| Greetings!
September. This is the month that many entrepreneurs "get serious" about their businesses. Perhaps you are looking at your calendar and assessing how close you are to your year end goals. Perhaps you're planning for the fall-winter selling season. Or, for those who are parents, the kids are back in school and now, we can FINALLY get something meaningful accomplished during the day.
Whichever category you fall into, talking about what you do is an important (and usually free or cheap) component of your fall marketing plan.
If you don't have any networking events on your calendar this month, make an appointment with yourself to find out when the next one is and put it on your calendar.
When you're at the event, try using this month's networking tip, and remember - you'll need a tracking system. Be sure to check out the Seven Secrets to More Profitable Clients - the link is listed at the bottom of this newsletter.
Happy September Networking!
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Getting Serious in September
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| On thing I have heard over and over and _____ again is that you are constantly running into people who are "networking challenged".
Yes, I am right there with you!
If you've been to a workshop recently, you understand the value of the materials I am presenting. Plus, I now have an affordable electronic book that makes this information available to business owners on even the tightest budget.
You probably know at least five people who could really use this information.
For the first ten of you who forward this email to five friends or collegues I will offer a 15 minute "lightning" one-on-one networking strategy session AND a one month membership in our Networking Success Circle.
Are you up for the challenge??
Please don't send unsolicited email to people. Only forward the email to people who have asked you to do that. What that means is, if they are someone who you would have no problem having a conversation with about building their business, or they are on your "opted in" mailing list that would be OK. Just don't send something to every person whose email address you've collected over the past 5 years! (That could get us both in trouble!!)
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Miss Karen's Monthly Musings -
Back to School, Back to the Rink,
and Back to the Inside of My Car!
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I had forgotten (foolishly) just how much travel there is in tier travel hockey. Looking at the schedule makes my brain hurt. (Yeah, yeah, I know - there are no pain sensors IN the brain, but it FEELS like my brain hurts!)
Stephen is excited though. He just started middle school (he's a big kid now) and the Jr. Sharks have hired a goalie coach. What this means is he won't just be the target at hockey practice, he's finally going to get some formal training, so he's really looking forward to this year.
I have to admit that my admiration for people who have multiple kids in multiple sports gets bigger this time of year. And people with multiple kids in sports who run businesses are even higher on my admire list - you know who you are!
I did some extra networking this month, and I've decided I need to make a movie. It's going to be called I-Networker and it's going to contain all of the bizarre, strange and just plain dumb networking stuff I saw this month. In fact (yes I really am making this movie) I'd like you're "networking horror stories" to add to the film. The names and exact stories will be changed to protect the "not so innocent" mostly so we don't get sued - HA!
Please submit your networking "moments" to karen@misskarensproductions.com, or simply reply to this newsletter.
You will get credit in the movie (if you want it) which will be posted to my website and used to promote my workshops. I swear we'll make it so you can't possibly be implicated in a networking "scandal." This should be fun!
And Antigravity Dog - the cocker spaniel puppy who leaps tall furniture in a single bound, falls every time and then wonders why - says hello! (because some of you ask me how she's doing) Her favorite new hobbies are chasing flying insects and barking at the TV whenever there is a doorbell sound. I have no idea why, because we don't have a doorbell!
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| Case Study - Why Telling People What You Do Too Soon Can Sabotage Your Networking
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There are four words that when strung together are very dangerous - I already knew that. Most of us know when we're in a class or workshop it's best not to be wearing our expert hat, but did you know it applies to talking about what you do?
When you're out introducing yourself, remember that everyone you meet will be wearing their "expert hat" - their pre-conceived notion - about what your job title means. If you tell some me you are a financial planner for example, most people think they know what that is, decide from past experience whether it applies to something they care about, and walk away from you if it's not.
If, however you say something like, "I help baby boomer women achieve financial independence" (or something like that), your listeners "expert hat" will come right off because they won't understand exactly what that is.
Case in point. One of my students is a "holistic healer". She was at a networking event and someone asked her "what do you do?" Fresh out of the workshop she really wasn't sure what I taught her would actually work so she said, "I am a holistic healer". The person who she was talking to said, "Oh my gosh. My mother went to a holistic healer and they said she was going to die within a year!"
OK - End of conversation.
Most of us know that's not the kind of thing a holistic healer typically does. Her listener had a misconception about the title because of a bad experience. She had her "expert hat" on about what that profession meant, and since she was a bit traumatized by the experience, a further conversation would be problematic.
