3 Relationships That Will Build the Tribe Every Entrepreneur Deserves

Entrepreneurial success isn't easy to achieve, and it's even harder when you're going it alone. Every entrepreneur needs to build a network of sustaining individuals who fill key relationship roles -- -- and LinkedIn is stepping in to help.

The business-centric social network is preparing to roll out Career Advice, a new service to connect its members with potential mentors. Users set preferences about the advice they'd like to give or receive, and LinkedIn suggests possible partnerships within their networks, schools or regions. Once connected, mentor and mentee can talk using LinkedIn's messaging service.

How valuable are these connections? In a MicroMentor survey of more than 700 participants, entrepreneurs with mentors increased their business revenue by 83 percent; mentorless small businesses gained only 16 percent in the same period.

Life is a team sport, and we cannot succeed alone. Building healthy, supportive relationships is more than a cornerstone of life and dream fulfillment; nourishing ourselves with the words, advice, and caring of others is embedded in humanity's very fabric.

A biological drive to connect

If I asked you to list humanity's basic needs, you likely would include food, water and shelter. But that list would be incomplete without mention of social connections.

Matthew Lieberman, author of Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect, has explored the psychological association between trusting social relationships and personal and professional success. Fewer than 5 percent of the 60,000 leaders he examined for his book described themselves as adept at both forming strong relationships and turning in important business results. The takeaway? Many individuals cannot easily bring ideas to market, and so leave innovations to "wither."

I echo Lieberman's sentiments: Building networks and leveraging the talent of a team of gifted persons results in major benefits. When you recognize and celebrate the strengths of others, you uplift people and reduce stress-producing interactions. Instead of seeds of doubt, you plant seeds of energy -- and watch your true potential and greatness evolve.

Who do you need to be in your corner?

Although you might be great at connecting with your team at work, you need to branch out beyond your company or field to find new friends. Think about everyone in your life who plays a pivotal part in helping you get from today to tomorrow. Ideally, you should have each of the following personalities in your corner:

1. The cheerleader. Doesn't everyone deserve to look to the sidelines and see someone rooting just for them? When the chips are down, this person says "Everything's going to be OK" and makes the tough stuff easier. He or she is excited for your achievements and urges you to work hard -- and this verbal encouragement will help you achieve your goals, just as it can help athletes perform better. No better tireless advocate exists than the cheerleader.

One way to attract cheerleader types into your sphere is to show appreciation for others. Comment on your colleagues' positive behaviors and contributions, especially if you've neglected to say anything thus far. Send a handwritten note to a colleague or friend to thank him or her. The more you emit cheerleader vibes, the more likely you'll magnetize these much-needed friends to your own corner.

2. The mentor. When you're dealing with a startup's ups and downs, you need someone you can call who has navigated similar hurdles. Find a person who exhibits the traits you covet, and ask him or her to be your mentor. If you can engage at least once a month to share ideas and get advice, you'll start to see your confidence and business acumen soar. Just ask Bill Gates: He credits his mentor, Warren Buffett, with teaching him to change the way he thinks and with igniting his interest in philanthropy.

Finding and securing a mentor takes both audacity and patience. First, write down the specific expectations you have for a mentoring relationship. Then, seek out mentors from all your in-person and online business and social networks. Ask for an exploratory meeting to discuss forming a formal mentorship relationship. If you can get a commitment, make sure each meeting covers what you both need.

3. The foxhole buddy. The foxhole buddy is someone you can count on to be with you day in and day out. You need a partner who will have your back every day and whose skills complement your own. Consider the partnership between Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, co-founders of Apple: Wozniak was the mastermind behind the tech giant's first offerings, while Jobs focused on building the future of the company. Wozniak has said that a combination of technological expertise and business acumen like theirs is key to overall success.

You and your foxhole buddy should be the "yin" to each other's "yang," able to combine forces and make an unstoppable team. Make sure you're both headed toward the same goal and focused on the same future so you can get there together.

Bring the smartest, most optimistic people with real-world experience into your inner circle. The more intentional you are in your relationships, the more your investment in social connections will pay business and spiritual dividends.


Source: https://www.entrepreneur.com/
Image Credit: Shutterstock


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3 Hidden Dangers of Cooperative Networking

In the 90's we had lunch and learn networking, always trying to be productive. The 2000's brought tightening budgets but a growth in personal crisis groups in the advent of 9/11. But this decade, cooperative networking has emerged as the must-have growth necessity of every entrepreneur. But has it really changed much over the past three decades or is it just the same message rebranded?

