Networking - Relax!
Networking ? relax! ? Gill Fernley and Justin Baker, Six Degrees NetworkAnyone who has been to a networking event has met business card thruster guy. Won't leave you alone, thrust their card in your face, every attempt at conversation gets quickly turned into a sales pitch. These people aren't networking, they're selling. Badly. Let me share with you some of my thoughts on what puts the ?work' in networking.
Networking is a form of marketing, and any form of marketing is most effective when you don't come straight out and say "buy this!" The best marketing techniques work on building relationships ? courting trust, showing your intentions to be honourable in what you are offering. And there are certain market characteristics too:
- People buy people.
- People work with (and refer) people they like.
- People don't like being sold to.
They are interested in other people and what they do. They want to help as well as be helped, not just because it will see them get business in the future, but because they like helping others. And most importantly, they don't talk ? they listen. Many networking events involve a ?round robin' of everyone there, which certainly has its uses ? you get to tell everyone who you are and what you do, and if there is someone there who is looking for the service you provide, they will very likely come up to you for a chat. But that's not networking, that's hit and miss, and it's very important to understand the difference.
What I call hit and miss is what I just described above. You tell as many people in one go what you do in the hope that one of them is looking for it ? the social equivalent of a mailshot, and just about as effective. When you network, it involves who you get to know, and who they know, and who they know. This is called Six Degrees of Separation, the theory of psychologist Stanley Milgram. Milgram theorised that there was a chain of six people or less connecting us to everyone else on the planet, and this is also where Six Degrees Network gets its name from.
This, to us, is exactly what networking is about: working that chain, getting your details through to the person at the other end, by getting to know people who can pass that information on. Word-of-mouth marketing relies on this being a small world, and networking makes it even smaller. This is also why the IT consultant, for example, shouldn't ignore the mechanic or the florist ? firstly it's rude, and secondly who knows who they know?So how do you get your name down that chain? It's unfortunate but true, that meeting a truly nice person is a rare occurrence these days. People remember meeting them when they do, and they feel an obligation to do something nice for them in return. Business card thruster guy will be bunched in with all the rest that person has ever met, but you, the sincere, friendly person who they chewed the fat with for half an hour about their business, their family and life in general, will be remembered.
And if someone ever mentions your type of service to them in the future, you get the all-important "You know, I met a really nice guy/girl who does that called?" Just in case business card thruster guy is reading this and wonders what my point is here, this is called a referral. Its ok, I know you haven't seen one before. Don't be scared..
Gill Fernley and Justin Baker are the founders of Six Degrees Business Network, a group organising networking events with a social slant in the UK. You can find out more at www.sixdegreesnetwork.co.uk.The Art of Flower Arranging.
The Art of Flower Arranging.
There are currently thousands of sites on the internet that can arrange for you to have some flowers delivered. It is a fast and convenient way for you to send flowers and you can even arrange for them to be sent the same day so that you will never miss that special occasion.
There are many skills in the art of flower arranging. First of all, a florist needs to pick the right flowers.
This means meeting the customer's requirements but also using seasonal flowers, which will not only look better but will also be cheaper. The combination of flowers will also need to look good together so the florist not only need a flair for design, but also a general instinct as to what will work. In European and American countries the emphasis is on large flower arrangements with lots of different kinds of flowers and colors. However, Ikebana is an Oriental style of flower arranging that concentrates on simple and pure lines and colors....
The Art of Flower Arranging.
Florist > The Art of Flower Arranging.
HomeWare Creations Announces the Re-Launch of its Home Party Division After Appointing New Management
(ContentDesk) July 12, 2004 -- In March 2003, HomeWare Creations entered the home party market empowering individuals to take control of their future with their own customizable business. Its popularity increased a hundred-fold and found itself dealing with some unfortunate yet inevitable growing pains.
Taking the company offline in February of this year, HomeWare Creations' intentions were to build stability while simultaneously enhancing the tools available to its Associates.
This July HomeWare Creations re-opens its doors by offering, beyond new and improved features, newly-trained managers, a new Motivational Trainer/Speaker as well as a new Associate Business Advisor, upgraded online Associate support, and a fresh, secure online ordering system.HomeWare Creations provides the vehicle and the product lines that encourage its independent business owners, called Associates, to choose their own avenue of earning and create their own business.
Some HWC Associates...
Florist > HomeWare Creations Announces the Re-Launch of its Home Party Division After Appointing New Management
A Look at Colorado Flower Delivery
If you are in Colorado and looking for flower delivery or looking to have flowers delivered to Colorado you will find a plethora of resources online. You can start your search by visiting Yellow Pages and searching within the city to be delivered. National flower delivery companies will deliver to cities within Colorado as well. Brady's Florist is a family owned and operated floral business. This company serves the Metro Denver area and is one of the most popular florists in that area.
Brady's Florist has the ability to deliver flower arrangements worldwide but still pride themselves on being a local, hometown florist and enjoys delivering by hand. Another popular florist in the Denver area is In Full Bloom. This florist specializes in same day and rush delivery. Specialty arrangements are available for funerals and weddings and they have a wide variety of fresh, silk and dried flowers. In Full Bloom also offers discounts via their website for future purchases..
Flower... A Look at Colorado Flower Delivery
Florist > A Look at Colorado Flower Delivery
Send Flowers Online
Thinking of a special someone? Send flowers. Flowers provide an excellent choice as gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, celebrations or just saying "I love you". Make those special people in your life realize how important they are by sending a bunch of breathtaking and exquisitely arranged flowers.
In the fast-paced life we live today, it is difficult to locate the florist's number or actually make that trip to the shop. However, we can easily accomplish this task by clicking the mouse at any convenient time of the day. Sending flowers online is quite easy.
Open the site, browse through the various flower arrangements, see the pictures, compare prices and make the purchase. All this comfort results in a huge saving of your time; the ease and convenience make ordering a very pleasurable experience.
Ordering flowers online will result in faster delivery of your order than ordering on the phone. Online florists have connections with several delivery experts...
Florist > Send Flowers Online
The Many Advantages in Owning Silk Flowers
The silk flower is growing in popularity among young couples and families for many different reasons. Many event hosts or planners struggle over whether to choose fresh flowers or artificial flowers. Silk flowers are non-allergenic, will never wilt and can be maintained as keepsakes for years. There are many more positive effects in ordering or owning silk flowers.1. CostLots of people notice a considerable price range from real flowers to silk flowers.
Artificial flowers can usually be...
Florist Networking - Relax! silk The Many Advantages in Owning Silk Flowers
Florist > The Many Advantages in Owning Silk Flowers
How to Save Money When Buying Inkjet Cartridges
Purchasing ink cartridges for professional and consumer printers can be a costly endeavor. With many desktop printers costing less than the ink cartridges needed to run them, the search for affordable ink has never been more necessary than now. Unfortunately, many individuals and purchasing managers alike are unfamiliar with ways they can reduce their ink expenditures while getting the products they require. First and foremost, ink will almost always be less expensive when purchased from an online...
How to Save Money When Buying Inkjet Cartridges
Florist > How to Save Money When Buying Inkjet Cartridges
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