Associate Yourself To Success And Increased Sales

Writen by Kurt Mortensen

Association is a powerful tool in helping you influence and persuade your audience. If used correctly, you will be able to create the desired feelings, emotions, and behavior in your prospects. It is in this way that you can use association to bring about the best experiences and create a persuasive environment. Whatever your subject is drawn to, impressed by, or desirous of, seek to incorporate it into your message, your product, or your service.

The Law of Association is constantly at work. If an audience likes a picture, a logo, or a musical jingle that appears in an advertisement for a product, they also tend to like the product. Why is it we must dress up for a job interview? It is because we know a slovenly appearance will bring into bearing certain unwanted assumptions or associations about us. Have you ever heard about past cultures where the messenger was actually killed when he brought back bad news? Why do you think it is that restaurants decorate a certain way, have their lighting a certain way, and play certain types of music? All these things are defined in the Law of Association.

I remember having a corporate credit card when I was working for a certain unnamed corporation. The company had a nasty habit of not paying their bills. One day I got a phone call from a collection agency claiming that because my name was on the credit card, I was responsible for making the payments due. I informed the representative of the situation, but he was quite persistent. Of course, I was not responsible, but the interesting association was that the representative's name was Thor, the god of thunder (or so he said). The point is that if you want to create the feeling of a tough, persistent, strong person, then Thor is the perfect name to go by. Suppose his name had been Stanley or Herbert or Shannon instead? Not quite as threatening, are they?

Everyone persuades for a living. There's no way around it. Whether you're a sales professional, an entrepreneur, or even a stay at home parent, if you are unable to convince others to your way of thinking, you will be constantly left behind. Get your free reports at Success Advantage to make sure that you are not left watching others pass you on the road to success. Donald Trump said it best, "Study the art of persuasion. Practice it. Develop an understanding of its profound value across all aspects of life."

We all know what endorsements are: Companies use famous people to pitch their products so we'll associate that individual and their success with the product. For example, Bill Cosby endorses Jell-O and Kodak, Michael Jordan pitches for Nike and Hanes underwear, and Tiger Woods does ads for Titleist golf balls and Buick automobile. We tend to like products, services, and ideas that are endorsed by people we like, regardless of the quality of the product. Sometimes, we will even buy a product for the first time simply based on a celebrity endorsement.

We naturally want to be associated with fame, fortune, and success. That is why we follow the lead of celebrities we admire, respect, and like. It's also why we use the products they endorse. It is amazing to see teenagers ignore their parents' warnings about drugs, but when their favorite star or professional athlete says it's not cool, they stop. This is the power of association.

All in all, the use of celebrities to endorse products is one of the most popular and effective associations marketers and advertisers use. Why do corporations spend tremendous resources to find the right spokesperson to bring the right association to their products? We hold our beliefs and attitudes to define and make sense of who we are. By shaving with the right razor or eating the right cereal, we are saying, "I am just like that ball player; I am part of the attractive "in group." By purchasing the "right stuff," we enhance our own egos. We rationalize away our inadequacies as we become just like our favorite celebrity."

The critical factor in using a celebrity endorsement is creating an emotional tie or association between the consumer and the athlete/celebrity. The athlete or celebrity's positive associations have been transferred to the product or service. Wearing the same shoes or driving the same car as their hero allows consumers to identify and associate with their idols.

There is a downside to using celebrities to promote products and services, however. Anytime a celebrity gets negative press, that association also tends to carry over to the products and companies they promote. In such cases, depending on the severity of the circumstances, the celebrities are usually dropped like hot potatoes. Michael Jackson was once an endorser for Pepsi until he was accused of child molestation. The company was quick to pair its product with someone else. Tonya Harding, the Olympic figure skater, was a Nike endorser until she was convicted of assault on fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan. Mike Tyson was also an endorser for Pepsi until he was convicted of rape. O.J. Simpson was once the spokesman for Hertz car rentals until he went on trial for a double murder.

Application Questions

Who could endorse your product, service, or cause that will create the right association?

Who or what affiliations do you generate with your product, service, or cause? -i.e. images, feelings, attitudes

What could you sponsor or display to generate a positive association for your product or company?

Conclusion

Persuasion is the missing puzzle piece that will crack the code to dramatically increase your income, improve your relationships, and help you get what you want, when you want, and win friends for life. Ask yourself how much money and income you have lost because of your inability to persuade and influence. Think about it. Sure you've seen some success, but think of the times you couldn't get it done. Has there ever been a time when you did not get your point across? Were you unable to convince someone to do something? Have you reached your full potential? Are you able to motivate yourself and others to achieve more and accomplish their goals? What about your relationships? Imagine being able to overcome objections before they happen, know what your prospect is thinking and feeling, feel more confident in your ability to persuade.

Kurt Mortensen's trademark is Magnetic Persuasion; rather than convincing others, he teaches that you should attract them, just like a magnet attracts metal filings. He teaches that sales have changed and the consumer has become exponentially more skeptical and cynical within the last five years. Most persuaders are using only 2 or 3 persuasion techniques when there are actually 120 available!

Kurt Mortensen teaches over a hundred techniques to give you the ability to effectively work with every customer that walks in your door. Professional success, personal happiness, leadership potential, and income depend on the ability to persuade, influence, and motivate others. Learning how to persuade and influence will make the difference between hoping for a better income and having a better income.

If you are ready to claim your success and learn what only the ultra-prosperous know, begin by going to http://www.PreWealth.com and getting my free report "10 Mistakes That Continue Costing You Thousands." After reading my free report, go to http://www.PreWealth.com/IQ and take the free Persuasion IQ analysis to determine where you rank and what area of the sales cycle you need to improve in order to close every sale!

Write It Down

Writen by Bette Daoust, Ph.D.

Why would you want to write information on paper when you have a business card in hand?

Putting it on paper can mean a number of things. It can simply mean putting notes on the back of someone's business card, or it can mean to take extensive notes in a notebook. Which ever method you choose, be certain that the notes can identify who it was that you were conversing with. Nothing is more embarrassing than talking to a person sometime in the future and finding out you are talking about something they know nothing about.

If you remember some of the Leslie Nielsen movies, he starts talking with a business executive about a project he is starting. He mistakenly identifies this person as the one that hired him. As you can imagine, by the end of the skit, Leslie Nielsen is trying to hide and disappear until he can find the correct individual. Name recognition in this case was the difficulty. Here is another example: a buyer from a company walks in and says he wants to order the usual and then walks out. If you do not know who he is or cannot remember his name, that order may never be filled - total embarrassment for the sale person. The same can happen to you if you do not take the time to write it down on paper. Meticulous notes are not necessary, but if you want to remember, you must put in some key factors that will jog your memory in the future. Practice going back to the person at the same event and repeat their name and go back to one of the points they made.

Also, a lot can be told from the prospects' business cards: are they original, colorful, on good stock, informative, tasteful? Now that you have all the information you want from the other person, you should make sure that they know about you. You have given your pitch, asked your questions, collected their card, made notes and are ready to take the next step. You need to have something that will catch their attention and make them remember you. Most often that something is your business card.

Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people's attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the "Networking Queen". Blueprint for Networking Success: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprint for Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2005. For more information visit http://BlueprintBooks.com/

How To Get More Visibility Through Networking

Writen by Abe Cherian

The most effective form of advertising is also the oldest: word-of-mouth. Bright ads and slick brochures don't compare to an informed recommendation (or warning!) from someone trusted and respected by potential customers.

Word-of-mouth can be just as effective when the information comes directly from you. By networking with colleagues, allied businesses, and potential customers, people can learn more about who you are and what you do. Networking is also a great way to become more attuned to the issues that affect your customers-their needs, concerns, and preferences-giving you a better chance of being in that proverbial "right place" at the right time.

Networking is no different than attending a social gathering. In fact, it's better because you already have something in common with nearly everyone you meet. Of course, you should never adopt a "who are you and what can you do for me" attitude. Networking works best when there's no pressure to make a sale. Ask questions and always listen. First impressions are important, but they also can be enhanced or changed over time.

To begin building your business network, consider the following:

Professional societies. Nearly every type of business has a national association that represents their members' interests; most have local chapters with regular meetings and activities. Along with providing a great source of contacts, professional societies offer volunteer opportunities where you can demonstrate your initiative, cooperative spirit, and leadership qualities.

Customers' professional societies. If you really want to know what your customers are thinking, get involved in organizations that represent their interests. Do some research before you sign up, however. Some groups may have restrictions on membership, while others may have fees that exceed your expected returns. On the other hand, many groups may encourage businesses such as yours to advertise in their publications or participate in special programs.

Chambers of Commerce/Business Roundtables. These groups offer valuable exposure within a particular community or region. While other members may not be in your target market, they can provide valuable leads and referrals (there's that word-of-mouth advertising again!). Many also provide opportunities for small businesses to "show their stuff" via trade fairs, demonstrations, and media features.

