Tag Archive for 'Networking'

Build community with a website & social media

Published
by
Jim Blasingame
on August 8, 2011
in Online strategy and Social Media
. 0 Comments

Here is a question many small business owners ask: “Do we need a social media strategy if we have a website?”

The answer is the same as for why you have an email address, even though you have a phone. It’s not an either/or decision; it’s both/and.

Clearly, your beautiful website is also very handy: cyber address, digital brochure, e-catalog, virtual store, etc. But as versatile as it is, there is one increasingly important capability you need that a website isn’t good at: community building. That’s what social media does.

By my definition, social media is much older and more comprehensive than the popular Johnny-come-latelies, Facebook and Twitter. Your social media strategy includes everything you do to build, connect with and serve customer communities, including: the new stuff, email marketing, customer loyalty programs and, the original social media, face-to-face.

What are these communities? Do you have one?

In the old days – like 1999 – your customer list was just names on an accounts payable report or sales forecast. Today, those customers are part of your business’s community; the rest are prospects who are becoming interested in you. But unlike the passive customer list of old, this community is functioning and has expectations you have to meet, or they will join another community.

At the risk of hurting your feelings, once customers find you, returning to that beautiful website of which you’re so proud will be of decreasing interest to them. But the good news is that anything you have that’s new – product and how-to information, order status, special offerings, etc. – is of increasing interest to customers. They just don’t want to have to come back to get it. More and more, customers are saying to businesses, “I’ve seen what you offer and like it, but I won’t be returning to your website much, because I’m very busy. Why don’t you follow me home?”

This is what customers and prospects mean when they join your community by giving you permission to connect with them and send them stuff by email, text messaging, Twitter, Facebook, etc. They just want the new stuff, including updates to your website.

Connect with and serve your customer communities by following them home with all social media resources. That’s how a small business transcends merely being competitive by being relevant.

It’s both/and: Build and serve customer communities with a website and social media.

I’ve talked a lot about building online communities on my radio program, The Small Business Advocate Show. Click here to see all my interviews on social media, but first, let me know what you think about building customer communities.

The powerful practice of networking

Published
by
Jim Blasingame
on February 8, 2011
in Networking
. 0 Comments

Having moved his law practice to Chicago in 1896, Paul J. Harris missed the friendly relationships he knew growing up in a small Vermont town.

One fall day in 1900, while walking with his friend, Bob Frank, around the Windy City’s North Side, Harris noticed how Frank had made a connection with many of the shopkeepers they passed by. This kind of interaction was not only what he longed for, but he believed it would also appeal to other professionals (men in those days) who, like him, had emigrated from rural America to the big cities.

The question Harris mused to himself over the next few years was: Could such connecting activity be organized among professionals and business people? Today we know the answer to Harris’ question is civic groups. But at the dawn of the 20th century, this innovation had yet to be invented.

Then on February 23, 1905, Paul Harris put his connection question to the test when he and three friends founded the world’s first civic club. They named it Rotary because they planned to rotate weekly meetings between each member’s office. Now an international success story, 33,000 Rotary clubs are still based on Harris’ founding principle of “Service above Self.”

Harris’ original dream was to connect people for the benefit of all parties. He probably didn’t use this term, but Harris’ 1905 connecting formula is the modern definition of networking.

Three-quarters of a century later, Ivan Misner had a dream of creating a structured networking model when he founded Business Network International. Misner’s goal was very much like Harris’ but with the specific purpose of business people meeting regularly to help each other grow their business.

Though not a civic organization, the motto of BNI’s 6,000 chapters worldwide is, “Givers gain.”  In a sentence it sounds like, “Let me help you first.”

The significant international success of Rotary and BNI has revealed two important things: 1) networking is an essential professional skill and practice; and 2) putting others first is powerful.

This week, February 6-12, is International Networking Week. This month Rotarians will celebrate the 106th anniversary of Paul Harris’ dream-come-true. Whether you participate in a civic club, a BNI chapter, your local chamber of commerce or other gathering, become a more frequent, accomplished and selfless networker.

Face-to-face is the original social media and it’s still important.

Today on The Small Business Advocate Show, I talked with Ivan Misner about successful networking. Take a few minutes to listen and leave your thoughts and best practices on how networking has helped you in your business.

Celebrating International Networking Week with Ivan Misner
The educational component of successful networking with Ivan Misner
Two more networking core competencies with Ivan Misner

Are you afflicted with “networking disconnect?”

Published
by
Jim Blasingame
on November 26, 2010
in Networking and Uncategorized
. 0 Comments

Recently I heard a story about a speaker whose topic was how to become better at networking. Not better at finding, scheduling or attending networking events. But better at having the right kind of networking values. 

So to make his point, this speaker asked how many in the audience came there hoping to make a sale as a result of attending this networking event.  Many in attendance raised their hands, and those were just the honest ones.  

Next, the speaker asked for a show of hands of how many came to the event wanting to buy something.  Wouldn’t you know it?  No one raised their hand. 

