An Interview with Martin Brossman on Using Linkedin as a Job Hunting tool. Also see other resources below.
Here is the two links to the shows:
1st the spot that was shown on the nightly news:
http://news.mync.com/site/news/video/2951/Linked%20In%20pkg/
2nd more of the interview:
http://news.mync.com/site/news/video/2944/Martin_Brossman_interview/
I want to thank all who recommended me for this show including Greg Hyer with the great RTP Linkedin resource: www.linkingraleighnc.com, Wayne Sutton and Chuck Hester ( Linkedin Life, find Chuck at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckhester ). I know their were others that recommend me as well but did not get the names.
Other resoruces: Professional Networking On-Line ( Article on MyNC.com ) :
http://wake.mync.com/site/wake/Community/story/11074
Martin Brossman - Success Coach / Trainer
About Martin Brossman
Martin, a success coach, speaker, trainer and author, has been mastering the art of networking in the Triangle since 1982 ( www.coachingsupport.com ). He has originated numerous successful in-person and on-line networking groups which have facilitated meaningful business connections among members. Martin’s computer skills have powered his keen ability to create and teach crucial new Internet communications, such as blogging, podcasting and on-line networking. His own podcast show can be heard at www.InquireOnLine.info . He offers consulting on how to generate profitable alliances by maximizing face-to-face and on-line presence and managing “the conversation of you” on the Web - www.ProNetworkingOnLine.com .
For more information, contact Martin Brossman at (919) 847-4757 or Martin@CoachingSupport.com
For TinyURL to share this page using: http://tinyurl.com/5lqyyl
A Whole New Distention to the In-person Referral Group - Networking on the Web is an in-person referral group that uses a projection screen and internet connection to use the group’s on-line connections and in-person connections to enhance business networking.
Here is an excerpt of an article written about the group and a link to see the entire article.
Professional Networking on the Web - By Anora McGaha
“There’s a new group in town, for online networking; one that really helps people apply the tools of online social networking to daily business. Professional Networking on the Web. What do you know about that?
A few of you have been doing this for years, and this may or may not appeal. Maybe you like to share what you know, then you might like to participate. But for most of us, even signing up into LinkedIn, THE professional registry online, is a major leap of faith. It takes anywhere from two to ten people inviting us in before we sign on, and then, once we’re in, then what? If we have a business that is ready to go, ready to network, ready for new clients, the “Then What?” question is very important; it is the core focus of this group.
The biweekly breakfast meetings are led by Coach, Martin Brossman, and Web Consultant, Whitney Hill. They start with introductions, and a quick round of progress and successes since the last meeting. Then, down to business:…”
Go here for the rest of the article: http://wake.mync.com/site/wake/community/story/11074/
To see more about the group go to: http://www.coachingsupport.com/network/PNOTW.html
Networking In Leads GroupsOver the past ten years or so, leads groups have become a staple of networking for small business people. Unlike the more familiar referrals groups and peer advisory groups, leads groups allow any number of the same businesses and membership is open with a small fee only when attended. Like its predecessors, however, leads groups are most effective when attended regularly and relationships are built.
Every person attending a leads group is afforded the opportunity to give their 30 second introduction to themselves and their business. Most of these groups allow attendees to bring a promotional give away, which are handed out by ticket drawings given at registration, and doing so presents yet another opportunity to promote your business. The point of the leads group, which usually meets weekly, is to allow for networking and promoting one’s business. They are most effective when attendees develop relationships and schedule one on one meetings with others who they are interested in doing business with each other. It is an unwritten rule that when two people meet each person gets equal time to present their business. These groups also become more dynamic over time as the attendees get to know each other better.
The bottom line for leads groups is attend regularly, build relationships, refer to other members, meet one on one and have fun. Over time those who attend and use the groups properly do report getting business and find these groups worth their time and effort.
