Face to Face

Real Life networking.

I did it when I started my current career with the radio stations I've been with for the last 8 years, because although I had been in the advertising business and in the radio business since my teens, I had not been in radio advertising sales in Fort Wayne, Indiana before.

Here's some tips from MarketingProfs:

Four Tips for Non-Obnoxious Networking

If you want to step up your networking activities, but you're not quite sure how, Rohit Bhargava has some advice. "The challenge isn't how you can find more opportunities to network," he writes at Influential Marketing, "but how to talk about business in an unobtrusive way." To accomplish that goal, he offers tips like these:

Hone your conversational skills. Your networking strategy will fail before it begins if no one enjoys talking with you. According to Bhargava, great conversationalists ask leading questions, listen intently to answers and add their own personal stories to the mix.

Create a distinctive nametag. Bhargava decorates his nametags with a sticker of his book's chicken icon. "People want to know why I have that sticker there," he says, "and it gives me a chance not just to share the story of my book, but also to talk about my philosophy of business—which is that personality matters."

Make friends with introducers. "These are the people," he says, "who always come to a moment in their conversations where they say something like 'oh, you do _______? You should talk to _____.'" Introducers are more likely to provide introductions, he notes, when you've made a favorable impression with your conversational ability.

Respect the nature of the event. Unless you're at a networking event—when you can dive right in—always evaluate the situation before you start talking business.

The Po!nt: "You should feel comfortable [networking] in every situation, as long you can avoid becoming that blowhard at an event who won't stop trying to sell his or her company at every moment," says Bhargava.

Source: Influential Marketing.

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Make Networking WORK

After being very busy the last few months in the office, I am forcing myself to get out more and connect face to face with people again. This is how I started a few years ago when I moved to a town that I had never done sales work in before.

I actually like getting out and here's a few tips from Jeff Garrison for all of us to follow:

Do Networking Events with a Goal

Posted: 26 May 2009 08:40 AM PDT

Thousands of business people are showing up at networking events this week and every week all across the country. Many will spend time with those people that they already know and with whom they are already familiar.

Others will introduce themselves to people that they don't know. Those that are prepared will deliver their thirty second pitch and exchange business cards.

The best and most well prepared will meet several new people and learn several facts about that person and their business. They will exchange business cards and will have asked for a follow up meeting.

This best net-workers are not only well prepared and practiced, but they have a goal. Perhaps the goal is to meet five new people and get three pieces of information about each. Maybe the goal is to get two commitments for follow up meetings with prequalified prospects.

Doing Networking Events with a Goal can significantly increase your Return on Time.

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Raise $$ for your Non-profit w/Facebook

I work with 3 non-profits:

I am on the Board of Directors for the Advertising Federation of Fort Wayne and serve as the V-P of communication.

I am on the marketing committee of the Anthony Wayne Area Council of the Boy Scouts.

I also am a former V-P of The Fort Wayne Central Lions Club and currently assist with Public Relations/Marketing for their annual Golf Tourney.

And I've advised a few others over the years. Social Media along with some of the free services offered by companies such as Google have the ability to increase awareness and funding for whatever non-profit you have a heart for.

Take a look at this from Drew:

The Marketing Minute

Hey non-profits, is Facebook your next fundraiser?

Posted: 21 Jan 2009 06:54 AM CST

If you've been on Facebook for any length of time, you know that causes run rampant there. You can join non-profit pages, you can play games that benefit non-profits, you can declare your allegiance to a cause. You name it, you can probably do it.

Most non-profits, if they're there at all, are stumbling around, trying to figure out how to best use the space. But some have really got it figured out.

Over 6 million Facebook users send each other virtual plants/flowers for their (lil) green patch. And they're told that every time they do, they're saving bits of the Rain Forest. But what does that really mean?

How about over $109,000?

That's how much The Nature Conservancy has earned from people passing pansies. (Say that 5 times fast!). And they didn't even develop the actual application.

Toby Bloomberg has an eye-opening interview with the Digital Membership Manager of The Nature Conservancy that should be must reading for non-profits looking for a fresh fund-raising idea.

If you're a non-profit or involved with helping one -- how are you using Facebook to date? How COULD you be using it?

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Building your Network

This week I received a nice letter from Laurie Stafinski:

I thought your readers might be interested in a new guide just released from RainToday.com, “Face-to-Face Networking Guide: A Primer for Relationship Building.”

In this guide, readers will learn:

· The golden rule of networking

· Who to network with and where you can go to find them

· 3 tips for starting a conversation

· 6 open-ended questions to get contacts talking and to build a relationship

· 8 common networking stereotypes to avoid

Your readers may be interested to know they can download this guide, and all of our how-to tools and guides, free when they sign up for a 7-day free trial of RainToday Annual Membership. If they are not satisfied with their membership, they can cancel at any point during the free trial and will not be billed. Plus, they get to keep all of the content they downloaded during their free trial.

I thought that your readers might find the guide to be useful for their own networking activities.

Best regards, Laurie

As someone has taught others how to network to grow their business, I found this article to be very well written and one that I will promote to the business owners that I know locally that are wanting to network.

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Attracting Business

As candidates find the results of how well they attracted voters today, here are some tips on how you can attract business:

Ivan Misner: Networking

Develop a Magnetic Personality

Every person has a little magnetism already inside him. Learn how to leverage it to draw in more business.

By Ivan Misner | October 31, 2008

URL: http://www.entrepreneur.com/marketing/marketingideas/networkingcolumnistivanmisner/article198288.html

There are two elements involved in becoming a magnet. The first is your ability to attract people. The second is your approachability, the extent to which others perceive you as being open. Together, these two qualities create a positive attitude, one of the top traits of a master networker. Together, they influence how magnetic you are for your business.

In business, magnetism typically means being a center of influence. What if you could become a living magnet for your business? Who or what would be attracted to you? Being a center of influence involves positioning yourself to attract other people to you. It means becoming recognized as the go-to person, the one with a broad network, the person who knows people who can solve other people's problems. That's the person you want to become because that's who you need to be to stand out from your competition.

A magnet's strength is related to the composition of the magnet--not necessarily the size. You've probably heard of a person having a magnetic personality. If something or someone is magnetic, the object or person has an extraordinary power or ability to attract. We tend to attract people most like ourselves in our daily encounters. You may have experienced the challenges of trying to get a group of six close friends together. Busy people attract other busy people, making it more challenging to get that group together. But the rewards are great when the schedules align for a nice dinner or evening out.