Community service organizations. This is a great way to combine a personal interest with your business. Many groups may have a need for your type of service, giving the opportunity to do pro bono work in return for free visibility. What's more, your fellow volunteers may also be potential customers.

Copyright 2006

Abe Cherian is the founder of Multiple Stream Media, a company that helps online businesses find new prospects and clients, who are anxious to grow their business fast, and without spending a fortune in marketing and automation. http://www.freehomebusinesstips.com

If you wish to find a suitable home business or learn how to start your own business from your home visit Free Home Business Tips: http://www.freehomebusinesstips.com

Social Bookmarking Confused Youre Not Alone

Writen by Theresa Cahill

The word is out that social bookmarking is the thing, that special flavor of the month (or year or decade?), but only by taking it in small steps have I been able to figure out some of its ins and outs.

The long and short of social booking is, it is a way to save your Favorites folder (or portions thereof) online. This means no matter where in the world you happen to be, as long as you've got a connection to the internet, you just log into your social bookmarking account and voila! at your fingertips are all of the important urls you might find yourself needing - but without access to - since your computer is sitting home and you're not.

Now that is a good idea! Saves uploading a bunch of urls to your domain, or remembering to send them to your Aunt Sally before you visit, on the off chance you'll need to remember that special something while you're away.

(By the by, it's also a quick way to actually use your home computer. I don't know about you, but my Favorites folder is virtually useless at this point.)

But, there's even more to social bookmarking then easy access. You can also share this information with others. Your friends, family, co-workers, subscribers, whoever, can easily see what you've been uncovering on the web and decide, at that point, if it's something so useful and/or interesting that they, too, would like to access it easily through their own social bookmarking account.

The logical step from there (since I'm assuming that you are reading this because you, too, are interested in new ways to market on the net) is to find a way to tie bookmarking to your service and/or website.

If this is all new to you, too, head here: http://del.icio.us/ This is a very popular social bookmarking service.

You'll see numerous urls listed on their main page, and since we're just getting the hang of this (assuming you don't already have an account and are way ahead of my learning curve level), let's practice :)

Beside each of these web page entries are the faint words "save this."

Put your mouse over the "save this" and click. If you have an existing del.icio.us account, it will take you to the log in page for your account (for you smart ones!). If you don't have an account yet, you'll be given the opportunity to create one now.

After creating your account and logging in, you'll see an area on your screen where the url you've chosen to bookmark is awaiting your description and/or notes and/or tags.

For our purpose, initially bookmarking our first entry, you need not worry about this too much at this time. Give it a description and/or tag that will make sense to you. You can delete it later.

Hit the save button and voila! You've got the beginnings of your social bookmarking!

At this point, under your "settings" area (upper right hand of screen in del.icio.us) you can do any number of things. Importing your current Favorites folder (or portions thereof) is available. Explore!

Now that you're on the road to social bookmarking comes the fun part... telling others what you're doing.

If you have a website, you can easily add (assuming you do your own webmastering or know the rudiments of copying and pasting) a "save this page" to any and all of your important webpages within your site. Use the "help" link, then read "For Publishers" under the Feeds and Tools section. That's where you'll find the code.

In addition, you'll want to share you're newly found method of communication with others. Get your family, friends, subscribers, mailing list involved in bookmarking your small chunk (del.icio.us listing) of the social bookmarking web.

Then, make use of it! Don't just load it up with junk. If you're a writer and find interesting writer's resources add them to your account. If you're a news junkie and track particular newsworthy items, post those!

As you get more and more familiar with social bookmarking, you'll understand the importance of "tagging" your information correctly. According to del.icio.us, your page goes on the front page (I've yet to see any of mine though) and also is filed away under sub-indexing using those all-important tags.

=============================

A LAYMAN'S EXPLANATION OF TAGS:

If you're just bookmarking stuff online for yourself, no worries, but tags are critical to your marketing social bookmarking success.

Tags are sort of like mini meta desciptions. Tags cannot be inserted into a regular html page (don't bother trying to put them on your website, they won't do anything but take up space).

Tags are basically equal to metas and content. However, tags are used in blogs and rss feeds. They are the trigger words for online feeds to categorize (more or less) what it is you're writing about and posting. Obviously tying your words to popular tags will be very important.

http://del.icio.us/tag/ is a huge list of popular and not so popular currently used tags. My advice would be to be sure you've got the Google toolbar installed. As you click on some tags, check the page ranking (little green bar) on your Google toolbar. That will help you see how popular (or not) that particular "tag" is... and remember you don't have to "follow the crowd." You can choose tags "not so popular." Then, when others pick up on those tags, you're already ahead of the game :)

In the future, give your tags some very serious thought! Your tags will brand your own posted entries.

===============================

I'll admit, I've only just scratched the surface so far. I don't claim to be an expert (that's obvious), but I do know that with further education and implementation, social bookmarking as a marketing tool is definitely worth the effort.

And... like all new things takes a bit of fumbling around before we get it right.

So ahead! Get started! See where it leads you - the next brainstorm idea is only a few minutes (okay maybe hours or days) away! :)

======================================

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Theresa Cahill is the owner of My Wizard Ads. Her job is to make your online advertising experience as effective and effortless as possible. mywizardads.com To see how I'm fumbling along... My Del.icio.us

Reference: social booking

by Theresa Cahill Copyright 2006 - All Rights Reserved

How To Get Ahead In Your Career

Writen by Mary Gardner

Bigger Better Deal. That's what everyone always hopes will come along. And if you are one of the few who don't, maybe you should reconsider!

Last night I was at a happy hour gathering of a bunch of my friends. There were 14 in all and we had quite a time playing musical chairs every so often to make sure everyone got to talk with everyone. We amused many of the people on the sidelines who wondered who we were and WHY we were having so much fun. The energy was contagious!

At one point the conversation settled in on what people did for a living. Since I'm getting more and more into the recruiting and placement side of my business, it seems that everywhere I go, people want to get me their resume. They want me to keep them in mind as I find new job opportunities. At first I was secretly surprised that so many people seem unsatisfied with their current work. It's not something that people usually talk openly about so when a certain conversation came up, I thought was quite interesting.

One of the fellows that we were with happens to work at NASCAR. He's extremely bright, hard working and loves what he does. But his attitude about work was one that I'd love to share with many of the people that I coach or have coached, because it ensures that he'll never be stale or stagnant in a career.

He said that he told his boss "if you think I'm not always looking for another job opportunity, you're crazy! I'm always looking and if something better (the BBD) comes along, then I'm outta here" . He also shared with his boss that he should be the same way, and that most ambitious people are like that. His attitude is pulling him forward constantly about looking at opportunities, and its' not sitting back complaining about the situations he has no control over. He's a great worker so there wouldn't be any way he'd be fired for something like this, but it's an example of how someone can continually get ahead.

After he shared the story with us, nearly everyone at the table shared a similar story. They're all in great jobs, making an excellent income, but none of them want to become stale with what they're doing. They want to remain excited about their work place and the work that they do, and yet, most of them had long histories with their current employers!

The conversation went into WHERE they each wanted to work after they left Charlotte. The places that came up were: Oregon, Southern CA, East coast beach town and FL. That was me of course, because my husband and I are moving there! In every case, the job was a secondary concern to HOW they wanted to live their lives. They considered the environment or the weather as one of the most important things and what the area offered them in relation to their hobbies. Some of them wanted to move just to experience another part of the county, and some of them wanted to be close to the best athletes in the world. The draw for me is coming home to family so my son can grow up around relatives.

The other sense I got at the table last night was how fortunate every single person there felt that they had met a group of people who genuinely liked each other. Everyone there had swimming in common, even if they didn't swim, their mate did. But everyone seemed so happy to be accepted for who they are and seemed to just love the camaraderie. I remember having groups like this in high school, college and when living in NYC, but hadn't had this again until recently until this group came together.

So what I see, is that it isn't MONEY that makes people happy. It isn't their house or the clothes they wear or the jewelry they adorn themselves in. It isn't the car that they drive. Rather, it's being with people who accept them, working in a profession where they are respected and are able to use their talents well, and live in a place where they feel comfortable.

So ask yourself: Have you gotten content? Have you settled? Are you happy with the place where you are in life? If so, FANTASTIC! If not, then get the wheels turning and get out there and start generating action. Talk to people about what they do for a living and how they like it. Call people from college or from the "old days" to check in to see what they're up to! Subscribe to the local newspaper of the city of your choice and call a recruiter (ME!) who can start the job search for you. And JOIN a group of people who are doing something that you enjoy. It doesn't matter if it's scrap booking or swimming, just do something. You'll be glad you did.

Making our decision to move was a big one, and I've noticed that my leap of faith has caused others to review their own life to see if they're happy or not. I find that if you see yourself being envious of another person for making change, perhaps it's time you made one too.

Change can be scary. Things don't always work out. But going for the life you'll love will always be worth it. And who knows, with a lot of persistence, you might come across that BBD!

