everydaynetworker.com

Good Fences Make Good Networkers

Jennifer Gniadecki — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:14:47 +0000

We’ve all heard the phrase before. Good fences make good neighbors. Boundaries are important to keeping good friendships and other relationships.

This is even more important when you have friends that own businesses. If you are always out there as a potential client or customer for someone, you have to be able to clearly state if you are interested or not interested in that business at this time. If you may be interested in the future, tell them. Be honest - because you don’t want that person to follow up with you and not know what to do.

If you are going to be interested next year, or when your business is doing better, or never - tell them. If you say you aren’t going to become a customer and they never talk to you again…they weren’t really a friend in the first place, were they?

You don’t want people being nice to you because you might give them money. Friendships are real, and they are different from business acquaintances, and you have to keep them apart in your mind. For your own well being.

Image Source: LeoSynapse

Share This

Trick or Treat - Halloween Networking?

Jennifer Gniadecki — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:08:04 +0000

If you celebrate Halloween, you’re going to be wandering the town with your kids letting them run to doors and get some candy. Or you might be taking your kids to a town party where they have a safe, indoor Halloween environment for the kids to enjoy candy and games and music.

Either way, if you’re around other kids…you’re around other parents. That means you can network. The best part is on Halloween you don’t have to worry about small talk. Halloween costumes make for phenominal small talk. You can start by complimenting their kids’ costumes. Compliments go a long way to break the ice and this is an easy time to make that happen.

Take your kids, take a pillowcase for collected candy, but don’t forget to put business cards on your Halloween list of things to take out of the house!

Image Source: scol22

Share This

New Season - New Plan

Jennifer Gniadecki — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:04:28 +0000

We talked about how to network in summertime, when less people are networking. Now we’re into the Fall season and by golly, people are ready to drop kids off at school and get down to business.

How can you benefit?

Make a new plan for networking. Write down all the events that are going on during the month (start with your local Chamber of Commerce website) and then pick at least one event a week to attend.

Image Source: 13dede

Share This

Networking by Candlelight

Jennifer Gniadecki — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:56:56 +0000

If you’re looking to meet friends of your networking friends or expand your network, host a party!

It could be a simple BBQ in the backyard or you could ask one (or a few) of your networking buddies that do direct sales (like Partylite, etc.) to come by and you could have “Networking by Candlelight” - supporting a local business while having great ambience for a party.

Image Source: korionov

Share This

Customized T-Shirts for Networking?

Jennifer Gniadecki — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:54:45 +0000

People love customized t-shirts. They love wearing them and love reading them on others.

But is a t-shirt a good way to help your networking efforts?

It depends.

If you have a fun t-shirt that says something fun and interesting, yes. If you just have a t-shirt with a business name and list of services…not so much.

Testimonials could be fun, but anything beyond your logo and company name will not be as professional, so make sure it’s worth the trade off.

Share This

Video Networking Tips: Good and Not so Good

Jennifer Gniadecki — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:56:38 +0000

My favorite tip happens at 1:50 on the video.

In case you missed it, that key piece of advice was to call speakers in advance and schedule a lunch. It’s a bold move but not a bad one. If you are remotely comfortable with the phone, pick it up and get to know someone.

On the other hand, she says to bring only five business cards. Uh…yeah…don’t do that.

Share This

Mix Up Your Contact Points

Jennifer Gniadecki — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:52:26 +0000

When you’re networking in-person, follow ups need to be gentile and varied to make sure you aren’t seen as a stalker or the “creepy person that won’t stop calling.”

If you’ve tried calling someone a few times and aren’t getting a response, wait a week and follow up via e-mail or a short, personalized note or postcard.

Don’t keep trying the same thing when it isn’t working.

Share This

Use your Friends Wisely

Jennifer Gniadecki — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 16:49:39 +0000

Friends tend to think that they can ask for all the free advice in the world because, you know, you’re friends.

Unfortunately there are limits to any relationship and you don’t want to be in a position where you are testing the limits of your friendship with someone else.

Keep the lines of communication open and ask your friend how they feel about what you are asking. Even by asking you are reducing the risk for misunderstanding, because it shows you care.

Share This

Economy Redux

Jennifer Gniadecki — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:48:07 +0000

It’s really ironic that the reason Lehman is in so much trouble is because they wouldn’t talk to anyone.

Merrill Lynch was purchased by Bank of America, because they were open and BoA knew what they were buying.

WaMU was purchased by JP Morgan Chase for the same reason.

No one will buy Lehman because they are standing with arms crossed and mouth closed, not sharing what percentage of loans they have are good and bad.

Bad communication makes for bad networking makes for no one wanting to help you out when you really need it.

Share This

Be Open and Honest

Jennifer Gniadecki — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:06:06 +0000

People want to get along. It’s human nature.

But pretending to be doing better than you really are, or worse than you really are, in order to sympathize or “fit in” with the rest of the group isn’t going to get you anywhere.

There are ways to say you’re looking for clients, and there are ways to say you are doing great without getting on anyone’s bad side.

Just keep the conversation you’re having on track and don’t derail by overreacting.

Share This