Now let's consider the second element of becoming magnetic: your approachability factor. Author and professional speaker Scott Ginsberg has done extensive research on approachability in relationships. You may have heard of him. He's also known as "the Nametag Guy." (He wears a name tag everywhere he goes.) As the author of The Power of Approachability, he helps people maximize their approachability and become unforgettable.

Ginsberg says, approachability is a two-way street. "It's both you stepping onto someone else's front porch, and you inviting someone to step onto your front porch," he says. Here's a summary of Ginsberg's tips on how to maximize your approachability.

1. Be ready to engage. When you arrive at a meeting, event, party or anywhere conversations will take place, prepare yourself. Be ready with conversation topics, questions and stories in the back of your mind as soon as you meet someone. This will help you avoid awkward small talk.
   
2. Focus on CPI. CPI stands for common point of interest. It's an essential element in every conversation and interaction. Your duty, as you meet new people, or even as you talk with those you already know, is to discover the CPI as soon as possible. It helps establish a bond between you and others. It increases your approachability and allows them to feel more comfortable talking with you.
   
3. Give flavored answers. You've heard plenty of fruitless questions in your interactions--questions like "How's it going?" "What's up?" or "How are you?" When such questions come up, Scott warns, don't fall into the conversation ending trap of responding, "Fine." Instead offer a flavored answer: "Amazing!" "Any better, and I'd be twins!" or "Everything is beautiful." The other person will instantly change his or her demeanor, smile and, most of the time, ask what made you answer that way. Why? Because nobody expects it. Not only that, but offering a true response to magnify the way you feel is a perfect way to share yourself or make yourself personally available to others.
   
4. Don't cross your arms at networking events. Even if you're cold, bored, tired or just don't want to be there, don't cross your arms. It makes you seem defensive, nervous, judgmental, close-minded or skeptical. It's a simple, subconscious, nonverbal cue that says, "Stay away." People see crossed arms, and they drift away. They don't want to bother you. You're not approachable.
   
   Think about it. Would you want to approach someone like that? Probably not. So when you feel that urge to fold your arms across your chest like a shield, stop. Be conscious of its effect. Then relax and do something else with your arms and hands.
   
5. Give options for communication. Your friends, colleagues, customers and co-workers communicate with you in different ways. Some will choose face-to-face; some will e-mail; others will call; still others will do a little of everything. Accommodate them all. Give people as many ways as you can to contact you. Make it easy and pleasant.
   
   On your business cards, e-mail signatures, websites and marketing materials, let people know they can get in touch with you in whatever manner they choose. Maybe you prefer e-mail, but what matters most is the other person's comfort and ability to communicate with you effectively. There's nothing more annoying to a phone person than to discover she can't get a hold of you unless she e-mails you.
   
6. Always have business cards. At one time or another you've probably been on either the telling or listening end of a story about a successful, serendipitous business encounter that ended with the phrase, "Thank goodness I had one of my business cards with me that day." If you recall saying something like that yourself, great. You're practicing approachability by being easy to reach.
   
   If not, you've no doubt missed out on valuable relationships and opportunities. And it happens. People forget cards, neglect to get their supply reprinted or change jobs. Always remember: There is a time and a place for networking--any time and any place. You just never know who you might meet.
   
7. Conquer your fear of rejection. Do you ever hear yourself saying, "They won't say hello back to me. They won't be interested in me. I will make a fool of myself"?
   
   Fear is the number one reason people don't start conversations--fear of rejection, fear of inadequacy and fear of looking foolish. But practice will make this fear fade. The more you start conversations, the better you become at it. So be the first to introduce yourself, or simply to say hello. When you take an active rather than passive role, you develop your skills and lower your chances of rejection.
   
8. Wear your name tag. We've heard every possible excuse not to wear name tags, and all of them can be rebutted:

"Name tags look silly." Yes, they do. But, remember, everyone else is wearing one, too.

"Name tags ruin my clothes." Not if you wear them on the edge of your lapel, or use cloth-safe connectors, like lanyards and plastic clips.

"But I already know everybody." No, you don't. You may think you do, but people join and leave businesses and organizations all the time.

"But everyone already knows me." No, they don't. Even the best networkers know there's always someone new to meet.

Your name tag is your best friend for several reasons. First of all, a person's name is the single piece of personal information most often forgotten--and people are less likely to approach you if they don't know (or have forgotten) your name. Second, it's free advertising for you and your company. Third, name tags encourage people to be friendly and more approachable.

Ginsberg 's axiom about the CPI is particularly powerful in networking for your business. Consider the people you know best right now. If you know them through work, they all share work with you as a CPI. If you know them through your soccer league, they share your interest in soccer. With that in mind, you could be attracting people who later--after you've built a relationship starting from this common ground--could help your business.

Called the "Father of Modern Networking" by CNN, Dr. Ivan Misner is a New York Times bestselling author. He is the founder and chairman of BNI, the world's largest business networking organization. His latest book, The 29% Solution can be viewed at 29PercentSolution.com. Dr. Misner is also the senior partner for the Referral Institute, an international referral training company. He can be reached atmisner@bni.com.

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Fort Wayne Roof Top Party

Well, not really on a rooftop, but you will be able to see some roof tops. And Big Wigs, and lot's of not so Big Wigs.

If you are in Fort Wayne Indiana, then stop by and say HI!

And send me an email to Scott (at) ScLoHo (dot) net, to let me know you'll be there...



This is from the Chamber blog/newsletter:

Go "Over the Top" on Monday

Posted: 11 Jul 2008 10:17 AM CDT

One of the city's largest networking events, Over the Top, will take place Monday, July 14 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the north plaza of the City-County Building in beautiful downtown Fort Wayne.

This is a great opportunity for City and County employees, neighborhood associations, networking groups, faith-based and community organization leaders, businesses and elected officials to connect and interact in a casual setting during the 40th Fort Wayne Newspapers Three Rivers Festival.

For more information, please contact Denise Porter-Ross, Office of the Mayor, (260)427-2603 or citizens@cityoffortwayne.org.

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25 Networking Tips (plus 1 more)

Don't be a loner, instead be a loaner. Here's 25 even Better Tips from the DLM Blog:

25 Absolute Essentials for Networking Success

Posted: 01 Jul 2008 09:28 AM CDT

Written on 7/01/2008 by Anand Dhillon, of Self-Help for Self-Mastery.

In business, it is often said that success is determined not by what you know but by who you know. Additionally, the level of your success is determined greatly by the quality of your relationships with others.

While for some, networking is something that comes naturally and effortlessly, for others it is an area where significant improvements are needed. Small, consistent improvements over time will open up far more opportunities and resources to you.

Whether you are a seasoned connector or someone who needs to jumpstart their relationship building, here are 25 essential tips to ensure your networking success.

