Recently I was featured on Embracing My Journey and wanted to share the article I wrote.
http://embracingmyjourney.com/building-genuine-networking-relationships.html

Genuine networking is all about people. It is about building relationships and creating long term connections. This style of networking may take longer but in the long run you will be rewarded with a group of people who know you well enough to trust you and refer you to other and work with you directly as well.

Listen to what people say with a genuine interest

Focusing on what someone is saying gives people respect for you and positions you as a caring person. Reflect on a time when someone has asked how you are and then didn’t listen to your answer. Perhaps they saw someone they knew or was listening to another conversation. How did you feel? Make a point of really truly listening when someone talks, especially if you have asked them a question.

Keep your focus and Eye Contact with people when they are talking

Eye contact makes the person you are talking with know you are paying attention and makes them feel important. A connection is made when you look a person in the eye.

Let people talk about themselves

Even if you do not get to talk about yourself at the first meeting with someone, letting them talk about themselves gives them a good feeling and a good impression of you as a genuine individual who cares. Have you ever experienced a person talking about themselves, not letting you get a word on edgewise? Not a great feeling is it?

Remember peoples names
I had an embarrassing moment in my early networking days. One day I was talking with someone who I had met before and did not remember their name. It was when another person joined the conversation and I realized that I could not introduce them that it became quite awkward. I did not realize that I was not really listening when people told me their names. It only took me that one time to realize that I needed to work on that! I now make sure I make a point of remembering or when I enter a room I take a look around quickly and if there is a name that escapes me I make sure I ask someone before I connect.

Remember details about people

Nothing makes someone feel better then being asked about something they mentioned to you previously. It shows you cared enough to remember and were really listening when they talked.  A little trick I learned was to make notes on the back of their business card as I meet so many people I need a little help to remember details about each one. The next time I see the person I can ask them how their situation worked out or how their son is doing.

Followup with no sales pitch

Following up is a key aspect of networking, but following up without selling something is a feel good gesture. An e-mail or card saying it was nice to meet you goes along way in building relationships and shows there is more to you then making a sale.

You may not always end up doing business with each person you meet but you can feel good about the impression you have left and that person will feel good about the experience of meeting and referring you. When you can truly network genuinely is when you see the magic of networking begin.

Happy Networking!
Sherry Lynn

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3 Ways To Power Up Your Social Networking Profile

I  have been inspired by Bob the Teacher in many ways. In spirit of the first Tip Tuesday here is more than just a tip but something that will drastically improve your social presence! After reading I am sure you will want to click on the link below to sign up FREE for your Networking 101 Lessons!

Enjoy!
Sherry

By Bob Jenkins
Would you like to know how to get better results with social networking? Start with your profile.
In a moment, you will learn 3 simple ways you can capture viewers attention, and magnetically attract clients and partners to your business with your profile.

But first, make sure you understand why this is so important to your success.
Like Your Business Card, Your Profile Creates The First Impression
All social networking sites work on the premise of connecting people together who can mutually benefit. To help with this, the user profile is a standard feature. Your profile includes your username, your photo, and a very concise description of you (typically 40 words or less).

The information you put in your profile is going to turn people on to you or turn people off from you. You don’t want to make them say, “Ah, that’s not really somebody worth knowing”. So you need to make sure your profile is something you’re going to spend a lot of time tweaking.

The better the profile is the more likely you will get people to be attracted to what you’re doing.

Now let’s turn to the 3 steps to creating a powerful profile, and get you the results you are looking for.
• Use The Same, Brandable Username For All Social Networking Profiles
• Create An Action-Based Description In Your Profile
• Put Your Best Face Forward With The Profile Photo
Brand Yourself With An Obvious Username

When you first create your accounts on social networks, you have to come up with a username. This is something you can’t change later within an account, so get it right the first time.
Your username must have these characteristics:
• It’s obviously you
• It’s easy to spell
• It’s easy to remember

Your own name is the best username to have if it’s still available because it’s what people who know you already will search for. If your name is hard to spell or is too common, though, you’ll want to get a second account that fits the characteristics above.

For example, my friend Scott’s initial Twitter account was ScottTousignant which is not the easiest thing to spell. So he has started to use “thefitb” as his Twitter user name instead.

Same thing with Bob Jenkins. There are so many Bob Jenkinses out there that I came up with BobtheTeacher quite a long time ago for my username on a forum. In fact, it’s been so effective as a username, many people don’t know my real last name!

Whatever your name is just make sure that you’re branding yourself as that name. Don’t use some adjective that doesn’t really hone into what you’re really all about.

