Thursday, August 23, 2012
Marketing Tip #25 - Want to be Taken Seriously?
Do you have a Hotmail, AOL, Gmail or Yahoo address on your business card? Do you want to be taken seriously in your business? When people notice those addresses, they immediately think “cheap.” If you’re just getting started in business, you can be excused if you don’t yet have a website. But it only takes a minute to buy a domain name for about $10 (GoDaddy.com or Namecheap.com), connect it to a Blogspot or Wordpress blog, and pay about $9 a month for hosting.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Marketing TIp #24 - Who Owns Your Domain Name?
Last week I heard from a website designer who was closing his business and moving on to a whole new endeavor. And it made me think, who owns my domain name? I discovered that chances are good that the person who created and manages your website has ownership of your domain name as part of the set up process. In order to protect your personalized email address, it is in your best interest to transfer the ownership into your name. Usually, all that is required is to identify the hosting company with the help of your web person, put the account in your own name and then simply pay them the minimal yearly fee directly. You will still need to pay a monthly fee to your web site person for ongoing hosting and maintenance, but you will own your domain name. If you can’t find out who actually owns your domain name, you can go to http://www.domaintools.com/ and trace the history.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Marketing Tip #23 - Resumes Out, LinkedIn In
Did you see the 60 Minutes segment, “Job Programs for People Trapped in Unemployment”? http://tinyurl.com/9gudccd John Carbone, the subject of the piece, runs a program for the unemployed in Connecticut. In the segment, he tells how resumes will soon become a thing of the past. Employers will skip right to viewing your social media and online presence to screen candidates, with LinkedIn being the first web site they will check. Whether you are out-of-work or looking for more customers, ask yourself: Is your profile up-to-date? Is there a professional picture? Do you give a detailed description of your products or services? Do you have testimonials about your company? Do you need help with your profile? Give me a call.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Volunteering is Networking at its Best
“ Volunteers are not paid. Not because they are worth less ……. Because they are priceless”.
Seen on a sign at the Senior Center at the Costick Center in Farmington.
Summertime is generally a slower time of year for most of us, especially late July and August. I take advantage of this lull by volunteering with different organizations. Not only does the effort benefit a worthy cause, but it provides the perfect opportunity to network with people I wouldn’t ordinarily meet at an organized networking event.
Last year, I joined the VFW Oxbow Post #4156 to honor my father, a decorated WWII Navy veteran, and got recruited to be secretary of the Ladies Auxiliary. I have also offered my PR talents to help them promote their fundraising efforts. Are there also business owners and members of the Post that could benefit from my marketing services as potential clients? You betcha!
I help out quarterly at the West Bloomfield Friends of the Library annual used book sale at the West Bloomfield Township Public Library. Not only do I get first crack at the used books but I am working alongside community leaders and activists.
This is the second year that I volunteered at Detroit Bike Week and it was three days of non-stop fun and interaction with all kinds of people. A highlight of the weekend was meeting Ryan “Opie” Hurst, one of the stars of the FX show, Sons of Anarchy, which is one of my favorite shows. www.detroitbikeweek.com
Coming up on Saturday, September 8, Heartfelt Harvest will be selling hot dogs outside of Busch’s (14 Mile and Farmington) as part of their Summer Block Party. Heartfelt Harvest is an independent, grass roots, non-profit organization that partners with local businesses, such as Busch’s, and delivers food daily to food pantries in Farmington Hills, Farmington and West Bloomfield. Stop by and I’ll sell you a hot dog or two. https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/457303047633318/
The bottom line is that any time of year is the best time to put your energy into helping the community and as a secondary benefit, meeting and network with a diverse and “new” group of people. There is no shortage of organizations that can use your help and will welcome you with open arms.
Seen on a sign at the Senior Center at the Costick Center in Farmington.
Summertime is generally a slower time of year for most of us, especially late July and August. I take advantage of this lull by volunteering with different organizations. Not only does the effort benefit a worthy cause, but it provides the perfect opportunity to network with people I wouldn’t ordinarily meet at an organized networking event.
Last year, I joined the VFW Oxbow Post #4156 to honor my father, a decorated WWII Navy veteran, and got recruited to be secretary of the Ladies Auxiliary. I have also offered my PR talents to help them promote their fundraising efforts. Are there also business owners and members of the Post that could benefit from my marketing services as potential clients? You betcha!
I help out quarterly at the West Bloomfield Friends of the Library annual used book sale at the West Bloomfield Township Public Library. Not only do I get first crack at the used books but I am working alongside community leaders and activists.
This is the second year that I volunteered at Detroit Bike Week and it was three days of non-stop fun and interaction with all kinds of people. A highlight of the weekend was meeting Ryan “Opie” Hurst, one of the stars of the FX show, Sons of Anarchy, which is one of my favorite shows. www.detroitbikeweek.comComing up on Saturday, September 8, Heartfelt Harvest will be selling hot dogs outside of Busch’s (14 Mile and Farmington) as part of their Summer Block Party. Heartfelt Harvest is an independent, grass roots, non-profit organization that partners with local businesses, such as Busch’s, and delivers food daily to food pantries in Farmington Hills, Farmington and West Bloomfield. Stop by and I’ll sell you a hot dog or two. https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/457303047633318/
The bottom line is that any time of year is the best time to put your energy into helping the community and as a secondary benefit, meeting and network with a diverse and “new” group of people. There is no shortage of organizations that can use your help and will welcome you with open arms.
