Debra Kasowski

Episode 69 – Supercharge Your Networking Experience

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  “Becoming well-known (at least among your prospects & connections) is the most valuable element in the connection process.” 

―Jeffrey Gitomer

For some people, the thought of networking makes them sweat. Not just a little perspiration on the brow, but clammy hands and nervous pacing of the hallway wondering if they can go into the room. It can be nerve-racking meeting new people and learning what to say. Reading about it is one thing – jumping in and introducing yourself to strangers takes courage. It can be a game changer for your business or your career goals.

Isn’t it time to take charge of your networking experience and take it to a new level? You need to take consistent action. Now with social media, people can follow you and see what you’re up to and then when they meet in person the “ice” is already broken so to speak. I was emceeing an event and one of the speakers came up and started speaking to me. It was like we were long-lost friends and then I mentioned to her that it was the first time we had met. She said, “No” in disbelief. “It feels like I already know you.” It was great as it reinforces congruency in my messaging on social media.”

You can supercharge your networking experience by:

Engaging and being social online platforms where your clients hang out this is Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn and maybe even SnapChat.

Ask your prospects or clients where they network or socialize and go spend some time there. Don’t limit your thinking to specific networking events. You have the ability to connect with people at the bank, grocery store, the gym, the opera, or a conference or fundraiser. Attend industry or trade association functions.

Arrange to speak at a business Association, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, or even a group or club in your area. Public speaking gives you credibility and put you centre stage where people can get to know you. It positions you as an expert where you can build rapport and trust quickly. Put together 1 to 3 signature speaking topics so you can showcase your knowledge and promote yourself.

Once you have a speaking engagement, ensure that you get to your speaking engagement early so you can have the opportunity to meet some of the attendees. I find that doing this, it really calms the nerves as you already have gotten to know a few people and when you speak you feel like you’re speaking directly to them. They will be pleasantly surprised that you took the time to take interest in them. At the end of your talk, invite people to come and speak with you after the talk to continue building that connection. Remember handing out your business card to everyone is like playing blackjack and it’s not invited. Hand out your business card as you really connect with people so they will remember you.

Submit articles to industry magazines or online directories. This is another great way to showcase your talents and expertise to people can get to know you more.

Check out a variety of networking and association event in your area. Make a point of intentionally connecting with 2 to 3 new people. It is a habit to gravitate to the people you know. You do not expand your network by hanging out with the same people all the time. Pick times to meet up and you may even choose to introduce who in each of you has mapped to each other. On average each person knows 250 people and each of those 250 people knows at least another 250 people- this is how your network expands.

“Networking is not a part-time or occasional exercise. Everywhere we go, we have an opportunity to network with others.”
―Timothy M. Houston

Networking can also take place on online forums, webinars, and podcasts. The sky is the limit. Make a list of networking events for the next one to two months. Ensure you have business cards. Smile! Be friendly and initiate conversation. Create strong solid connections by discovering what you may have in common with another person and find out what matters to them. Take a genuine interest in who they are and what they do. Think of ways that you may able to help support them. And don’t forget most importantly follow-up with the connections you make within the next 24 to 48 hours of the meeting. If you don’t follow up, you are not intentionally networking you are out for the social event and you could be leaving a lot of money on the table. Not only that you could be missing out on truly amazing relationships that make your life rich from the inside out.

We would love to have you subscribed to the Success Secrets newsletter on my website at www.debrakasowski.com where you’re going to get us free MP3 download 10 Surefire Strategies to Power Up Your Productivity and Performance. I would love to hear about this podcast has impacted your life. E-mail me at Debra@DebraKasowski.com. Thank you for listening to The Millionaire Woman Show where we talk about leadership, business, and human potential to help you live rich from the inside out. Subscribe to The Millionaire Woman Show. Share it with Your Friends. Give us a 5-star rating!

