Networking – Don’t Be a Card Collector
Are you one of those people who’s Networking- Phobic? Perhaps you’ve been attending networking events for a while now and haven’t seen the results you would like to see? I’ve developed 5 easy steps for you to follow to get your networking actually working for you! This is #1.
1. Approach networking from a relationship building standpoint – don’t be a “card collector”
I can always sniff out a new networker (and yes, I will admit, I was one 4.5 years ago!) They’re the ones who approach you, business cards in hand, ready to thrust their card into your hand as fast as you’ll receive it. The conversation always starts with “so what do you do?” And they will usually speak about their incredible business or the new product that you’ve just got to try until your ears bleed. If they pause to ask you a question, you may be lucky to get in a short response before the topic of conversation returns to them. Then they will go back to their office and promptly enter your email address into their email newsletter database and begin the slow, painful drip of unwanted messaging ‘convincing’ you of your extreme need for their product/service, which is of course, the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Ok, so maybe I exaggerate a little, but I’m really not too far off!
What if we all approached it from a different space? What if we all cared more for the individual standing in front of us than the 2×3 piece of cardboard with their contact information? What if going to a networking event was a pleasant endeavor, filled with a series of delightful “getting to know you” conversations and, perhaps, a few commenced relationships? What if you let your intuition (yes, that inner energetic GPS) lead you to speak to certain people and begin to get to know them for the uniqueness they be?
Have you ever approached someone at a networking event and asked “so, what have you done that’s fun for you lately?” or “What’s the thing that has you most excited about life right now?” Give it a shot — try to ask a question that has nothing to do with business and see how that person responds. Then, let your intuition guide you to stay and chat some more, or move on to the next intriguing, authentic being. Chances are, you’ll feel much better about the conversation as a whole and if you’re lucky, you’ll have the beginnings of a great KLT (Know, Like & Trust) relationship — one that may actually turn into a great referral partnership, a friend, or possibly even a client!
I definitely recommend you try out a Behind the Moon networking event; I think you’ll find that this style of networking reflects exactly what I’m talking about! No membership is necessary but there are definite advantages to being a member! Check out the membership application here: BTM Memberships
What do you think? What makes for a pleasant relationship-building experience when you network? Ideas??
Coming out of Darkness and Overwhelm into Happiness and Joy
How much easier can spreading consciousness be?? One of my favorite clients is Rikka Zimmerman and working with her and attending her classes, I have already experienced such amazing shifts in my life. Some of the areas I’ve done complete 180′s in: Relationship, Business, Money, Health, just to name a few.
Why am I blogging about this? I am an entrepreneur. Many of you reading this may be also. So here’s my story. January 2011 I was overwhelmed beyond belief. As an entrepreneur, I was always ‘broke.’ I was barely sleeping because I felt that I had to work a ton in order to ‘get to the next level and make money.’ I was dating energy sucker after energy sucker. I cried pretty much all the time, depression was the ‘new black’ for me. Feeling fat and gross, completely stressed out, lacking energy at all times and feeling… well… devastated.
What if all that was required was choosing change. If I was myself a year ago reading this blog post, I would likely have said “it’s not that easy Meghann, you have no money and you’re not courageous enough.”
And here’s what I’d say to my January 2011 self:
- Stop cutting off your awareness – you know, that gut feeling inside that helps you know what to do and what not to do
- Start trusting your KNOWING. Yes, you know.
- Get out of judgment – of myself, my body, and others
- Stop hanging out with people who don’t contribute to you going in the direction you have chosen to go. I always remember this quote “you are the sum of the 5 people you hang out with most.”
The results I have achieved thus far using Rikka’s teaching and my knowing because I have chosen to use them on a daily basis have resulted in the gift of my life, completely redesigned and rejuvenated. I have gained courage I never thought I had to do things like: go out on my own in business and be the potent captain of my own ship, resulting in exponentially increased happiness, clients and profits. Trademark myself as the Mistress of Social Media™ and stepped into a leadership role in my life and my community. Choosing a healthy lifestyle which again added more fun to my life. I’ve stopped dating men who are a suck on my energy and life and have been with an amazing, conscious man, who is a constant positive contribution to all of me and I to him. I have a more profound relationship that is full of supportive energy and positivity with those family and friends I have chosen.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, desperate, devastated, like there’s no way out and this is “just what life’s going to be like,” stop. All that is required is to choose something different. Do things different. Start with one thing a day.
I would highly recommend beginning with some free resources from Rikka.
Oh, and there are a bunch of free resources out there too:
Rikka Zimmerman:
I’d love to hear your comments. What do you love most about your life? What are you choosing to make it better every day?