The person who told me this story is my friend and long-time Brain Trust member, Dr. Ivan Misner.  Ivan is the world’s leading expert on networking and the founder of Business Network International (BNI).   He heard this speaker ask these questions and then proceeded to identify this phenomenon – lots of networking salespeople, not so many networking buyers – as “the networking disconnect.”

Are guilty of practicing the networking disconnect?  Or do you have the right networking values that Ivan has tough by audience, which is based on the Law of Reciprocity, simply: Givers gain. 

Recently, on my radio program, The Small Business Advocate Show, Ivan joined me to talk about how to inoculate yourself against the networking disconnect syndrome. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to listen to our conversation and, as always, be sure to leave your own thoughts and/or experiences.

Are you guilty of the networking disconnect? with Ivan Misner

Networking is a key to success

Published
by
Jim Blasingame
on October 27, 2010
in Networking
. 0 Comments

Here are the results of last week’s Small Business Advocate poll, followed by my comments:

The Question: How many networking events (any gathering of business leaders) do you attend?

30% - None

30% - Average about one a month

26% - Usually two or more a month

13% - More than five a month

In 1998, I began telling small business owners that one of the three most important activities we were going to have to get better at in the 21st century is networking (the other two are leveraging technology and building strategic alliances). This week, in our poll question, we asked you about your networking activity and got some very good news.

Almost two-thirds of you are participating in at least one networking event a month. And almost four of ten are attending more than two a month.  Unfortunately, almost one-third of you are not attending any networking events.

Networking, whether one-on-one at lunch, or participating in a gathering, like a club meeting or chamber mixer, is as important as ever.  If you’re one of those who are doing no networking, allow me to tell you what I’ve learned in the past 30 years: Whenever I’ve ventured outside the four walls of my business, even when I didn’t want to go, something good ALWAYS happened.

Get out of your four walls and find out what other people are thinking and doing.  And remember, networking is not all about you. Practice the law of reciprocity. Or, as my friend, Dr. Ivan Misner, founder of BNI and the world’s leading networking expert says, “Givers gain.” If you want to get more out of networking, give more first.

One last thing: Social networking online is fine, but it’s not a substitute for the original social media: face-to-face.

Thanks for being part of my community. I’ll see you on the radio, and on the Internet.

To participate in the current poll question, visit www.smallbusinessadvocate.com and vote.

Be a networking pro and get professional results

Published
by
Jim Blasingame
on January 7, 2010
in Networking, Sales - Sales Management and Start-up
. 0 Comments

Are you a networking amateur or a pro?  Do you just show up at networking opportunities and wander around like you would at a high school reunion? Are you seeing any results from your networking activity? Just as in professional selling, there are networking tools and practices that you can learn and use that will help you become more professional and, therefore, more effective as a networker without being mechanical and manipulative.

Recently on my radio program, The Small Business Advocate Show, the world’s #1 guru on networking, Ivan Misner, revealed some of these professional networking tips you can use to become a professional networker, including a networking checklist and how to get a huge discount on an online networking resource. Ivan is a long-time member of my Brain Trust, but his day-job is as founder and Chairman of Business Network International, BNI, and author of several books on networking. Take a few minutes to listen to our visit and leave your thoughts on lessons you’ve learned about networking. Listen Live! Download, Too!

When small business dreams come true

Published
by
Jim Blasingame
on October 3, 2009
in Entrepreneurship, Innovation - Creativity and Inspirational and Motivational
. 2 Comments

Over the past dozen years, one of the cool things I have been able to do in my work is meet many smart people who were working on entrepreneurial ideas for a new business, a book, a service or other venture. Many times they have told me about their dream when it was literally just in their heads. I was able to watch and encourage them as they did the research, took the baby steps that preceded the launch, executed the plan, and ultimately grew the project into a success.

One of these stories involves my friend, Robert Levin. Rob wanted to produce a regional print publication dedicated to small businesses in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. In the face of a lot of competition and against all of the odds of starting any new venture from scratch, he did it.

Since 2005, I’ve interviewed Rob on my small business radio program, The Small Business Advocate Show, to talk about his journey and the work he is doing on behalf of small business. This week, while attending the fourth annual New York Enterprise Report Small Business Gala in New York City, I got to see that Rob has not only created a successful publishing venture, but also a vibrant community of followers. There were over 400 excited gala attendees who were there to network and recognize a number of tri-state small businesses for their marketplace excellence. Goodonya, Rob. I’m proud of you.

As a side note, yours truly received one of the “Advocate” awards, along with Brain Trust member, Karen Kerrigan, President of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, and one of my heroes.

Only in a free-market economy can someone first imagine and then build a business venture from scratch without having to ask permission. Only liberty provides the ability to take risks and then succeed or fail in business on your own. Only unfettered access to ownership and the possibility of financial success produces this kind of work and commitment.

In my work, I get to see this kind of behavior all the time. I love my job.