Day 20 – 30 Days of Networking – Organise a Networking Meetup #30DNet

Firstly, What is a Tweetup? It’s been described as:

n. A real world meeting between two or more people who know each other through the online Twitter service.

So, what does that have to do with 30 Days of Networking?

Well, I think now is a good time in the 30 Days of Networking for you to get busy and get networking with some of the people you’ve met on the program and others with whom you want to foster relationships.

Today I invite you to organise a Networking Meetup.

Yep, I’m looking for you to take on the role of a leaders and to initiate a get-together with others with whom you want to network.

I have been organising events since 1994 so of course, I find it easy … but I realise it may be a stretch for some of you.

I’ve provided a few tips to make this easy.

Who to invite:

• Invite those that follow you on Twitter
• Invite those that follow you to invite others
• Invite clients/friends/prospects

[Hint: You may want to keep it small to start with... but basically, you can invite whomever you like.]

How to organise your Meet Up:

I’ve written instructions within the Women in Business Forums, within which you can coordinate the details of your event and hook up with other doing 30 Days of Networking. Remember to set up a user name in order to be able to post in the forums.

TODAY’s TASK

• Go to the Women in Business Forums
• Create a user account
• Introduce yourself in the Introduce Yourself forum
• Click on 30 Days of Networking and the Organise a Networking MeetUp post
• Tweet to announce your meet up!

Let me know how you go!

Day 19 – 30 Days of Networking: Why you don’t need MORE contacts

How many contacts do you need?

Social networking behaviours can lead you to believe that the more followers (Twitter), friends (Facebook) and contacts (LinkedIn) you have the better you’re doing at the game and the more successful you’ll be.

Similarly in ‘old’ marketing people measured their success by the size of their database not by the effectiveness/profitability of their business activities.

This post from a couple of months ago that explains my position on how many contacts you need (and links to a great article I recommend you read) …

How many customers do you really need?

How big should your network be? | 30 Days of Networking

So, How big should your network be?

I believe we already know (and have access to) everyone we need to know to get access to the people and resources we need to do business successfully.

(I’ve been guilty myself of going to a small event and thinking.. ‘hmm, not too many people here to network’ with and conversely, going to 600-strong breakfasts and thinking what a waste of time it was.)

You know everyone you need to know

You probably know at least a hundred people through your work, family, industry, community, church etc. (If you’re a member of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network community you are also connected to hundreds of business women through the Member Directory).

Each of your contacts IS connected (by six degrees, or more, or less – but connected) to everyone else you may want to know. The key is to make the connections.

How to make the connections

As simple as it sounds, all you need to do to make the connections is:

1. Be someone people want to assist (because you’re generous, you add value to them, you doing interesting things and telling people about them).
2. Ask for what you want in a succinct way that makes it easy for people to assist you. (Example below.)

A. Be someone people want to know

A great resource I’d like to recommend is Guerilla Networking by Jay Conrad Levinson and Monroe Mann.

In the book the authors discuss ways to make your self more desirable (i.e. the type of person people want to meet). While much of the advice is common sense I’m surprised how many people still attend events and dish out cards, don’t listen or engage and have a ‘me, me, me’ attitude. Levinson and Mann’s practical tips for increasing your desirability include:

• Be an expert in your field
• Initiate conversations
• Become the go-between
• Acknowledge others

B. Ask for what you want

Instead of saying (to a contact):

“I’m looking to get some publicity for my business.”

be more specific

“I’m looking to get publicity for my new small-business management tool for carpenters in the Carpenter’s Weekly magazine.”

The person you are speaking to will immediately know what it is that you want and whether they, or someone, they know, can help you.

I could really go on for a long time about today’s lesson… but let’s move on. Time to take some action.

TODAY’s TASK

• Ask (specifically) for something you are looking for. Ask using twitter. e.g. you could tweet:  “Looking for graphic designer in western suburbs of Sydney. Can you recommend someone?”
• Initiate a conversation

Day 18 – 30 Days of Networking: Which events are best for networking? (And my faves.) #30DNet

In most cities you can attend a breakfast, lunch or dinner networking event, most days of the week.

