Posted By Amanda Collins on July 9, 2010

Did you happen to read Liz Ryan’s article this week in The Huffington Post, “That’s Definitely Not Networking”? She shared some wonderful comments on what activities should not be construed as networking; unfortunately, some people still count them as part of their business-building efforts. Some examples include connecting with colleagues on Facebook or sending a monthly e-newsletter to your database. That’s not to say those ideas are bad ones, of course; it’s more a matter of definition.

Whether you’re a very extroverted entrepreneur who is energized by going out to events, or a more reserved personality who dreads those business lunches, here are some great ways that you can enhance and maximize your networking efforts.

1. Have a plan
Just going to events willy nilly isn’t a plan. How many will you attend each week? Will you always do one type of event (breakfast, seminar, mixer), or will you pick a variety? How many people do you want to meet? What kinds of people? Having a strategy will give you a way to measure if you’re meeting your goals and help you stay more focused while you’re out and about.

2. Follow up
I’ve been as guilty as the next person in this category, putting the business cards I’ve received in a pile and then forgetting about them for a week – or more. By then, I’ve typically forgotten anything about the people I met that long ago. Strive to follow up within 48 hours, either by phone or email. If you want to really stand out, you can mail a card. Your method isn’t quite as important as the fact that you’re reaching out beyond the event. Remember that your goal is to cultivate and build relationships.

3. Go back
I’ve heard a few people say, “Yeah, I went to that event before, but I didn’t make any connections.” The likelihood that you’ll score a client or referral partner after attending anything once is pretty low. You need to continue making an appearance, connecting with people, and being consistent. Be patient. It may take a number of weeks or months to create relationships and generate sales.

Networking is a vital component of being a successful entrepreneur, and you can make it work for you if you take the time to make a plan, follow up, and stay connected. Then you may find that you’re not only enjoying networking but effectively building your client base.

Category: Business Development, networking | 2 Comments »
Tags: networking

Posted By Amanda Collins on July 2, 2010

Sometimes we forget that not everyone knows the same things we do – or maybe that’s just me. Recently, while sitting down for a one-on-one with a web designer, we were talking about the benefits of great content in boosting SEO. I was telling him about how he should be blogging on a regular basis to add more content to his site, and that he should follow up with notices on social media about his blogs.

“Can I just lift blogs from other people if I give them credit?”

It’s a good question—with an easy answer. Ideally, you should contact the writer and ask for permission. Short of that, giving full credit to the author on your blog, along with a link to the original post, is sufficient.

However, the question about cross-posting brought up another topic of SEO: commenting on others’ blogs. If you run a Google alert on certain keywords significant to your business (résumé, job search, etc.), you will learn of all kinds of blogs from colleagues. What a great way to make connections and drive traffic to your site by adding supportive, thought-provoking comments to those blogs!

Determine who the industry and thought leaders are in your profession. Follow them. Comment on what they have to say. Readers will link back to your site if you offer noteworthy comments that capture their attention and provide information. It’s a simple, effective trick to improve your SEO and continue to position yourself as an expert in your field.

Category: Business Development, seo | No Comments »
Tags: building relationships, Business Development