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Posts Tagged ‘social networking’

Dressing the Part for Networking Events

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

picture-1Everyone’s feeling a little spunky around this time of year. Those of you who are still in touch with their inner child are looking forward to Halloween and dressing up. Those who have children are busy buying and coordinating costumes. We all look forward to this day to put on our wildest and enjoy the anonymity. However, this isn’t the mentality you should use when dressing for a networking event.

Uncertainty of what to wear plagues even the most seasoned of networkers. You want to be comfortable, but you want to make the right impression. You don’t want to be overdressed or worse, under-dressed. Finding that happy medium can be difficult, but there are a few tricks that may turn your next event into a real treat!

The first clue you can use to dig into your closet is the location of the event. Ask yourself: What is the setting? Is it at a bar? A five-star hotel? An office? Each of these locations presents different wardrobe options. For example, if you’re going to the second floor of a bar for a happy hour networking event, the dress code is more casual and relaxed. That being said, never dress below business casual. Remember, you are looking to meet people to do business with in some capacity, you want to present yourself in a professional manner.

Depending on your dress code at work, office wear can sometimes become tiresome. Networking events are a great, and an important, place to market yourself within the company. Feel stifled by your everyday wear? Accessorizing for events is the simplest way to spice up your wardrobe and add your own unique flavor without looking like a clown.

Happy Halloween and Happy Dressing!

Link in to a whole new network!

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

linkedin4Linkedin is based on a simple philosophy, “Relationships matter.” In today’s competitive and tough economic landscape, it has become more important than ever to maintain and cultivate your relationships. Linkedin is considered to be the #1 social media platform for professional networking. Launched in 2003, Linkedin has grown into an online network that only a few days ago surpassed 50 million users from around the world representing 150 industries. The goal is to connect with former colleagues, potential business partners and/or old classmates to uncover business opportunities. Keep Linkedin’s philosophy in mind when you’re networking on Linkedin. Make sure to keep it professional and act as if every relationship is of great importance. This means that if you meet someone at a networking event make sure to follow up with this person and when sending out the request to connect, do not send out the standardized message. Make sure to include a short but personal note from your first meeting.

The most important on Linkedin is your profile. It needs to be perfect! In this case, perfect means completely filled out, flawless with no grammatical errors and preferably with additional Linkedin tools implemented. Think of your profile as your resume in depth. There are a number of tools and tricks that can be utilized to improve your profile so that it stands out and increases your business opportunities.

Enhance your search engine results by implementing strong key words. Both recruiters and individuals often use the search function. You will increase your chances of having your profile appearing if you make sure to spread out keywords on your page.

Update your status. By using Ping.fm or hellotxt.com your status can be pushed to all of your social networks at once. Just remember that Linkedin is not a place to write that you’re craving Jell-O. The status should reflect your work and provide the other users with the latest updates of what is going on within your company.

A great way to build your brand is to utilize the “Answer” function. Here is where you show your expertise by answering, but also by asking questions. By sharing knowledge within your network you’ll earn expert status and increased credibility.

Create and join groups. They are free to join and you’re allowed to join more than 50 groups. This is an easy way to explore and get access to a number of connections. By joining a group you can connect with the other group members, which might end up being your future business partner, customer or investor. Every group also has a discussion board where everything from tips and job postings to new opportunities and expert comments are displayed.

Ask for recommendations. There is nothing wrong in requesting a recommendation from previous colleagues, employer or clients, as long as you’re clear about your intentions. Remember that the more recommendations you write, the more people will recommend you.

This brings us back to one of the key points when utilizing any social media platform: you have to give in order to receive the benefits!

Facebook: Building your Brand Online

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Social networking is on everyone’s lips nowadays. No wonder. Not since the Internet took over people’s minds, money and time have we seen such a boom in the world of social and business networking. Social media is free and for everyone. What differs though is how people choose to utilize the social media platforms. Take Facebook for example. Some people like to take quizzes that tell them what animal they will be in their next life. Others choose a different approach: the approach that will increase their business, connections and career opportunities.