There are definitely pros and cons to the type of event you attend so it’s important to be clear on what your networking outcome is and choose the time and type of event that will work best towards your networking goals.

For example, I’m a fan of events that have a keynote address and/or a theme, rather than general networking events. I don’t attend events in hope of ‘meeting more people’.

[Tomorrow's networking post is about why you DON'T need more contacts... so look out for that.]

At the bottom of this page are my two favourite types of networking events, but first, let’s look at The Most Common Types of Networking Events. Which suits you?

Attending networking events can waste a lot of time if you don’t go in with a plan or if the event is poorly organised for networking (see post from yesterday). Let’s assume you have found THE  right type of networking event for you and you’re ready to go but need to choose a time of day…

Breakfast networking

Breakfasts don’t usually include alcohol so the whole affair may be a little more sober than lunch or dinner events. And, because people normally have somewhere to go after the event they’ll be more purposeful in their interactions.

The downside is that often breakfasts will be seated events so you get to network mostly with those around you, or immediately on either side of you. You may luck out and get the right people at your table, but if the seating is random, you may not.

Lunch Networking

Lunches are usually constrained by time. Most people are coming from, and return to their offices. Like breakfasts and dinners they are a sit down affair so the networking tends to occur with those at your table, and mostly those on either side of you.

Dinner Networking

Often proceded by ‘drinks’, these events allow a little more possibility for finding those that you want to network with, ahead of time and then sitting with them (assuming the organisers haven’t allocated the seats for you – though if they have you can always ask someone to swap with you.)

Tip for Breakfasts, Lunches and Dinners: Organise a table. Get with some other friends and invite possible clients/contacts. You’ll create your own interesting crowd at your table. Any additional networking contacts you make will be a bonus.

Cocktail Functions

Usually stand-up, I find these events easier to navigate. The downside is that the lack of structure means you may need to introduce yourself to an already-formed group or approach someone you don’t know. If you’re a little shy, this can be problematic… but persist.

Businesswomen's Seminar Day 2007 | Network at Events

My Two Favourite Types of Networking Events

Here are my two favourite types of networking events:

1. Educational events

I’m a big advocate of education. And, whether it’s online or offline events I know that if I’m in a room with people who are seeking the same knowledge I am, there is a good chance of rapport, shared interests and possibilities – and DEFINITELY networking.

2. Coffee and/or wine

Yep, I’m a fan of a good cup of Joe and a glass of wine (not usually at the same time). No, I don’t hang out at coffee shops/bars hoping to meeting the right people.

I invite people to join me.

A meeting over ‘coffee’ or a ‘drink’ are both a shorter time commitments that meetings around meals and don’t take a lot out of someone’s day. I also find the casual environment lends itself to a more personal and casual conversation. I find both these ways to network a great way to start a relationship in a very low-pressure way.

[Side note for event organisers: Getting people up to dance or to high-five those at their table can only be pulled off by the best of facilitators without offending smart, professional people. Leave the antics for teen-camps, not professional events. Instead look at low-confront ways that make sense to the context of the event.]

TODAY’S TASK

Find an event you’d like to attend. Hook up with an existing friend or colleague (or two) and each invite 2 people to attend with you. You don’t have to foot the bill for your guest(s), but of course if you can afford to, it may be a nice gesture.

Best wishes,

Suzi

The photograph above is courtesy of fireflyphotography.com.au It was taken at the 2007 Businesswomen’s Seminar & Expo Day, presented by the Australian Businesswomen’s Network.

Day 17 – 30 Days of Networking: Why Many Networking Events Don’t Work

As the head of a networking organisation for women, you may think that I’d love networking events. Truth is, more often than not they have been a cause of frustration and a waste of time.

Four reasons networking events don’t work:

1. The events are contextualised by meals (and often drinking)
2. You are allocated seating based on when you registered rather than any logical grouping
3. You are not usually aware of who is attending and cannot choose who to sit with
4. The events are not structured to support networking

Let’s take a closer look at these points in reference to the most common networking events. Then we’ll look at some solutions.

Breakfast, lunch or dinner?

Networking events are often contextualised by meals. First, second and third course… and then a table of 8-10 of random people.