Bill Carraway - billcrenegade@mindspring.com - 919-605-4895 To learn more about the Western Leads group: www.westernwakeleads.com
To see the entire Business Networking Resources in the Triangle Blog: www.TriangleBizScene.com
The Conversation Of You on the WebThe Conversation Of You on the Web by Martin Brossman
From your career to your business, it is wise to think about the current and future conversation about you on the web. When you have a talk with someone at a networking event, that conversation lasts only as long as you’re speaking and in the memory of the people who were listening. Conversations on the web that may passionately express a strong opinion in the moment may live for years, long after the opinion has faded away.
Right now you are probably on the web in some form whether you planned it or not. My invitation is to participate in the conversation that you want about yourself on the web. Trying to control everything that is said about you on the web is not what I’m talking about (and a poor use of time that would drive you crazy.) Just as speaking without thinking in public can have immediate negative ramifications personally, doing the same thing on the web can have ramifications over a longer period of time. For example, when I first started searching my own name on the web I was shocked to find an upset note complaining about a faulty product associated with my name. When I investigated further, I found out that I had actually posted the note a year ago to the manufacturer, and Google had pulled the note out of context with my name attached. This opened my eyes to the importance of paying attention to what I put on the Internet and the value of spending some time attending to that. I am not talking about falsely representing yourself on the web to look good, but I am talking about insuring that what’s on the Web represents the type of person you are committed to being. So you see, “the conversation of you” on the Web is your permanent virtual showcase, including more than just what you do or your job. It is giving people a sense of the total person, beyond a mere description attached to a job.
Just as in business networking in person, trying to be everywhere all the time does not work well. My advice about business and social networking is to start by picking one to three good networking sources. Work with them and get to know them, — even though every one of your friends may be sending you an invite to other online groups you’ve never heard of . For example, you may want to start with linkedin.com, or a local business group like inside919.com. Allot a set amount of time each week for learning about how to use it, or even go to some training on the topic. From You Tube, to blogs, to the site’s own resources, there are a lot of free educational resources on the web to help you learn to navigate wisely. Watch what others do and notice the effect it has on you, both positive and negative. Remember to use the same social skills you would have in person on the web (sometimes people forget this key point.) Don’t over-dominate one community group with listings of things you are selling. Make sure to lead with value and contribution.
Being part of networking communities on the web is as important to a business owner as it is to someone with a “career job”. The saddest thing I have seen is the hardworking employee doing their best to “take care of their family” by focusing only on doing their job. When someone takes no time to build a conversation about themselves outside the company and is suddenly laid off, it is a lot harder and more costly to market yourself for a job on the web when you are unemployed. It is a good idea to talk to your PR person, marketing person, web developer or career consultant to have these conversations aligned strategically on the web. Even if your name is not unique, you can make it stand out with quality information attached to it. Using a Blog reader or a news aggregator is a great way to keep track of many information sources in one location. Look forward to seeing YOU on the web!
At a recent event of the Business Alliance at the Cardinal Club in Raleigh NC there was a presentation on this topic by myself and several other people. Here are the contacts from that meeting; they all have good resources on their blogs:
John M. O’Connor - President - Career Pro Inc. - www.careerproinc.com - john@careerproinc.com - (919) 624-1336
Lorana Price - CEO & Creative Director - Holy Cow Branding - www.holycowbranding.com - lorana@holycowbranding.com - (919) 342-3349
Whitney Hill - President - Carolina Web Consultants - www.internetpeople.net - whitney@internetpeople.net - 919-676-7500
Frank Williams - Founder of Pioneer Strategies - www.pioneerstrategies.com - (919) 833-4345
And myself: Martin Brossman - Success Coach / Trainer / Author: www.CoachingSupport.com , Martin@CoachingSupport.com , (919) 847-4757
My podcast is: www.inquireonline.info
If you are a business in the 919 area code, you may wonder where on-line to network. Of course linkedin.com is worth having a profile on, but I want to talk about a new one– www.inside919.com (they also have ones for all US area codes — www.insideareacodes.com – but you need to really work or live in the title-designated area code ).