1. Start before your need it
   The best time to start building your network is yesterday. The second best time is today. Relationships are cultivated over time. Begin by making networking a priority now. It is a simple habit that you can start now that will pay great dividends in the future.


2. Learn about people’s goals
   The best way to have an impact is to add value directly where it is most important to the other person. Find out what the people in your network are looking for and look for ways that you can help achieve them. Everyone wants to be friends with someone they know is on their side.


3. Connect people you do know
   Use your networking not only to benefit yourself but also to benefit others. Connect people in your network that could provide value to one another. For example, if one of your associates is in need of a web designer and you happen to know one, connect the two people together. Your two associates benefit from the business arrangement and you benefit from the good will developed.


4. Give more than you expect to receive
   If you want to build trust in your relationships, always seek to add more value to the people in your networks. When people are consistently benefiting from a relationship, it moves their desire to connect with you more. Focus on the giving and you will surely get what you want.


5. Be genuinely interested
   Be sincere in your dealings with others and focus more on being interested than interesting. People love to talk about themselves and the more you understand about someone, the more you will be able to speak to them in a way that is appealing.


6. Always follow up
   When making new contacts, make sure to always follow up. A quick email or phone call within 24 hours of meeting someone can lay the foundation for a fruitful relationship. It doesn’t take much effort but it can make a world of difference.


7. Know people in different worlds
   Don’t focus solely on your own niche or industry. Instead, diversify and reach out to as many people as possible. Having people from a wide variety of fields in your network helps you become the master connector (#3) and provide more value.


8. Learn to listen
   The skill of listening seems simple enough but in experience, it is a rare skill to find. The secret is getting out of your head. Put your complete focus on the speaker instead of thinking about what you are going to say when they are done talking. Try to really understand where they are coming from.


9. Be authentic
   People crave authenticity in business. Many people are starved of it because the amount of manipulation and politics that can go in an interaction. Hold yourself to a higher standard and you will stand out from the crowd.


10. Take the initiative
    Play a very active role in networking. Be the person who starts the conversation. Be quick to introduce yourself. Also, be the first person to offer help when it is required. Developing the habit of initiative will make your networking efforts easier and more fruitful.
    


11. Always stay in touch
    The major determinant in whether or not a business relationship develops of fizzles is staying in contact. Remember to regularly check in with your associates with a quick email or phone call. Regular contact will allow the relationship to develop slowly over time.


12. Be personal
    Take the extra time to add a personal touch. A handwritten card says a lot more than an email. Although this may require extra time and effort on your part, it will stand out in the eyes of others.


13. Be humble
    Nothing turns people off quicker than an arrogant attitude. Humility, on the other hand, is very commendable. Being humble will keep you grounded even when your network starts to grow. When you reach the top, it will ensure that keep doing the things that got you there.
    


14. Always say thanks
    Thank you notes are a quick and easy way to connect with someone. Plus, the actual card serves as a reminder of you every time the other person sees it.


15. Do your homework
    When contacting people, make sure you are well informed about their situation. You should know, for example, if they recently released a new product or moved to a new office.


16. Express your enthusiasm
    Remember that passion is magnetic. When you are excited about what you are talking about, other people will become excited as well. Your enthusiasm will give you a charismatic presence that will make your memorable.
    


17. Promote your purpose more than your self
    When promoting to others, put the majority of your focus on the mission and purpose of your business. Although it can be fun to toot your own horn, set your ego aside and focus on the real purpose: your company’s ability to deliver value to people.


18. Join associations
    Professional associations are a great way to network with people. Use the internet to research associations in your area and make sure to attend the next meeting. The people you will meet there will also be eager network.


19. Attend conferences
    Conferences are a great way to meet like-minded people. The speakers can be good, but the real value is in the people. Do some internet research and find a conference you can attend in the near future.


20. Leverage the networks of others
    Use the networks of others to expand your own network. Go out of your way to introduce yourself to people you have only heard of through an associate. Make this a regular habit and your network will start growing faster than you can keep up with.


21. Act with integrity
    Stay true to your principles and hold them above all else. While this may lead to some short term setbacks, over the long term, it will build a lot of trust in your character.


22. Build close relationships
    The closer your relationship is with someone, the more they will be willing to help you out when you need it. Unfortunately, there are no quick fix techniques for this. Close relationships take time and effort.


23. Ask for what you want
    Don’t be timid or shy. Be direct and ask for what you want. There is no other way to get it. Remember: the answer to every request that you don’t make is no.


24. Create a personal board of advisors
    Focus on building a team of experts that you contact quickly for advice in each of the major areas of your business. They will prove to be priceless when you have difficult business decisions to make.


25. Write things down
    As your network grows, it can be difficult to keep track of all the information about your associates. Make sure your write things down and can readily access information about any one of your business contacts.

-Anand

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Networking Basics

Confused by the networking jargon? Take a look at this from Rainmakers.com written by our friend Scott, the NameTag Guy:

How to Nail Your Networking Intro

By Scott Ginsberg

Elevator Speeches. 60-Second Commercials. 30-Second Commercials. Personal Introductions. Networking Introductions. Defining Statements. Positioning Statements.

Ahhh! Which one do you use? And when? And with whom?

Tough questions, especially because since the early '90s tens of thousands of articles, books, manuals and guides have been written on the topic of networking. And all of them address various techniques on how to answer the question: "So, what do you do?"

To put it in perspective, consider these results from a recent Google search on the following terms:

• 30-Second Commercial – 135,000 pages
  
  
• Elevator Speech – 128,000 pages
  
  
• Positioning Statement – 106,740 pages
  
  
• 60-Second Commercial – 33,500 pages
  
  
• Defining Statement – 26,000
  
  
• Personal Introduction – 3,600 pages

Wow. Overwhelming, huh? Makes you wonder which one is right! Still, each of these techniques is some variety of your "Networking Introduction."

Unfortunately, you won't have it come out the way all the books and articles say it will. It's doubtful you'll ever tell someone what you do in an elevator; you'll probably never have exactly 30 or 60 seconds to do so; and the odds of you explaining it the same way each time are highly unlikely.

In real networking, you'll be rushed, caught off-guard and asked unexpected questions. You'll meet people on buses and in bathrooms. You'll address three strangers at a time, get interrupted mid-commercial, and sometimes, you won't get a chance to say a single word until the last five seconds of a conversation. And all the while, you won't have time to decide whether or not you should give your Elevator Speech, 30-Second Commercial or Defining Statement!

Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you there.