After a year and a half witnessing these groups at work from the inside as a speaker, mastermind leader and faculty member, as well as from the outside, I have seen a few dangerous patterns emerge. So, whether you are auditing a free local meet-up, joining a mastermind, or attending a full conference, you need to be cognizant of how these organizations work.

Be aware of these hidden dangers in cooperative networking before you get trapped in a wrong fit that drains instead of accelerates your business growth.

Danger in Like-Minded Groups

Often repeated at many conferences - you are the net worth of the five people you associate with the most. Yet too often you flock to the group where you feel most at home: inventors with inventors or social good advocates with social good advocates. While support groups should be a part of your personal growth, confusing this type of group with being able to accelerate your business growth is dangerous.

You need a group that you aspire to be a part of to push you and show you the way forward. The overwhelming majority of accelerated business growth is modeling success - successful marketing, successful business structures, successful mindsets and successful behaviors. Think hard about whether the current group you belong to is too comfortable or full of others in exactly the same position as you. The same goes for groups that are focused solely on the power of associations - make sure they have the kind of members you want to be associated with and the kind that help even when you are not yet a member of their elite inner circle.

Danger in Over-Coaching

This is one I am seeing too much of lately perhaps because so many coaches and mentors have a funnel model with low-cost entry programs that get you into their organization with an up-sell later. The danger lies in trying too many different coaches or programs at once, getting not only mixed signals but possibly being steered down the wrong path entirely. Take on only one general coach or mentor at a time and discuss with them any program you might want to undertake. Give her or him your full attention and take action on their advice and direction. If you aren't seeing results, look elsewhere.

Danger in Being Naïve About the Sales Structure

Once you have found your way into an aspirational group, you have to be even more cautious of sales tactics and structures. Most cooperative networking groups fall into the following three types of organizations. Be aware - these groups are all about sales because all are geared to getting you to spend more money on training and personal development. But spending before you are ready can stunt your business growth.

1. Free with a heavy-handed push to the back of the room - characterized by keynote-style content and speakers with promotions for programs you just can't miss

2. Free with organization, affiliation, or alliance partner sales from the stage - again characterized but keynote speakers but with the programs usually tied to what is being presented and sold straight from the stage

3. Fee with soft-sell on pay-to-play programs, coaches, and mentors - in this model you pay the organization but the speakers and mentors are unpaid and may be leading you directly into needing more from them

No matter whether or not you pay a fee, cooperative networking groups or their faculty, mentors or partners rely heavily on program sales. It is an old model but surprisingly continues to work and has been picking up steam with local self-titled "expert gurus" using the model to sell one-to-many. You would think that in this age, the orchestrated structure with NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) presenters and hard sell techniques would ring hollow, but it is quite the opposite. A whole generation of entrepreneurs never exposed to the originals like Tony Robbins, Bob Proctor and Brian Tracy are flocking to see them and their newly minted clones.

There are many valuable techniques to learn and mindsets to adopt but keep in mind that everything is likely available in a downloadable PDF, eBook, or with younger gurus, their podcast for free or for cheap. The best protection against the hard sell is to leave your checkbook and credit cards in the office. If you truly need what they have to sell, then waiting three days to see if it still resonates. Almost all of them will give you the discount price even after last call. If it is important to your business growth, then paying full price should still be a good return on investment.

Source: http://www.inc.com

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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3 Tips for Growing Your Professional Network

A strong professional network can help you achieve things that you'd never accomplish on your own, from solutions to seemingly impossible problems, to word-of-mouth recommendations that could get your foot in the door with your target market. Through his work with American Express OPEN, Scott Roen has seen firsthand how valuable connections can be for entrepreneurs.

"OPEN Forum is a proprietary community for small businesses, with a strong networking component built into it," said Roen, vice president of digital marketing and innovation at American Express. "Before OPEN Forum launched in 2007, we were only hosting live events with speakers for entrepreneurs to learn from. That content was useful, but we realized that the networking between attendees was even more beneficial to them. We help entrepreneurs succeed by connecting them with one another."

Growing your network can be difficult if you don't know where to start. Roen shared these three networking tips to help you build up a solid base of connections:

Identify the right community. There are millions of small business owners in the United States, and each one is unique in geography, size, revenue and type. By seeking out online communities and networking events created for businesses similar to your own, you'll enable greater tip sharing and more valuable connections.

