Professional Business Networking On and Off the Web
Keynote Address - Training - Coaching - Resources w/ Martin Brossman
Here are a few of my short tips for profoundly enhancing the value of your BNI referral group using Social Media and reputation sites. – You can update LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook status about the meeting with something unique to that day, and the name of the group. Example someone posted: Looking forward to hearing Martin Brossman about Social Media w/business at our BNI Morning Show
Remember, LinkedIn is a professional tool for solving tasks. It is not a cold calling list or directory of your target clients. It IS a first place to check for current and future contacts and business, due to the high quality of the data when it is present. Since each profile is about an individual, automatic self-interest is generated for being well-represented on the web.
With higher demands for greater transparency, LinkedIn offers a credible way for your customers to prescreen you by seeing recommendations without having to bother people. This also applies for people looking for a job. People can see recommendations to you without your having to repeatedly bother your references to pre-screen you.
Over the past ten years or so, leads groups have become a staple of networking for small business people. Unlike the more familiar referrals groups and peer advisory groups, leads groups allow any number of the same businesses and membership is open with a small fee only when attended. Like its predecessors, however, leads groups are most effective when attended regularly and relationships are built.