But it's true. Networking is unpredictable. And yet, we depend on it for the growth of our careers. According to a 2004 report from the Federal Bureau of Labor, 70% of our new business comes from some sort of networking.

So, rather than put additional pressure on yourself by worrying about how many seconds you have, here are some key points for an effective, concise and memorable Networking Introduction.

Start from the Top

Because you never know how much time you'll have to introduce yourself, I suggest starting at the top with the following exercise. Take five pieces of paper. Assign one of the following sentences to the top of each sheet:

1. Who you are?
   
   
2. What you do?
   
   
3. Whom you do it for?
   
   
4. How you do it?
   
   
5. What happens as a result?

Write down all the words, characteristics, ideas, phrases and the like that pertain to each of these areas of your introduction. Have fun! Spend at least a few minutes on each sheet. The whole point of starting with this activity is to understand the full scope of you and your business.

Back to the Bottom

Now that your mind is swimming with dozens of key points about your work, it's time to get down to the "Bare Bones Intros." These are pithy, one-liner type sentences that grab attention and intrigue the listener.

Now, since thousands of networking resources claim to have their own magic formula, I'll simply offer the technique I've found to be most effective in my own business:

• I'm a/an (your job title)...
  
  
• ...and I work with (your target customers)...
  
  
• ...who want to (become, increase, etc.)...
  
  
• ...so they can (some benefit or result).

You don't have to use this exact formula. Just be sure your Bare Bones Intro includes what you do, whom you do it for and what happens when you do it. So, write out different versions. Say them out loud. Share them with friends and colleagues. And eventually you'll be able to pick out the most effective ones.

Anytime, Anywhere

In my networking workshops I make it a point to tell my audience members, "There is a time and place for networking: any time and any place." With that in mind, let's take the material you brainstormed from earlier and put it to use in possible scenarios (you might want to practice these with a partner too).

• You have five minutes at your local association meeting to introduce yourself via speech to 100 strangers in the audience. What would you say?
  
  
• At the sub shop you go to once a week, the teenage cashier says, "Hey there! It must be Tuesday again, huh? Good to see ya! And you know, you always come in here, but I don't think I know what you do..." What would you tell her (remember, the line is long)?
  
  
• You're participating in a rapid-fire-speed-networking-blitz type activity in which you have less than 30 seconds to introduce yourself to 25 people in a row. Go!
  
  
• You're dressing in a hurry in the locker room when the new guy introduces himself. He notices your briefcase and asks, "So, where do you work?"
  
  
• You email a complete stranger who was referred to you by someone in your network. She probably gets 100 emails a day, so you don't want to make it too long. What do you write?
  
  
• As you fill out your new credit card application, you notice two boxes. One says, "Occupation," and the other says, "Please explain in the space below." It's a small space. Better make it quick!
  
  
• Your spouse runs into her boss at Happy Hour. You shake his hand and he says, "Nice to meet you! So, what do you do?" (You think he's had a few.)

Nailing Your Networking Intro

All specifics aside, the most important part of a Networking Intro is: always be memorable.

In a July 2003 article from Entrepreneur Magazine, Ivan Misner, founder and CEO or Business Network International, explained, "The ideal introduction is brief and memorable - one that provides enough impact to arouse the interest of those to whom you're introducing yourself and get them to join your word-of-mouth team."

So put away your stopwatch. Forget about the elevator. And stop thinking about networking as a commercial. Networking is the development and maintenance of mutually valuable relationships. And those relationships are initially sparked by your ability to effectively, concisely and memorably introduce yourself when someone says, "So, what do you do?"

---

Scott Ginsberg, aka "The Nametag Guy," is the author of seven books and writes the #39th most popular marketing blog in the world. He is the creator of NametagTV, an Online Training Network that teaches businesspeople about approachability. For more info about books, speeches, customized online training programs or to Rent Scott's Brain, call 314/256-1800 or email scott@hellomynameisscott.com.

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Fort Wayne Networking Groups

If you are in Fort Wayne Friday, head over to Crazy Pinz on Lima Road around lunch time. Between 11:30am and 2:30pm, there is going to be a Networking Party to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the Norris Networking Group that meets there every Friday at 11:30am.

I'll be there with at least 50 others. This is one of the two networking groups that I have attended over the past couple of years. Due to my other commitments, I attend every 3 months. However the Norris Networking Group meets every Friday from 11:30 to 1:30.

I recommend attending weekly, or at least every other week, if you are going to have an impact.

For a personal insight on networking groups and how their value, click here.

Thursdays, I often attend a smaller group that fits my schedule a little better. It meets weekly at Tri-State University in Fort Wayne, with a couple of exceptions like Thanksgiving and also the last Thursday of this month due to the school being closed.

We meet between 10am and noon. The group (True Business Networking) has it's own website and between 12 and 20 regulars. I'm there 2 or 3 times a month.

Unfortunately, this week I'll be absent due to needing to get some other work done. But perhaps I'll see you Friday at Crazy Pinz or next Thursday at Tri-State.

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Creating WOW

Doesn't matter what line of work you are in, or whether you are the big cheese or a small fry, you need to be remembered.

And to be remembered, you need to do something remarkable and create a "WOW"!

The Nametag Guy has this list of ideas sent to me by BusinessKnowHow.com:

When Business Cards Aren't Enough:
7 Unusual, Uncommon and Unexpected
Networking Secrets to Help Boost Business

By Scott Ginsberg
author of The Power of Approachability

There comes a time in every small businessperson’s life when common networking practices like handing out business cards, attending various meetings and schmoozing with potential clients only goes so far. Eventually, the same old techniques get overused to the point that they become insufficient.

But how many times have you gained new business, created a great relationship or watched your website hits skyrocket because you did something unusual? Or uncommon? Perhaps even unexpected? Maybe you were on the right track.

The following is a list of atypical networking techniques that will help boost business. WARNING: They will stretch your courage. They will test your expertise. And they will challenge your creativity. But when business cards aren’t enough, alternative ways to develop and maintain mutually valuable relationships are your ticket to networking success.

What’s Your Story?
How did you get your start in business? Did you “fall” into your line of work? Perhaps there was an interesting anecdote, epiphany or event that caused the birth of your business. If so, this is called “Your Story.” Now, it’s not your Elevator Speech or your 30 Second Commercial. It’s your story. And it’s a fundamental tool for helping people and potential customers get to know you.

Here’s the key: write it out. Practice saying it aloud. Make it funny. And tell it to everybody. Not only does this create a memorable presence, but the more you share it with people, the more they will share Your Story with other people. Why? Because people don’t remember things, they remember stories. And after a while, the word about Your Story will spread.