Attend speed-networking events. As with speed dating, there's something about a natural connection that's hard to quantify, and when you've found one, you just know it's right. Attending a speed-networking event fosters an environment in which you can rapidly go through numerous people to find the connections that are the right fit for your business.


Offer your help first. Many individuals come into a networking event with a problem or challenge they're facing and immediately seek answers from others. When you meet people, ask questions and discover how you can provide value to them first, instead of the other way around. Ask yourself what you can bring to the table, and share tips with others to be helpful. When you give advice, it's much more likely to be reciprocated.

No startup is an island. All successful small business owners know that they were only able to get to where they are now because of the people who helped them along the way. If your group of "people" consists of little more than a few business cards at the bottom of a drawer and a long-abandoned LinkedIn account, then you'd better put on your networking pants and start building those connections.

Source: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/

Image Credit: Networking image via Shutterstock

ABOUT WNFP
Westchester Networking for Professionals (WNFP) is an organization consisting of professionals and entrepreneurs which focuses on the success of our Members. We help our Members establish lasting relationships and generate new business opportunities towards the growth of their business.
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How to Create a Deep Connection with Your Prospects and Customers

When my son was about two and a half, he developed a funny habit of walking around the house from time to time, chiming out, “I’m here.”

Although this little boy was strongly connected to his family and his small class of school friends, he still had that need to express it.

I’m here. I exist. I want to be seen, and heard. I want to be recognized.

And as human beings, we never quite lose that. We might get a little more sophisticated about how we say it, but ultimately we all want to let the world know:

I’m here.

If you intend to sell something — to ask for someone’s hard-earned money and irreplaceable time — you must begin by seeing (and honoring) who they are.

You need to know them as well as you know yourself, as well as you know your family and closest friends.

As usual, Eugene Schwartz said it best

At Copyblogger, we’ve long been big fans of Eugene Schwartz and his chewy, profound book Breakthrough Advertising.

Schwartz was a master at learning to see his prospect, and then to express that recognition with clarity. He identified three components of that understanding:

Desires … Identifications … Beliefs. Each of them composed of equal parts of emotion and thought. The three dimensions of your prospect’s mind — the raw materials with which you will work.

First … desire

When we are toddlers, what we want makes up an enormous part of who we are.

But, of course, that doesn’t stop being true on your fourth birthday.

Good food and drink, intimacy, friendship, warmth, shelter, love. Schwartz saw desire as virtually the sole component of advertising up until the great Mad Men age of advertising. And he honors its place.

[Desires] have, of course, tremendous driving power. And they already exist. You cannot create them, diminish them, or battle them. But you can expand them, sharpen them, channel them, and give them a goal. And this is your primary task as a copy writer.

To see your audience clearly, to hear the first notes of I’m here, you need to know what they want.

What does your product or service give your audience that they want?

But it doesn’t stop there.

Then, identification

Schwartz saw identification as the pivotal technique in 20th century advertising — what was, for him, “modern” advertising.

And identification can be even more powerful than raw desire.

Each of us must, as human beings, know where we belong. When we don’t, we become tremendously uncomfortable, and will do anything we can to find that certainty again.

What roles do we play … and what roles do we wish we played?

How do others see us, and how do we see ourselves?

A few reviewers think Schwartz is somewhat dated, but this quote, written in 1966, could have been written about today’s organic “whole food” revolution:

… only the poor man today buys food for its physical satisfactions alone. The average American today selects his food. Selects foods that he believes are modern, because he wishes to be up-to-date. Selects foods that are non-fattening, because he wishes to be youthful and slim. Selects foods that come from every country and reflect every taste on earth, because he wishes to be cosmopolitan, adventurous and sophisticated.

This man no longer buys food for food alone. He has gained, or he has been given, a whole new vocabulary of wants. He now buys, not only objects, but roles.

One reason that very small children fascinate me (my son left those days behind quite awhile ago) is that this is a time of trying on different identifications, and seeing which ones feel right and which will be left behind.

Your marketing — in other words, everything you communicate as a company, which includes what you do and not just what you say — will be the point of connection.

Who does your product or service allow your audience to be?

It’s the place where your audience decides, “Is this product or service something I would choose to identify with … or not?”