DEBRA KASOWSKI, BScN CEC is an award-winning best-selling author, transformational speaker, blogger, and Certified Executive Coach. She has a heart of a teacher and is certified in Appreciative Inquiry and Emotional Intelligence. Her writing has been published in a variety of print and online magazines. Debra Kasowski International helps executives, entrepreneurs, and organizations boost their productivity, performance, and profits. It all starts with people and passion. Sign up the Success Secrets Newsletter and get your free mp3 download today! www.debrakasowski.com

Time: 08:18 minutes

Are You Sacrificing Your Potential to Help Others?

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Networking can prove to be one of the most powerful was to fill your pipeline of clients. In one Gallup study, 50% of people feel networking is wasting time with people. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 70 % of all jobs are found through networking. Networking offers opportunities and inside track information that you will not find in the newspaper or online. Why? Networking is about building relationships. Networking is not a waste of time if you come from the belief that you are here to build relationships and help people achieve their goals. You are not there to see how many cards you collect or how many cards you can hand out in 30 minutes. You are there to meet new people and nurture relationships that have already formed.

Dollar bills flushed down the toilet

Collecting a stack of business cards on your desk is like throwing away money or as some would say flushing good money down the toilet. I do not think it is the networking that bothers people as it is so much of the issue as it is the follow-up. Many people are afraid to pick up the phone for the fear of rejection, resistance, and being challenged on their knowledge and ability to assist another person. I had the opportunity to assist with a political campaign by phoning residents asking for their support. Most people were polite. Some were not interested. No one yelled at me. I removed emotion and shared information. Remember – not everyone is the right fit. Really, what is the worst thing that will happen?

What happens if you do not take action? Your results are the same now that if you do not take action. The answer is always a “no” until ask or take some form of action. You miss out on developing rich relationships, referrals, meals, and potentially profits. You are in business to make money right? If not, you have a hobby. You are sacrificing your potential to help someone improve their performance, productivity, or profit with your product or service. You have the knowledge, skill, and ability to help others breakthrough barriers and create or innovate new things. If you do not share how you can help them or someone they know, how are they supposed to know about what you can do?

What is worse? You lose out on your opportunity to grow and learn. Each person I meet teaches me about a new concept, idea, or a perspective of how I can better serve others. What are you waiting for? Go ahead and attack that stack of cards on your desk. People may be waiting for your call. They may have lost or misplaced your card. Make the first move.

What do your prospects and customers teach you?

 

Secrets of Powerful Networking

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Today’s topic is about the secrets of networking. I am going to share 3 with you.

1. Be intentional about who you are networking with but I want you to be careful not to network  just because of someone’s title. It can be very deceiving about what their roles and responsibilities are. The other thing I want you to be careful about with a title as you never know where someone is going. Start treating everybody as a person of influence. I worked with someone who was a Director and then an Executive Director within two weeks time frame of me meeting them. Be careful so you do not miss out on opportunities of networking with very influential people.

2. Believe in yourself. When you go to a networking event, you want people to notice you. Be excited about what you do. Believe in yourself, your business, what you are offering, the products and services, and that you are an ambassador of  that. Be really clear and focus in on what you want to achieve when you go to networking events.

3. Take Interest in Others. When you are networking with people be careful not to “dump” everything on them – sharing everything about yourself. It is really important to start learning – when you meet people discover what interest them  and what their needs might be. Think about how you can help them reach their goals. In turn if you help them achieve their goals I am sure they will want to champion yours!

Share some of your networking secrets with us!

5 Secrets to Building Your List in the Next 30 Days

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Courtesy of photostock/freedigitalphotos.net
Courtesy of photostock/freedigitalphotos.net

Building a online community of followers was quite foreign to me when I first started my business. As I did some research, I became very excited.

Why?

Not only does having a website – give you a global presence, you can now build relationships all over the world. Talk about leverage and opportunities to make an impact world wide.

At the same time I became overwhelmed and did not know where to start. Perhaps you can relate to this.