The likelyhood that the people at your table will share your interests is unlikely (unless the event has a theme set by either the organisers or because the guest speaker is introducing a subject that has brought that crowd together).

And, depending on whether it is a breakfast, lunch or dinner, will depend on how flexible you can be with your networking. (More on that tomorrow).

Facilitated Networking

Most networking events do not have facilitated networking. I find that people get more out of networking when there is a clear focus and outcome. The structure doesn’t need to be tight (or inane such as ‘high-five the person next you and share your favourite joke!)… we’re dealing with professional adults, I assume… but I believe some structure helps.

A simple and sophisticated process for the tables to engage around can help bring out information about people you would not normally know and it helps those that are a little shy share.

For example, at our Make the Most of Your Membership networking nights each person is asked to bring a business issue to share with a small group. The process allows them to get input from other team members on solutions to the issue, contacts and resources.

Look for events where the organisers take the networking aspect of the event seriously enough to ensure those that attend will get value.

Who is there? You can choose!

Most organisations don’t publish the details of those attending (and rightly so). What this means though is that you cannot strategically plan who to connect with. It’s all a bit random. So, how do you get around this?

Bring your own crowd! I suggest you choose a couple of people that you’d like to network with and invite them to join you at the event. This is a great way to spend time with someone you want to connect with and it will allow you to get more out of the event than if you attended hoping to find someone to network with.

So, choose an event you’d like to go to. Call up a contact that you’ve been wanting to get know better and ‘shout’ them a ticket to the event. [US readers translation of Shout below ]

TODAY’S TASK

An easy one today…

What events do you get the most from? And why?

Let us know!

(Tomorrow we’ll look at some ideas to support your networking, depending on the type of event you attend.)

Shout what?

( one’s shout) Brit., informal one’s turn to buy a round of drinks : “Do you want another drink? My shout.”

Day 16 – 30 Days of Networking: How Follow Friday helps Build Twitter Followers

If you’ve been watching others tweets on a Friday you may have noticed these tags:

• #FF
• #followfriday

in a tweet, followed by a series of user names.

Follow Friday is a great way to share with YOUR followers the names of those that YOU follow and whose tweets you enjoy. It’s a great way to promote ‘tweeters of note’ to others in your community.

Here’s how it works:

• You tweet #FF or #followfriday followed by the usernames of those you want to recommend
• Those that follow you see these recommendations and may also follow these Tweeters
• Those you recommend see that you’ve recommended THEM and may in turn recommend you (though there is no guarantee that this will occur)

If you like you can add WHY you’ve recommended them to the tweet or categorise your follow Friday tweets (see example below).

Examples:

• #followfriday – Great ABN members on Twitter:  @name, @name, @name – etc
• #ff – My favourite marketers: @name, @name etc.

You can add as many names as you like until you use up your 140 characters.  You can, of course, post a tweet more than once on a Friday, adding as many recommendations as you can fit in each tweet.

How to get listed as someone to follow

While it’s possible to ask another to add you to their Follow Friday list it’s probably not a good strategy. (It’s akin to asking someone with a big following to Retweet you when there is no reason for them to do so.)

The best way to get on someone’s Follow Friday list is to offer good tweets that add value (remember you tweets can include both your original tweets and also helpful Retweets which establish yourself as a good source of information.)

I’m sure you’re seeing some patterns in the recommendations during 30 Days of Networking i.e. to Tweet information relevant to existing and potential followers. Keep your strategic tweets relevant to your area of expertise, or the area for which you want to be known… And, be generous and inject YOU into your tweets.

TODAY’S TASK

• Post a Tweet that includes some recommendations for people you recommend people follow. Recommend those whose tweets you enjoy and that you think your followers will also enjoy.
• Remember to include the #30DNet tag.

Related 30 Days of Networking posts

• Day 4 – 30 Days of Networking: Use Twitter to Get and Give Referrals
• Day 6- Get your message to more people, faster with a Retweet

Day 15: 30 Days of Networking – Three wrong reasons to attend networking events #30DNet

Why would you attend networking events? Is it to connect with new people, to reestablish relationships with people you know, to sell your products and services?

Here are three not-so-great reasons to attend networking events.