… and finally, belief

Beliefs are powerfully formed within your tribes, and they are usually entirely immune to any kind of logical correction or challenge.

If identification was the primary driver of marketing and advertising in the 20th century, I suspect belief might be the biggest kahuna today.

When you want to see your audience and prospects — to respond to I’m Here with, Yes, I See You Clearly — belief is the deepest way you can do that.

Here’s what Schwartz had to say about it:

If you violate your prospect’s established beliefs in the slightest degree — either in content or direction — then nothing you promise him, no matter how appealing, can save your ad.

But, on the other hand, and even more important:

If you can channel the tremendous force of his belief — either in content or direction — behind only one claim, no matter how small, then that one fully-believed claim will sell more goods than all the half-questioned promises your competitors can write for all the rest of their days.

An example? Probably the primary reason that some readers feel Schwartz is “dated” is because of the beliefs he unconsciously expresses about women. He’s no misogynist, but he certainly believes that all women long to be “dainty” and “feminine,” and that the most important role in their lives is that of wife and mother.

A perfectly sensible, reasonable belief for his time. And one that today can taint his entire message for many readers.

Again, especially today when everything our companies do is so transparent to the web, remember that you communicate your beliefs through everything you do, and not just what you say in your content and marketing.

What are the beliefs that inform your product or service? Are you speaking to an audience that shares those beliefs?

If you want to persuade, you must first connect

Your prospects, though they are probably serious, grown-up people, still have that tiny child’s desire to chime out:

I’m here!

• Let them know that you can give them what they want,

• Show them the roles they can play and where they belong

• And demonstrate what you believe, for a connection that is all but unbreakable.

Show your audience that you see them — that you recognize them, honor them, and that they are in the right place.

Source:www.copyblogger.com

ABOUT WNFP
Westchester Networking for Professionals (WNFP) is an organization consisting of professionals and entrepreneurs which focuses on the success of our Members. We help our Members establish lasting relationships and generate new business opportunities towards the growth of their business.
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How to Quickly Develop Strong Connections at Networking Events

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If you've heard it once, you've heard it a million times. Your network will power your business.

It will help you find your first customers, connect you with strategic partners, and open up opportunities you've never dreamed of.

But building your network can be challenging. You can spend countless hours at conferences, networking events, and meet-ups, and never connect with anyone beyond small talk.

Former behaviorist with the FBI and expert in interpersonal communications, Robin Dreeke, shares several techniques for how to quickly build rapport in his book, It's Not All About Me.

1. Establish artificial time constraints. You know the dread that sets in when Chatty Cathie starts talking to you at the beginning of a five-hour flight. Don't be that person. When you initiate a conversation, set the other person at ease by defining an artificial time constraint. You can say something like, "I'm about to run and grab a drink, I have a quick question." This sets the person at ease. They know that if you turn out to be as dull as paint drying they won't have to talk to you for too long. If you'd like to ensure that you aren't as dull as drying paint, keep reading.
2. Use non-verbals to set them at ease. You know the overly aggressive sales person whose approach is a turn-off. Don't be that person either. A genuine smile radiates warmth. A slight head tilt communicates trust. Angle your body, rather than standing head-on, to make your approach less intimidating.
3. Slow your rate of speech. Don't be the fast-talking used car salesman. Slow down. Slow speech builds credibility. See every U.S. President.
4. Use a third-party reference to initiate the conversation. You've probably used this one before. Have you ever been at a party where you only knew the host? A good starter question with anyone at the party is, "How do you know the host?" That's a third-party reference. At a work function, it might be, "How did you hear about the conference?" or "What did you think of the speaker?"
5. Focus on the other person's needs, not your own. Too often at networking events, we focus on our own needs. You'll have more success building lasting connections if you start by focusing on the other person's needs. Don't treat the conversation as tit-for-tat. Instead, give them the stage. Explore what they are looking for. If you stick to this approach, your needs will be met in time.
6. Ask open-ended questions. Be interested in what they are telling you. Ask for more details. Use head nods and verbal confirmations to show that you are listening. Reflect back what you hear by repeating what they said as a question. For example, if the person you meet is telling you that they are trying to find their first client, respond with, "You are trying to find your first client?"
7. Share a little about yourself to encourage them to do the same. If the person seems shy or reluctant to talk, start by sharing a little bit about yourself. This may make it easier for them to engage with you.

source:www.inc.com

ABOUT WNFP
Westchester Networking for Professionals (WNFP) is an organization consisting of professionals and entrepreneurs which focuses on the success of our Members. We help our Members establish lasting relationships and generate new business opportunities towards the growth of their business.
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How to Master Mobile Advertising

Mobile advertising is exploding. To put it into perspective, there are 7.2 billion people on the planet, yet there are 7.5 billion mobile connections. There are more connections than people and a huge proportion have the capacity to find you online.