Mix the Medium and Wow People
When I receive an email from an organization or business who has a question, wants to work together or just wants to chat, I do something called Mix the Medium. Here's how it works:

1) The exact moment I finish reading the email, I obtain the person’s phone number (if I don’t already have it.) If there's no email signature, I look at their email address or go to their website. If all I know is their company, I call Directory Assistance or look them up on City Search. Basically, I do anything I can to get their phone number within the next two minutes.

2) Then I call them right back.

3) I then say, "Hi, this is Scott Ginsberg. I was in the office when your email came through and I thought I’d call you back!" I say with a big smile on my face.

PEOPLE LOVE THIS. I have never done this without completely blowing the caller away. They respond with such excited phrases as "Wow, that was fast!" or "I'm impressed you called back already!" In fact, I recently received an email from a friend of mine who just changed jobs. He was writing to say hello and wish me a Happy New Year. And since I hadn’t heard from Jake in quite a while, I Mixed the Medium and called him right back. Five minutes later he booked me to do one of my speaking programs for his new organization!

Network en Masse
Speaking of speaking, here’s another untapped networking resource: local groups, organizations and associations. But I’m not talking about joining; I’m talking about giving a speech. It’s what I call “Networking en Masse.”

Small businesspeople are successful because they’re experts on something. So whether you’re in sales, printing, tech consulting or retail, find a way to transform your expertise into an informative, concise and entertaining speech that will help other people like yourself boost business.

Contact the meeting coordinator of your local Chamber, Rotary Club, Networking Group or Trade Association. They always need speakers. Offer the group a free 15-20 minute program. Include valuable tips, stories, illustrations and examples from your own business experiences that are of interest to the members. By speaking, you position yourself as an expert, validate your credibility and increase your company’s visibility.

Write as an Expert
Another underused networking tactic is writing articles or tip sheets about hot topics in your industry. You don’t even have to be a freelance writer or a journalist – just a business professional who can effectively convey his or her expertise in the form of a short article. Similar to speaking, writing articles in a publication read by your target market is the perfect way to position you and your company.

Here’s how to get started with this tip: Go to Google, type in your topic of expertise and the word “article.” For example, if you work in phone book advertising, type in “phone book advertising article.” (Be sure to use the quotation marks.) Hundreds of hits will come up. Read through a few dozen of them. This will give you an idea of what hot topics other people in your industry are writing articles about. Then, find out which online databases, ezines, newsletters or websites syndicated the articles you just read. By localizing these sources, you can contact the editors and inquire about article submission guidelines. (And if you get the opportunity to publish articles online, you can easily email the article link to other people who would benefit from reading your work.)

Don’t Fear the Big Shots
You’d be surprised how approachable some of the so-called “Big Shots” are. Great example: At a National Speakers Association Convention in July of 2004, I had the pleasure of attending a session with Seth Godin, best selling author of Unleashing the Ideavirus and Purple Cow. Now, in addition hearing him speak, I’ve also been a frequent reader of his books and articles for years. And a few months after seeing him live I thought, “What the heck…maybe I’ll just drop him an email.”

So it came to pass on October 8th, 2004, that I emailed Seth Godin. I told him how much I enjoyed his speech at the convention and that his work was a big influence on my own books and speeches. I also told him to check out my website, www.hellomynameisscott.com, for it was an example of the kind of idea he so passionately supported.

What did I have to lose, right?

To my surprise about a half hour later, he wrote me back. “Thanks for the kind words, Scott! I blogged your site. Good luck.”

Little did I realize that Seth Godin publishes one of the top ten most frequently read blogs in the world. As a result, I received over 70,000 hits on my website in one day! This resulted in some great new contacts, several exciting business opportunities and the birth of my own blog, which is now a critical part of my business! Which brings me to my last networking tip.

Blog For Bucks
If you don’t already have a blog for your business – get one. A blog is an online journal on which you can post comments, links, stories and articles. This popular new medium through which to share your feelings, experiences and emotions is a free and fun way to network with other online professionals. After I talked with Seth last year, I started the blog for my business, and it’s become a valuable tool to stimulate personal dialogue with potential customers. It’s also a great way to let your customers know what’s going on in your life.

For more information go to www.blogger.com; or do a search for any of the various blog providers.

The commonality of these unusual, uncommon and unexpected networking techniques is this: you must do what nobody else is willing to do. Sure, handing out business cards and attending meetings are all good techniques. But everyone does that. So are you willing to practice telling Your Story? Would you call people right back when they’re expecting you to email them tomorrow? Do you have the courage to give a great speech, write a helpful article or start a blog that shares your expertise? And are you willing to get in contact with a Big Shot?

I hope so – because eventually, business cards just aren’t enough!

Scott Ginsberg is a professional speaker, "the world's foremost field expert on nametags" and the author of HELLO my name is Scott and The Power of Approachability. He speaks to companies and associations who want to become UNFORGETTABLE communicators – one conversation at a time. For booking or more information, go to www.hellomynameisscott.com.

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Closing by Connecting

The word closing has multiple meanings.

If you are a business owner that is struggling to survive, you may be closing your doors.

If you are in sales, closing is usually a positive term referring to the final step in the initial sales process.

This post is about another type of closing.

It's about getting closer.

Closing the six degrees of separation to one or two.

Awhile ago I registered myself at LinkedIn.com but did nothing with it.

Then I saw a series of articles from Jill Konrath on how to use LinkedIn.

But still I waited.

About a week ago, Joe Dager, who lives here in Fort Wayne, Indiana sent me an invitation to join LinkedIn.com as one of his connections.

I thought to myself, "I really should follow through on this", and I did one evening last week.

I imported my email contacts and watched as LinkedIn.com told me which of them were all ready on.

Then at a business meeting last Thursday morning, I told about 25 people about LinkedIn.com and some of them are now on it.

So what is LinkedIn.com?

First, it is a professional social networking tool. It can help you cut down the six degrees of separation to just a couple.

Second, it is a way to reconnect with long lost friends and business acquaintances.

Third, (and this is my favorite), it is free.

Here's some of what has happened since in one week. I have 43 connections right now that I can contact with the push of a button.

Your Network of Trusted Professionals

You are at the center of your network. Your connections can introduce you to 59,500+ professionals — here’s how your network breaks down:
Your Connections Your trusted friends and colleagues	43
Two degrees away Friends of friends; each connected to one of your connections	800+
Three degrees away Reach these users through a friend and one of their friends	58,600+
Total users you can contact through an Introduction	59,500+

I am including another free e-book link on the right side of this page along with right here.
Click and download Jill Konrath's guide to Linked in.