Go for it.. and call me if you need help!

Mary Gardner, The Charisma Coach! is an Executive Communications Consultant and Trainer. She works with, coaches and trains individuals, sales teams, executives, and celebrities. She owned and operated one of the first coaching institutions on the east coast, CCI, in NYC, Philly and NJ. Mary has appeared on ABC's 20/20 and has self published a book on public speaking. Mary is married to Sway and is mommy to Jeremy 5, and lives in Orlando, FL.

The Anatomy Of A Brain Cramp The Retainer And The Lavalava Communication

Writen by Paul Pulley

In life, you have to successfully work with people to get anywhere. You can't avoid it.

Some people are fun, good, and wholesome, and others can feel like a thorn in your shoe. Some will be there to boost you up and be a savior, and others will be there to take advantage of you, sometimes without the slightest care.

There is absolutely no way to lead a successful life without effective communication with those who can help you reach your goals. And the secret to effective communication is to fully understand—or at least try to understand—the other person's perspective. Understanding the other person's perspective helps you build camaraderie, negotiate faster and more effectively, add value to a partnership, and build respect for each other. To communicate effectively, you've got to be on the same page as the other person.

I came home to my apartment one day after class. As usual, I changed into a T-shirt and slipped out of my pants, tying a lavalava around my waist. A lavalava is a brightly colored, flowery cloth wrap or skirt that Polynesian men and women wear, usually with nothing on underneath but underwear. I previously lived in the Samoan islands for two years and grew accustomed to wearing a lavalava to beat the humid, tropical heat. During any scorching summer, a lavalava is one of the best types of personal air conditioning systems available, despite the fact that it is rarely found fashionable on a white American male like me.

Relaxing in the coolness of my apartment and having finished dinner and a night snack, I began to prepare to go to bed just as my roommate Don came home. Don was a long-time friend, but had recently moved in with me and another good friend.

"Hey Donaldo!" I chirped my nickname for Don as I slipped my ultra-thick retainer in my mouth.

"Hey Pablo!" Donaldo responded, likewise referring to his nickname for me. I saw him glance at the colorful flash of cloth around my waist. Donaldo was somewhat new to the concept of a lavalava.

But what was stranger to Donaldo was my thick plastic retainer that I usually wore only while sleeping. And with it in my mouth acting like a loose plug, it was extremely difficult to talk coherently. It piqued Donaldo's interest as we exchanged a bit of small talk. Small talk was challenging for me as I sought to find different ways to place my tongue while forming words.

"So do you like wearing that?"

"Sure I do!" I enthusiastically garbled, thinking he was referring to my lavalava he noticed earlier.

Donaldo walked to the kitchen to grab a bite to eat while I settled down on the couch for a little reading. Don popped his head around the corner.

"Is it comfortable?" Don suspiciously asked, clearly confused at my apparent excitement to wear a cumbersome retainer.

"Of course it's comfortable!" I mangled a response, not sure how Donaldo could mistake the advantages of a free-blowing, ventilated lavalava in the privacy of one's home.

"And you wear it at night?"

"Yes, but sometimes it falls off in bed."

That sounded a little odd to Donaldo. Does Paul sometimes wake up with the retainer patiently waiting on the pillow, to be plopped back in his mouth? Don waited for his burrito to finish cooking in the microwave. Then he probed further.

"Do you have to clean it much?"

"Yeah, it gets dirty every now and then."

Dirty every now and then? Uck! If Donaldo had to wear a retainer every night, he would have been sure to religiously and thoroughly clean it on a regular basis.

"How long have you had it?"

"Oh, about five years. Do you like it?" I asked, starting to feel a little flattered. I can't say that a lot of people found a lavalava to be the most chic apparel for a straight guy, although I did know some people from my past who wanted to wear one anyway. I often gave away extra lavalavas as gifts.

I stood up and walked into the kitchen to sense if he was willing to be converted to wearing a lavalava. I sat down across Don at the dinner table. "Maybe I have a spare one you can have if you'd like," I volunteered, hoping to further the cause of Americans wearing lavalavas in my corner of the world.

"Oh, no," Donaldo quickly replied, "I mean, thanks, but that's okay, I don't need one." With his dinner in front of him, Don was beginning to lose his appetite at the thought of putting someone else's spare, rarely cleaned retainer in his mouth.

"So why do you like wearing it?" Don asked, reluctantly taking a bite of his burrito.

"Oh, it feels really comfortable, especially when the wind blows." I responded frankly.

"So you open your mouth when the wind blows?" Donaldo asked starting to feel genuinely confused.

I chuckled at the ridiculousness of his question. I mean, why would you open your mouth when the wind blows through your lavalava?

"Well I suppose I might want to open my mouth to laugh if it were ticklish," I joked.

Ticklish? Don started to feel like maybe he had underestimated the uplifting experience of wearing a retainer.

But then I began to wonder if he was trying to offend me, like asking if I was full of hot air that blew out whenever I spoke. Rather than let Donaldo see that I was bristled by his insulting comment, I brushed it off and changed the subject.

"How is it going with your new girlfriend?" I asked.

"Good. Fine," Don chewed his food pensively, still trying to piece things together. He still could not see how cold air blowing on a retainer might cause someone to feel so pleasantly comfortable. Several moments passed.

"Back to what we were talking about," Don continued, "Are there other ways to feel good while wearing that thing?"

I began to feel uneasy at the increasingly private questions. I tried even harder to change the subject back to Don's girlfriend, "Hey, I'll tell you what, I will give one of these to your girlfriend. It should look pretty on her. She'll love it—most women do."

This floored Donaldo. He spit out his last burrito bite, thoroughly disgusted and offended at my proposition that a thick retainer would make his sweetheart look more attractive. He also wondered if I was threatening to embarrass him and scare off his new love interest with whatever level of gruesome detail I could throw Donaldo's way, me being the "weird and gross roommate" that people would do best to avoid.

As his eyes narrowed in anger against me, a startling thought hit Donaldo, causing him to pause for a moment as he contemplated our dialogue. We stared at each other in deafening silence.

"What are you talking about?" he asked.

"Well, my lavalava of course!" I exclaimed, beginning to sense a brain cramp that had been active for the past 15 minutes.

"I was talking about your retainer!" Donaldo cried, feeling sudden relief sweep over him as our entire conversation finally began to make sense.

We burst out a hearty laugh at our miscommunication as Donaldo finally agreed to accept a lavalava of his own, as a gift from me.

To this day, we still enjoy recounting how confused we were with each other that evening. Just in those 15 minutes, we learned so much about how listening can affect a friendship, either for good or ill, and can clear up or exaggerate misunderstandings.

Different cultures and backgrounds always seem funny or odd to those who did not grow up in them. Effective listening pulls down those barriers to understanding. Listening is an art you can master, and once you do, the rewards are ten-fold.

And… you get a better friend in the process.

Paul Pulley is the author of The Anatomy of a Brain Cramp. His other short stories that humorously teach about the laws of success in life can be found at his website http://www.thebraincramp.com

Pass That Lead Along Instead Of Saying No

Writen by Dr. Gary S. Goodman

I just got a lead from someone who left a message saying he wants to have appointments set on his behalf.

I used to consider these inquiries a nuisance, because it would bother me to ignore them, and I didn't feel I could benefit from them, directly.

But now, I take a different tack.

For example, at present, my firm doesn't do appointment-setting, but we know others who do.

So, without hesitation, I didn't call him to say no; I passed along his inquiry to someone who can say yes.

I won't earn a spiff, a commission, or a referral fee of any kind.

But it's in everybody's interest to make the economy more efficient, so instead of sitting on this lead, I sent it out as soon as I could, which happened to be within five minutes of receiving it.

This is the second time this week that I've done it, and I know, somewhere in the ether, someone, the great Overseer of All Business, is keeping track, and my very minor generosity will come back to me.

Perhaps multiplied, as some folks believe.

No matter, we should develop a small but responsive network of people to whom we can distribute excess or not quite relevant leads, if for no other reason, than it feel so good, and makes us feel we're making a contribution.

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service, and the audio program, "The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable," published by Nightingale-Conant. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC's Annenberg School, a Loyola lawyer, and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He holds the rank of Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.

Communication Is A 2way Street The Networking Factor

Writen by Janice Smallwood-McKenzie

The Personal Touch 1

There is a simple art to networking and the good news is, should you choose to put forth a conscience effort to improve the way you communicate, networking can and will become second nature to you, it is really just that simple. A personal touch big or small makes a big difference in how others perceive you professionally and personally as well.

I have a friend, Sharon and she seems to think that effective communication and networking is meeting people at a business mixer or dinner, giving them her business card, bragging on her title and then cornering the individuals she has met for the next 30 minutes with suggestions as to how they can assist her in growing and promoting her business.

Perhaps, you've run across a person like Sharon while networking at different events. I am sure you waited with much anticipation to be rescued from her. This feeling of discomfort in this situation actually keeps the individual from giving Sharon their full attention.