So what are the tricks for turning Facebook into a networking tool that will bring success to your company?

facebook1First of all, remember that social media works best when there is synergy. Simply put, social media comes best in pairs or more! Cyberspace is huge, but by utilizing multiple communication channels you will increase your chances of attracting people’s attention and interest.

When you set up a Facebook account, make sure to combine this with a blog and/or website. Wordpress offers a tool that will link your blog to Facebook. Every time you publish a new post your Facebook friends will be notified.

Keep your Facebook page professional, but still personal. Adding a personal touch will build trust and create a more personal relationship between you and your clients. There is nothing wrong in adding pictures of family and friends. This shows your clients that you’re more than just a company.

The Flickr2Facebook uploader is an easy tool that allows you to upload your photos and then easily connect them to Facebook.

Add applications selectively. The applications should be related to your field and if they don’t say something about your business or what your business (not you as a person) is looking to achieve, you probably do best in not adding that application.

Sendible is another useful tool for business owners that want to schedule their updates. You can schedule status, feeds, comments, emails and much more. It’s perfect when you want to connect with all your social network contacts, but you don’t have the time or access to a computer.

From a business perspective, keep in mind that there is no reward for having 500 friends on Facebook. You’d rather have 80 qualitative business connections versus 700 where none of them work in your sector or share the same interests.
facebook2
Edit your news feed preferences in a way that is beneficial to your business. You may not need to know every time your news feed gets updated, but if someone your looking to do business with posts something you would want to know so that you can respond. That brings us to the last and one of the fundamental things when it comes to Facebook and any other Social media. Be active! It’s all about sharing your thoughts and ideas. Respond if you see an interesting comment, relevant question or feed. Let people know what you think. Only then will you experience increased engagement and conversation about your company!

Twitter: Launching Your Small Business in the Social Networking World

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Posted by Sumontro Roy.

With the growing popularity of Twitter and major brands already interacting online, it’s important for Small Businesses to understand the value of “becoming social.”

How important is it to be socially active?twitter-network

Ah, but it is extremely important! Building strong relationships with your target market is more important than ever before. Having the chance to listen, stay in touch and connect with thousands of people instantly is the real value of this new channel of instant communication.

However, you must clearly outline how to launch your brand in this social world before you jump on the social media bandwagon. Here are some key things to remember and ask about your business before going “live”:

  • Treat your brand as a
    person, define your personality
  • Identify your values and beliefs (Brand Identity)
  • What does your brand say that is different from others? What conversations can you join and make a real contribution? (Differentiation)
  • How can you make your conversation relevant to your business? (Promotion Strategy)

Remember, that, as human beings we like people who know how to listen to us, those that show us how much they care - that ultimately wins our trust. Building relationships is about having a rational and emotional connection and this is what your business now has the chance to do: Socialize and build loyal, lasting relationships with your customers, without even picking up the phone!

Importantly, social media is an extremely cost-efficient media selection for small businesses. And, given that a lot of such small businesses need to make the best possible use of their limited funds, it becomes that much more important to select, develop and implement an effective social media strategy.

Check out these Twitter tools that can help you identify your target market, join conversations that you want to be part of and deliver content based on your business strategy and expected ROI:

http://www.smbceo.com/2009/03/25/top-27-twitter-applications/

Video Link: http://smallbiztrends.com/2008/10/how-why-twitter-small-businesses.html

Feel free to contact the Team at Perks for developing an effective and efficient social media strategy for your business - we look forward to hearing from you!

How to Choose the Right Networking Events

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

When considering what networking events to attend it is important to be strategic in order to garner the results you seek. First of all, you must identify what kind of people you are hoping to connect with. What are your goals? What do you want to get out of the event? What people are you trying to target?  By having a specific set of criteria, you can narrow down what networking events will be the most useful to attend.

3ccutec_nav-networking_eventsBy varying up your networking routine, for instance, attending a BNI breakfast meeting or an after work happy hour, you can expand your reach and come in contact with a variety of different prospects.

Networking events are successful when you target those businesses or individuals who are need the services you provide. With research, you can discover events with like-minded or industry specific companies that appeal to your business. Whether you are looking to break into a new field, expand already established brands, or get referrals or new clients, networking events are crucial for business growth and it is a venue that must be utilized.