It is free to join, allows you to form local discussion groups like “Triangle Business Bloggers” or “Podcasting.” It lets you list calendar events, have a blog so you can contribute useful articles, have a profile stating your business and it offers an RSS feed so you can keep up with it in your Blog Reader. By requiring you to live or work in the 919 area code and asking that people make at least one contribution a month, it keeps it smaller then the big guys offering a local connection. It was started by Pat Howlett who moved from a small town to the RTP NC area and wanted to create a small town business networking feel on-line.
My networking advice for using Inside919 is to take a little time to join it, fill out the basic profile, maybe join a few groups that are of interest and connect to some people you know. Next just check in once a week or even once a month based on your time demands and the importance of a web presence. When you check in, look for ways to help others or contribute to a conversation that is occurring in a Forum or group. If you use a blog reader then add the RSS feed to that so you can keep track of it.
I do recommend a picture and if you don’t have one you like, pay a photographer for one good one. The good photographers can offer Photoshop touch ups if that makes you more comfortable. You can find one in InSide919.com as well.
Next share the site with good local businesses you know to help them connect to others.
I like this group since Pat is a local person who truly wants to help the local business professionals and make it easy to participate. To me this can be one of the important pieces of your on-line presence and marketing plan.
Pat Howlett also is creating groups for other area codes and here is a website to find all the groups: www.insideareacodes.com
If you join www.inside919.com , look me up and say hello!
By Martin Brossman - www.coachingsupport.com - Martin@CoachingSupport.com (919) 847-4757 -
Are You LinkedIn?Are You LinkedIn? Submitted by Theresa Carter - StayNTouch.biz
LinkedIn (www.Linkedin.com) is a business network that has emerged as a replacement for the old rolodex because it is online and self-managed. LinkedIn offers a much more robust way to maintain your business connections and see what they are up to. But beyond that, LinkedIn has become an indispensable tool for business introductions.
Your Profile
Before you begin looking for contacts within LinkedIn, make sure your Profile sells you! A professional picture will help people remember you, so make sure it makes the impression you’re looking for. List your current and past positions, including volunteer positions. Every position you list is another way to “link” with other people. For example, I list my position with WBON. When someone does a google search for WBON, my LinkedIn profile comes up!
Once you are satisfied with your profile, begin looking for people you already have a relationship with. The easiest way to do this is to upload your contacts from your electronic rolodex - Outlook, Yahoo Mail, etc. This upload will identify all the contacts from your rolodex who are already “LinkedIn”. Follow the instructions to “invite” them to connect with you.
As you receive emails indicating that contacts have accepted your invitation, take the time to view their profiles. Have you done business with them in the past? Can you write them a great endorsement? Do it now! Next, check out their connections. This is the fun part. People you know are connected to each other and you had no idea they knew each other. You went to the same college as someone you know and didn’t even know it!
Repeat this process with each accepted invitation and you’ll be building your network in no time. The, when you are looking for a product or service, use your network first!
Doing Business through LinkedIn
Say you’re interested in talking to StayNTouch.biz about your new product. You log into LinkedIn and search for people who work for StayNTouch.biz. Then you Figure out how you might be connected to them. Ideally the connection is just one degree away, or in other words, you know someone who knows the person you are looking to connect with directly. Then ask for an introduction. Try it now by going to my profile and checking out my contacts. Is there anyone you’d like to connect to? Ask me for an introduction.
An introduction received via LinkedIn is much warmer than a cold call, because it comes with a bit of trust. You are no longer a stranger trying to sell things that no one needs, instead you come with a recommendation from a person that the receiver knows. And even if you can’t find a path to connect to someone, sending a direct message via LinkedIn is better than sending a cold email. The reason is that LinkedIn implies business, and so the person you’re trying to reach likely is not going to be as surprised or angry about the unsolicited ping.
Submitted by Theresa Carter, WBON Membership Chair www.StayNTouch.biz - 919.369.7801 If you have any linked in questions, please email me and I’ll try to get back to you right away, but if I get a lot of questions, I may do a follow up article!
Networking: Secret Weapon for Entrepreneurs and Small BusinessesLarge, well-funded organizations often invest a great deal of money in public relations programs in an effort to establish a strong identity and presence in the community. Small businesses and entrepreneurs usually have no such luxury.