Social Media Strategy 101 Interview with ActionCOACH Susan Roberts on ESPN 102.3 Radio
*Click this link: http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=96&c=2241&f=467601
From the show Coaching Not Just For Sports; Aired on April 1, 2012; 30 minutes in length
Susan Roberts, ActionCOACH Denver & Meghann Conter, the Mistress of Media – Owner and Founder of Your Social Source speak about marketing mediums for businesses, specifically focusing on the beginnings of a social media strategy
What did you learn that you didn’t know before listening to this?
Is there someone you can share this with whom this would help?
Are you Posting on Facebook and Hearing Crickets??
Check Your Status Update Inline Audience Selector!!
I have had numerous clients call me lately frustrated because people are not commenting on their Facebook updates (when they have in the past.)
Here’s what to do!
Go to create a status update either from Home or your Timeline and look at the inline audience selector (Shown above with the globe and “Public”) and make sure Public is indeed selected. (In most cases, you’ve written a status update in the past to a specific list audience and the inline audience selector has remained on that list.)
Facebook Friend Requests – Do’s and Don’ts
I receive multitudes of friend requests from people who have profiles with no information filled in whatsoever or those that are on “lock down,” and from which I had received no personal introduction message. It just makes me wonder – why?
Would this person walk up to me at a networking event or in a social setting and simply stand in front of me with a blank stare and a mute mouth? Yeah, I don’t think so.
Why would it be any different online?
This is SOCIAL networking.
When someone does something like this, it helps me understand my clients’ frustrations. Many of them voice their concerns – “I’m getting all of these friend requests and I don’t know why. It seems I have nothing in common with them. They gave me no reason to act upon their request.”
I feel your pain!! So rather than dwell on the problem, I’m here to provide a solution.
It’s easy. It takes a few short steps.
1. Adopt a business casual strategy for online social networking – if you are in business for yourself or if you are using social media as a form of networking, this is essential!
This means:
- You will be connecting with people you do and don’t yet know who are in your target market (just as you do in a “real life” networking event!)
- You adopt a 50% personal, 50% professional philosophy on the web – in your posts, your comments, etc. (again, just as in real life, you share both parts of your life!
2. Set your privacy settings to reflect the above strategy – make sure that people can see the basics about you so that they can decide whether or not to network with you online. (see diagram below)
This means:
- When someone comes to your Facebook (or LinkedIn profile), they can see at least this information: a few photos of you, your current city, your favorite books, movies, interests, and, most importantly, your “About You” section – fill this out completely and use it as a section to tell people about you personally and professionally! “Locking down” your profile will do you no favors! If you aren’t going to let new people in, you may as well abandon using social media to grow a community!
- Let people find you based on your name and your email address (privacy setting – illustration below)
- Accept friend requests from people who send you private messages*, share common interests, and who fit in your target market. *Note that messages from those who are not your friends tend to end up in the “”Other” inbox, so be sure to check it for messages if you see a new friend request come through.
3. Treat each person you request as a friend as the unique individual they are – send personalized friend requests!
This means:
- To the right of the “Add as friend” button on someone’s profile is the “Message” button. Use it! **See example below, friend request message to Philip Halls**
- Send the person you’d like to befriend a message explaining why you would like to connect with them
- Let them know that if they do not want to accept the friend request it is OK and to please simply click “ignore” and wish them well with a smile
- Take it easy on the amount of friend requests you do each day… if you’re doing this right and seeking out people in your target market and truly personalizing your request, you won’t fall in to the “danger zone” on Facebook. (If you send out too many friend requests on Facebook in one day, they tend to slap your wrist and put you in the penalty box.)
4. Thank them for accepting your request – when people accept, acknowledge them and tell them more about you!
This means:
- Send them another message and make it personal… you are just starting out in this new relationship, so begin to build the know, like, and trust factor by connecting on a personal level
- Tell them about who you are as a person, tell them a story, tell them some interesting facts about you… make yourself stand out…
- It’s ok to mention what you do as a profession but again, do not go straight to promoting yourself or your business!!
- ASK them to tell you about them!
- Add them to a friend list (this is another blog post!)
- **BONUS**- create a video that thanks your new friends and tells them more about you and send them the link to the video
What are other ways you suggest building effective relationships online?
What services does the Mistress of Media Offer and Who Does She Work With?
Often times people ask me what the Mistress of Social Media of Your Social Source does. Here it is, nitty gritty style.
Social Media for Companies
Social Media Workshops
Social Media Consulting
Social Media Group Coaching
Social Media One on One Coaching
Would you like more information?
Feel free to send me an email: MConter@YourSocialSource.com or call: 720-938-6244
Pinterest, What is it & Who’s on it?