Jill is a self described "technophobe" and she tells her story along with hints on how and why to use the free LinkedIn.com service.

Now if you are that business owner that is closing your doors, maybe there is help through LinkedIn.com

Or if you are that salesperson LinkedIn.com might help open more doors to help you close more.

Finally, I invite you to click on my LinkedIn.com profile by clicking here.

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Another Free Tool

I've added another e-book link to the list at the right. This is one that I first read about 22 years ago when I first read Harvey Mackay's Swim with The Sharks.

In my business, we do what we call a C.N.A. which stands for a Customer Needs Analysis. The Mackay 66 goes much deeper and if you want to truly stand out an build relationships that transcend the economic up and downs we face, I urge you to get it and use it.

I must warn you though, it is pretty extensive and it will take time to compile for each of your customers. Do it anyway. You can also get it by clicking here for the Mackay 66.

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05-08-08

Next Thursday is a big day in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Start your day with an Umbrella. It's the final story in the Umbrella Series presented by Barry Labov and his staff at Labov & Beyond, along with the Taylor University Players!

There's a special buy 1, get 2 free offer below, and tell em where you heard about this!

That's from 7:30 to 9am at the Chamber.

Afterwards, the Business Expo is going on, also downtown at the Grand Wayne Center. Doors open at 10.

Click here for all those details!

When: Thurs., May 8, 7:30 9 a.m. Where: Chamber of Commerce Who: Business owners, executives, managers and anyone interested in learning about some of today’s hottest business topics How: To register Rita Chalfant 260.424.1435 rchalfant@fwchamber.org	Join The Chamber, Taylor University and LaBov & Beyond Marketing Communications for SalesForce. In one hour and twelve minutes you'll learn how to build a team, how to fight fair and how to be true to yourself in business and in your personal life. For the price of one admission you can bring two colleagues. Performance begins at 7:30 a.m. By 9 a.m., you'll return to the office with a fresh outlook and a few breakthrough ideas you can apply that day. The recent Umbrella Series performance at the Chamber yielded record attendance. Please confirm your reservation now.

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Re-defining Branding

What you are about to see is a slide show that you can click through to see how media, marketing, advertising and branding are changing right before our eyes.

Remember no matter what changes with technology, each of us still have the same 24 hours a day that our grandparents had. Yet the speed of technology and how it is affecting the younger generations, (compared to say, the over 55 year olds?), is hard to keep up with.

Is it any wonder that A.D.D. and other disorders are more common today compared to 50 years ago?

Even my kids that are in their teens and early 20's have placed self-imposed limits on how much tech they are going to use in their daily lives.

The real revolution is that there are more and more choices for getting information, entertainment, social interaction, and each of these options are also more and more interactive which levels the playing field. It also means that each option will likely have a smaller number of users/readers/listeners/viewers, simply because of time limiting factors and the explosion of options.

Well, enough from me, here's the slide show I promised, from David Armano. Click here to go to his site for more goodies:

| View | Upload your own

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Connecting

This type of Connecting I'm talking about is actually more commonly known as Networking.

Here's two examples of what happened today:

1. I visit a former client of mine about an advertising proposal. Not what he's looking for, so I decide to dig deeper and have some homework to do. I ask him before I leave if he is still working with XXX who developed his website. He mentions he needs to redo his site and I tell him who I am going to refer to him.

45 minutes later, I am meeting with a referral from my website developer friend and Mr. Website, happens to walk in, and I tell him about my earlier meeting. Mr. Website, hops in his car to meet with the guy that needs a new website. We'll find out later how this turns out.

2. At the suggestion of a friend at a local ad agency and fellow blogger, a few months ago I created the Fort Wayne Forum. It's a website that's open to anyone in Fort Wayne Indiana to connect and design and take the forum in whatever direction they want, as long as it is clean and polite.

This morning, I notice a new member has joined, and it is a name I remember from a few years ago. I welcome him aboard and want to promote him to you too. His name is Jim and this is his profile:

I'm a self-employed writer and producer of commercial music, native to Fort Wayne... married, two grown kids. Working in my studio alone, I use a couple of online forums as my water cooler. Check out my tunes at the website.

Website:

www.gravitymusic.com

If you are looking for an excellent jingle, or musical image, check out his website and contact him.

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All 50 Networking tips

It's the end of the 10th week of sharing with you a-tip-a-day from the Nametag guy. So, here are the previous 49 tips, plus a new one for today. Contact info for the Nametag guy is at the end.

50 Networking Thoughts Everyone Should Read

By Scott Ginsberg

The Federal Bureau of Labor published a study a few years back that showed 70% of all new business comes from some form of networking. What other motivation do you need to start?

Below are fifty thoughts to help you on your way. Before you read on, remember: if you think you're poor at networking, don't worry, you're not alone. It's not a skill we are born with but one we have to learn.

1. Come to every networking event with three great questions ready to go. Be sure they begin with, "What's the one thing?" "What's your favorite?" and "What was the best part about?"

2. No matter where you go – the mall, church, out to dinner, the gym - have at least five business cards with you.

3. Be able to give an unforgettable personal introduction in 10 seconds, 30 seconds and 60 seconds.

4. When someone on the phone says, "May I ask who's calling?" get excited. Say something unique that makes that person say, "Um, okay...please hold." Be unexpected. Be cool. Be memorable.

5. Get Google alerts on yourself, your company, your area of expertise and your competition. If you don't know what a Google alert is, just Google it.

6. Networking isn't selling, marketing or cold calling. It's the development and maintenance of mutually valuable relationships. Don't mix these things up.

7. The most important four letters in the word "networking" are w-o-r-k, because that's exactly what it takes.

8. If you give your business card to somebody and they don't reply, "Hey, cool card!" get a new card.

9. When attending networking events, come early. Check out the nametags. See if you know anybody, or find people you'd like to meet.

10. Sit in the back so you can scan the room for specific people you'd like to connect with.

11. Email articles of interest, links or other cool stuff of value, (not spam), to people you've met.

12. Publish a newsletter or ezine. Interview people from your network and feature them as experts. They will take ownership of their inclusion and spread that publication to everyone they know.

13. Spend one hour a week reading and commenting on other people's blogs. If you don't know what a blog is, you're in trouble.

14. When you read an article you like, email the author. Tell him what you liked about it and introduce yourself. He'll usually write back.

15. Have an awesome email signature that gives people a reason to click over to your website. Just be careful not to have too much information included.

16. Get involved with social networking sites like LinkdIn, MySpace and Squidoo.

17. Remember that networking doesn't have to be in person. The Internet is a great place to connect with people just like you! It's called Internetworking. (Yep, I made that word up.)