It is rare that a small business or entrepreneur has a big PR budget. Instead, they must rely on low-budget, high-impact strategies to achieve their public relations goals. Networking is one secret weapon available to entrepreneurs and small businesspeople who wish to establish a strong presence in the community.
As an entrepreneur or small business owner, you have a vision and passion for your business — or you wouldn’t be in business. You are your own best salesperson. You are the best possible ambassador for your company. Networking is the secret weapon which, if properly targeted and utilized, enables you to build a strong community presence for your organization.
Making Friends Before You Need Them
At Pioneer Strategies, we have a simple definition of networking: making friends before you need them. We believe that networking is all about one thing: building solid, lasting business relationships with key people.
Key Principles of Networking
» Relationship: Networking is not about making a quick sale; it’s about building a trust-based business relationship that will stand the test of time.
» Two-way street: By definition, a lasting business relationship must be a two-way street. You cannot focus solely on what the other person can give you; you must bring something to the table as well. If a business relationship isn’t beneficial for all involved, it won’t stand the test of time. You must add value to the relationship.
» Choose your audiences: As an entrepreneur or small business owner, your time is precious and must be used wisely. That’s why it’s important that you thoughtfully consider your target audiences before you begin networking. For example, if your target audience is comprised mainly of high-tech companies then a retail merchants’ organization would likely not be the best networking venue for you. If your target audience is centered around manufacturing businesses, high-tech companies are not the ideal place to expend your networking energy. Identify your audiences — then go where they are.
» Stay in the Game: Networking is not an overnight cure-all for your sales woes; it is a long-term process that will yield tremendous results over time. Once you choose your audiences and determine where you can best interact with them, be consistently visible. Don’t be a fly-by-night who attends one Chamber function, then drops the whole networking idea out of frustration because you haven’t achieved immediate results. Be patient, stay in the game and give your networking time to bear fruit.
» Be Honest and Be Real: It’s important that you not try to put on a show or pretend to be something that you’re not. Just be yourself, be honest, and get to know people.
» Don’t Wing It: In order to be truly successful, there must be a method to your madness. If you shoot from the hip, more often than not you’ll miss your target. Develop a networking plan and stick to it.
As an entrepreneur or small business owner, you are your best salesperson. If you develop a networking plan and invest the time to get out there and build those key relationships, it will pay great dividends over time. Networking is not a quick-fix — it’s a long-term process. Develop your plan, then exercise patience and discipline by giving it time to work.
Frank Williams is president of Pioneer Strategies, a public relations agency he founded in 2001. For more information, visit Pioneer Strategies’ Web site at www.pioneerstrategies.com or the Public Relations Insights Blog at http://www.pioneerstrategies.blogspot.com.
Networking, The Super SeedNetworking, The Super Seed
By Whitney Hill
CEO and Marketing Director, Carolina Web Consultants, Inc
Are you frustrated because networking to get business appears to be a waste of time? Are you networking at the right watering holes? Are you doing it the right way? Are you getting results? How often have you heard a professional who was new to networking complain that the leads group they were in was not getting them business, or that the business group they were a member of was a waste of time and money? Membership or participation in any networking group does not guarantee business unless you follow some basic principles:
1) Plant in the right field. When you get started, survey a number of different networking groups and find out which ones offer the best exposure for your business, which ones best fit with your marketing plan, and which ones compliment your personal marketing style the best. In this way you will ensure that you invest your time into the places that will yield the maximum return. Don’t make snap decisions. For example, if you are in a business to business segment and you join a leads group that is made up of consumer businesses, or if you are in the healthcare industry and you join a group with IT and communications people, you are not putting yourself into a good position for the best results to occur. Spend time to find the right networking forums for you and your business.
2) Plant good seeds. Instead of just focusing on what you can get out of the networking group, make your primary focus to look for ways to contribute to the group in the most efficient, effective manner possible. Make referrals, pass leads, make introductions, promote businesses that are in your group, share business information and take leadership roles where you are needed. The principle here is that you cannot give into a worthwhile endeavor and not get a multiplied return.
