And the $12,000, where did that come from? Let's say, on average, your time is valued at $50/hour. (If your hourly rate is more or less make the adjustment to your calculation.)

• You're a member of a local networking group such as BNI. You meet once a week for 90 minutes a meeting. You have approximately 30 minutes travel time to and from the meeting. 104 hours a year. $5,200 (not counting the annual membership dues)
• You meet with your networking partners throughout the year to get to know each other and your work better. You meet individually as well as in Referral Sphere groups and training venues. Let's assume you have these types of meetings/ gatherings 36 times a year, which is 3 times a month for 1 hour each time. $1,800
• You're a member of the Chamber of Commerce and you attend a few Chamber After Hours events as well as a few b
  Standing Out From The Crowd By Using Color In Your Packaging
  How does a small company or individual eBay seller who wants to get big one day do it? The answer is easy - they work hard to stand out from an already crowded field to have their product, service and name recognized before the others.This can be acheived several ways:First, is to simply have a better product than your competition does.Next, is to do it better and faster than the other guy.Yet another way to separate yourself from the crowd is to deliver your merchandise in a way that stands out and is remembered by the receiver.An example of this might be who's box of widgets is more likely to be remembered first at re-order time, the one that arrives in a plain brown box with clear tape or the one that arrives in a white box sealed with red, b
  What's your time worth? If you regularly spend time attending networking meetings and/or events, you're making a BIG investment. It may not be a large dollar investment, but think about the time you invest. Time, as they say, is money and there's no better way to waste that resource than following these 4 networking tips:
  1. Forget It's Business
  2. Don't Have an Objective
  3. Wing-It
  4. Go for the Numbers

  FORGET IT'S BUSINESS A networking event is not a party and getting there is only part of the battle. If you plant yourself in a chair or attach yourself to someone you already know well and you're talking about the weather and the great food on the buffet table because it is comfortable; that's not networking.

  It's not about the food and it's not about the cocktails so if your idea of a good Chamber After Hours is a free dinner and to knock back a few beers, you are probably not seeing a lot of networking success. You're here to make new contacts and develop other important contacts. It's not about making an appearance and it's not to party. BE FOCUSED.

  DON'T HAVE AN OBJECTIVE

  Why are you going to these events? (If it's for a free dinner and drinks, we've already addressed that in #1 above.) Who will be attending this event? What client or potential client would you like to meet or get to know better? Make it a point to think through the result you would like to walk away with.

  If it's to meet new prospects, do your homework. Learn about their business before hand. Spend some time thinking of people you know with whom this potential prospect or client may be able to do business with or who they might be interested in knowing. BE PREPARED.

  WING-IT

  First impressions matter. You'll need it to introduce yourself and answer the question "What do you do?" at networking events. If you're a member of BNI (Business Network International) you have to introduce yourself and answer the question "What do you do?" every week. And surprisingly even BNIers, who have to recite their 60-sec (elevator pitch, audio logo, etc.) every week, even many of them have a hard time giving a crisp, clear description of what they do and for whom they do it.

  Many people you meet at other networking events will be unfamiliar with you and what you do so it's important to practice your audio logo so when someone asks "What do you do?", you'll be able to tell them:

  1. Who your target audience is;
  2. The problem your target audience has (This is important.); and
  3. Your solution that solves this problem - the benefit your clients get from working with you.

  Not only will you be able to tell what you do, you'll sound natural doing it. Be confident, but not stilted or pushy. Remember, a networking event isn't a formal interview any more than it's a party. BE SUCCINCT. (And don't forget to smile!)

  GO FOR THE NUMBERS

  I talked about networking being more like farming than hunting in a previous article, Networking: It's a Tool, Not a Crutch. For your networking efforts to pay off most effectively, you should focus on getting to know people and their business and on them getting to know you; not on how many contacts you can check off the list. It shouldn't be a card gathering contest.

  Networking is about developing close relationships because people do business with people they like and they trust. It's not what you know that counts; and many times it's not even who you know. It's how well you know them. Focus on the quality of the connections you make rather than the quantity. Look at the person in the eye when you're speaking to them and when they are speaking to you. Don't be scanning the room looking for your next target. BE PATIENT.

  And the $12,000, where did that come from? Let's say, on average, your time is valued at $50/hour. (If your hourly rate is more or less make the adjustment to your calculation.)

  • You're a member of a local networking group such as BNI. You meet once a week for 90 minutes a meeting. You have approximately 30 minutes travel time to and from the meeting. 104 hours a year. $5,200 (not counting the annual membership dues)
  • You meet with your networking partners throughout the year to get to know each other and your work better. You meet individually as well as in Referral Sphere groups and training venues. Let's assume you have these types of meetings/ gatherings 36 times a year, which is 3 times a month for 1 hour each time. $1,800
  • You're a member of the Chamber of Commerce and you attend a few Chamber After Hours events as well as a few br
    How To Start An Internet Business From Home
    WORKING FROM HOME SUCCESSFULLY SOUNDS GREAT, BUT WHERE DO I START - AND HOW?Initially it is important to realize the pitfalls of working from home on the internet. Here are those that are the most common:SCAMS There are thousands of dishonest people on the internet who are eager to scam you out of your hard earned money without another thought. BEWARELACK OF MOTIVATION This is a common problem because most people are used to dealing with a boss who has expectations of what he wants of you. This of course and the fear of being fired is sufficient motivation for you. However working from home for yourself on the internet is a whole different kettle of fish. It is essential that you find your own motivation and choosing the right business for you is vit
    f networking success. You're here to make new contacts and develop other important contacts. It's not about making an appearance and it's not to party. BE FOCUSED.