At no point in human history have businesses had access to such a vast audience. This article is going to show you how you can go about mastering mobile advertising.

Use In-Ad Engagement

Every additional click in mobile advertising will cut your potential audience by half. Your ad should be interactive, rather than asking for a simple click. Interact with your customers along the way in order to hold them.

You'll see your click-through rates practically double if you can get this right.

Know Your Audience First

A common mistake is beginning your mobile advertising before you know who your audience is. Mobile users are everyone. They are just as diverse as a desktop audience. Yet there are advertisers who will happily spend their time marketing to a generalized audience that they randomly pulled out of thin air.

Spend some time researching your preferred audience. Find out their likes and their dislikes. Browse as someone searching for your product. Take a look at things from the other side of the glass. Nextiva suggests installing 3^rd party tools like Google Analytics to get concrete data on who your mobile users are .

Get the Timing Right

Creating and maintaining a mobile advertising campaign that works is about encouraging users to act as soon as possible. Mobile marketing is all about getting the quickest way to the results. You need to time your campaign to encourage users to act as soon as possible.

There are many incentives you can use to get users to do what you want fast. For example, you may decide to offer a free download of something entertaining. You may even decide to provide some sort of discount coupon.

It's about giving users a reason to care about you over someone else.

Location is Everything

Your location is everything. Effective ad placement does differ depending on your company and who you are marketing to. For example, many advertisers on Facebook discovered on desktops that placing ads in the sidebar no longer worked. But they only knew this through good testing and lots of research.

A Strong Call to Action

So you have an ad, but what do you want people to do when they see that ad?

To you, it may seem obvious, but to everyone else it's often a matter of confusion. It doesn't have to be a long pitch about how you want customers to change their lives for the better. Just tell them what to do. Do you want them to click something? Do you want them to give you their emails? Or do you want them to do something else entirely?

Why You Need to Add a Phone Number

The reality is most mobile users are searching for businesses in their local area. It's why Google has started to concentrate so much on local and hyperlocal SEO. Over half of all searches fall into these two categories. It's why companies that want to master mobile advertising need to have a presence with information like opening hours and contact details.

Take note that this strategy won't work for every company. There are some businesses that have had lots of success using Google Ads on mobile. Users just need to tap the number and the call is placed instantly.

But you do need to test this to see if it will work effectively for you.

Take Advantage of Geotargeting

Geotargeting advertisements always make mobile advertising campaigns more successful. You have a limited number of impressions before your daily ad budget is spent. By reducing your number of wasted impressions through better targeting, you are reducing the amount of expenditure, while reducing the cost per lead/cost per subscriber.

There's no doubt that geotargeting will become a part of every mobile advertising campaign going forward. Businesses have to make sure that they are hitting only the people who are likely to have an interest in them.

Test, Test, Test

Mobile advertising may have changed the way businesses promote their products and services. What hasn't changed is the need to test various strategies. What works for one company won't necessarily work for another.

It may require a significant investment in the beginning, but in the long-term you are bound to get all that money back. Consider mobile advertising an investment in your long-term future.

How will you begin mastering mobile advertising today? We'd love to hear your thoughts, share your comments below.

source:www.inc.com
IMAGE: Getty Images

ABOUT WNFP
Westchester Networking for Professionals (WNFP) is an organization consisting of professionals and entrepreneurs which focuses on the success of our Members. We help our Members establish lasting relationships and generate new business opportunities towards the growth of their business.
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The Key to Success? Relationships.

Image credit: stvp.stanford.edu

If you ask 10 entrepreneurs to tell you the key to business success, you're likely to get 10 different answers. I'm sure one would say product innovation, and while that's definitely a significant factor, it's not the right answer. And, yes, there is a right answer.  

The key to business success is winning and keeping customers. And the key to winning and keeping customers is, and has always been, relationships. The world's greatest business experts - Peter Drucker, Mark McCormack, Regis McKenna and others - have all said the same thing in one way or another.

