Archive for the ‘Networking’ Category
It’s so easy these days to get jazzed about all the new social networking platforms there are out there.
From Facebook to Google, changes are being made that enable companies and brands to reach their market in new and awesome ways.
However, when it comes to your business profile, there is nothing more effective than LinkedIn. LinkedIn is still the ultimate virtual business networking platform. It’s a lot less sexy than “Social Networking” sites, but LinkedIn has implemented some pretty cool features lately that make it a lot more fun.
So, don’t neglect your LinkedIn profile…it’s as valuable, or even more valuable, than anything else if you are a businessperson and especially if you own or run a company.
Step 1: Complete or review your profile.
LinkedIn makes it easy by telling you what’s missing. You may opt to not include some info (like your education or past positions), but you have missed something you do want to appear. Why is it important to review your profile?
• You will appear established and professional.
• People make decisions whether to connect with contact you based upon the information in your profile.
• A complete profile will increase your visibility and help you get found.
• A profile with old or not relevant information hurts your reputation.
Step 2: Get recommended
Users with recommendations are 3 times as likely to get inquiries through LinkedIn searches. And users who make recommendations are more likely to get recommendations. It’s very easy to ask for recommendations, and you will find that a good percentage of the people you ask will be happy to do so, especially if you reciprocate. Tip: Reviews and Recommendations are the juice that is powering a lot of Search results these days.
Step 3: Become a thought leader in your field
Join groups, be a part of discussions and answer questions. No matter what kind of work you do, you have a level of expertise and sharing your experience makes you a more visible and valuable member of the business community. Don’t be afraid of “giving away” your secrets. There are few secrets in our digital age, anyway.
More:
• If you or your company has a blog, set up an automatic feed into your profile. The more content that you display, the better it is for your profile.
• You can now “Follow” a company the same way you can do so on Twitter and Facebook. Make sure your company has a profile.
• Think about keywords when you are completing your profile. For instance, if you are an expert in LEED green technology, use those phrases in your profile. Remember, Google and Bing index LinkedIn and use the results for searches.
If you’re not convinced that spending some time on LinkedIn is valuable, do a Google search for yourself or your company. Look at the results from the point of view of someone who is making a decision whether to contact you for business. Then decide.
Have questions about LinkedIn? Just Ask Betsy!
Tags: Business Networking, LinkedIn, LinkedIn Profile, Social Media
Posted in LinkedIn, Networking | 1 Comment »
November 8th, 2010
Today Chris Brogan, one of my favorite people, posted a short video called “Small Talk is Big.”
It’s about the rewards that you get from showing interest in the people you meet every day. I totally agree with him. I’ve met Chris and he’s a natural. His genuine interest in people shows through in everything he does; from his best selling book, “Trust Agents” to the way he engages people in social situations. For me, learning the art of Small Talk was not easy. Unlike Chris, I wasn’t a “natural” so it was hard work for me to get there. But I can say without reservation that it is the most valuable skill I have ever learned for business and for my personal life.
So, if you are like I used to be, here are some tips to help you come out of your shell:
Pretend you are Oprah.
Really! Watch some talk shows. Talk show hosts are masters at making people feel comfortable and open up by asking them the right questions at the right times. And they do it without losing themselves in the process. Try it. Next time you are in a social situation (business too) pretend it’s your job to interview people for a living. You’ll be really surprised at what happens.
Be inquisitive in a nice way.
There’s a good possibility that the people you meet are just as uncomfortable with Small Talk as you are. It’s easy to make people feel comfortable by showing an interest in something about them (people love to talk about their jobs, their families, etc.). You will find out that you have a lot more in common than you ever guessed and by focusing on them; you will not be focusing on your own anxiety.
Leave your “salesman shoes” at home.
There is a fine line between showing genuine interest and simply looking for “sales signals,” and believe me, people can perceive the difference. Understand that developing relationships is a process. Don’t only work to get to “Yes”.
Don’t be scared to share.
Don’t be afraid to share a bit of yourself even with strangers. A personal story or anecdote opens up a whole world of possibilities of great exchanges and conversation whether you are talking to a clerk in a store or to your biggest client.
Developing the art of “Small Talk” has enabled me to become fast friends with many people who at first meeting seemed to have nothing in common with me. These relationships have helped me grow my business and have expanded my circle of friends exponentially…most of all have enriched my life. And, what’s more, our Social Media activites are the digital version of in-person Small Talk. So learn, enjoy, and share with me your experiences.
Click here to watch Chris Brogan’s “Small Talk” video (it’s really short).
Tags: Chris Brogan, Conversation, Sales, Small Talk, Social Media
Posted in Networking, Social Media | 1 Comment »
November 8th, 2009
Lately I have been speaking to groups of entrepreneurs about Social Media. Once I finish explaining the benefits of using LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Blogging, I take questions. In every case, my audiences’ biggest concern is that Social Media will become a huge “time drain” for them. And, I can totally understand their worry.
However, an article published today in MediaPost, states “81% of all marketers indicate that their social media efforts have generated exposure for their businesses. At least two in three participants found that increased traffic occurred with as little as 6 hours a week invested in social media marketing.”