The problem here lies in Sharon thinking her business is the greatest thing in the world. Sharon should feel this way but she should also be considerate of others' time. However, she usually neglects taking an interest in other peoples' business and personal endeavors.

It's great to be an interesting person but it is also important to be interested in other people. The balance when it comes to effective communication is critical. Keep in mind your new contacts will either come towards you or run away from you based on the last experience with you.

Remember, what makes a conversation great. Yes, you guessed it. It's a two-way street.

By the way, "Everyone is important" is the Networking Factor!

By Janice Smallwood-McKenzie

URL www.101NetworkingCommandments.com

Ms. Smallwood-McKenzie is a Networking Coach in Los Angeles and she helps small businesses and professionals to expand their political, business, and social bases. She is the Author of "The 101 Commandments of Networking: Common Sense But Not Common Practice." Enjoy a Free Preview compliments of http://www.101NetworkingCommandments.com or visit Amazon.com to read Customer Reviews of this guide. This networking guide is available wherever fine books are sold. Janice's e-mail address is ConfirmedCoach@netscape.net

5 Ways To Start A Networking Group That Sizzles Not Fizzles

Writen by Leesa Barnes

You've attended every networking event in your area and they seem to offer the same thing - eating, meeting, greeting and fleeing. You're bored with the routine of these events and you joyously decide that the time has come to start your own networking group that will blow everyone's socks off.

Starting your own networking group takes time and effort. Not only do you have to create excitement, but you also have to sustain the momentum so people continue to attend.

Here are 5 things to remember when launching your own networking group so that it sizzles, not fizzle.

1. Ensure that you build a solid board of directors or volunteers. You can't do this alone, so enlist the help of volunteers who share your vision. I was fortunate to have 6 people work along side of me in the early stages of the development of this association. The seven of us became the founding board. Having them helped me in shaping the direction of this new networking group, not in my own personal vaccum, but by tapping into a wide variety of experiences.
   

2. Craft your association bylaws early. This will save you alot of grief in the long run. The bylaws help you to govern your group so that it runs more smoothly. It also helps you in deciding how elections will be run, how board members will be replaced and how you'll manage your group's money.
   

3. Plan your year's events before you launch your group. Nothing will irritate new members more than to attend a launch for your new networking group with no other events planned for the rest of the year. Keep the momentum going by ensuring you have planned out the timing of your future events. If possible, make it the same time each month eg. the third Thursday or the first Monday. That way, people can plan ahead.
   

4. Decide early what your mission and strategy is for the first year. Being able to succinctly tell people why you're doing what you're doing can make the difference between having 10 repeat visitors or over 100. Understand why you're creating this new networking group by crafting a winning mission statement and strategies for the upcoming year.
   

5. Understand whether your new group conflicts with another. People are more willing to support networking groups that offer something new. Develop an interesting model that other networking groups aren't using and you'll create repeat visitors to your events.
   

While adopting these suggestions may be too much for your new networking group, following them will make the difference between having a successful - and sustaining - networking group or one that fizzles and dies within weeks of the launch.

(c) 2005 Leesa Barnes. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Leesa Barnes, The Schmooze Coach™, helps consultants, virtual assistants, professional organizers, coaches and solopreneurs avoid cold calling by developing a fearless networking plan. Leesa is author of "Schmooze Your Way to Success: 9 Fearless Networking Tips for the Shy, Timid, Introverted & Just Plain Clueless." Go to http://www.schmoozeyourwaytosuccess.com/ecourse.html and sign up for her free 8-lesson ecourse called "From Clueless to Fearless: Secrets from the Schmooze Coach."

Joint Ventures For Increased Profits

Writen by Douglas Titchmarsh

It was a revelation for me to come to the conclusion that not all marketers online are my competition. It was a 180 degree shift in thinking which prompted me to join up with another marketer and work together to improve both of our profits.

Joint venture was one of the big buzzwords (phrases) of 2005, and since I tried it for myself, I can now understand why. Previous to doing my first Joint venture (or JV as us marketers like to call them) I looked at anyone who was selling anything online as competition, someone to beat to the sale.

It was a few months ago, Joe Hebert asked me to work with him on a project, and when we got talking, his idea was one which I had already started but put on the backburner, namely a membership site.

Joe had a lot of resources which I'd needed, including a great webhosting deal, and loads of information products to put into a membership site. I had a domain name (monthlyinfoproducts.com) and all the site layout, and graphics ready to go. The reason I hadn't gone further is because I didn't have the capital to add what I thought would be enough products to the site, which my new partner did. I also didn't have the time to upload all the products, my new Joint venture partner did.

My JV partner didn't have an email list to promote a new venture to, and didn't have the knowledge to get the scripts running to make the site automated. I had those skills, and resources, so we teamed up.

In just a few days we had a new membership site at http://www.monthlyinfoproducts.com , up and running and taking orders. Joe took care of the hosting and products, I took care of the design and promoting to a warm prospect list. Together we are making it work, where singly we had both struggled.

Now look at your own marketing, and online activities and see if you have some way in which a joint venture with someone could benefit your business. Maybe you need someone who can setup a script, or website, or you have some ideas which need a particular talent you don't have, you can barter with someone else who has what you need to make a profitable partnership which works for both of you without paying out hard cash for it.

Don't make the mistake I made, see everyone as a potential partner in profit, instead of an opponent to defeat. Start doing some joint ventures, you won't necessarily halve your profits, and you may well make more by sharing the work with someone.

Douglas Titchmarsh and Joe Hebert run several sites including http://dawghost.com , http://www.thediscountebookstore.com and their joint venture http://www.monthlyinfoproducts.com

Fabulous First Impressions

Writen by Randy Siegel

Think back to a blind date, interview or party when you first met someone new. Chances are that within four seconds you made a snap judgment on how much you liked and trusted the person.

We do it to other people, and other people do it to us. It's called the "four-second window," and our challenge as communicators is to learn how to master first impressions in order to open the lines of communication.

For a few, the "four-second window" is a breeze. These rare men and women have naturally high "likeability factors," a face, smile or presence in which people instantly warm. Most of us, however, have to win audiences over fast.

When I ask executives to list ways they think we make powerful first impressions, they almost always answer first with "dress." Clothes may not make the man or woman, but they do convey a message. To project a professional image, consider these suggestions:

• Don't buy clothes, invest in them. Invest in at least one power suit that makes you feel great.

• Find a clothing store and/or salesperson you can trust. Also, find a good tailor or seamstress. Proper tailoring is as important as the quality of the clothes you wear.

• Pay particular attention to the condition of your shoes. Check the condition of heels, soles, polish, leather and shoelaces before going out.

• Dress for the place. Choose your wardrobe to match the region, company and person with whom you are meeting. In recent years, casual dress became a standard for most businesses, but this is changing. More and more offices are adopting more formal modes of dress.

Experts abound on the subject of proper business dress and grooming, yet the best advice for dressing for presenting came from one of my seminar participants. She suggested looking into the mirror to see if anything stands out and if it does take it off or change it. She was right: we want the focus on our face, not our clothes.

In addition to dress, four other factors contribute to an audience's first impressions: gestures, movement, stance and eye contact. Of these, stance and eye contact are particularly important.

Like appearance, stance contributes to instant credibility, and for many women, stance is a challenge. Most women are taught at a young age to assume a dancer's pose, feet close together with one toe pointed out at a 90-degree angle. While this stance may be pretty and feminine, it holds no authority.

Instead, I counsel both men and women to stand tall, feet shoulder width and pointed straight ahead. While it is important to gesture naturally, hands should rest at our sides when not in use.

Stance is important in establishing credibility so don't hide it. At no time should speakers stand behind a podium, desk, table or other obstacle.

Great speakers allow their audiences to see all of them - physically as well as emotionally. The eyes have been called the "windows of the soul." As such, they are one of our greatest asset in winning audiences. When it comes to eye contact, great speakers use a rifle instead of a shotgun.

I coach executives to begin their presentations by standing in silence, finding a friendly face, establishing eye contact, taking a deep breath and then beginning their talk. This simple tip helps speakers become grounded and start their presentations with authority.

Many presenters talk while moving their heads from person to person like a sprinkler system, or worse they lose all connection with their audience by staring at one person, the slide screen or the back of the room. I train presenters to pick one person and maintain steady eye contact with that person until they have delivered a complete thought then move on to someone else. Intensive eye contact can be uncomfortable, yet it is also highly effective in generating trust.

Appearance, stance and eye contact have to do with how we look, and looks are important in creating positive first impressions. But I believe even more important is how we make others feel. We can help others feel comfortable by:

• Being the first to look at them in the eye, really looking at them when we do, noting the color of their eyes.

• Being the first to smile.

• Identifying ourselves first and leaning forward.

• Extending our hand, or offering a "handless handshake," where we do everything we would do in extending our hand, but don't.

Repeating their names.