3) Tend your field. Building one on one relationships within your networking forums over a cup of coffee or a meal is where the real magic sets in. The individual relationships are the real glue of your personal network. Balance your time between establishing new relationships and maintaining your close contacts. Keep an A list of your closest partners. Maintain communication in a manner that fits your style. If you like to write then send notes, if you like to talk then make phone calls, and if you are spontaneous then send emails.
4) Do not dig your seed up. A farmer invests in seed, spends time preparing and planting, then waters and cares for the field. Early on, when nothing looks like it is happening, he does not go out and dig his seed up or move to another field, but instead waits patiently for his harvest to arrive. Networking is the same way. It will take time in most cases for you to cultivate trust and goodwill in your networking forums. Be patient and keep planting good seed. Your harvest will come, and when it comes, it will be multiplied.
5) Visit other fields. You main focus should be tending your own networking groups, but take occasion to step out and visit other ones. You can learn from other forums, make outside connections, and spread the word about your business to other professionals. Look for alliances outside of your regular networking forums. These relationships are something of value that you can bring back to your regular networking groups.
6) Be prepared for the harvest. When you start getting results, be ready to receive them. Be ready to professionally and effectively facilitate the leads, contacts, introductions, etc. that you receive.
7) Your harvest does not always come up where planted. Many times opportunities will arise from places that you did not plant. Congratulations! You are experiencing the benefits of the unseen law of sowing and reaping. This is the super seed. Receive it and do not try to figure everything out.
8) Harvest the field properly. When contacts and introductions are given, make sure that you provide feedback to the referrer on what happened. When the referrer sees that their trust in you was wisely given, they are going to feel all the more confident in sending the next referral. This feedback will encourage the referrer to send you more referrals. Rewards given in the right manner are wise. Take the referrer to lunch, give extra focus on helping them, send a note, or come up with a creative way to say thank you.
9) Evaluate your harvest and plan next year’s crop. There is a time when you need to take an honest look at your networking plan. Once a year, look at where your time and resources are being spent. Drop what is not working well, and move to a group with programs that may be more effective. Be careful how you do this evaluation. Hard metrics, like how many leads have I received, how many good contacts have I made and how many times has a relationship from this group helped me close a deal, need to be in the mix for your evaluation, but other soft indicators, like branding exposure, access to industry information and size of sphere of influence should be considered as well. These are often intuitive metrics and hard to measure, but they could be even more important to you and your business than are the concrete metrics. Changes in your business or the networking forums you are in may also dictate changes in where you spend your networking time. When you choose to leave a networking forum, do not just disappear. Exit gracefully and maintain key relationships.
In your networking, just remember this quote from the greatest networker of all time whose network continues 2000 years later, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Be a patient giver and a seed sower and watch the return come in.
A Few Tips on Getting the Most out of LinkedIn.com by Martin BrossmanLinkedIn.com is a business networking resource on the internet. It complements your fundamental networking skills in building relationships of value which you would use with people you interact with in person. It offers you a world wide connection, a way to “personally brand” yourself, make contacts for jobs, and have a chance to acknowledge good people throughout your past.
First of all sign up if you have not, today! The basic service is free! And fill out the entire profile. Include as much information in your profile as you can. This includes simple hobbies, interest, and associations that are important to you. Those profiles show up in Google searches, so others will be able to view the information. If you understand “personal branding” of YOU, then you know the benefit of this. The more positive points of reference to you on the web the better (as long as they are real).
Take a few minutes and think about people of value from your past who you might link with. Search for their names and invite them to reconnect. Then take the time to write them an endorsement (even a sentence is good). Your name is tied to this so make sure it is authentic and also reflects well on you. If you keep doing this and helping people your own endorsements will grow over time and be well earned. Endorsements of you initiated by others are obviously best. You really don’t want to ask for an endorsement unless you are clear they would love to give you one and are simply looking for an opportunity.