Unfortunately, you, my friends, have all been sold a bill of goods. You've been told that spending your time building your personal brand, growing your social media network, improving your productivity, identifying and enhancing your strengths, and engaging your employees, among other things, will make you successful. They won't.

No matter what you do for a living or aspire to become, none of those fads du jour will have a material impact on how things turn out for you or your business. But building real relationships with real people in the real world will. Not convinced? Here's why relationships are the key to business success:

Your most important asset is your network - not your virtual network, your real one. Every successful executive and entrepreneur will tell you, their most important asset is their network, and they don't mean social network. They mean people they actually know and work with in real time because they're the ones that actually get things done. One real relationship in the real world is worth more than 10,000 social media links, likes or followers.

Sales transactions are between two real human beings. Even with ecommerce, most sales transactions are still between two human beings. Think about it. Every significant B2C and B2B transaction involves a buyer and a seller, not to mention all the channel development and pre- and post-sales support. And the best product doesn't necessarily win. Buyer behavior is mostly subjective and relationships are a big factor. In a service business, they're the biggest factor, hands down.

When opportunity knocks, it's always a person knocking ... and answering. As much as we like to fantasize about opportunities just falling in our laps, the truth is, that never happens. Of the thousands of career and business opportunities I've been involved with over the past 30 years, every single one involved a real relationship. Every job, every piece of advice, every business deal, every vendor relationship - there's that word - every single one.  

So what does all this mean? It means there's a good chance you're wasting precious time, even years of peak earning potential, focusing on the wrong things to build your career and grow your business. I learned that lesson the hard way.

Ten years into my engineering management career, I thought I had everything going for me. I was young, I was smart, and I worked hard, but it was all about the job, the product. And you know what? I wasn't really going anywhere. Until one day, some guy changed my life by talking me into making the transition to sales and marketing.

It took a while to learn the skills that would ultimately make me a senior executive in the high-tech industry and then, a successful management consultant, but I can attribute everything good that happened to me over the next 20 years to that fateful day and the relationships I've built since.

Which reminds me of a time, long ago. I was working at home and had just gotten off the phone and looked up to find my wife standing in the doorway. She looked at me in a sort of circumspect way and said, "Aren't you supposed to be working?"

"I am working," I replied.

"No you're not," she said, "You're just BS-ing."

I said, "That's right. That's my job."


Back then, she didn't get it, but now she does. It's just like watching grass grow. You can't see anything happening but one day you wake up to a beautiful lawn. Building relationships and a successful business career is just like that. Call it a leap of faith or delayed gratification if you want. All I know is, it works.

Source: http://www.entrepreneur.com/

ABOUT WNFP
Westchester Networking for Professionals (WNFP) is an organization consisting of professionals and entrepreneurs which focuses on the success of our Members. We help our Members establish lasting relationships and generate new business opportunities towards the growth of their business.
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Master Your 'Mingle-Ability': 5 Creative Ways to Network

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An extensive network is vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Thanks to social media, the process of meeting potential clients and customers has evolved over the years. Often people believe networking is a law of large numbers -- if you put yourself in a lot of places you increase your chances of building your business and your reputation. But this time sucker isn't your only option. There are less traditional, yet more effective ways, to stand out from the crowd. Here are five creative twists on networking:

1. Create your network from scratch. Want to look like the person who knows everyone? Center your network around you. Start a new Meetup group. Organize a mastermind session. Host a dinner party. The opportunities are endless.

These techniques can be especially effective for entrepreneurs who may find traditional networking daunting. When you host your own networking event, it's a way to put yourself on the map with people. It's not about selling, but rather initiating and facilitating an event that adds value for everyone involved.

2. Volunteer. Go from being an outsider to being an insider by volunteering to help whenever possible. Many local charities are often small and rely heavily on community involvement. Ask to serve on the board of your favorite charity or association. It's a great opportunity to meet other professionals who are passionate about the same cause.

Make it a goal to approach networking with the intent to serve, not to sell.

3. Talk to strangers. It's natural to gravitate towards people we like, know and trust. But try to introduce yourself and sit with strangers at your next event.

If you find out someone is new to your city, ask how you can be of service. If the person needs a referral to a reputable mechanic or doctor, offer your advice. Become a resource to others, and you'll most likely be the first person they call when an opportunity presents itself.