Marketing Tip #22 / E-Newsletter vs. Blogging
Blogging expert, Andy Wibbels, is often asked if it is better to use an e-mail newsletter or a blog. His answer: Use both! “A blog makes managing your past newsletter archives easier, brings newsletter readers to your site, and centralizes responses and feedback. Instead of having to mess around with getting each edition of your newsletter online, you simply add the newsletter to your blog and it’s online immediately and archived for posterity. Also, if your newsletters are archived, they can be indexed more easily by search engines, providing you and your newsletter with increased visibility.” From “Blog Wild! A Guide for Small Business Blogging. www.GoBlogWild.com
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
It Happened Again! Guest Blogger Lin Klaassen Offers Some Advice
I’m not kidding when I say it happened again at another networking event that I was at a few days ago. Not once, not twice but three times. I was engaged in three different conversations and was rudely interrupted mid-sentence each time by a different person. And during two of the interruptions, I was ignored like I was invisible, while the interruptee talked only to the other person. C’mon people. . . .
Who better to give us some insight into how to solve this apparently common problem than guest blogger, Lin Klaassen, of Face Reading by Lin. She offers some suggestions on how to politely approach two people that are engaged in conversation by observing their face and body language.
“You should begin to approach slowly until you are in their peripheral vision and watch to read their reactions. Most people will instinctively turn towards you and most people read this as an invitation to approach. WRONG. They are only being polite.
Look to the feet for the truth. The face is the most expressive part of the body and the least honest. As we go through life, we train ourselves to respond in a socially acceptable manner, which is often far from how we are truly feeling. The feet are wired in our instinctual survival patterns and are the most honest part of the human body.
Both people have now turned a foot towards you. This is a signal that they are both comfortable with you joining them.
Always look at the feet of both people. If only one person has turned a foot towards you, do not approach. The person who has not turned a foot towards you will resent you approaching.
Just smile and keep walking. As the event continues, watch for them to go their separate ways or create an opportunity to walk by again and gauge your welcome at that time. Often, if they are winding down, they may both be ready for you to approach.”
For more fascinating face reading observations and workshops, visit Lin’s website at www.facereadingbylin.com. You can also hear my interview with Lin at http://tinyurl.com/d4njnfx
Who better to give us some insight into how to solve this apparently common problem than guest blogger, Lin Klaassen, of Face Reading by Lin. She offers some suggestions on how to politely approach two people that are engaged in conversation by observing their face and body language.
“You should begin to approach slowly until you are in their peripheral vision and watch to read their reactions. Most people will instinctively turn towards you and most people read this as an invitation to approach. WRONG. They are only being polite.
Look to the feet for the truth. The face is the most expressive part of the body and the least honest. As we go through life, we train ourselves to respond in a socially acceptable manner, which is often far from how we are truly feeling. The feet are wired in our instinctual survival patterns and are the most honest part of the human body.
Both people have now turned a foot towards you. This is a signal that they are both comfortable with you joining them.
Always look at the feet of both people. If only one person has turned a foot towards you, do not approach. The person who has not turned a foot towards you will resent you approaching.
Just smile and keep walking. As the event continues, watch for them to go their separate ways or create an opportunity to walk by again and gauge your welcome at that time. Often, if they are winding down, they may both be ready for you to approach.”
For more fascinating face reading observations and workshops, visit Lin’s website at www.facereadingbylin.com. You can also hear my interview with Lin at http://tinyurl.com/d4njnfx
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Networking Etiquette
It happens to all of us at one time or another at networking events. It happened twice during the same event last week. It happened again last night. I was engaged in an interesting conversation with someone and mid-sentence, another person came into our conversation by shoving a business card into our hands, and without skipping a beat, started spewing their all-about-me-and-my-business schpeil. No hello, no introduction, no preamble and not even an "excuse me".
Now let me ask you . . . if you barge into a conversation in progress, do you think that your message is going to be well received? All I can see are lips moving, but the words come out as blah, blah, blah. My frustration at being interrupted prevents me from focusing on the message they are trying to deliver.
We’ve all heard the expression, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”. And at a networking event, a memorable first impression is even more important when you are meeting potential customers and business associates.
One of the biggest hurdles to overcome when walking into a room with a group of relative strangers, is the daunting task of just going up to someone and start a conversation. If you see someone you want to speak to and they are engaged in conversation, politely join their circle and try to assimilate into their discussion. At the appropriate moment you will be able to introduce yourself to them and explain what you do. By being less intrusive, they will be more receptive to your message.
When you work the room faster than the speed of light, no one remembers you or your message. What they will remember will not be so good. When you take the time to begin a relationship with that new person at the event, you can determine if they are a potential client or referral partner and whether or not your product or service is a fit. Or, at the very least, you may just make a new friend.
Now let me ask you . . . if you barge into a conversation in progress, do you think that your message is going to be well received? All I can see are lips moving, but the words come out as blah, blah, blah. My frustration at being interrupted prevents me from focusing on the message they are trying to deliver.
We’ve all heard the expression, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”. And at a networking event, a memorable first impression is even more important when you are meeting potential customers and business associates.
One of the biggest hurdles to overcome when walking into a room with a group of relative strangers, is the daunting task of just going up to someone and start a conversation. If you see someone you want to speak to and they are engaged in conversation, politely join their circle and try to assimilate into their discussion. At the appropriate moment you will be able to introduce yourself to them and explain what you do. By being less intrusive, they will be more receptive to your message.
When you work the room faster than the speed of light, no one remembers you or your message. What they will remember will not be so good. When you take the time to begin a relationship with that new person at the event, you can determine if they are a potential client or referral partner and whether or not your product or service is a fit. Or, at the very least, you may just make a new friend.
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