    DON'T HAVE AN OBJECTIVE

    Why are you going to these events? (If it's for a free dinner and drinks, we've already addressed that in #1 above.) Who will be attending this event? What client or potential client would you like to meet or get to know better? Make it a point to think through the result you would like to walk away with.

    If it's to meet new prospects, do your homework. Learn about their business before hand. Spend some time thinking of people you know with whom this potential prospect or client may be able to do business with or who they might be interested in knowing. BE PREPARED.

    WING-IT

    First impressions matter. You'll need it to introduce yourself and answer the question "What do you do?" at networking events. If you're a member of BNI (Business Network International) you have to introduce yourself and answer the question "What do you do?" every week. And surprisingly even BNIers, who have to recite their 60-sec (elevator pitch, audio logo, etc.) every week, even many of them have a hard time giving a crisp, clear description of what they do and for whom they do it.

    Many people you meet at other networking events will be unfamiliar with you and what you do so it's important to practice your audio logo so when someone asks "What do you do?", you'll be able to tell them:

    1. Who your target audience is;
    2. The problem your target audience has (This is important.); and
    3. Your solution that solves this problem - the benefit your clients get from working with you.

    Not only will you be able to tell what you do, you'll sound natural doing it. Be confident, but not stilted or pushy. Remember, a networking event isn't a formal interview any more than it's a party. BE SUCCINCT. (And don't forget to smile!)

    GO FOR THE NUMBERS

    I talked about networking being more like farming than hunting in a previous article, Networking: It's a Tool, Not a Crutch. For your networking efforts to pay off most effectively, you should focus on getting to know people and their business and on them getting to know you; not on how many contacts you can check off the list. It shouldn't be a card gathering contest.

    Networking is about developing close relationships because people do business with people they like and they trust. It's not what you know that counts; and many times it's not even who you know. It's how well you know them. Focus on the quality of the connections you make rather than the quantity. Look at the person in the eye when you're speaking to them and when they are speaking to you. Don't be scanning the room looking for your next target. BE PATIENT.

    And the $12,000, where did that come from? Let's say, on average, your time is valued at $50/hour. (If your hourly rate is more or less make the adjustment to your calculation.)

    • You're a member of a local networking group such as BNI. You meet once a week for 90 minutes a meeting. You have approximately 30 minutes travel time to and from the meeting. 104 hours a year. $5,200 (not counting the annual membership dues)
    • You meet with your networking partners throughout the year to get to know each other and your work better. You meet individually as well as in Referral Sphere groups and training venues. Let's assume you have these types of meetings/ gatherings 36 times a year, which is 3 times a month for 1 hour each time. $1,800
    • You're a member of the Chamber of Commerce and you attend a few Chamber After Hours events as well as a few b
      What is Customer Relationship Management (CRM)?
      Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a phenomenon that is becoming a major discipline within business. CRM can be traced back to the airlines’ attempt to gather information about their customer flying habits in order to stop their high-fare airliners choosing low-fare carriers, however, the concept was invented even further back, when the shop owner knew all his customers by first name and they knew his name. In 1998 The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in conjunction with Andersen Consulting published the result of a CRM survey of different companies around the world. The survey revealed a new heightened focus on CRM as a discipline, where companies increased their customer focus and using a process approach to customer relationship management. This was a market shift fr
      the question "What do you do?" at networking events. If you're a member of BNI (Business Network International) you have to introduce yourself and answer the question "What do you do?" every week. And surprisingly even BNIers, who have to recite their 60-sec (elevator pitch, audio logo, etc.) every week, even many of them have a hard time giving a crisp, clear description of what they do and for whom they do it.

      Many people you meet at other networking events will be unfamiliar with you and what you do so it's important to practice your audio logo so when someone asks "What do you do?", you'll be able to tell them:

      1. Who your target audience is;
      2. The problem your target audience has (This is important.); and
      3. Your solution that solves this problem - the benefit your clients get from working with you.

      Not only will you be able to tell what you do, you'll sound natural doing it. Be confident, but not stilted or pushy. Remember, a networking event isn't a formal interview any more than it's a party. BE SUCCINCT. (And don't forget to smile!)

      GO FOR THE NUMBERS

      I talked about networking being more like farming than hunting in a previous article, Networking: It's a Tool, Not a Crutch. For your networking efforts to pay off most effectively, you should focus on getting to know people and their business and on them getting to know you; not on how many contacts you can check off the list. It shouldn't be a card gathering contest.

      Networking is about developing close relationships because people do business with people they like and they trust. It's not what you know that counts; and many times it's not even who you know. It's how well you know them. Focus on the quality of the connections you make rather than the quantity. Look at the person in the eye when you're speaking to them and when they are speaking to you. Don't be scanning the room looking for your next target. BE PATIENT.