4. Search out potential collaborations. The best networking is done between entrepreneurs in different but related fields. If your network is made up entirely of people just like you, you may be missing business opportunities. As an entrepreneur, you have countless chances to creatively collaborate with people from other industries.

Think about your customers. Is there a spinoff product or service you could provide by teaming up with another person who has a legion of contacts? Collaborations are a great way to showcase your expertise, meet new connections and turn a profit.

Love them or hate them, events are still the most common way to network. If you're going to a conference, check Twitter for others who mention they will be attending. Send them a quick message. Share your name, your company and your contact information. Invite them to meet up for coffee or bite to eat. You'll have made several connections before you even show up to the event.

Finally, don't forget to follow up. The more points of contact you have with someone, the more likely they'll remember you. There is nothing that leaves a more positive lasting impression than a handwritten thank-you note.

Source: http://www.entrepreneur.com/

ABOUT WNFP
Westchester Networking for Professionals (WNFP) is an organization consisting of professionals and entrepreneurs which focuses on the success of our Members. We help our Members establish lasting relationships and generate new business opportunities towards the growth of their business.
Stay Connected with WNFP!

5 Online Faux Pas That Will Doom Your Networking Potential

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Back in the old days, when the primary form of networking was face to face, there were simple, universal standards that people used to judge you. Now, in the age of online networking, there is another set of rules, and not being aware of them can close you off from valuable opportunities.

For in-person networking, the rules are pretty much common sense. If you smell funky, dress sloppy, have bad breath or are unfriendly, you won't do very well at a networking event. Fortunately, there is a ton of information, from books to full courses, on how to be a good networker, so there really is no excuse for making mistakes that can turn you into a social pariah.

On the other hand, there aren't a lot of people talking about some online personal standards that are just as important, but perhaps not as obvious. It would be nice to think that people don't "judge a book by its cover," but that's just naive. Whether you're trying to connect with potential investors or looking for strategic partners, you have to know you're being judged at every turn.

And just as a slovenly personal appearance would cause someone to take you less seriously in person, there are reasons people will be less likely to make a meaningful business connection with you online. Here are five of them:

An amateur email address. I'm not trying to pick on anyone here, but if you still use an AOL email, you'd better work for them. Otherwise, it just isn't seen as professional. Frankly, it's the email equivalent of a polyester leisure suit.

Also, while Gmail is considered legit these days, just about any other free email service is not suitable for business. If you're using Hotmail or Yahoo! for business correspondence, it's time to make a switch. If you have a website (you do, don't you?), it's easy to set up an email address with that domain, and doing so will bring a much needed level of credibility to your business.

A ridiculous email signature. There are all kinds of powerful tools to create professional email signatures, and like anything powerful, they can be used for good or evil. It's a great idea to list your name, title and contact information in your email signature. Your company logo, if used properly, can be okay too. What is not a good idea is to use all bold, 16 point, blue type, a sales pitch, a giant logo and an emoticon reflecting your current mood (I've seen it!) in your signature. I'm not saying you have to be stuffy, but if you want to make a good impression, keep it professional.

A lame website. So, you've cleaned up your email, and it's coming from a real company domain. Good! You can bet anyone you're hoping to do business with is now going to click through to your website, and what they see is a reflection of you. The good news is that this piece really isn't as difficult as many think. With WordPress and thousands of quality templates available at low or no cost, there really is no reason anyone should have a crappy website. And many people will be reluctant to connect with someone who doesn't get that.

A less-than-complimentary online reputation. It has always been the case that a potential collaborator could ask around about you to get a feeling for your business style and reputation. Now people Google you, and they can get a lot more info. If you reach out to someone through LinkedIn, email or a contact form, you need to know that they're looking you up. And if what they find doesn't give them the right impression, you're not likely to make the connection you want.

Start by searching for your name and digging through the results. Then consider using something such as BrandYourself.com to help make sure your positive results are at the top and any negative results get buried. If you have some really bad stuff out there, it's worth hiring a reputation management firm to clean it up. It takes time, and it isn't cheap, but it can be worth it.

An unimpressive social media presence. During their online search for you, potential connections are bound to come across your social media pages as some of the top results in a name search -- if you have them. The more positive results you have pointing to your name, the better. So, first of all, be sure you do have a social media presence.

