Archives for Networking category

success in Your career depend on how well you manage your professional development. The main source of this growth comes from being a member of professional associations related to your career. As a member, you can attend the Conference where you Improve your skills and meet people who can help you.

Here’s how to get the most out of the next Conference.

1) start with a plan

Make a list of your goals are to attend the Conference. For example, this could include the information you want to get, the relationship that you want to deepen, the people you want to meet, and things you want to buy. Also, make a list of questions you want to answer while you’re at the Conference. This list will help you focus on your personal agenda during the Conference and will maximize your chances to come back with something of value.

Then, scan through the program for those sessions that will help you choose the most. This could be on topics that teach skills leading to promotion, helping to open up new opportunities in the workplace, or answer important questions about your career. If a lot of valuable sessions that are scheduled at the same time, and then select your choice of first and second. You may find that one of the sessions have been canceled or full (sold out). Read more… »

Why Network Marketing Sucks

On the face of it, network marketing should be very effective. You buy a product, recommend it to all your friends and earn a commission on what they buy. This ‘word-of-mouth’ advertising is what the big TV advertisers most fear: your product endorsement to your friends actually carries much more clout than an expensive tele-ad.

So, you earn a few pennies or bucks on each sale. But the big money comes (or is supposed to) when you recruit your friend to do as you’ve done – to recommend the product to all their friends – and recruit them into the network, too. And you get a few bucks on their sales, and as your network grows exponentially, so does your income. So why doesn’t it work? Why do 97% of network marketers fail?

There are two main answers. First, the compensation plan. To earn anything at all you’ve to shift product. Suppose that you get $1 on the average for each order that flows through your downline. That means that you and your team have to make 100 sales to make you $100. That’s not much. To live the life you dreamed of, to give up your day-job, to spend more time with your family, to pay off your mortgage and auto loan and credit-card debts, you’re probably going to need $500,000 (at the least!) At $1 a pop it’s going to take you a long, long time. Read more… »

Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, feel like you have the gift of gab or just don’t know how to make small talk, networking know-how is very important for your business success. There is a notion in business that I believe most of us subscribe to that says “all things being equal, people will do business with and refer business to those they know, like and trust.” And the key to this is obviously being able to develop relationships.

Think of networking as the cultivation of mutually beneficial, win-win relationships. In order to be win-win, there must be GIVE and take (notice the emphasis on give). Networking shouldn’t be viewed as “events” where you go to sell your business. When effective networking is taking place, the parties involved actively share ideas, information, resources, etc.

Ok, so you know that you should be networking because it is one of the most cost-effective lead generation activities when used wisely, appropriately and professionally. But, maybe that seems easier said than done. Here’s a seven step plan to really get going with networking for your business.

1. Check out several groups to find the best chemistry and perceived value. Most groups will allow you to come and visit at least a couple of times before you have to join. Go and ask around to find out why others have joined and what value they get out of belonging.

Resist the urge to just go join the Chamber of Commerce simply because everyone tells you that’s what you need to do. If that’s not where your target group can be found, then you might just be wasting a considerable amount of time (and money). Read more… »