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I was really sorry to hear that last week's E2 Live was cancelled at short notice. There are plans to run the event again in April next year.
If you bought tickets and haven't done so already, please contact the organisers at e2@thee2live.com to claim your refund.
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Competition corner - As promised in the last newsletter, I have more great prizes to give away to readers this time out.
Whether you have to make short presentations as part of your job, elevator pitches about your business to the audience at a networking event or speak regularly to audiences of all sizes across the country, presentation skills are essential in business today.
I have five signed copies of the new book by Graham Davies to give away. In The Presentation Coach, Bare Knuckle Brilliance for every Presenter, Graham looks at how to put together and deliver the perfect presentation.
Graham is one of the highest profile presentation skills coaches in the UK, regularly appearing on BBC and Sky television news and coaching leading politicians, celebrities and chief executives.
For a chance of winning your copy, please email or tweet me, using #LopataCompetitions in your tweet with your contact details, by 1pm on Tuesday 30th November.
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A big thank you to Daniel Priestley and Triumphant Events for stepping in and offering an alternative prize to the winners of our E2 Live competition in the last newsletter.
Daniel, who recently published his book, "Become a Key Person of Influence - The 5 Step Sequence for becoming more highly valued and highly paid", kindly offered each of the winners a free ticket to their tremendous Unleash Your Power of Influence event last week, with some fantastic speakers including Simon Woodroffe and Sam Roddick.
The lucky readers were Jaime Morgan Hitchcock, Sarah Perkins, Mike McKoy, Dipak Amin and Carla Corrie. I hope you enjoyed the event.
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If you have any questions you'd like me to address either in this newsletter or on my blog, please either tweet me, post them onto our Facebook or LinkedIn pages or email them to me.
I always try to address as many as possible.
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If you have received this in error and don't want to receive future editions, please use the unsubscribe link at the foot of the email and accept my apologies.
If you like what you read, please feel free to forward it and invite others to subscribe.
Happy Networking!
Andy
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Be prepared
Networking Skill Tip |
Before you go along to any networking event, make sure you prepare first. The preparation needed is simple, but can be remarkable effective. Of course you need to make sure you have the right business cards with you and a pen to take notes, but preparation goes deeper than that.
First of all, understand why you are going in the first place. A clear understanding about why that event is relevant to you, the type of people you'd like to meet and how you will know it's been an effective use of your time will guide your actions and help you be more productive when there.
It's fine to scan the attendee list if one is available, but don't fall into the trap of scanning for prospective customers or ticking off the only people you want to talk to. Scan instead to see who you'd like to meet and also who will be there you've met before and would like to reconnect with. If you plan far enough in advance, you may also be able to organise meetings around the event with some of the other attendees.
If you know why you're there and make the most of the opportunities that present themselves, you will find you can attend fewer events and get a greater return from your networking. |
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The most natural form of marketing
Networking Strategy Tip |
It's the oldest form of marketing, the one we're most comfortable with being on the receiving end of and the one most likely to lead to business. Yet businesses consistently fail to develop a strategic approach to generating referrals.
The growth of social media and interactive websites has seen an increase in the popularity of customer review sites. Tripadvisor, Expedia, Amazon are just some of the highest profile sites. There are thousands of opportunities to review the books we read, products we buy, restaurants at which we eat and hotels where we stay.
Why is this? People like to recommend services they like, and they feel more comfortable buying from someone who has received positive endorsements.
If your business is not tapping into this, isn't it time you started? Your prospects will be more likely to engage with you and buy from you if your existing customers, your suppliers, your staff and your friends recommend you to them.
Don't just leave this to chance, develop a strategy to maximise the number of referrals you get in your business.
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Help!
Online Social Networking Tip
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If you build a strong network of people who have engaged with you on social media, you can ask them for help where needed.
Such help might be advice, feedback on new ideas, information or connections. You can ask formally through discussion groups or in dedicated areas, such as the Answers section on LinkedIn. Or you can simply post a request for help on your Facebook status or in your Twitter feed.
As well as opening up your social networks to give you more resources to support your business, being willing to ask for help online draws people to you. We all like to help others where we can and being asked for our opinion or support often flatters us.
Asking for help is a great way to both engage more deeply with your network and get the support you need in your business.
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Who's your ideal referral?
Video Tip |
In the latest clip from my recent talk at Sage World 2010, I ask the question, "who is your ideal referral?" and share a few ideas to help you answer it effectively.
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Just for Fun
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Can it be a coincidence that The Queen has joined Facebook just a few days before Prince William announced his engagement to Kate Middleton? Perhaps she wants to be able to share all of the photos from the engagement party, or keep a closer eye on the happy couple. Who knows.The BBC comedy team seem to have an insight to The Queen's Facebook updates. Very interesting it is too....
The Queen on Facebook....
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I hope you've enjoyed the newsletter and look forward to your feedback.
If you're serious about developing a networking and referrals strategy that can take your business to a new level, or you are interested in booking me for a speech or training session for your team, find out more details on our website or you can contact me on:
Tel: 07930 417833
Skype: andylopata
I look forward to hearing from you.
Andy
� All material copyright H & A Lopata ltd 2010. All rights reserved.
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Kick start your networking with small group coaching
| Are you struggling to get a return from your networking? Not sure which group to join or whether your existing group is working for you? Do you not know where your next referral is coming from?
We are offering a limited number of kick start coaching sessions to small firms in the London and surrounding areas.
We will spend two hours reviewing your networking and referral strategies and looking at new approaches that will help you get the response you are looking for.
Whether it's developing a 'Referral Book' of people who will pass you good quality leads, or a clearer idea of where to network, you'll go away with more focus and a strong action plan.
The sessions can either be 1-2-1 or, if you prefer, you can share the cost with two other firms and have a joint session.
You may be eligible for funding towards the cost of this programme.
For more information on this programme how to book and costs, please click here. |
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Andy's Musings...
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A selection of Andy's regular online columns and coverage elsewhere:
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In other people's words:
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"We engaged Andy Lopata to conduct a seminar on networking at our offices in Waterloo, Belgium.
Andy is an energetic presenter who quickly captured our audience's attention.
The content of his presentation was excellent and fostered lively commentary and questions. The break-outs were especially constructive and everyone enjoyed the six degrees of separation exercise.
Networking is a critical skill for success and Andy offered many helpful tips that were relevant and useful to our pan-European employees. We will definitely have Andy back for another session and are looking for other ways to partner with him."
Jennifer Rademaker
Head of Strategy Development Europe
Mastercard
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