NETWORKING

SMILE! A positive attitude is infectious...FIRST AND FOREMOST!!

1) Wear your name tag on the RIGHT side to provide easy viewing when shaking hands.

2) Stand with open arms instead of arms crossed, you want to look inviting and approachable!

3) Be sure to introduce yourself!

• Say your name clearly: "Hello my name is Jane Smith. It's a pleasure to meet you."
• Shake hands.
• Use an elevator speech: Describe who you are or what you do in 10 seconds or less.
• Be clear about who you help and what problems you solve so people can remember you and refer you business.
• Include what might be a good referral for your business.
• Offer a business card, and ask the other person for his or hers.
• Be sure to ask about the other person's business. Be a better listener than a talker... listen for a reason to follow up.
• Follow up with the people that you meet.

4) Make notes on the back of the person's business card of important information that you might want to remember later.

5) Follow up with a thank you note, email or phone call. 90% of all business cards exchanged at events don't get followed up on, so by following up you will automatically be in the top 10!

6) Don't sit down until the actual meeting starts. Some of the best contacts are made BEFORE and AFTER the actual meeting!

7) Don't stay too long in one place. After 5 - 6 minutes, excuse yourself with a pleasantry such as, "It was nice meeting you..." continue networking to meet new people & form new contacts.

8) Approach groups where you don't know anybody.

9) IF YOU ARE AT AN EVENT - SERVING A MEAL: Select a dinner table where you do not know most of the people.

10) If you feel stressed, take a break & enjoy the moment! Networking is best when you feel relaxed!

Remember, you are here to build relationships, not make sales pitches.

Enjoy the process & HAVE FUN!!!

National Association Women Business Owners - Silicon Valley Chapter NAWBO
http://www.nawbo-sv.org/memb_get_active_networking.html


posted for:

LESLIE BUTLAR
Marketing SIG Public Relations Director
lmbutlar@comcast.net
www.linkedin.com/in/lesliebutlar

VIP Networking Tips = Play The Contribution Game

Step One. Connect deeply with everyone you meet.

Step Two. Find out about people
a. Be interested
b. Seek to understand them
c. Find out WHO they are
d. Discover thier Goals and Dreams

Step Three. Contribute to People. As you discover what they are up to, think about these questions.
1. How may I serve?
2. How can I help this person?
3. How can I contribute?
4. How can I support?

By following these steps in your Social Media Network, You will build a "strong personal brand".

Best Regards,

By LESLIE BUTLAR
Marketing SIG Public Relations Director
lmbutlar@comcast.net
www.linkedin.com/in/lesliebutlar

Job Resources II

I attended the SDForum Volunteers Meeting last night (my first one).

I want to thank Nixon Peabody LLP for hosting the meeting. The food was at least 10 steps up from the pizza at the SIG meeting - not that I don't like pizza, but its nice to take a break.

One discussion topic was how SDForum can help people who are looking for work in these difficult times. A few things that I learned (or knew but hadn't thought about recently).

The SDForum web site actually lists jobs available. There aren't a lot there (but you only need one)

at http://sdforum.org/, -->resources-->classifieds

You kind of need to know where to look, but if you know of a job that would fit the profile of forum members you might list it here. I would vote for this to appear in a much more prominent place on the web site.

ALSO - did you know the SDForum has a Linkedin group?? Currently there are 1,235 members. I believe that you must be a paid member to join the group.

Groups on Linkedin are a great way to find out about people you are otherwise not linked to, and to communicate with them. If you are a paid member and aren't in the group, you can request membership from the web site.

We discussed how the forum can help members get work. I'm not sure we resolved anything specific, but the need came through loud and clear.

If you have an idea of what SDForum could do to help you, either email me (and I will post it here) or the forum management info@sdforum.org


Mark Helfen

Job resources I

At our meeting Monday, 12 Rules for Marketing Yourself, was packed. I would guess 75 to 100 people, maybe more - we had to move chairs in from another room.

Thanks to:

Sue Connelly,
President
Connelly Communications, Inc.
Founder of the KIT List

and

Gretchen Sand,
Senior Partner and Co-founder
Skyline Recruiting Corporation

For an excellent and informative talk.

The presentation slides (50 pages worth!) is slowly making its way to the SDForum web site. If you just can't wait, drop me a line and I will be happy to send out a pdf.

I plan to write a somewhat longer article on the meeting highlights in the next few days. But here are the 12 Rules:

1. Pay Attention to First Impressions
2. Focus on the Details
3. Make Your Interview Special
4. Choose your Attitude
5. Practice, Practice, Practice
6. K.I.S.S.
7. Dinosaurs CAN Fly
8. You Don't Have to Do It Alone
9. Button it Up
10. Dump Networking - its about Relationships
11. Have a Smart Job Search Strategy
12 Just Do One (Little) Thing More


Not much detail here - I will write more when I get a chance. But the slides are pretty complete, with lots to read and lots of detail.


Mark Helfen

Need a job/have a job???

Need a job? Please post a short bio in response to this post (ie: 1-2 paragraphs) and a url where people can see more information. Maybe your Linkedin page, or your web site.

Have a job? Please post a short description in response to this post and a url for more information.

Marketing Yourself in a Tough Market

Meeting preview
By: Mark Helfen

Our meeting next Monday (2/9) is on the topic:

Marketing Yourself in a Tough Market

Speakers are

Sue Connelly
President
Connelly Communications, Inc.
Founder of the KIT List

and

Gretchen Sand
Senior Partner and Co-founder
Skyline Recruiting Corporation

You can read the full details of their backgrounds, along with the meeting announcement here:
( http://www.sdforum.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Calendar.eventDetail&eventID=13306 )

I spoke to Sue Connelly briefly and asked her what people would learn by attending.

"We both want to share our life experiences" in the job market, said Connelly. She had tips and techniques to share, not only for a normal economy, but also for these "historic times."

The objective is not only find work, but to find a job you really enjoy, for which you are fairly compensated.

She said that the real issue is "people helping each other." While there are tools to aid this, the "person to person personal touch" is what is key.

People will leave the meeting with some practical steps.

"There are some commonsense things that people actually don't do. And some common mistakes that cause you to shoot yourself in the foot," she said.

If you aren't getting called back, aren't getting follow-ups and return phone calls, her advice can help you analyze why.

Connelly promises that you will leave the meeting with some practical steps that you can take the next day.

-- -- --
I saw an advance preview of part of the presentation, which included a bullet point "Dinosaurs CAN fly." This I got to see.....

mh



---
Mark Helfen is a Marketing Consultant and Freelance Writer. He can be reached at mhelfen@wordpixel.com