So, if you devote as little as 6 hours a week to Social Media, your business will benefit. If I were to limit myself to 6 hours a week, I think I would do it this way:
- Blog for 2 hours: write one blog post per week and make sure your blog is set-up so that your posts are will appear on LinkedIn and Facebook.
- Twitter for 2 hours: choose the people who interest you the most, and see what they are talking about (I get cell updates from the people I want to learn from the most, and there are only about ten of those). Read what they are talking about only when it relates to your business. If there is an article or blog that they particularly like, bookmark it to go back to later, read on your handheld, or print it out to read when you can (it’s OK to skim).
- Explore for 1 1/2 hours: give yourself some time to just float around, discover new sites, find new people to follow, etc.
- Update for 1/2 hour: check your profiles to make sure they are up to date.
6 hours is hardly a “time drain” and can have an impact on your business.
Need help getting started? Be Visible Associates now offers “Instant Social Media Packages” where we set up all your profiles, integrate them, and train you on how to use them.
Tags: Facebook, LinkedIn, Managing Time Social Media, Social Media, Twitter
Posted in Networking, Social Media | 2 Comments »
April 22nd, 2009
If you Blog, if you use Twitter, if you use Facebook and LinkedIn, you know how easy it is to lose your direction in the maze of information coming in. And, what to say, how to add to the conversation, what’s the best way to be a part of it? If you are anything like me, you could use a few extra hours every day just to keep up!
Sometimes, we just need a reality check. I got my reality check this morning when Chris Brogan led me to an article he wrote WAY BACK in November! If I Started Today by Chris Brogan. Thank you, Chris!
Tags: Blogging, Chris Brogan, Facebook, Social Media, Twitter
Posted in Networking, Social Media | No Comments »
April 14th, 2009
If you are a business person and you use the Web, you are probably
1. using Twitter
2. wondering about Twitter
3. trying to ignore Twitter
4. scared of Twitter
This week I’ve had the privilege of talking to groups of business people about Twitter and its value to their businesses. Everyone seemed to fit into categories 2 through 4. So, my challenge has been how to de-mystify it for them. One of the best ways that I have found to explain Twitter is this:
“Think of Twitter as a way to send a text message to a whole lot of people at one time…most of whom you don’t know, but most of whom share your interests. And, people who are interested in what you are interested in will send you text messages, too.”
If you keep this in mind when you use Twitter, you’ll get a lot out of it.
Example: about an hour ago this blog was announced by someone I am following on Twitter. It is on the Marketing Pilgrim website. It talks about Twitter being a “search engine” and how it may become a real challenge to the mammoth Google. http://tiny.cc/iow9T
As a business tool, Twitter enables me to get up to the minute information like this about my industry that I can then share with my clients to keep them on the cutting edge of what is going on in online marketing.
So, if you are in business, and if you really want up to date information about your industry…twart tweeting right now!
Tags: Social Media, Social Media Marketing, Social Networking, Twitter
Posted in Networking, Social Media, Twitter | No Comments »
March 5th, 2009
If you are a business person, you are either using Twitter, thinking about using Twitter, wondering about Twitter, or are scared to death of Twitter! So, what’s it really good for? Here’s my list…I welcome additions!
- Lets you promotes article, blogs, videos, papers, and anything else you have published.
- Tells the world that you are an expert in whatever it is you are an expert in.
- Helps you identify trends in your industry.
- Allows you to find great resources to help you in your business.
- Makes it easy for you to talk about your own events and speaking engagements.
- Lets you promote interesting events you plan to attend or have attended.
- Broadcasts news about your business such as landing a new client, adding a new service, etc.
- Lets you connect and with others in your industry who you can learn from (either publicly or privately).
- Gives you a platform upon which you can voice your opinions, ask for help, learn more.
- Makes it possible to get information about your profession instantaneously.
- Allows you to share what you have learned with others in your field.
- Lets you react quickly to developments in your industry.
- It’s fun!
Tags: Twitter
Posted in Internet Marketing, Networking, SEO, Social Media, Twitter | 1 Comment »
March 3rd, 2009
Our good friends and colleagues at Dragon Search Marketing are moving into new offices. Congrats on their new digs!
Tags: Dragon Search, Oxclove Workshop, SEO
Posted in Networking | No Comments »
November 25th, 2008
I am helping my friend and colleage Elizabeth Beskin of Fifth Avenue Digital get ready for the annual BizBash Event StyleExpo on Wednesday here in NYC. She is gong to be speaking to a group of event planning professionals about how they can use Social Networking to help build website traffic and credibility with Search Engines.
Here’s what we came up with:
1. Join LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com Why? This business networking site has more than 30 million members and is a great tool for reaching out to colleagues, clients and business associates.
2. Set up your Facebook business page at www.facebook.com/business Why? Your business page helps build connections between your brand and the people you know, as well as the people you want to know.
3. Create a MySpace page at www.myspace.com Why? Gain ties with other business owners and promote your services to prospective customers.
4. Join Twitter at www.twitter.com Why? Communicate and stay connected to colleagues through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to the question “What are you doing?”
Posted in Networking | No Comments »
October 30th, 2008