Are you interested in the new social phenomenon that is Pinterest?
I’ve pulled together some information to explain what Pinterest is and also have included interesting articles on this phenomenal site where “Pinners”organize and share things they find on the web on boards, similar to a virtual scrapbook.
To get an account, you can go to Pinterest.com and request an invitation, or, have a friend invite you.
Of course this is a social site, so you can view the boards displayed by others, helping people reveal common links and share the things they love. Straight from Pinterest, “Pins are the most useful when they have links back to the original source. If you notice that a pin is not sourced correctly, leave a comment so the original pinner can update the source. Finding the original source is always preferable to a secondary source such as Google Image Search or a blog entry.”
You can invite friends by adding their email addresses, or uploading your contacts from Facebook.
When you sign up for
Pinterest, it automatically has you follow the boards of your Facebook friends, and puts a Pinterest section on your timeline. You can change this by going to Pinterest Help
As long as you’re following at least one board of a fellow Pinner, you can @mention that Pinner in a pin/repin description. Ex. 
@Rebecca Blackwell – I thought you’d like this one…
You can also let other people contribute to your boards (pin the things they want to add to it), user specific. Here’s how.
I’m fascinated by the statistics and the user demographics! As of now, this site has over 4 million users and is still on an invite-only membership basis.
“Google Ad planner shows that users are:
- Largely women (a 80% to 20% ratio). So there’s some truth to Matt Buchanan’s post on Gizmodo yesterday that proclaims Pinterest as “a Tumblr for ladies”.
- Aged mainly between 25 and 44 (accounting for 55% of the group, 30% are 25-34, 25% are 35 – 44)
- Just 25% of users have a bachelors degree or higher
- The majority live off a household income of $25-75k”
This article shows the demographics of Pinterest members in the United States and compares them with those of the U.K. Floating Path – Demographics of Pinterest
THE POINT of Pinterest from a Marketing Standpoint
From Jura Koncuis of the Washington Post Style blog, “It’s an online filing system (of your LIKES)… It’s also why marketers are flocking to the site. It’s becoming a huge source of traffic to online stores thanks to those who decide to make the dream pinboards a very real purchase.”
Some say that this site is a perfect marketing tool for: tourism marketing, product marketing (especially for online stores), fashion, design, and anything that is made appealing through photos.
Also, in a recent Social Media Today article, they explain how “Pinterest is generating more referral traffic to websites/blogs than YouTube, Google +, and LinkedIn combined” of course, done by pinning content on their sites that is “re-pinnable” and commenting on other’s pins, and sharing other’s content.
Yes, this is the same song, different verse. In order to be successful in using social media as a marketing tool, you have to produce engaging, viral content, interact with others (comment, like, repost), and be social!
What’s my conclusion? If you’ve got a “picture perfect” business model, you’d better be on Pinterest! And, I’m going to be posting case studies of traffic before/after the use of Pinterest on a couple different sites so stay tuned for the results…
Be sure to add the Pinterest icon to your website and the “pin it” icon to your blog if you do get involved in the “pinning” community! 
YOUR THOUGHTS… Are you on Pinterest? What do you think? Please comment below!
LinkedIn Tags – How to Make Lists of Your Connections – and How to Use Them
What are Tags on LinkedIn & How to Use Them
Filtering Your Connections for Maximum Relationship Building
Tags are simple key words you can use to organize your LinkedIn connections to filter them quickly. You can categorize people according to profession, company, position, location, where you met, or other important factors.
How to add or remove a tag:
1. Click on ‘Contacts’ at the top of your home page. This will take you to the ‘My Connections’ page.
2. Select the ‘Manage Tags’ filter in the left panel.
a. Delete tags by clicking on the tag you wish to delete then click ‘ok’ to confirm. Removing a tag does not end your connection to this person. It only removes this tag filter you have attached to connections.
b. Add new tags by entering the tag name in the empty box and clicking on the ‘Add new tag’ button
How to Use LinkedIn Tags:
Use tags to remember people well – to remember important details. Here are some questions you could ask yourself to help you sort them out.
- Where did I meet them? A tag could be “2011 CFA planning convention” or “Facebook friend”
- How did we meet? (In person, Phone, Email, FB, TW, Web)
- How do I want to manage the relationship? Ex. Meet | Prospect | Maintain | Reconnect – this way you can frequently be in touch with people who are in your “Meet/Prospect/Reconnect” lists to further your relationships with them
- What type of relationship do you have? Are they a (Client | Personal Friend | Power Partner | Industry Leader | Relative | Colleague | Vendor?)
- And, if you want to get a bit more specific, how strong is your connection? (1 = Weak, 5 = Strong- then perhaps spend most of your time on the strong connections)
Then what?