In conclusion, credibility and likeability are keys to fabulous first impressions. We can communicate credibility by dressing sharp and paying attention to such details as stance and eye contact, and we can become more likeable by working consciously to make people feel comfortable around us.

"The Career Engineer," Randy Siegel, helps clients electrify their careers and transform their lives by becoming high voltage communicators™. Subscribe to http://www.powerhousecommunications.com/newsletter.htm">"Stand in Your Power!" his eNewsletter at http://www.powerhousecommunications.com

Are You Leveraging Your Business Network

Writen by Denise O'Berry

Just yesterday I received an email from a colleague telling me her husband had been laid off from yet another corporate job. Will the downsizing ever stop? I doubt it. Most large corporations focus purely on the bottom line and employees are the biggest expense.

And sadly, many workers become lax at maintaining their professional network when they've worked with a company a while. With mass layoff announcements screaming at us every day in the news, having a dead or outdated business network can extend the time it takes to find a new position. And what about new grads? Without a business network, what is their hope of finding that prized position?

It's common knowledge that many jobs are filled through word of mouth networking, yet most job seekers begin their hunt without a strong business network. Having a dead, outdated or non-existent business network can extend the time it takes to find a job. And if you're in business for yourself, your business network is your key to success.

Whether you're shy or outgoing, business networking must be part of your marketing arsenal. You'll be successful if you are prepared. Here are a few keys to success.

- Before you go to a networking meeting, be prepared with a goal. Who do you want to meet? Why are you there? Have a conversation icebreaker ready to get to know the right people.

- At a networking lunch, don't reserve every seat and act like a grump if someone unfamiliar wants to sit at your table. Welcome the opportunity that a stranger presents. They may be your next customer.

- Treat referrals like gold. Contact the referral within a day, if possible. Let the referrer know how things went.

- Online, your email creates the first impression just like your physical presence does at face-to-face meetings. Be the business professional that you are.

Connections are crucial for business success, but it's not so much who you know as who knows you. How did you find your last business connection? You probably asked a few friends who they used. That's how business networking works. Make sure your network is alive and well.

Denise O'Berry is a small business expert and author of 101 Nuggets to Power Up Your Schmooze-Ability. Find out more at http://www.deniseoberry.com/101tips/

Net Working For Community Fund Raising Events

Writen by Lance Winslow

Have you ever been to a community fund raising event and were under whelmed by the number of people that showed up and you consider that perhaps people don't care? I think people do care, however they need to be invited to these events and that means you need to do a little extra networking to get them there.

Net working for community fund raising event is not so difficult and if you have a committee with 10 people and want to organize a community fundraising event you may find that you can need to use your networking skills from the group to reach out and touch other people who indeed will reach out and touch others on top of that.

If your community fund raising event also has a silent auction and other types of things you can get people to donate their items for the silent auction and then give them a free ticket to the event. Once they are there are you might be able to sell the other things and get them to participate in the silent auction and perhaps buy something.

So what you have is someone who did donated a gift or a prize to be auctioned off who also brings their money to buy someone else's gift that cost you nothing to get. All this can be done through networking in your community.

Consider if you will all the neighborhood watch groups, the service clubs, the chamber of commerce, the PTA, and all the clubs in your community. Invite them all and have them invite all their friends to. Please consider this in 2006 and vote for Lance.

Lance Winslow

When Quoton Demandquot Means On Demand And Its Link To Virtual Communities

Writen by Stuart Oliver

Spontaneity is good, but doesn't work for all of us. If you must live by a schedule and have predictability and preciseness then this may not be for you.

How about a social networking platform, that runs on your mobile, and matches car drivers and car riders for car pooling? No planning, no fixed pickup and drop-off, it's all on the fly.
I think that this is a great idea, although I can imagine that taxi drivers might not feel the same way(!).
Let's go a step further. Let's think community, after all that's what the future is all about. Let's use the networking platform to create communities around geographic locations, social interests etc. Now we're getting there.

There is a fairly obvious social risk here and that is that there are bound to be some freaks out there who misuse the service. This shouldn't stop it though, there are freaks everywhere and there always will be - time spent trying to prevent this happening will be time wasted, much like the time (and millions) spent by software companies trying to protect their software only to have licence keys cracked within minutes of release.

Here's another example of a great idea that I wish I'd had ;)
The good thing here is that there is no reason why this concept can't be completely transferable - anywhere. Welcome to the offering from Mobi53 and it's CTO Felipe Albertao;

"Mobi53 enables last-minute person-to-person transactions through mobile technology"

My background and experience is mainly project management within diverse environments such as large corporate financial institutions, medium-sized technology consultancies and smaller start-ups. Having held positions including Operations Director (COO) and Head of Process Management, I recently decided that the time is right to take a calculated risk and leave corporate life for good…the entrepreneurial side of my character is prevailing.

My focus is on becoming an "Un-natural Entrepreneur". I want to work with people and companies that have vision. I can offer key values and skills to help bring your ideas to fruition. If you are a "starter", then I am your "finisher". My approach to a challenge is to clarify, understand, problem-solve, develop and deliver.

To take an idea or concept through from its inception to its execution requires a consultative approach - a partnership. I am a rational and pragmatic thinker and can work within an existing management structure, or create a new management team through my extensive network

How To Build Better Business Alliances

Writen by Abe Cherian

Judging by the popularity of instant message programs, chat rooms, and discussion forums, it would seem logical to conclude that people enjoy interacting with one another in an almost anonymous, virtual environment. Although people enjoy the anonymity they still crave attention and relationships with other people. Sometimes, the internet is so impersonal, and cold that getting a nice email from an actual person that doesn't want your money is almost exciting.

People especially enjoy interacting with those of similar interests. Why not use this to the advantage of your business? Internet marketers don't usually have anybody in their lives that shares the same passion. And, as a whole, Internet marketers are very passionate about what they do and love discussing it with others who share that same passion. By creating friendships with other online marketers in your niche you open yourself up to a world of possibilities.

The ability to build an alliance with someone powerful and successful in your field is literally priceless. A lot of businesses survive on their contacts alone. With a good contact you open up to joint ventures, exchange of information and ideas. Affiliate partnerships, market research, years of experience, links to your site These friendly contacts, all which are call "alliances," can provide you with the leverage that you need, not only to learn quickly, but to market your product to large audiences of people fast.

Having an alliance is many times better than just proposing a joint venture to someone for several reasons. First, a joint venture proposal to someone you don't know will be treated with so much skepticism that your chances are slim to none. Whereas getting a JV proposal from a trusted contact whom you have been exchanging emails with regularly for a couple weeks will get much more consideration. Building up a friendly alliance with someone online is a lot like making friends in the real world. People don't like to be badgered, they don't like know it alls, they don't like back-stabbers, they don't like needy people, and they don't like it if you follow them around and use up their time.

It is recommended contacting someone for the first time via a short email. Compliment their site, explain who you are, and then ask them a simple question that wouldn't compromise their business. This way, you won't use up too much of their time but your inquiry demands a response. When they email you back, follow a similar format but offer more information about yourself. Write a longer email. Try to keep a volley going back and forth and after a while see if they have an IM name. Infuse your emails with your personality and become curious about them, their motivations, and their life. Before long, you will have a friendly business contact with someone that could pay off in infinite ways.

Getting business alliances to promote your product Before seeking to ask a business alliance for any favors, such as blasting your ad their list. You must already have a powerful, proven sales process in place before you seek their counsel and/or assistance. Do not become overzealous and assume that someone has the same belief and passion for your product as you do. All too often we become prideful and think that our product is the best when, in fact, others do not share the same appreciation. If you are seeking to have someone with a big list send out an advertisement for you product you would have to be careful in how you went about it.

Someone with a big list and a successful business is, most likely, busy. They probably get hundreds of emails a day. Unless your proposal is credible and attractive to them it will not get consideration. The majority of people and especially entrepreneurs are cautious by nature. They will not undertake a joint venture unless you can prove that you can make them money, that you are reliable, and that your product will not tarnish their reputation. Make sure that you don't waste their time. Don't insult them with a hyped up sales pitch about how much money they can make if they sell your product. If you are trying to get them to mail something to their list about your product include statistics, documentation, and, if possible, your actual product.

Find an ad that pulls extremely well, through testing. Know the conversion ratio and have everything documented. Let them know that you are legitimate and that you are selling a high quality product. Nobody wants to get involved with someone who is going to tarnish their reputation. Give them specific, documented conversion statistics from similar advertising campaigns Make sure and state what is in it for them. Are they going to get a share of your backend profits? Are you going to sell their product to your list? Tell them that promotions for your product have been going well.

Tell them that your particular ad converts at a specific ratio. Tell them that you think they should give it a shot. You do, of course, want to be sure that what you are recommending will turn out to be profitable for them. Otherwise, they won't ever work with you again. And don't just pop this sales pitch out of no where or the person will feel used. It might be a good idea only to mention the idea and then if they sound interested fill them in with the details.