1. To meet as many people as possibly – Wrong!

Sadly, “to meet as many people as possible”, is not a winning strategy. More is not better, when it comes to contacts. Don’t race to distribute your cards with as many people as possible – you risk being labelled as a ‘card-dealer’ – my term for those people that deal their business cards as if at a casino table.

And don’t be concerned about attending events that have a LOT of people at them. A few good contacts and a couple of strong relationships is all you need to connect with those that you want to know. I’ve made better contacts at private dinner parties than 600-strong breakfasts!

2. To sell my products and services – Wrong!

Networking is not selling (just like ‘telling is not selling’). The purpose of networking is to make contacts and to build relationships. Sales may or may not result from the relationship you form at an event, so give up the agenda to sell something. Focus instead on making a real connection and finding someone you’d like to know more about. Selling will happen… ’cause we like to buy from people we know and like.

So – focus on being known and liked! (People tend to like people they know something about and with whom they share interests and values.)

3. To tell people about your business – Wrong!

My advice is to ask more about the other person and focus less on ‘telling’ about your business. Asking questions allows you to find ways that you can help them. A good networker will reciprocate and ask about you. If they don’t… then that may be a clue as to whether you want to continue to network with them.

TODAY’s TASK

Tell us: What is your best networking event tip? What has worked well for you when attending events (both online and face-to-face events).

Add a comment to this blog post and share your expertise. You’ll no doubt pick up some great tips from others who are participating in this Twitter event.

BONUS ARTICLE: How to make the most of networking events

“When you think about a networking event, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Perhaps a crowd milling around a hotel banquet room with chardonnay in one hand and business cards in the other? In fact, there are many types of networking events, ranging from breakfast meetings with a dozen people, to speaker luncheons with 100 attendees, to black tie dinners with more than 1,000. Each can be a valuable experience – but only if you make the most of the opportunity.”

Read the rest of this article by Marni Lifshen.

Day 14 – 30 Days of Networking: Are you really networking smart? #30DNet

Networking is one of the fastest, most cost effective ways to get more clients and grow your business. But it can also be a frustrating, time-consuming endeavour if you don’t know how to put the pieces together correctly. Are you REALLY networking as smart as you can? Are you leveraging the opportunity to create meaningful relationships? Let’s take a look.

Liz Lynch is the author of Smart Networking: Attract a Following In Person and Online.

She presented the “Smart Networking” webinar for the Australian Businesswomen’s Network.

In this webinar she reveals:

• Critical networking mistakes that are leaving you drained emotionally, energetically and financially
• The secret to turning a trickle of referrals into a flood of new business
• How one simple change in your networking approach can completely transform your results and skyrocket your revenues
• The missing key that connects what you want to achieve in your business to the people who can help you get it
• What you can do to build strong networking gravity so great people and opportunities come to you
• How to build your own Smart Networking roadmap to rapidly accelerate your results and streamline your efforts

Click here to listen to Liz Lynch’s Smart Networking webinar now.

Today’s Task(s)

• Watch this webinar*.
• Follow Liz Lynch on Twitter.
• Tweet and network.

*Note, Mac users may have trouble seeing this webinar. Citrix is trying to fix this issue but for now there is no solution. It is recommended that Mac users download the VLC Media Player, which is a free download, (www.download.com) to play the webinar without issue.

Day 13 – 30 Days of Networking: Your biggest networking issue.

Welcome to Day 13 0f 30 Days of Networking.

I’ve never been a big user of forums. No reason, really. I just haven’t found forums that I wanted to take part in on a regular basis. That’s now changed!

After running a series of business focus groups (her Views Member Advisory Groups) with Australian Businesswomen’s Network members what became apparent is that women in business (especially those working solo, from home) need a place to ask the (as they described) ‘really dumb questions’ about business.

Drum roll…

So, today we announce the launch of the Women in Business Forums, a new help desk for women in business looking for a place to ask questions (to get much-needed answers), provide answers (to share your expertise with other community members) and to network (by promoting yourself and your business while collaborating with other forum members).

I realise it may take a little while to get the buzz going on these forums, but I invite you to start today.

I have set up a 30 Days of Networking forum where you can share your biggest networking issue.

Forums are a great way to network. So, join the Women in Business Forums today.