Thankfully, I did not pull out any hair but began to focus on learning about one area every 30 days and giving it my focus. There are so many platforms to build upon. You need to choose the platforms that best suit you.

I am going to share the ones that I have used that have created the greatest traction for in my business.

1. Intentional Network Online by Building Relationships – Businesses grow when the focus is on the PEOPLE. People first! You can build relationships on Facebook and Twitter by not just accepting or requesting friend requests. Join in the conversation – respond to posts and ask questions. Discover how you can relate to the people you are chatting with. The relationships you build can lead to future collaboration.

 

2.  Cross Promote – Ask someone you know who has a list that they may share your product or service with and offer to do the same for them. If you have an affiliate program, the person you are cross promoting with could even make a commission. Most commissions run anywhere from 30 to 70 percent. Extra money in your pocket is always nice and even better while you sleep. Cha- Ching!

 

3. Guest Blogging – This is one of my favorite ways to build an online community. Guest Blogging is very powerful when you tailor your message to your host’s audience. You want to HELP and provide VALUE not sell. Ensure you include your bio after your blog post and it has a call to action that directs traffic to your website. Guest blogging is also a great way to ensure you have content on your website during busy times or while you are on vacation – consider hosting a quest blogger.

 

4. Article Marketing – Writing is a powerful way to get the word out about your business and having more people learn about you. Article directories like www.ezinearticles.com and www.selfgrowth.com are awesome places to build your visibility and boost your credibility in the marketplace. You want to write articles that will inspire, educate, empower/motivate, or entertain. If you do this, you will have customers coming back for more.

 

5. Teleseminars– Although you may think you may be technologically challenged, teleseminars are a excellent way to build the know, like and trust factor in building relationships. They are a lot easier to use than people think – just pick up the phone dial the code and begin! You can host a question and answer period or share information as if you were teaching a class all by teleconference lines like www.freeconferencepro.com or www.instantteleseminar.com Start promoting your teleseminar 4-6 weeks in advance and build the excitement!

Building your business profile does not have to break the bank. You need to create a plan or strategy to make this happen. It all comes down to who is taking action – I hope that person is you!

 

3 Easy Ways to Step It UP and Build Your Platform

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Social networkYou put up your shingle and started your business. You built the dream. Why isn’t anyone coming or hiring you? Why? You need to build your platform and spread the word about your business.

Maybe you have been in your business for awhile but hit a plateau and not sure what to do next or perhaps you would like to uplevel your game. Remember – you will continue to get the same results unless you change the game your playing. 

Life is very much like a game. One of strategy and vision. Determine your vision and what you want it to look like. Take the action steps it takes to get there. Imagine it – touch and feel it as if it were real.

Now let’s make it happen. It is your time!

Step it up and build your platform with 3 easy strategies:

  1. Dress for Success – You are your personal brand. When people see you what do you want them to say about you? Is your brand congruent with your message? When you go to a networking event, do you look like you just rolled out of bed? You want to have a professional polished look and it does not have to break the bank. It all starts with a great haircut, outfit, well-manicured hands, and your smile.
  2. Intentional Networking – Create a warm welcoming environment when you enter the room. You do not want people dodge each other to get away from you as you shuffle out your business cards. Netowrking is NOT a blackjack game!  Network with intention by trying to connect with 3-5 people that you can build and nurture relationships with. Don’t forget to follow-up! Not just 24-48 hours from meeting them, 3 months, 6 months, or even a year. Continue to develop the relationships you have as you expand your network.
  3. Be Seen Everywhere. In today’s day and age, you can be seen more often in the see of social media. Utilize the greats – Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Share articles in directories like ezinearticles.com. Give away your best compelling valuable information! People will come back for more and better yet they will share you with their network!

Your platform can be expanded by boosting your credibility, increasing your visibility, attracting your ideal clients. Join us and listen to 9 incredible experts February 4-8, 2013 as they share sought-after secrets to become unstoppable! SIGN UP here The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Platform Building Teleclass Series. Please share!!!