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as the byline is included and the article is included in it's entirety. I also ask that you activate any html links found in the article and in the byline. Please send a courtesy link or email where you publish to: support@multiplestreammktg.com

Copyright 2005

Abe Cherian is the founder of Multiple Stream Media, a company that helps online businesses find new prospects and clients, who are anxious to grow their business fast, and without spending a fortune in marketing and automation. http://www.realbusinessleads.com

The Art Of Networking And Business Cards

Writen by Natalie Aranda

Every day we meet new people. It doesn't matter how it happens or why it does, but it is essential to notice that we are constantly connecting with fresh faces. These new countenances could be our future employer, a potential best friend, or simply another person to pass on our services to. With hundreds of meetings each month, it is no surprise that the public is now taking advantage of these meet and greets.

Business networking is a great way to make connections with others. Although we meet new people on a daily basis, we don't always keep the relationship going. We all want to be known in our specialized field. Therefore, having an array of business cards would create more opportunities and a plethora of open doors.

If you are running a small or large business, then it is necessary to have a great business card. One must always remember that this is an affordable way to advertise your services. It doesn't have to be extravagant. However, it does need to include vital information such as a phone number, e-mail address and website address if you have one. Many people also prefer to spice it up with a bit of color. After all, color business cards will most certainly stand out in a pile of black and white cards.

It is very important to remember that business cards are piece of paper that is marketing your services. It should reflect your company's image and of course portray the type of feeling you want. For instance, if you are an artist, it would be wise to create a professional yet artsy business card. Perhaps a colored business card with a logo of your art work would show others that you are ready to work for them.

By handing them out to anyone you meet, you are setting up a new contact. Even if you do not see them again, they will still have your business card. Therefore, you'll never know when they will need your expertise. They may even contact you when a job opening is available or when another client of theirs is in desperate need of great service in your field.

It is extremely simple to create them yourself. Most drug stores carry business card paper which is usually only a few dollars. Many stores even have patterns and color business cards in a variety of hues. This will allow you to be creative and make your piece of paper stand out! If you are computer literate, it is easy to design everything on the computer and then print it out with the paper you bought. There are special printing options for business cards, so it is crucial to change the preferences beforehand. On the other hand, if you are too busy or computer illiterate, perhaps you should hire a professional to create your business cards. There are many businesses including Kinko's, who will design a wonderful color business card for an affordable price.

Although business cards sound like a hassle for some, they are actually one of the most affordable marketing tools for your company. Most businesses get ahead easily if they are constantly offering people their business cards. It is not only a great way to make connections, but it also lets you know that you have done everything in your power to get clients.

http://www.latenightprinters.com

Natalie Aranda writes on small business and marketing. Business networking is a great way to make connections with others. Although we meet new people on a daily basis, we don't always keep the relationship going. We all want to be known in our specialized field. Therefore, having an array of business cards would create more opportunities and a plethora of open doors. It is extremely simple to create them yourself. Most drug stores carry business card paper which is usually only a few dollars. Many stores even have patterns and color business cards in a variety of hues. This will allow you to be creative and make your piece of paper stand out!

The Power Of Silence

Writen by Noelle Wong

Too many times in business networking events, I'd be approached by someone who would talk continuously about their product or service offering for at least 10 minutes. These people do not seem to notice the glazed look of the listener's eyes, nor the body wanting to move away from them. They just talk, talk and talk. These people are exceedingly good at hanging onto others for a long time, not letting them move. They hand out literature that I end up throwing away because I haven't asked for them. It is not hard to be averse to such people and their product or service offerings. I'm sure many of you have similar experiences.

The messages these non-stop talkers convey are:

 they are desperate for business – because they wouldn't stop talking about it, and make it obvious that you are a good candidate for the offerings they have, even though you know you are not a candidate at this time;

 their products are complicated – since it takes them so long to explain what they are and how they work;

 they do not respect your time – because they don't seem to notice you are not interested and wanted to move away.

Therefore, in networking events, silence can be very powerful. Silence does not mean that you are to be mute throughout an event.

In silence, you get to listen and observe whether the person in front of you is a prospect or not. You can better qualify people by asking questions, and let the other person talk.

Hence, be quiet after you give your thirty seconds infomercial. Do not feel that you have to ramble on to keep the conversation going. Instead, just relax, and observe the people you converse with. If they are interested in what you have to offer, they will ask you more questions. Then, you may give them more detail about your offerings.

Observe the behaviour of your potential prospects – are they interested? Watch the body language – are they giving you full attention by facing you directly, or are they moving away from you? Are the eyes shifting away from you frequently, or are they focused on you?

Last but not least, if you are a victim of a non-stop talker, the best thing to do is to be honest and let them know that at this point you are not in need of what they have to offer. Thank them for taking the time to explain their offering to you, then walk away.

Noelle Wong sees and unveils beauty in people. She is the owner of iN-IMAGE! Inc., a personal image consulting company in Toronto that offers one-on-one consultations and workshops to help people increase their personal presence. For more information, please visit her website at http://www.in-image.com.

6 Tips To A Proper Handshake

Writen by Matt Peschong

Understanding the proper way to shake someone's hand can mean the difference between success and failure in the business enviornment. Positive or negative reactions are almost instantaneous in the marketing setting and almost always based around first impressions. This is why the firmness or weakness of your handshake, understanding whose hand you're shaking, your dominance, and your eye contact all play an important role.

A limp handshake might make you appear weak or hesitant. An overpowering handshake can stamp you as a manipulator or over dominant. The best handshake is sincere and firm with a confident smile and good eye contact.

Be aware of power distance relationships when meeting someone for the first time from a different geographical or culture than your own. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Let the person you're meeting determine "space distances" for you. It's always better to be safe so approach with a hidden sense of caution to let the person you're meeting "take the lead" and determine how close or far to come to you for a handshake. Below you'll find several excellent tips that I've been able to jot down over the years.

Proper Handshake Grasp:

In the business setting, whether your a man or a woman you have to express confidence and "shake it like a man". When interlooping your palm and fingers with another individual, be sure to grasp your palm with their palm. Never interlace your fingers with theirs without touching the palm. Be sure your palm grip is firm but not too tight. You can practice your grip with a friend and strangers. Your friends will give you their opinions on your handshake. The best part of shaking a stranger's hand is that you can judge how someone you never met will react to your handshake. Judge their eye movements, their smile (or lack thereof), and body language. Keep working til you get it right.

Shaking Hands Is Not A Contest:

Decades ago, being able to practically break the hand bones of another person when shaking hands was viewed as a sign of strength and confidence. In today's business enviornment, you might send a person to the hospital if you treat shaking hands like a contest.

Shaking A Woman's Hand:

Keep in mind that shaking a woman's hand should be treated the same as shaking a man's hand. You should clasp palms and match their grip with your own.

Say Something: Never be afraid of the person you're meeting. For example, if you're meeting your future boss and you want to make a good impression say something such as; "Nice to meet you" or "A pleasure to meet you" will do just fine.

Forgetting The Name:

If you forget someone's name and you still want to make that super first impression there's a simple trick. Approaching the individual, extend your hand and offer a warm handshake. Say "(Insert Your Name), glad to see you." By saying you are glad to 'see' them and not 'meet' them you are actually playing a clever mind game that often works to your advantage. Having met you before, by saying 'see' instead of 'meet' you're not implying you forget them entirely. In addition, by offering your name you open a door for them to reciprocate your offering.

Sweaty Palms: When you release your grip, pause briefly before continuing the conversation. If you believe your hands became sweaty from the palm exchange you should never rub them off on your pants or suit jacket. The other person will think you believe they have sweaty palms and feel offended. Instead, if your palms get sweaty try touching things randomly as you walk around the office or restaurant. For example, you're in the hot seat for an interview. You shake your potential new boss's hand and it's just wet as a dog. Keep that smile pearly white and say how excited you are to meet them. As you sit down, grasp the armrest of the chair and let some of the sweat soak into the upholestry. You can also try putting your hands on your kneecaps and lean forward as-if you were very intriguied with every word they had to say. Then, slowly let your hands rub themselves off your pant legs.

Mankato Web Design is a Minnesota based marketing and web design company owned by Matthew Peschong.

Importance Of Surrounding Yourself With The Right People

Writen by Stephen Hopson

I've only been in Ohio 8 months. Making new friends in a new town where you know no one is not easy; however, surrounding yourself with the right people is critical to your ability to overcome adversity. Oprah says it best:

"Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down" - Oprah Winfrey

Last night I had a small party for friends from my church. I was fortunate to have a group of people who enjoyed themselves to the fullest without any air or pretense or expectation. Laughter came easily. We all felt comfortable in each other's presence. It was a wonderful feeling.

Are you feeling alone? Join a church. Become a member of Toastmasters if you want to be a better public speaker. What about local civic groups including but not limited to Kiwanis, Lion's or Rotary clubs? They provide wonderful networking as well new friendship opportunities.