      And the $12,000, where did that come from? Let's say, on average, your time is valued at $50/hour. (If your hourly rate is more or less make the adjustment to your calculation.)

      • You're a member of a local networking group such as BNI. You meet once a week for 90 minutes a meeting. You have approximately 30 minutes travel time to and from the meeting. 104 hours a year. $5,200 (not counting the annual membership dues)
      • You meet with your networking partners throughout the year to get to know each other and your work better. You meet individually as well as in Referral Sphere groups and training venues. Let's assume you have these types of meetings/ gatherings 36 times a year, which is 3 times a month for 1 hour each time. $1,800
      • You're a member of the Chamber of Commerce and you attend a few Chamber After Hours events as well as a few b
        Impressive Interviewing - How To Interview For A Job With Style and Confidence
        Interviewing with confidence is a bit like parachuting. Granted, not just like parachuting, but they are similar in the fact that both require confidence, practice and perfect timing or you could fall on your face. For those keen on giving a spectacular interview, here are a few helpful hints to tip the scales in your favor and see that you land safely in the seat of the job you want.When you prepare for an interview, don't just assume that picking out a power suit and sticking your CV in your bag is all there is to it. Those are two very important things to begin, but a few added efforts and doing some homework before hand can help more than you may have realized."Hello - worthy job applicant speaking." When an employer rings and asks you to come for an interv
        king event isn't a formal interview any more than it's a party. BE SUCCINCT. (And don't forget to smile!)

        GO FOR THE NUMBERS

        I talked about networking being more like farming than hunting in a previous article, Networking: It's a Tool, Not a Crutch. For your networking efforts to pay off most effectively, you should focus on getting to know people and their business and on them getting to know you; not on how many contacts you can check off the list. It shouldn't be a card gathering contest.

        Networking is about developing close relationships because people do business with people they like and they trust. It's not what you know that counts; and many times it's not even who you know. It's how well you know them. Focus on the quality of the connections you make rather than the quantity. Look at the person in the eye when you're speaking to them and when they are speaking to you. Don't be scanning the room looking for your next target. BE PATIENT.

        And the $12,000, where did that come from? Let's say, on average, your time is valued at $50/hour. (If your hourly rate is more or less make the adjustment to your calculation.)

        • You're a member of a local networking group such as BNI. You meet once a week for 90 minutes a meeting. You have approximately 30 minutes travel time to and from the meeting. 104 hours a year. $5,200 (not counting the annual membership dues)
        • You meet with your networking partners throughout the year to get to know each other and your work better. You meet individually as well as in Referral Sphere groups and training venues. Let's assume you have these types of meetings/ gatherings 36 times a year, which is 3 times a month for 1 hour each time. $1,800
        • You're a member of the Chamber of Commerce and you attend a few Chamber After Hours events as well as a few b
          The Employee Time Clock
          Many of us still remember those punch clocks that our parents used to punch in and out of work, these machines were planned to keep an eye on the time employees spent and hopefully worked at the work place.For many years, companies have relied on employee time clocks to accurately record how many hours are worked by each employee every week. Even though clocks have changed, these companies need to have some type of system that they can use to create payroll and ensure employees are getting paid for each hour worked. Employees these days use cards that they swipe along a slot, which reads their name and records the time they clocked in. Employees must also clock out each day the same way.After the pay week is over, the central computer system tallies every employee’s
          get. BE PATIENT.

          And the $12,000, where did that come from? Let's say, on average, your time is valued at $50/hour. (If your hourly rate is more or less make the adjustment to your calculation.)

          • You're a member of a local networking group such as BNI. You meet once a week for 90 minutes a meeting. You have approximately 30 minutes travel time to and from the meeting. 104 hours a year. $5,200 (not counting the annual membership dues)
          • You meet with your networking partners throughout the year to get to know each other and your work better. You meet individually as well as in Referral Sphere groups and training venues. Let's assume you have these types of meetings/ gatherings 36 times a year, which is 3 times a month for 1 hour each time. $1,800
          • You're a member of the Chamber of Commerce and you attend a few Chamber After Hours events as well as a few breakfast networking (it's called Eggs 'N Issues in Maine) events throughout the year for a total of 26 hours a year. $1,300
          • You're also civic minded and are a member of the Kiwanis, the Rotary or another civic organization. While technically, your primary reason for joining this group isn't to network, let's face it; you make some great contacts and do some great business through these contacts. Assuming weekly meetings of an hour and a half per meeting you're looking at an investment of 78 hours a year. (This doesn't take into consideration the various projects and additional time these organizations sponsor.) $3,900.

          $5,200 + $1,800 + $1,300 + $3,900 = $12,200

          Whatever time you invest in whatever activities you consider to be valuable networking opportunities, it is important you treat this investment as you would any other financial investment you make. Because when you get down to it, networking IS a financial investment.

          BE FOCUSED * BE PREPARED * BE SUCCINCT * BE PATIENT

          and remember... BE BOLD. Success starts with a vision.