18. Make your own words up. It's really fun.

19. Have business lunches at least once a week.

20. Attend local events once a month.

21. Figure out where your target market hangs out (online and offline). Then hang out there.

22. Create your own regular "business hangout," like a copy or coffee shop where you can regularly be found working, networking, reading or connecting with other professionals.

23. Talk to everybody. Don't sell them; don't probe them, just make friends. Make friends with everybody. Because people buy people first.

24. Take volunteer positions with organizations that are relevant to your industry. Be a visible leader to whom others can come to for help.

25. Every time you meet someone, write the letters H-I-C-H on their business card: how I can help. Then think of five ways to do so.

26. Go to Borders and spend one day a month reading books on networking, interpersonal communication and marketing. I highly recommend The Power of Approachability and How to be That Guy. (I hear the author is super cool.)

27. Publish articles or a blog or both based around your expertise. Use titles such as "Top Ten Ways," "Essential Elements" and "Success Secrets," that grab the reader's attention. Publish them on www.blogger.com and www.ezinearticles.com.

28. Be funny, but don't tell jokes.

29. Discover the CPI (Common Point of Interest) with everyone you meet.

30. Carry blank business cards with you in case someone forgot theirs. They'll thank you.

31. Never leave the house without a pen and paper. Sounds dumb, right? It isn't. It's genius. Nobody keeps napkins with scribblings on them.

32. Every week, introduce two people you know who need to know each other.

33. Wear your nametag above your breastbone and make sure it's visible from 10 feet away. Nobody cares what side of your chest it's on. Just make it big. And if you don't like wearing nametags, then you probably don't like people knowing who you are, either.

34. It's not who you know – it's who knows you.

35. People will like you the minute they figure out how they are like you.

36. Fear not to entertain strangers for by so doing some may have entertained angels unaware. (Hebrews, 13:2)

37. If you don't have www.yourname.com, get it. It's ten bucks.

38. Find local professionals with whom you share common interests, customers, ideas and products. Introduce yourself to them, get together, share ideas and find ways to help each other.

39. Form a mastermind group. No more than four people. Meet regularly to set goals, keep each other accountable and brainstorm.

40. Also, set your own networking goals each month for:

• Events to attend
• People to meet
• Emails to write
• Calls to make
• Articles/physical mail to send

41. Go onto Google and type in "articles on networking." Read on!

42. Speaking of Google, Google yourself regularly. Find out what people are saying about you. If you don't show up, you're in trouble.

43. If you think you don't need to network, you are right. You don't need to network: you must network!

44. Stop calling it networking. Ignore the title of this article. Networking – as a word – is tired and old and cliché and it makes people think you're throwing around a bunch of cards trying to sell, sell, sell. No. All you're doing is making friends. Not schmoozing, mingling or any of those stupid catch phrases. You're making friends. That's it. Friends. Make them every day.

45. If you think you are poor at networking, don't worry. You're not alone. But also remember that anyone can develop their networking skills. That's right, skills. Because it's not something you're born with or just plain "good at." Anyone can do it effectively. You simply need:

• To develop the attitude of approachability
• To read books on the subject
• To practice

46. When strangers ask, "How are you?" don't say fine. You're not fine. Nobody's fine. Give a real answer that's memorable and magnetic. I suggest, "Business is kicking ass!" or "Everything is beautiful!"

47. When someone asks where you're from, don't just say "Austin." Use the H.O.T technique: "Oh, I'm from Austin, home of the best college football team in the country." Get creative. Get unique. Watch what happens.

48. Put your person before your profession. Your personality before your position. Your individual before your industry.

49. Don't be different – be unique. Don't be friendly – be approachable. And don't be memorable – be unforgettable.

50. Think about the last five "luckiest" business contacts you encountered. Figure out what you did right, realize that there is no such thing as luck, then repeat as often as possible.

---

Scott Ginsberg, aka "The Nametag Guy," is the author of seven books and writes the #39th most popular marketing blog in the world. He is the creator of NametagTV, an Online Training Network that teaches businesspeople about approachability. For more info about books, speeches, customized online training programs or to Rent Scott's Brain, call 314/256-1800 or email scott@hellomynameisscott.com.

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Anyone can have a voice

In this social media world we have the mobile web which you can view on your I-phone; we have MySpace; FaceBook; RSS Feeds; Twitter; and the list will continue to grow.

The fact is, newspapers and bloated traditional news outlets are going to suffer declines in viewers/listeners/readers simply because there are other ways to get information and entertainment. You can have a voice on the internet, and be equal to the 15 year news reporter in readership on the internet.

I prefer the Blog world which often allows two way comunication between the author and the readers. It's also easy to link to other sites and build some virtual networking along with local networking.

I recently wrote about the local blogging scene, click here to see how you can connect with other local bloggers.

Research was done on who are these bloggers? Who are these people who are compelled to share their voices with the world? Here's the stats:

Friday, April 18, 2008

What's A Blogger?

Bloggers are younger and higher percentages are Hispanic & African American than the general population. A higher percentage of Democrats than of Republicans are blogging.

Now that Blogging might better be called a market segment rather than a market niche, it's useful with regard to positioning the marketing message to understand what a Blogger looks like, as distinguished from the rest of the population. According to the BIGresearch Simultaneous Media Survey, 26% of all adults say they regularly or occasionally blog. Of those:

• 53.7% are male
• 44.7% are married
• 28.4% hold a professional or managerial position
• 10.4% are students.

Bloggers tend to be younger, averaging 37.6 years old, compared to 44.8 for adults 18+ (the "general population"). Ethnically:

• 69.7% of Bloggers are White/Caucasian (vs. 76.1%)
• 12.2% are African American/Black (vs. 11.4%)
• 3.7% are Asian (vs. 2.0%)
• 20% of Bloggers are Hispanic, compared to 14.8% of adults 18+

In addition, Bloggers report a lower income ($55,819 vs. $56,811) and are better educated (14.3 years of education vs. 14.2).

Political blogs are becoming increasingly common, especially in this election year, where 24.6% of registered voters say they regularly or occasionally blog. Political affiliation of regular/occasional Bloggers look like this in 2008:

• 37.6% of Libertarians regularly/occasionally blog
• 26.9% of Democrats
• 25.7% of Independents
• 22.9% Republicans

Analysis of Bloggers shows that they are using most forms of new media significantly more than the average market.