Look for professional associations or groups such as your college on LinkedIn and if they are not listed encourage them to”register.” My own college St. Andrews is not listed and I am working on getting them to sign up. This “group” feature of LinkedIn is very important. It lets you gain contact with all the members of that group to build relationships if appropriate. As you set up for your own “LinkedIn” web link be sure it reflects your real name. When you sign up for an account, you are assigned a random number that designates your profile page on LinkedIn. You can then go into your profile settings and change that number so that instead of http://www.linkedin.com/pub/1/712/a78, you would have a personal link like mine: http://www.linkedin.com/in/martinbrossman . You can and should add this to your website and email address.
Understand and use the questions area. People are wonderfully generous about helping other LinkedIn.com members. Ask questions of things you think the members may be able to help you with and answer some of the questions if you can. You may be known as an “expert” over time in that area.
Also, have some fun. I found a distant cousin in Australia of whom I was completely unaware of. I have looked up people who took training programs that turned out to be of great value to me and made some good friends that way. Remember to build your network and invest in it before you need it!
Let me know how YOU are using linkedin.com
You may enjoy the current article in the News & Observer about Linkedin.com. It is titled “Are You Linked?”
http://www.newsobserver.com/business/technology/story/630408.html
Be well,
Martin Brossman
www.CoachingSupport.com
martin@coachingsupport.com
www.InquireOnLine.Info
Networking gets a bad rap. Most people think of networking as an event. You have been there before. Cocktail weenies and cheddar cheese cubes are on the buffet. The fish bowl in front is full of business cards for a door prize. Name tags are everywhere you look. Vaguely you remember someone saying that your name tag goes on one side or the other.
Guess what? It really does not matter. If you are someone that people want to remember then your name tag could be on your back. Likewise, if you are forgettable or worse, someone people wish they could forget, then your name tag’s location will not help your cause.
In the coming months I will be talking about getting connected and staying connected. Some people call this phenomenon networking. Before we talk about what it is, let’s look at what it isn’t.
Networking is not about increasing your sales.
Networking is not about finding a new job.
Networking is not about improving your love life.
Networking is not about a free meal.
Networking is about your relationships with others. Period. Networking is the people you know. It is about meeting people, not prospects or future raving fans. And when you meet them, one day you may sell them something or you may buy something from them, they may give you a job, or even marry you. But at first it is a question of what you can do for them.
Networks exist because we do need each other. In an interdependent world one thing you can count on is that if you can be an offer of value, others will become obligated to you. Human beings just work that way, although not all humans get this concept on the same level. Some people get their help solely by making transactions. But living in a world of transaction is very linear and expensive. If I pay a guy to do my taxes, my taxes are done. Once I write a check, we are square. No surprises occur. Nothing larger than life can happen.
Networking is about doing someone’s taxes and not accepting a check. Then finding something else you can do for them. And if you don’t know how to do someone’s taxes, maybe your offer can be even more valuable. From this beginning, non-linear growth in your career and wealth can occur. But finding what to give can be tricky.
So what do you have to offer? The good news is that I do not know. You actually have to figure it out on your own and give others something that fits with who you are. This gift is your own “secret sauce”. Luckily, many people find it easier to be themselves when taking care of others than they do trying to follow a formula. If you copy other people’s ideas, you risk that your offers will be seen as common. The best offers are those that are scarce.
When in doubt, sometimes your most significant offer to another is willingness. Especially when networking with those more seasoned or further along than you, your offer of willingness to help can open doors. Of course, you must follow up this willingness with actual willingness.
Here is the conundrum. In a world where the number is never done and bosses or stockholders are breathing down your neck, when do you find time to network? You cannot find it, you must schedule it. As a first hint, I challenge you to find 5% of your week, every week, just to connect. You already know who is falling out of your network. You also know those that you really need to retain. Call them, tell them you care, send them a card, and reconnect. The worst time to reconnect is always when you need something. Ever get a call from a long lost collegue with a resume in his hand? Don’t be that person.
For more about Gary Davis: www.NetworkingInTheSouth.com
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