I hope you find my writing and business tips and observations useful. My business and blog are dedicated to helping businesses communicate clearly and reach their potential.
Read, and enjoy!Tash
Bring wine when networking
Would you really take wine to every networking event? Probably not so let me explain…
Chris Brogan wrote a story in his blog about social media and not being ‘that guy’. In short, the story is that if you’re going on a picnic with friends take a bottle of wine rather than just coming along and eating everyone else’s food. Sounds obvious in that context doesn’t it?
The same principle applies in networking (Chris was specifically referring to social media but I am putting it together with all networking). People will respond better if you give something of value rather than if you just try taking.
So if someone at an event or on a forum says “I’m having trouble writing some promotional articles“, I could answer with “What questions do people often ask about your industry? Answering those questions is a good place to start your articles. Here are some tips in my blog.”
Or I could be that guy and answer with “I write articles – you should pay me. Did you know I could also write your website and I …”
Effective networking is about building relationships rather than selling yourself.
Here are some networking tips off the top of my head:
- hand out business cards to selected people rather than everyone in reach
- remember things about people you network with – jotting down some notes soon after helps – to show you are interested
- be generous and show an abundant mentality – tell others about great promotional opportunities, give your opinion and expertise, link to other blogs/websites whether or not they link back, and so on
- smile! It’s much more inviting than a scowl, and it can even change your voice if you are on the phone
- introduce people to each other. For example, a friend mentions needing a plumber and you met one last week at a networking event – give your friend those contact details. It also means introducing people looking alone at an event too
- use people’s names – it means a lot to them and using it soon after hearing it helps you to remember it, too
- don’t be afraid to ask for help (not for business mind you) as it shows you are human and you give people a chance to help. Maybe you ask for referrals to a service, opinions on a decision you need to make or for understanding a technical issue. Pretending to know everything and be perfect is likely to alienate people than attract them
What other tips do you have for effective networking?
Coddling the right clients
If you’ve been in business a while, the chances are you’ve had at least one annoying, energy-sapping client. So, like me you will probably appreciate the following comments from Seth Godin:
The challenge of winning more than your fair share of the market is that the best available strategy–providing remarkable service and an honest human connection–will be abused by a few people you work with.
You have three choices: put up with the whiners, write off everyone, or, deliberately exclude the ungrateful curs.
Firing the customers you can’t possibly please gives you the bandwidth and resources to coddle the ones that truly deserve your attention and repay you with referrals, applause and loyalty.
Next time you are having trouble with the idea of sacking a client, or refusing to take on a particular client, remember that doing so gives you more energy to do a great job for those clients who will truly appreciate it.
On the positive side, the time consuming clients I have had in the past have helped me better value my time and espertise, and taught me what to look for in people I want to work with.
Who would you prefer to coddle?
What are people searching for?
Look at your web stats and some of the keyword tools available and find out what terms people are really using to find your website.
Are they the words you expected? More importantly, are they the words you are using in the content of your site?
For example, you have an article on your site about Crimson Rosellas but discover most customers search for information on red parrots (because they don’t know the name of the bird). It isn’t hard to add red and parrots to your list of keywords in the site meta data and adjust the article itself to include ‘red parrots’ at least once.
Having relevant keywords is good; having relevant keywords that your potential customers actually use is much better.
Have you played with keywords and seen positive results in website traffic? Share your story 🙂
Singular indefinite pronouns
Although it sounds simple, plural and singular words are not always placed with the appropriate version of a verb. While many people understand what to do for she, we and they, it gets harder for indefinite pronouns (those which refer to something not specific).
The following indefinite pronouns are always singular, even though they might, by implication, suggest many people:
another, anybody, anyone, each, either, every, everybody, everyone,
neither, nobody, no one, one, somebody, someone
Anything is possible in your dreams.
Everybody comes in the front door.
There are a few indefinite pronouns that may be singular or plural, depending on their use. They are:
any, all, none, more, most, some
All of us are running late. All is not lost.
None is more important than honesty. None of those books are mine.
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