When you go to these functions, go with the mindset of helping others. Become a matchmaker and bring people together without any expectation of return. Believe me, if you let go and let God, you will experience incredible abundance in return; however, you must make sure your heart is in the right place - otherwise the universal law of giving and receiving will not be complete.

How can you tell if they are genuine? Watch their behavior. I ask myself the following questions about people who come into my life (and be sure to put yourself in another person's shoes asking the same questions about you!).

Listen to how they speak. When you hold a conversation with them, is it all one-way? Or do they take time to listen to you? Do they appear to have your heart at interest when they're really trying to make a name for themselves? How do they treat you - with respect or do they treat you like a child?

Are they controlling and manipulative? When you confront them about this behavior, do they try to turn things around by saying that they were "just kidding" or make it look like it was your fault or say you're "imagining things?"

Are they willing to listen to your constructive criticism and take them at heart?

When you make a suggestion, do they act condescending or do they respect your opinions?

Are their behaviors congruent with what they say? Do they maintain integrity? Do they do what they say?

Do they really care about your achievements or do they appear jealous? Are they constantly telling you to see the big picture when they themselves aren't seeing it?

Listen to your intuition about the other person. If you feel a tightening of your stomach, your heart picks up a beat and you feel drained when around a certain person, your spirit is trying to tell you something. Listen to it. You may have to let go of that person with love. Find a way to move on without burning any bridges.

Let me ask you: Are your friends willing to take the bus with you when things go down the tubes?

Profoundly deaf since birth, Stephen Hopson is a former award-winning stockbroker turned motivational speaker, author and pilot. He works with organizations that are ready to explore and overcome adversity because no one is immune from it - adversity does not discriminate. His professional speaking services, Obstacle Illusions, include fun and passionate presentations, especially the story of how his fifth grade teacher forever changed his young life with THAT'S RIGHT STEPHEN! You can view his website at http://www.sjhopson.com Stephen also maintains a blog called "Adversity University" at http://adversityuniversity.blogspot.com/

Productive Networking

Writen by Mary Kutheis

Social events, seminars, workshops, breakfasts, lunches, meetings over coffee, after-hours events – the list goes on. With the number of opportunities to network in any given week, you could spend two thirds of your available working time just meeting with people!

However, networking is usually only a piece of your overall marketing plan, so how do you make certain your networking hours are well spent?

Get realistic about how much time an event will take.

• Where is the meeting or event and at what time of day??
• Will your trip there or back be during rush hour??
• Do you need to get there early or stay late to be around when the networking really happens?

Here's a hypothetical but very realistic situation. You've decided to attend a networking luncheon that also features a guest speaker. It will take you 20 minutes to get from your office to the event where you'll spend just over two hours including the time you've built in for pre- and post-event networking. Then another 20 minutes back to your office. In total, this event took about three hours out of your day and only a small portion of that time was free for networking.

Do you have that kind of time to waste? Probably not. Productive networking is planned networking. Whether you will have 10 minutes or two hours to mingle, make the time count.

Before you go, do your homework, know what you want to achieve, and have a plan.

• The motto of successful networkers is "givers get". Be prepared to listen and see what you can do for people you connect with. Hogging the conversation is worse than not networking at all because then rather than having no impression about you they have a bad impression about you.
• If you are having a one-on-one meeting to network, allot a certain amount of time and stick to it. At the beginning of the meeting let the other person know how much time you have set aside. Have a clear idea of what you want to take away from that meeting.
• For a large gathering plan your elevator speech well ahead of time. Nothing is more tedious than someone who needs 10 minutes to explain what they do. Get it down to a minute or less and focus on what results you help your clients achieve. If the listener is interested, they'll ask for more information.
• Is it more important for you to hand out all of your business cards or make a solid connection with one or two people? Usually quality, not quantity, is preferable.

Networking is an important marketing tool for any size business and being a productive networker can make a significant impact in your bottom line results.

Mary Kutheis (kooth-ice) works with individuals, organizations, and businesses who want to be better organized in the workplace so they can be more focused, productive, and profitable. Through seminars and one-on-one work, Mary delivers real-life solutions to people who are buried in paper and e-mail and overwhelmed by "to do" lists. Visit http://openspaces4me.com/ for free tips, articles and other workplace productivity resources.

10 Effective Ways To Remember Names

Writen by Scott Ginsberg

Sigmund Freud says "a person's name is the single context of human memory most apt to be forgotten." Feelings of embarrassment and social ineptitude are conveyed through this forgetfulness, and unfortunately, the problem persists daily. The ability to remember names is an important skill that gives you an advantage in social and business settings. However, the way you associate and remember names is based on your learning style and personality type.

The following list of ten effective ways to remember names combines visual, aural and strategic techniques. Once you find the best fit for you, it will become easier to avoid muttering the most awkward and impersonal sentence in the English language: "Hey you!"

Repetition, Repetition, Repetition

As soon as you hear their name, repeat it back to the person. "It's good to finally meet you, Karen—I hear you're the expert on mufflers."

If you don't do this, you will forget her name within ten seconds of meeting her. Also be sure to repeat the name aloud in the beginning, during and at the end of the conversation. This will allow you to widen various areas of your memory circuit.

"That's a great story Stephanie!" "Wow Tony, you obviously know your hockey." If you speak the name, hear the name, and listen to yourself say the name, you will remember it.

Inquiry

The number one rule in interpersonal communication is to show a genuine interest in the other person. So, ask your new colleague to explain the personal significance of their name. Ask if they go by a nickname. Inquire about the culture from which their name was derived. The spelling question is also effective. Even if Dave or Bob is only spelled one way you can always ask if they prefer "Dave," "David," "Bobby" or "Robert."

In so doing, you show them you care about them as a person. You also transform their name from an arbitrary fact into a meaningful representation of them. Ultimately, you will flatter them and make them feel appreciated.

Dramatize Faces

You probably remember faces better than you remember names. Great! This will only make it easier when you dramatize someone's face and associate facial feature with their name. For example, if their nose or hair is particularly memorable, make a connection using alliteration with their name. Brian has bright red hair. Lucy has a long nose.

The trick is to make your associations and dramatizations memorable and interesting. Remember, that which is exaggerated and ridiculous is memorable.

Forget About You

"Did I give him the 'cold fish' handshake?" "Did I even look into her eyes?" "Do you think she noticed the logo on my company briefcase?" If you try too hard to make a good first impression, odds are you will have no idea to whom you make a good first impression to!

So don't think about yourself! Forget about you! Concentrate on them. When you become too self-conscious and nervous during the moment of introduction, it will interfere with your memory.

Write Them Down

If you are a visual learner, write down the name of the person. This is a flawless method to remember. Most networking functions and meetings take place where tables, pens and paper are available.

Throughout the conversation, look down at the name in front of you, and then look at the person. Maria. Then look at the name again. Maria. Then look at the person again. Maria. You'll never forget.

The additional benefit when you do this, unbeknownst to you, is that at least one other person in your group will see you write the name down. Talk about a good first impression!

Inner Monologue

Imagine you've already used Samantha's name during the conversation. You seem to have it committed to memory. Then again, you don't want to overuse her name aurally. Even if a person's name is the sweetest sound they will ever hear, you don't want to make it too obvious that you use the repetition trick.

Fortunately, there are countless opportunities during the conversation to quickly say the name to yourself while you look at their face: while they get a pen, while they take a drink, while they get something out of their desk, while they laugh at your hilarious joke.

It only takes a few seconds to look at someone and silently think to yourself, "Samantha. Samantha. Samantha." Don't worry; you won't miss anything if you choose to do this at the appropriate times.

Introduce Someone Else

"Have you met my coworker Patty?" you ask the nameless person. "I don't believe I have," he says, "My name is Roger. It's nice to meet you Patty." Roger. That's his name! You thought it was Antonio! Thank God you introduced him to someone else or you would be floating up the eponymous creek.

Furthermore, if you introduce someone you just met to another person, it allows you to: take control of the conversation, show your willingness to encourage connections and expand someone else's network of colleagues.

Listen and Look for Name Freebies

More often than not, you won't be the only person who knows the name of your new colleague. This means that other people will say their name, and you will be reminded. No charge. All you have to do is pay attention.

Also remember to keep your eyes open for subtle, visual reminders such as business cards, receipts, nametags, jewelry, table tents and personal papers. Without getting too nosey, it will be easy to identify these "name freebies" that paint you out of your memory corners.

These ten effective techniques to remember names will be helpful to cross the chasm between you and a potential colleague or associate. When you identify and amplify someone's name, you won't suffer a loss of face. Ultimately, your interactions and conversations will become more personal and comfortable.

Practice. Practice. Practice. That's the hard part. But over time you will learn how these different techniques for name memory will work best for you.