LinkedIn is the king of business-focused social media, but a complete (and active) profile on Facebook and LinkedIn is a minimum. (The nice thing about Facebook is that you can choose what people see and what is hidden. So if you don't want a business connection seeing those Christmas party pics from last year, you can easily hide them.) Using Twitter and Google Plus can help solidify your social media presence and show people that you understand the importance of social networking.


Any single one of these online persona faux pas (other than a bad reputation), might not be enough to turn someone off completely. But to maximize the impression you make when networking online, make sure they're all in check. If people still don't like you, well, that's a topic for another day.

Source: http://www.entrepreneur.com/

ABOUT WNFP
Westchester Networking for Professionals (WNFP) is an organization consisting of professionals and entrepreneurs which focuses on the success of our Members. We help our Members establish lasting relationships and generate new business opportunities towards the growth of their business.
Stay Connected with WNFP!

5 Rookie Networking Fails and How to Avoid Them

When you're trying to meet people in person, here are things you shouldn't do.

When you have the opportunity to network, do you handle it well, or is it a big, fat fail?

While online networking has dominated in many ways over the past 10-plus years, in-person networking -- conferences, conventions, workshops, trade shows, etc. -- is still a great way to meet and mingle with peers, potential partners and mentors. If you’re new to the networking scene and want to stay at the top of your game, avoid these five mistakes that will make others cringe.

Being overly aggressive. If you walk into an event with the mannerisms of a used car salesman, you will immediately turn off everyone around you. Yes, you want to end up known at the end of the day, but not for being arrogant and annoying.

To avoid this image, ask questions about what other people do rather than making statements about your own business. Take the time to listen to the answers instead of waiting for your turn to talk. With this approach, you will be perceived as interesting and worth talking to by others. And don’t worry, they’ll get around to asking about you soon enough.

Focusing only on the big cheeses. Of course, there are people that everyone in the room wants to talk to -- the speaker at an event, the investor with deep pockets, the extremely successful entrepreneur. But there are likely others worth talking with as well, so don’t follow the herd and rush to the big names in the room.

Instead, circulate and discover people who are interesting, have useful information and are fun. Eventually you will probably get a chance to talk with a big cheese or two, and you never know, that quiet guy in the corner may be a hidden gem.

Trying too hard to impress. Do you feel like small potatoes in the crowd? Many people overcompensate by presenting themselves as more important than they really are. It’s tempting to boost your resume and brag on potential future successes, but chances are people will find out the truth eventually, making you look like an untrustworthy and foolish person.

This may cost you the chance to gain mentors or other benefits. Bottom line: be yourself. You’ll gain more respect and make more real connections.

Staying quiet. It can be overwhelming to be surrounded by other entrepreneurs, some of whom are perhaps farther along than you are. Don’t let that fact keep you from stepping up and talking to people.

If you’ve never attended an event like this before, start slowly. Walk up to someone who’s also standing alone, and make an innocuous comment such as, “quite a crowd here tonight,” or “is this your first time here?” It doesn’t matter what you say. The goal is to start a conversation.

Within a few seconds you’ll know whether the person you approached is interested in talking or not. If not, say some casual wrapup remark and move on. Chances are that there are others in the room who don’t know how to network, and who would appreciate your approach.

A word of caution though: while I mentioned not only going after the big names in the room, it’s also a big mistake to only stick with the wallflowers. You need to muster the courage to get in on other conversations, or you won’t maximize the benefits of networking.

Not being prepared. So far, we haven’t discussed the actual purpose of networking, which is ultimately about helping your business grow. Eventually, someone will ask you what you do or what your business is about. This is your chance to shine. Practice your elevator pitch, have business cards at the ready and be prepared to answer any questions that might come up.

You can show your enthusiasm and go into more detail if the response from your conversation partner is positive. Be sure to reciprocate and ask about their business. The best kind of networking is a true exchange by two or more people who can benefit from sharing information, ideas and resources.

As you engage in more networking activities, your comfort will build and the appropriate behavior will become natural and easy. Then you can gain the best benefit of networking opportunities: the chance to talk to other people who are smart, interesting and excited about the companies they are creating.

Source: http://www.entrepreneur.com/

ABOUT WNFP
Westchester Networking for Professionals (WNFP) is an organization consisting of professionals and entrepreneurs which focuses on the success of our Members. We help our Members establish lasting relationships and generate new business opportunities towards the growth of their business.
Stay Connected with WNFP!