TODAY’S TASK

Visit the Australian Businesswomen’s Network’s Women in Business Forums.

Create a user account. Note: Even if you have an existing ABN account note that you will need to create a new user account for the forums (a drag, I know, but the only way we could ensure that your account history in the ABN database is not compromised in any way).

A couple of forum tips:

• Once you create a user account click on User Control Panel to set up your profile.
• The Profile Link is the 5th link down the list of options. Fill out only the fields that you feel comfortable filling in and that you want to share with other forum visitors.
• If you have any questions check the FAQ section or email our office for help.
• Answers will be provided for all questions, where relevant, by that ABN and (more frequently) by other forum members who have expertise in the area about which you are asking.

Tweet to let us know how you went.

Best wishes,

Suzi

Day 12 – 30 Days of Networking: Who do you want to network with?

Welcome to Day 12 of 30 Days of Networking.

You can go to a networking event most days of the week, if you want to. There are definitely some events that are better than others and some that are just better-suited to your goals than others.

I have a goal to take part in at least one face-to-face networking event (preferably two) per month. These face-to-face meetings are with people that I want to know more about and with whom I think I can collaborate.

My networking events tend to be one of these types:

Targeted Learning Events
Because I am interested in media, marketing and business I attend events in these areas. These are not networking events, they are usually learning events, but networking occurs.

Similarly, during the monthly ABN business webinars, the learning is focused on a business subject, but networking happens as a side-effect of the online conversations and collaboration, as well as on the post-webinar forum that we direct participants to. Many members attend month after month as part of their networking plan.

Intimate Group Lunch
I’ll invite someone that I want to network with (or a couple of people who I think ought to meet) to lunch or coffee. It takes just an hour or so out of our day but they key is to pick someone who you can add value to and for whom the time spent is not going to be for a one-sided outcome.

Before we meet I establish rapport and discovered the area of interest in which we may be able to collaborate. I keep an open mind about what may be possible, but I go in with some way that I can help with either the products and services that I provide or my own network.

Like most, I’m very busy. And, I don’t have a ‘networking plan’ as such… but having the goal of a minimum of one lunch a month keeps me on track.

Who do you want to network with this month?

TODAY’S TASK
Set up a lunch or coffee (or whatever suits) with someone you’d like to network with. Keep the agenda open (rather than go in with a predetermined idea of what you ‘want’ from the relationship).

Tweet to let us know you’ve set this up! (Use the tag #30DNet.) And, please, let us know how the meeting goes. Good luck.

We’ll look at pros and cons of networking events in a future 30 Days of Networking lesson. Today though I’d like to look at one-on-one or one-to-few networking.

Best wishes,

Suzi

Day 11 – 30 Days of Networking: Leverage Your Network #30DNet

While walking through the San Francisco Maritime Museum I saw a demonstration of how ‘Block and Tackle’ worked. I’m not in any way knowledgeable on things nautical (don’t know my bow from my stern) but I do understand the conept of doing more with less, of leverage.

[INSERT PIC OF BUCKETS HERE]

The demo asked you to try lifting these three weighted buckets. The bucket on the left has least rope and one pulley – and is the heaviest to lift. The one on the far right (with most rope and two pulleys, or blocks) was really easy to lift.

How does ‘Block and Tackle’ relate to networking?

Your network is like the length of rope. A good network is like the bucket on the far right. The more extensive your network, the easier it is to do business.  The more leverage, the more you can achieve.

[INSERT PIC 2 HERE]

When women join the Australian Businesswomen’s Network,  their common goal is to network, to learn more business skills and to share ideas and resources. It’s pretty clear why we come together (monthly to learn, weekly to share information via our bulletin and right now, daily through this program) to access resources and each other.

TODAY’s TASK

Today we want to create more leverage. To add to our network structure so that we can have more leverage.

Reach out to at least one person that you’ve been meaning to reach out to. Say something relevant. Offer support. Ask a question. Give an acknowledgement. Say thanks to someone you’ve been meaning to show gratitude to. (Remember to use the tag #30DNet.)

Best wishes,

Suzi

PS It’s such a joy to see you networking and taking action with this program. Thanks so much for being a part of it.

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