Use these tags to be in better communication with the people who are most important to you (business referral partners, client prospects.)
If you want to message people who fit in a “tag,” simply to go Contacts, then select the tag from the left toolbar “filter connections” that you want to message, and select all (or select only the people you want by checking the box next to their name and picture” and in the toolbar to the right, select “send message.”
**Note: You’ll need to invest some time at the beginning to correctly tag all those you are connected with. And if you have more than 50 people that are associated with a specific tag, you can’t use the handy “Send a Message” feature because of the limitation of 50 contacts per InMail.
Have you used LinkedIn tags? How have you used them? What do you think of them?
Personal Branding Traits – What Sets You Apart?
I had a personal branding expert whom I highly respect tell me yesterday that a key trait of my personal brand is that I pride myself on generating social capital – promoting others and being helpful to others, in person and on the web. I rave about others and promote them at least twice as much as I talk about myself and my company. I make it a point when I’m at networking events to connect the people whom I think would be power partners and would help each other out. I connect people on LinkedIn and Facebook all the time. I pride myself on being a connector.
One of my good friends who owns a custom embroidery & screen printing shop in Denver said one of the key elements to his personal brand is class. He has front row tickets to the performing arts center, tickets on the ice at Avs games, seats just off the floor at Nuggets games… the point is, whenever he gives his tickets to a potential client or a referral partner, they know without a doubt, that the seats are going to be killer!
We all have things that we do which set us apart from others, especially those of us who are entrepreneurs. We don’t have millions of dollars to spend on PR and marketing, and yet we need to formulate a positive and deliberate impression of ourselves in the eyes of our target market at all times. That means identifying our distinguishing traits and authentically flaunting them. Guess what that does for us?? It helps us attract the right kind of clients who really want to work with us! And then they become our biggest raving fans!
What’s a personal branding trait of yours??!
What is your Brand Personality?
A brand personality is the way your brand speaks and behaves in terms of human characteristics.
So what is yours?
If you can’t answer that question right now. Yes, right now! Stop what you are doing and go to http://lida360.com/reputation360book.html and buy Lida Citroen’s book… it gives you step-by-step instructions to build your personal brand NOW. In some cases, your brand may be YOU. Or, it’s your company’s innards, assigning human traits (characteristics, beliefs, values, etc.) to your brand name. Why should you care? Because your clients and your potential clients care. It’s a big part of why they do business with you versus your competition who provides the same exact service.
If you’re still reading this, I’m guessing you can easily define your brand personality.
Let me tell you about ours at Your Social Source~~~
We are funny. Hilarious actually. We make our clients laugh. We provide a space for them to let their hair down and show their true colors. Because guess what, that’s what their clients/potential clients want to experience too!
We are authentic and transparent. For real.
If we were a language, we would be Anglofrancospagnoltalian (that’s multi-lingual) because we believe in the value of communicating directly to the target market in the right voice, demanding adaptation like a chameleon.
We are purple because we are majestic and royal in the value we provide our clients and outgoing and bubbly in our communication.
If we were a car, we’d be the hippest, most gas efficient, brightest, pimpest car on the road. With one of those dancing balloons attached to the roof.
If we were an animal, we’d be a mole, digging around and investigating new tunnels, then popping our heads up to deliver new findings to our clients, running around to see what’s going on up top, and then go back to analyzing the complex tunnels and their changing directions (that’s a metaphor for the Internet 
Don’t forget the complex mole communities we’d build for all of our friends and clients!
Imagine a young, talented skier (or snowboarder if you prefer) doing hellis off of jumps and 360s in the half pipe, wearing the perfect outfit matching with the skis… utterly cool… yep, that’s us!
If we were a song, we’d be an uplifting hip hop/dance number, something you could shake your money maker to!
When it comes down to business, we put on our suits and give it some elbow grease. We work hard for our clients and we produce results, and help them succeed.
Some of our other personality traits – we embrace change – in the online realm it is an every day reality; we are extraordinarily creative; we believe in open-mindedness and tolerance; we’re positive and upbeat, engaging and participatory, trusting and sincere. Adventure is our middle name. 
Our brand story? We recognized years ago that small businesses deserved marketing solutions they could afford and that provided them with constant prospects and business. We set out to develop ourselves as experts in every niche of modern marketing and now we have the right professionals with specific knowledge all in one place, working together to provide your company with the marketing tools and solutions you need at the prices you can afford to pay. And we’re darn good too!
Here’s another great resource http://visual-branding.com/eight-outlines/creating-a-brand-personality/ to explain brand identity and personality (and distinguishing between the two).
What’s your brand personality? Share it with us! C’mon, get creative!
