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here'Connecting is not Enough' - tips and tools to help you get a return from your networking | |
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Happy New Year. Can I still share New Year greetings as we reach the end of January? Christmas seems such a long time ago now and I hope you enjoyed the break.
With a new year we're going to try a couple of new approaches with Connecting is not Enough. This edition comes to you on a weekend for the first time, rather than a Thursday afternoon. I hope it reaches you when your inbox is less demanding and you have more time to relax and enjoy it. Let me know what you think.
Other changes will be coming your way....watch this space.
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A jetsetting start to the year, with trips to Frankfurt and Stockholm, have got me thinking once again about cultural differences in the way we approach networking.
It was surprising, and refreshing, last week in Frankfurt to find a purely positive approach to networking. The participants in my course didn't see any negative connotations to networking at all, something that is quite rare with UK audiences.
I hope, and believe, that we are moving towards embracing networking in the UK but there is still a long way to go, particularly among larger businesses and in certain industries. The experience inspired me to ask the question last week, do the British have a particularly negative perception of networking?
What are your thoughts?
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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.
Happy Networking!
If you like what you read, please feel free to forward it and invite others to subscribe.
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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. |
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The Host(ess) with the Most(est)
Networking Top Tip
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Many networking experts will recommend that you 'act the host' at an event as a great way of meeting lost of people, encouraging others to feel at ease and feeling confident.
This is essential if it's your event but also useful if you attend something regularly. Done properly, the impact you make on other people can be very powerful.
Last week I attended an event hosted by Women in Banking and Finance (WiBF) for their speakers, committee and sponsors. I had the pleasure of speaking for WiBF late last year at Citi and welcomed the early opportunity to carry on building some of the relationships I had made that evening and previously.
Sylvana Caloni is the President of WiBF and was hosting the event last Wednesday. Not content with just meeting and greeting everyone, Sylvana was a hive of activity. She knew everyone present and who they should be meeting and she was continually making introductions.
I benefited personally from about five very strong introductions made by Sylvana. Not only did she introduce me to people, she explained to both parties who the other person was and why we should be talking to each other. The ice was broken and constructive conversations were the outcome each time.
If I wanted to meet someone in particular, Sylvana made it happen.
When you have the opportunity to introduce people at an event, whether you are the host or not, take a leaf from Sylvana's book and grab it. People are always grateful to the introducer when a new connection turns out to be a positive one, so look for the chance to make those introductions.
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Should you pay for referrals?
Video Tip
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It constantly amazes me that the first place people turn to inspire people to refer them is financial reward, yet nobody has ever admitted to being motivated by such promises in any of my workshops.
In this video I explore whether there is a role for referral fees in your word of mouth marketing strategy.
 | | Should you pay for referrals? |
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Bits & pieces | |
We have a special New Year offer to kick start your networking. We have a handful of copies of my double CD set Networking in Ninety Minutes left and want to offer them to you at a substantially reduced price.
In the programme I share tips and advice on developing both networking and referrals strategies to build a growing business. The sets normally retails for �47.50 (or �37.50 for an mp3 download) but the last few are now available for �14.99 (or �10.99 for an mp3 download).
Details are here.
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In October I spoke for a group of scholars at The Marketing Academy Bootcamp. The Marketing Academy is a fantastic free programme set up to develop some of the outstanding young marketing talent across the UK. As well as the Bootcamps, the scholars have access to mentoring from some of the most successful marketeers in the UK.
The Marketing Academy gifts 25 scholarships each year and nominations for the 2012 programme have just opened. Included are three nominations for young entrepreneurs. If you know of some serious marketing talent or entrepreneurs who could benefit from this priceless opportunity, you can nominate them at www.themarketingacademy.org.uk.
For a taster and some more information, watch below:
 | | The Marketing Academy.mov |
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Networking Live: There are a few opportunities coming up to see me present on networking. Let me know if you can make any of them, I'd love to see you there:
January 25th 2012 12.00pm-3.00pm: Hoxton Apprentice Professional Women's Network Lunch, 16 Hoxton Square, London N1 6NT. (I believe this has now sold out but check nearer the time to see if any spaces become available.)
6th February 2012 4pm-8pm Welcome to the United Kingdom, Swedish Chamber of Commerce, Berns Salonger, Berzelii Park, Stockholm. http://www.scc.org.uk/index.php?page=eventsSCC&event=323
23rd March 2012 Federation of Small Businesses Annual Conference, Scarborough. http://www.fsb.org.uk/conference-2012/friday
28th March 2012 Medilink in Sheffield. Save the date - details to follow. |
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Farewell Etta
Just for Fun
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I came home last night to the news that the world has lost another great singer, with Etta James, famous for her signature tune At Last has passed away aged 73.
She clearly remained on the top of her game until very late in her life, as last year's cover version of Guns n Roses' Welcome to the Jungle clearly demonstrates.
 | | Etta James-Welcome to the jungle (2011) |
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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 2011. All rights reserved.
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In other people's words |
I just wanted to say a big Thank You for your highly insightful and gripping presentation on LinkedIn.
As a member of a Medical Department who worked closely with Sales & Marketing for a long time I have picked-up a lot about presenting information in a way that the reader perceives the benefits and so much of what you said really consolidated this and brought it to life.
However, you also provided me with the tools to improve what I already have. I have been struggling a bit with motivation recently but your input today really gave me the boost I needed. I've done quite a lot with social media but the missing piece to my jigsaw was making LinkedIn work. You have helped so much today with filling that gap, for which I want to thank you sincerely.
Stuart Wood
Waywood Enterprises Ltd
There was a buzz of anticipation around this event as Andy's previous talk to our members last year had been incredibly well received. Once again, Andy certainly didn't disappoint! Our audience was captivated by the engaging way in which Andy delivered his networking tips and they went away inspired, having not only learnt new approaches to networking but also how they could use their networks effectively. Thank you!
Sarah Thackray, Service Network
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