Regular/Occasional New Media Usage (Top 5)
	% of Regular/Occasional Bloggers	% of Adults 18+
Cell Phone	93.0%	87.5%
Instant Messaging	75.3%	49.3%
Download/Access Video/TV Content	72.2%	45.0%
Video Gaming	66.9%	47.5%
Text Messaging	65.5%	45.2%
Source: BIGresearch, January 2008, N=15,727

Although Bloggers are more likely to use new media, the analysis finds that more conventional forms of media trigger their Internet searches. Magazines, at 51.6%, rank highest, followed by:

• 48.8% reading an article
• 46.1% broadcast TV
• 44.5% cable TV
• 42.5% face-to-face communication
• 39.7% newspaper

Gary Drenik, President of BIGresearch, concludes "Bloggers are a diverse group and not who you would expect..."

For more information, please visit BIGresearch here.

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Nearly Free Ways to Market Yourself

I deal with all different sizes of businesses each week. Multi-million dollar operations and part-timers wanting to go full time.

When you don't have a pile of cash to spend, there are still ways that you can market yourself. I came across this list of suggestions and links at TheCheapRevolution.com. Heck, even if you have a pile of cash to spend, you should still be doing some of these things:

15 Do-It-Yourself PR Ideas

It’s hard to allocate where your money should be spent when you’re a startup - and you sometimes have to stretch every dollar. Bootstrapping doesn’t have to be hard though. If you decide to promote your company yourself, read on for fifteen do-it-yourself tactics and get ahead of your competition!

1. Write an interesting article. Writing articles is a great way to establish credibility and drive traffic to your site. Check out this outline if you’re not sure of the layout or for some more ideas. The key here is to make sure your article ends up benefiting the person reading it. Some ideas include:

• Talking about the social benefits of your service.
• Providing advice on pitfalls you fell into when starting your business with examples on how you overcame them.
• Creating a case study on a client.

After you put it together, submit it to online article submission sites such as ezinearticles.com. For a list of more than 150 other sites, check out this post. (Pick your shots and find the ones that will be the most relevant to your audience).

Other important aspects to take into account are to make sure your headline is thought-provoking and to include a byline at the end of article. Your headline should draw people in – make sure it’s short, funny, and/or engaging. Sometimes writing it last works best. Check out this great post by Copyblogger for other headline ideas.

Finally, your byline should give readers a brief background of yourself and your company. Be sure to include a link to your site readers can click on. If you have analytics software installed on your site, track which sites are bringing the most traffic and concentrate your future efforts in submitting articles to those sites.

2. Blog about it. Don’t have a blog? Get one! If you’re worried about the cost, you can sign up for a free account at blogger.com or blog.com. The title of your blog should be relevant to your product/service – you can also make it catchy or creative depending on the industry you’re in.

When writing your posts, take considerable time in writing your headline. In addition, make sure to include keywords that relate to your post. These keywords will be instrumental in helping readers find your post. Once you’ve published your post, submit it to bookmarking tools such as stumbleupon, delicious, and digg. For a great list of social media sites you can submit your post to, check out this entry by Tropical SEO. These tools will help drive traffic to your site.

I would also set up a Technorati account. This will help even more readers find your blog. It’s free to set up an account and you can set up your blog to automatically ping the site every time you post. MyBlogLog is another site I recommend setting up an account on. It allows you to build a community around your blog as well as network with other bloggers.

3. Send an e-newsletter. This implies you have a mailing list. If you don’t have one, start building it now. Include all the current contacts you have and be sure you have an opt in button on your site so you can collect more contacts. Another way to build your mailing list is by asking people at networking events if you can add them to it.

The next step is to write your newsletter. In it, you can talk about news in your company, recent hires, etc. Always make sure you include news your readers can use – there has to be at least one post that will benefit your readers directly. For example, in our last newsletter, we talked about leveraging social media for your business. Use an e-mail campaign service such as Constant Contact and iContact. For other alternatives, check out our previous post. Be sure to include an opt-out option or you will be violating the CAN-SPAM Act.

4. Submit a Press Release. Write a noteworthy press release in third person and submit it yourself at free online sites such as prweb.com. For other sites, click here. You can also send the press release to the local media around your area. To gain a better chance of getting it picked up, include a cover letter that showcases how the information in your release benefits your local community.

It’s important to also note that it may prove worthwhile to pay for one PR service if you have truly newsworthy information. We’ve used Businesswire.com with great success.

5. Profile your company in Wikipedia. It’s important to build an online presence and adding an entry in Wikipedia can help you accomplish that (even with the new nofollow attribute). Check out how other companies profile themselves and use the same format. Be sure to include links to your site so people can find you (We’re working on ours now!).

6. Get a LinkedIn Account. LinkedIn is a social networking site for business professionals. It allows you to connect with those you know as well as get introduced to those you want to know. In my opinion, it’s most useful function is its “Answers” feature. This is where users post questions on several different categories about a certain topic. Leverage your knowledge and experiences by answering them and post your own questions that make others notice you. Be sure to leave a response you’re proud of because the best answer given to a question can earn you an “Expert” rating.

7. Leverage Social Media sites. Social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, Squidoo, Ning and Zaadz can be a great way to market your company and/or offering. Make a list of groups on each that are relevant to you, join them, network with other members, and promote yourself and your service. For a list of other social media sites, click here.

8. Add Signature Lines. You are probably constantly e-mailing vendors, clients, partners, etc. Did you know you can also market your new services in them? Add a signature line at the end of your e-mail with a link to your site that promotes your new service or blog post. It’s easy to do and can prove to be fruitful.

9. Go to trade shows. This depends on what industry you’re in but it can be a great way to promote yourself or your company. You can also set up a booth yourself if appropriate.

10. Speak at conferences. Find local, relevant conferences and offer to speak for free on an area of expertise you possess. This can be at your local chamber of commerce or other associations that relate to your industry.

11. Start a contest. Everybody loves to win something and a great way to market your company is to start a contest. Make one of your offerings for free as the prize. Use this opportunity to add to your mailing list (with permission of course).

12. Comment on blogs. Compile a list of blogs that complement your service/company or relate to your industry and comment on their posts. Try to be in the top three to comment and make sure to say something that is related to your area of expertise or knowledge.

13. Guest Blogging. Offering to guest blog on someone else’s blog can be a great way to introduce yourself or service to others. Research a list of relevant blogs and contact the blogger. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is and how willing bloggers will be to talk to you. You can also approach a expert in your area and offer to do a guest blogging piece on your own blog.

14. Ask for testimonials. If your clients were happy with your services, ask them for a testimonial to include on your site. If they don’t time to write one, write it yourself and ask them to approve it.

15. Network, Network, Network!

I hope you have the time to implement all of these steps. If not, consider using a virtual team to help you execute and accelerate the launch of your web business!

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