you and introduce themselves.

5. Mention the organizer – Ask people how they are affiliated with the event organizer. You may find that you both are there for the same reasons.

6. Find the wallflowers – Look for people who are standing alone. These people are very approachable and would welcome a conversation.

7. Ask for introductions – As you meet people, ask them to introduce you to other people at the event.  Chances are they will match you will like-minded individuals.

What other ways do you start conversations?

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