Use the same username for all of the social networking sites because some people will find you on Twitter or Facebook or MySpace, and they’ll say, “Well, I’m not really on one of those sites. I wonder if they have a Twitter account or a Facebook account.” If they then just go randomly over to that other site and type in your name and somebody else has it, then you have confused your audience.

In the social networking game, your username is your brand – so grab yours at all the sites you can, even if you simply point the profiles to your main marketing hub and never use the account again.

Create An Action-Based Description In Your Profile
Most people quit social networking sites because they feel they are a waste of time. This is usually due to a poor profile description that attracts the wrong people.

When people see your profile, they want to know what you can do for them. So tell them, very succinctly, what you provide.

This is not a popularity contest, but an opportunity to brand yourself as the expert you are in your specialty area so you attract potential clients and partners – not a bunch of friends who are going to spam you with chaim mail, jokes, and crappy YouTube videos.

So provide a short 1-2 sentence benefit-focused description of what you do for others. This is traditionally called your USP – unique selling position – or what separates you from the rest of the pack.
You must also include a link to your marketing hub – your central location online. This should be your blog, but it can be any website you control and have a specific domain URL for. (If you don’t have a blog or website yet, then link all your profiles to the same Squidoo lensmaster page or profile page on your favorite social networking site until you get one.)

You need to make that link clickable so your visitors and new friends can go to your website when they want to find out more about you.

To do this, you need to type the full URL, such as http://DiscoverSocialNetworking.com. On most sites, simply typing DiscoverSocialNetworking.com will not create a clickable link.

After you create your profile, test the link to make sure it goes to the right page!

Put Your Best Face Forward With Your Profile Photo
To gain attention, trust, and referrals, you need to have a very good profile photo. A professional photo is always a good thing to have in business. But you don’t have to spend a hundred dollars for a half hour sitting or more right away. Keep in mind that social networking sites are not unlike a dating site. And fairly or unfairly, you will be judged by your picture.

Be sure your photo captures your energy shows off your personality. Typically a good profile photo is a head shot that shows you in a positive mood, and energized, looking directly at the viewer.

No matter what you look like, your charisma, personality, and energy are going to be what people are looking for. They’re not looking for a model. They’re looking for somebody who’s confident and who’s happy with their life. And even if you feel that’s a stretch for you to do, that’s the kind of picture that you want to try to have in your profile.

Improving Your Profile Will Improve Your Results
Implement the strategies you’ve just learned in the last few minutes and you will see improved results. And remember – unlike a business card you’re stuck with until you get rid of all 500 – you can change your profile at anytime.
You want your visitors to feel like they must get to know you – and perhaps that they already do in some way.
With a great username, clear mission statement linked to your blog, and an attractive photo, your profile will put you ahead of your competition in the social networking arena.

Bob Jenkins teaches business owners how to use internet marketing strategies effectively to attract more customers and get more sales – without spending a fortune on advertising. Discover more ways to power your business with social networking at www.DiscoverSocialNetworking.com.

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Understanding the 4 Behavioural Personality Styles will help you be able to communicate with your fellow networkers. Below is an overview of the 4 styles so you can better understand and communicate and most of importantly, know how to support them in their endeavours.

The analytical style is “ask assertive” and tends to control emotions. This style is restrained in communication. The voice is often subdued, frequently monotone. The focus is on tasks. They have great interest for, and appreciation of, facts and data. The analytical style is reserved in the pace of speech, speaking more slowly and offering fewer statements. Their body language is more controlled and reserved. They may “clam up” with those who are overly aggressive or emotional.

The driving style is “tell assertive” and tends to control emotions but tends to make more statements. They speak fast and are very direct. Though they don’t often use a wide range of vocal tone or inflection, they often speak louder than those of other styles. The driving style tends to focus on results and outcomes. They may become impatient with those who take too long to make decisions or those who are overly emotional.

The amiable style is “ask assertive” and tends to display emotions. They speak more slowly and thoughtfully, use variety in their vocal tone, and they’re very sensitive to the needs or reactions of others. The amiable style is the most concerned with relationships and can become upset if there is discord in the office. They can lose sight of practicality if overwhelmed with emotional issues or relationship problems.

The expressive style is “tell assertive” and tends to display emotions. Individuals of the expressive behavioral type tend to make more statements. They speak faster, use more variety in their vocal tone, and they’re frequently very animated in conversation. The expressive style tends to focus on issues with people, and they often use stories in making their points. They are often highly spontaneous and can generate high-energy and creative ideas for the practice. Follow-through, however, can be a challenge for these folks.

By understanding these styles you can better communicate and know how to work together with the different types to avoid friction and ensure smooth and successful networking.

Happy Networking!

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