Here is How to Build Your “Top” Advocate Strategy
Attend networking events and have other people introduce you
Target contacts with access to resources and people
Set up a networking or mastermind group
Identify your Top 10-15 contacts
TOUCH them every month (or more often if appropriate:
articles
calls
monthly gift
invite them to events
personal notes
friendly voicemails
attend events they are likely to be at; arrive early
connect them with clients or partners
send them a subscription to a favorite magazine
have coffee or lunch to discuss an idea or working relationship
Review, evaluate and update your list every 3 months
Monday, January 23, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
30 Ways to Network More “Effectively” and “Enjoy the Experience”
30 Ways to Network More “Effectively” and “Enjoy the Experience”
by Douglas Campbell III
CEO The Success Coach
As networking options continue to grow in the business and non profit world, a coherent strategy is more important than ever. As you read this, circle the FIVE ideas that make the most sense to you – and implement them today.
1. Set up realistic goals when you attend a meeting. Meaningful conversations with 2 or 3 people are frequently a goal for me.
2. Take a networking quiz to assess where you are and how difficult networking is for you.
3. Know the 10 myths of networking and learn from them.
4. Write down the 10 things people should know about you.
5. Craft an appropriate message or “pitch” with 3 lengths that people will remember.
6. Honor business cards. Look closely at the card, and make notes on the back of the card to remind you of the date, event, what you discussed, and note any follow-up action you need to take.
7. Call people you have met that you would like to share ideas over coffee even if they only partially overlap with you business. Partnerships come from all directions.
8. If you meet someone that you have previously met, learn and record 2 new pieces of information about them – family, interests, recent travel, etc.
9. Join networking groups that fit your schedule. There are groups that meet in the morning, over lunch, and in the evening. The size of the group may also be important to you.
10. Get in a leadership position in a civic group such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions or another group. You will meet city and community leaders and learn about local happenings.
11. Join a committee in your local chamber that plans or develops events. There is also an ambassadors committee which welcomes new members. I ran the Small Business Council and launched several new programs for business owners in a local chamber.
12. Join a second or third chamber to expand your reach and meet new people.
13. Volunteer and work for a local non profit that is important to you. You are giving back, and you will be visible at their annual events.
14. Rotate organizations that you are actively involved in every three or four years.
15. Develop a list of 50-100 types of professionals you need to know to expand your business or organization. Systematically work to meet 1 or 2 in each category of professional.
16. Attend meetings of trade associations where you will meet or see target professionals, even if you only can make it once or twice a year.
17. Check the Sunday papers for a list of the events scheduled in the coming 2 or 3 weeks.
18. Call people you know who are written up in the papers and congratulate them. They are flattered and glad to reconnect.
19. Nurture relationships with editors and writers at events you attend. Share ideas or thoughts with them to provoke their thought process.
20. Write practical articles for the paper with a byline and contact information at the end of the article.
21. Write letters to the editor if you have a point of view that needs to be emphasized. Send it to several papers whose circulation overlaps.
22. Teach a course at a local university. This positions you as an expert, and you will learn from the process.
23. Run a teleclass (teleclass.com) on a topic of interest where you can share your knowledge.
24. Visit major trade shows in New York such as the automobile, toy, gift or software shows, for new contacts and/or new ideas.
25. Read a new book on networking every year and save them as references. Power Networking by Sandy Vilas and Donna Fisher (1992) and Make Your Contacts Count by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon (2002) wer3e meaningful ones for me.
26. Join or set up a mastermind group with your peers that meets at least monthly. A professional speaker friend meets every month with 4 other speakers from the New England area for a day.
27. Set up your own networking group and make it unique. I have a group that meets with leading entrepreneurs, authors and speakers in southwest Connecticut.
28. Invite people who meet the criteria for the group to come and join. This allows you to reach out and network with successful, high-powered people that you would not ordinarily contact.
29. Engage in a debating society to sharpen your mind and meet people in a different setting.
30. Learn and grow by participating in a spiritual group that meets weekly. Sharpen your focus to define your calling and mission in life.
Networking is a discipline that you have to work at continuously. Challenge yourself to give, give and give and help others. You and your business will be paid back with abundance.
by Douglas Campbell III
CEO The Success Coach
As networking options continue to grow in the business and non profit world, a coherent strategy is more important than ever. As you read this, circle the FIVE ideas that make the most sense to you – and implement them today.
1. Set up realistic goals when you attend a meeting. Meaningful conversations with 2 or 3 people are frequently a goal for me.
2. Take a networking quiz to assess where you are and how difficult networking is for you.
3. Know the 10 myths of networking and learn from them.
4. Write down the 10 things people should know about you.
5. Craft an appropriate message or “pitch” with 3 lengths that people will remember.
6. Honor business cards. Look closely at the card, and make notes on the back of the card to remind you of the date, event, what you discussed, and note any follow-up action you need to take.
7. Call people you have met that you would like to share ideas over coffee even if they only partially overlap with you business. Partnerships come from all directions.
8. If you meet someone that you have previously met, learn and record 2 new pieces of information about them – family, interests, recent travel, etc.
9. Join networking groups that fit your schedule. There are groups that meet in the morning, over lunch, and in the evening. The size of the group may also be important to you.
10. Get in a leadership position in a civic group such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions or another group. You will meet city and community leaders and learn about local happenings.
11. Join a committee in your local chamber that plans or develops events. There is also an ambassadors committee which welcomes new members. I ran the Small Business Council and launched several new programs for business owners in a local chamber.
12. Join a second or third chamber to expand your reach and meet new people.
13. Volunteer and work for a local non profit that is important to you. You are giving back, and you will be visible at their annual events.
14. Rotate organizations that you are actively involved in every three or four years.
15. Develop a list of 50-100 types of professionals you need to know to expand your business or organization. Systematically work to meet 1 or 2 in each category of professional.
16. Attend meetings of trade associations where you will meet or see target professionals, even if you only can make it once or twice a year.
17. Check the Sunday papers for a list of the events scheduled in the coming 2 or 3 weeks.
18. Call people you know who are written up in the papers and congratulate them. They are flattered and glad to reconnect.
19. Nurture relationships with editors and writers at events you attend. Share ideas or thoughts with them to provoke their thought process.
20. Write practical articles for the paper with a byline and contact information at the end of the article.
21. Write letters to the editor if you have a point of view that needs to be emphasized. Send it to several papers whose circulation overlaps.
22. Teach a course at a local university. This positions you as an expert, and you will learn from the process.
23. Run a teleclass (teleclass.com) on a topic of interest where you can share your knowledge.
24. Visit major trade shows in New York such as the automobile, toy, gift or software shows, for new contacts and/or new ideas.
25. Read a new book on networking every year and save them as references. Power Networking by Sandy Vilas and Donna Fisher (1992) and Make Your Contacts Count by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon (2002) wer3e meaningful ones for me.
26. Join or set up a mastermind group with your peers that meets at least monthly. A professional speaker friend meets every month with 4 other speakers from the New England area for a day.
27. Set up your own networking group and make it unique. I have a group that meets with leading entrepreneurs, authors and speakers in southwest Connecticut.
28. Invite people who meet the criteria for the group to come and join. This allows you to reach out and network with successful, high-powered people that you would not ordinarily contact.
29. Engage in a debating society to sharpen your mind and meet people in a different setting.
30. Learn and grow by participating in a spiritual group that meets weekly. Sharpen your focus to define your calling and mission in life.
Networking is a discipline that you have to work at continuously. Challenge yourself to give, give and give and help others. You and your business will be paid back with abundance.
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