Attitude. Attitude. Attitude. That's the easy part. However, while practice enhances your name memory over time, it only takes a few seconds to decide to change your attitude. Don't yourself that you can't remember names. In fact, from this moment on, you are no longer bad with names. Combine this new attitude with your recently acquired skills, and you'll never have to say "Hey you!" again.

LET ME ASK YA THIS... The last time someone forgot your name, how did that make you feel?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS... Next weekend, go to Borders and spend an hour reading books on remembering names. Email me and let me know which ones are your favorites!

© 2006 All Rights Reserved.

Scott Ginsberg is a professional speaker and the author of HELLO my name is Scott, The Power of Approachability and How To Be That Guy. He helps people MAXIMIZE their personal and professional approachability - one conversation at a time. To book Scott for your next association meeting, conference or corporate event, contact Front Porch Productions at 314/256-1800 or http://www.hellomynameisscott.com.

Why Cant I Start A Conversation With You

Writen by Scott Ginsberg

One out of every ten Americans has a fear of talking to strangers. When you enter a room full of new faces, to start these conversations seems like an impossible task. You wait and wait and hope to God someone else says hello first, but the apprehensive silence persists. Then nobody talks to anybody.

This unwillingness to communicate will result in missed opportunities to meet new friends and make valuable connections. Your initial timidity takes time and practice to overcome. However, the more often you throw yourself into the sea, the less likely the waves are to bother you.

Below are four major roadblocks that stand in your way of starting conversations. The solutions to these problems will equip you with the motivation to stop falling asleep behind the conversational wheel.

The Fear of Rejection
They won't say hello back to me. They won't be interested in me. I will make a fool of myself.

This is the number one reason people don't start conversations. However, practice will make this fear fade away. The more you often you start conversations, the better you will become at it. So, be the first to introduce yourself or say hello. When you take an active instead of a passive role, your skills will develop and there will be less of a chance for rejection. Also understand the gains vs. losses. For example, what's so bad about a rejection from someone you don't even know? On the other hand, a new contact awaits your introduction!

Nothing Good to Say
I can't think of anything good to say. I never break the ice. Opening lines are difficult to put into action.

Be certain to ask open ended questions with such words as "How is…?" "Why are…?" and "What was…?" These questions elicit elaboration, explanation and show the other person you have taken an interest in them. Also give a compliment about something you've noticed followed by a related inquiry. Not only does this appeal to someone's personal interests, but it flatters them and satisfies the number one human desire to feel appreciated. Finally, offer an interesting piece of knowledge or trivia. Facts like these are more engaging than the weather and will lead your conversation to new and exciting directions.

Uncertainty of Involvement
All of these people are strangers. I came into the conversation too late. I'm not sure how to get involved with the discussion.

Be an active listener. Make eye contact with the speaker. And, keep your ears open for iceberg statements. These are pieces of free information where ninety percent is under the surface ready to be talked about. For example, listen for an implied statement about someone's family or a key phrase such as "independent contractor." Be sure to smile, nod and respond with follow up inquiries. This allows you to become included as a part of the conversation.

Perception of Conversational Value
Small talk is a waste of my time. There's no reason to interact to these people. I won't gain anything if I say hello to the woman next to me.

Yes you will! You will gain something if you talk to the woman next to you. People start conversations for five reasons: to help, to learn, to relate, to influence and to play. Think of the potential value! And you never know whom you will meet. "Fear not to entertain strangers for in so doing some will entertain angels unaware." Remember, some people enter into your lives and change it forever. But, until you own the attitude that every conversation will affect your life, whatever gain is accrued when you engage in social interaction will continue to be outweighed by your fear.

Ultimately, initiating the conversation is half the battle. It's the most difficult part of interpersonal communication, and therefore an important skill to master. Overcoming your initial fear of rejection will come as you start more conversations, more often. When you use open ended questions which appeal to the needs and interests of others, the probability of rejection will significantly reduce. And, when you become a more active listener with the attitude that conversations do have value, you no longer have to worry about falling asleep behind the conversational wheel.

© 2005 All Rights Reserved.

Scott Ginsberg is a professional speaker, "The World's Foremost Expert on Nametags" and the author of HELLO my name is Scott and The Power of Approachability. He helps people MAXIMIZE their approachability and become UNFORGETTABLE communicators - one conversation at a time. For more information contact Front Porch Productions at http://www.hellomynameisscott.com.

Extracting Value From Your Existing Business Networks

Writen by Ben Angel

It very much used to be, "it's not what you know, it's who you know!" Unfortunately your business contacts will only get you so far, unless you really know how to extract value out of your existing business networks and relationships.

This rarely happens due to a lack of education in the area of specialised networking. As business owners, we generally focus on how to develop a marketing campaign, sales processes and how to write business plans (even though few businesses seem to be operating with any of these anyway).

But when do I ask, is the time taken to develop a clear cut business networking strategy? Next to never!

Considering it is one of the most cost effective strategies to attract new clientele and reduce your client acquisition costs, why is such an important aspect being over looked by 1000's of small to medium enterprises and companies?

Purely because of the huge gap in understanding the processes involved in extracting such value from ones networks. It is not as simple as exchanging a few pleasantries and business cards at networking events. That makes up 1 %. It is about the processes and strategies that are implemented following that initial meeting that makes the difference.

With the price of marketing our businesses ever increasing and the return on investment ever decreasing, businesses must shift their focus rapidly to succeed in such a competitive business environment.

So how do you extract value out of your pre existing networks?

There is an entire tool kit of strategies and alliances you can establish with another business owner that will see you both win at the end of the day and have your customers jumping for joy.

They may include:

- Host Beneficiaries
- Cross Promotional Strategie
- Affiliate Programs
- Referral Strategies

I have seen many businesses generate millions in revenue by hugely effective and what some would say, overly simple referral strategies. The funny thing is, the simpler the better when it comes to business alliances and networks!

It is sometimes the simplest of strategies that provide the most value to you, your business, your colleagues business and your customers.

Do not overlook what is sitting right in front of you with your existing networks. We are in such a well connected society, so connected in fact that in most business networking circles you are only ever 1 degree of separation away from your ideal client.

The above strategies are simply just processes utilised to extract those clients and direct them to your business. They are channels, even pathways to your door, website or phone but they do not work unless you build them and maintain them with care.

All of these strategies have one common denominator, they are all about who you know, who your colleagues know and who your clients know. The real benefit comes however when you utilise different styles of alliances to obtain and extract value from your network, as they will from you.

At the end of the day, what's another name in your phone going to do to help you grow your business unless you dial the number and put the wheels in motion?

Ben Angel is the Director and Founder of Nationwide Networking a business networking group that meets monthly to share referrals, knowledge, gain business advice from keynote speakers and work together to proactively help each other grow their businesses. By attending, you are taking a positive step towards making your business more profitable and easier to run. Our monthly networking events combine facillitated networking activities to connect you with high quality business connections as well as a live interview with high profile business professionals to give you immediate access to the best business advice available. Past guests have included, James Tuckerman - Australian Anthill Magazine, Sam McConnell - Marketing Magazine, Diana Williams - Fernwood Fitness and Greg Hocking - Hocking Stuart Real Estate. http://www.nationwidenetworking.com

Groups Assist The Make Money Online Syndrome

Writen by Michael Fowler

William Shakespeare once wrote; "The world is a stage on which everyone is a player" ... and in Network Marketing, each player must play his/her part. To make money on the internet, working from home, you need to find the players that play their parts.

Making money online is much easier when everyone is part of the performance...

Groups play a large part in forming such an association. A Yahoo group is easy to form and allows communication to flow freely amongst the members. Keeping everyone informed of latest developments and ideas, is easily done through groups.

To truely realise the "make money at home" principle, you have to communicate and allow people to interact with each other. Team players are known to be more likely to make money online, than their individual opposites. Many minds are greater than one.

Groups are a think tank of ideas that can transform an individuals personal performance by injecting new ideas and methods into their flagging marketing strategies. To make money online, you sometimes need the sort of push that a Group can give you.

While some groups live a short life, many have been around for over 6 years or more and still give that sort of unconditional support that a new person needs, to make money on the internet. Failure rates are lower when a group is active and being led by motivational methods. The Group structure produces loyalty and belief to many people.

Anyone who is serious about learning how to make money online, should ask if there is a support group available within the business and then check it out, to see how active the group is, by looking at the mailing figures. Most groups record the number of posts made in any particular month. 78 or more would indicate some moderate activity.

Belonging to a number of groups is also a great way of relationship marketing. Joining groups that are aligned to your own personal interests, often foster a great number of business associates. Those are the sort people who are most likely to play their part.

Always remember that to make money on the internet, you have to socialise and be online on a consistent basis. Plugging people into an online group will also help you in your quest to make money online.

Michael A Fowler, M.B.A. is the editor of the Internet's premier work at home resource: Work from Home Journal.

An Online Trainer, Mentor and Coach, Michael has been helping people to succeed online since 1998.

http://www.the-mba-way.com | Goldcard43@aol.com