This same thing will happen to you no matter what your profession is if you introduce yourself and state your profession in the first two or three sentences.
If I told you I was a writer (which I am, by the way) what would you think?
Maybe I write romance novels, maybe newspaper columns or magazine ads. I wouldn't get to the part about what I actually do (teach people how to write and deliver elevator speeches). You would have already decided that I do what your "expert hat" has told you about what a writer does. You would have stopped listening and being curious because you thought you knew. Have you ever experienced this?
This is normal. We all do it (even me) and doesn't make you - or anyone else for that matter - a bad person. People are busy and have short attention spans. When we're at an event it's easy to be distractible.
Remember, when you introduce yourself. Tell how you help people, who you help and who you are looking for. You'll meet allot of great people and maybe even get an introduction to your dream client!
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September Calendar |
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90 Minute Workshops:
Tuesday, September 11th 9:30am - 11:00am - Pleasant Hill
Wednesday, September 26th 10:00 am - 11:30 am Walnut Creek
Note: There will be a Brentwood Area Workshop. I'll notify you when the dated, time and location are set.
One Day Workshops (locations subject to change):
Monday, September 17th 10:00 am - 5:30 pm "ish" Walnut Creek
Saturday, September 29th 10:00 am - 5:30 pm "ish" Walnut Creek
Note: There will be a Brentwood Area One Day Workshop. I'll notify you when the dated, time and location are
set.
Chamber Speaking Engagements:
Friday, September 28th Chamber Ambassador Rally, Richmond, CA
30 minute class "How to Network More Effectively" exact time to be determined.
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| Networking Information Made Convenient and Affordable
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At last Miss Karen's electronic book is available!
Network Your Way to Success is Miss Karen's 30 Seconds to Success
Workshop in book form. If you:
- are on a shoestring budget
- are not
sure if networking will work for you
- can't make it to a workshop
- and you need a
system for networking that really works
this is book is for you!
Let Miss Karen teach you just how easy it is to increase your results while networking - without being pushy or "salesy"
Why did I create an electronic book? I'm passionate about transforming networking
from a "stalking people and collecting business cards" thing to
something that helps people connect to what or who they need to know
next. I can't do this alone - I need your help.
Click on the name of the book below to ready more or to purchase this electronic publication.
| Link to Network Your Way to Success |
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| Do You Want to Advertise in This Newsletter? |
If your target market is business owners who want their businesses to grow using word of mouth marketing and strategic alliances, you may have something they need to be more successful. Email me at karen@misskarensproductions.com to find out more about advertising in this newsletter. | |
Karen Frank founded Miss Karen's Productions
over three years ago. What began as a one-person operation providing content for
websites and elevator speeches has blossomed into a multifaceted company
specializing in spoken word communications. From workshops that teach business
owners what to say and how to say it - to effective scripting for fundraising
videos, Miss Karen's Productions is becoming an industry leader in verbal
communications information and training.
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Networking
Tip of the Month
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| What's (or Who's) in YOUR Rolodex?? Networking events can be uncomfortable, especially if most of the people in the room are trying to sell their "stuff" to you. (Don't you hate that?)
It's important to remember that most likely, the reason they are networking in this way is because they simply don't know any better.
One way to disarm a "pushy" presenter is to say, "You know, I don't need your services, BUT I'd really like to help you out. Can you tell me the kinds of problems you solve for your clients and give me an example of your typical client. Perhaps I know someone who needs your help."
If you find yourself genuinely interested in helping this person, consider scheduling a meeting at a later date and time to get more information.
If the "pushy" person is someone you're not really "clicking" with, it's OK to excuse yourself from the conversation by "spotting someone you intended to meet tonight" and politely disengaging.
Remember, we all do business with people we know, like and trust. If you don't like someone, it's OK. Most likely it's simply because they are not just like you (their personality style is different).
The most important thing to remember is networking is not about hunting - it's about farming. You need to take to develop relationships.
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Does your group need a speaker?
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Every business needs to promote itself to grow and be successful, and yet many struggle with what to say and how to say it.
If your group is looking for a fun interactive presentation, Miss Karen will fill the bill!
She will entertain and educate audiences of any size on topics such as "How to Network" and creating an effective elevator speech. Call 925-407-4716 to schedule Miss Karen for your next event.
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