PRO NETWORKING
Archive for the ‘Capitol City Club of Raleigh’ Category
Understanding Linkedin for Sales Professional – Part 1
Look up your next contact on Linkedin
Last week I convinced my friend Bob of the value of using Linkedin for sales. It happened right after I saw him having lunch with John, another friend of mine. When Bob called me later to let me know that he was doing well in his new position and to make an appointment with me for continued sales coaching, I mentioned that I knew John well. I asked him if he had used Linkedin before he talked to John. Bob said no, he hadn’t. I was sitting at my computer at the time. I asked, “Did you talk about the fact that you are both big Hurricanes fans? “No, I didn’t know that,” Bob replied. Then I asked him, “Did you discuss that you both did your undergraduate work at North Carolina State University?” Again, Bob said no.”Did you tell Bob he knows your best customer, Richard Jones? Bob replied, “No, that would have been great to know, but it didn’t come up–how did you know this?” I told him I knew it because I had looked at John’s LinkedIn profile. “If you had just taken a moment before you met John to look up his Linkedin profile,” I explained to Bob, “you would know all this information and more. Also, since John posted his profile on Linkedin, it is information that he is clearly comfortable having others know, so it’s okay to mention. You could have said, ‘I looked you up on Linkedin and noticed that you are a Hurricanes Fan, or that we both went to NC State.”"Now, on the other hand,” I continued, “if he looked you up on Linkedin, he would see that you had 15 connections, that your profile says you still work at the company you left two years ago, and that you don’t have a single recommendation.” “Bob,” I said, “you’ve done your best to always sell top-quality products with a personal commitment to give the best quality support to your customers. Would you want an easy way for potential customers to see your years of experience and be able to check you out before you meet? I know you have a large number of customers that would be pleased to give you a recommendation on Linkedin if you simply asked. Bob replied, “Can we include some Linkedin training along with regular sales coaching-as soon as possible?I told him to start immediately by making sure his Linkedin profile was fully filled out and to start looking up customers before meeting them. And I noted that there’s also a large amount of information available by looking up the company that many people aren’t even using, which gives info which would have traditionally cost money or a lot of research. Several key things for a sales professional about Linkedin: Start looking up companies you are involved with, including your own. Before you meet with someone see if they are on Linkedin and review their profile. Make sure that when your future customers look you up on Linkedin, current information is there that enhances understanding and trust of you. Linkedin is a valuable tool for a successful Sales Professional and offers a great deal at the free service level.
—Martin Brossman: Success Coaching & Trainer offering Social Media, Personal Branding and Linkedin training since 2006. www.ProNetworkingOnLine.com -Martin@CoachingSupport.com (919) 847-4757 (Article re-printed from www.LinkingRaleighNC.com )
Job & Career resources – Using Linkedin – Martin Brossman Interview
An Interview with Martin Brossman on Using Linkedin as a Job Hunting tool. Also see other resources below.
Here is the two links to the shows:
1st the spot that was shown on the nightly news:
http://news.mync.com/site/news/video/2951/Linked%20In%20pkg/
2nd more of the interview:
http://news.mync.com/site/news/video/2944/Martin_Brossman_interview/
I want to thank all who recommended me for this show including Greg Hyer with the great RTP Linkedin resource: www.linkingraleighnc.com, Wayne Sutton and Chuck Hester ( Linkedin Life, find Chuck at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckhester ). I know their were others that recommend me as well but did not get the names.
Other resoruces: Professional Networking On-Line ( Article on MyNC.com ) :
http://wake.mync.com/site/wake/Community/story/11074
Martin Brossman – Success Coach / Trainer
About Martin Brossman
Martin, a success coach, speaker, trainer and author, has been mastering the art of networking in the Triangle since 1982 ( www.coachingsupport.com ). He has originated numerous successful in-person and on-line networking groups which have facilitated meaningful business connections among members. Martin’s computer skills have powered his keen ability to create and teach crucial new Internet communications, such as blogging, podcasting and on-line networking. His own podcast show can be heard at www.InquireOnLine.info . He offers consulting on how to generate profitable alliances by maximizing face-to-face and on-line presence and managing “the conversation of you” on the Web – www.ProNetworkingOnLine.com .
For more information, contact Martin Brossman at (919) 847-4757 or Martin@CoachingSupport.com
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Professional Networking On The Web By Anora McGaha
WAKE COUNTY, N.C. By Anora McGaha
There’s a new group in town, for online networking; one that really helps people apply the tools of online social networking to daily business. Professional Networking on the Web. What do you know about that?
A few of you have been doing this for years, and this may or may not appeal. Maybe you like to share what you know, then you might like to participate. But for most of us, even signing up into LinkedIn, THE professional registry online, is a major leap of faith. It takes anywhere from two to ten people inviting us in before we sign on, and then, once we’re in, then what? If we have a business that is ready to go, ready to network, ready for new clients, the “Then What?” question is very important; it is the core focus of this group.
The biweekly breakfast meetings are led by Coach, Martin Brossman, and Web Consultant, Whitney Hill. They start with introductions, and a quick round of progress and successes since the last meeting. Then, down to business: choosing a person to review on LinkedIn and to help with networking. Step up to the laptop. Type in your password, and let’s go over your profile! Questions and comments come in from around the table. Suggestions are made; praise given. Then… Then, it’s time to find someone you want to meet to further your business opportunities. Who do you want to meet? CIOs in biotech? Project managers in consulting firms? Recruiters based in the Triangle?
Martin coaches the person through the search features in LinkedIn and someone is chosen from the search. Their profile is reviewed to see what they have in common. Their degree of connection is evaluated, and the people known in common looked over. Then the team offers suggestions about how to approach this person. “One of the most valuable aspects of this group is that we explore what are valid and authentic ways to approach a new contact, respecting their priorities and their time,” says Martin Brossman. “We work as a team using both in-person and on-line resources.” With that, time’s up, and one more person has gotten suggestions on their profile, and methods of finding and approaching people from LinkedIn. In the process, everyone has gained.
One of the group members, Athena Delmontie writes this: “The unique focus of using our internet connections as well as our off-line contacts is a valuable resource to my business. We not only help each other with new introductions to business but also etiquette in the on-line networking world and sharing proper application of social media for business.”
The Professional Networking on the Web group meets at the Capital Club in the Progress Energy Building in Raleigh. On the 21st floor in a spacious room with a view of the rising sun (yes, it meets early, at 7:30 am), there are breakfast choices, both continental breakfast and five cooked breakfast options for a nominal fee. The group is by invitation only, but you’re invited to request consideration to participate. Write to Martin Brossman at martin@coachingsupport.com or call 919-847-4757 to request consideration.
Republished from: http://wake.mync.com/site/wake/community/story/11074/
To see more about the group go to: http://www.coachingsupport.com/network/PNOTW.html
The Conversation Of You on the Web by Martin Brossman
The Conversation Of You on the Web by Martin Brossman
From your career to your business, it is wise to think about the current and future conversation about you on the web. When you have a talk with someone at a networking event, that conversation lasts only as long as you’re speaking and in the memory of the people who were listening. Conversations on the web that may passionately express a strong opinion in the moment may live for years, long after the opinion has faded away.
Right now you are probably on the web in some form whether you planned it or not. My invitation is to participate in the conversation that you want about yourself on the web. Trying to control everything that is said about you on the web is not what I’m talking about (and a poor use of time that would drive you crazy.) Just as speaking without thinking in public can have immediate negative ramifications personally, doing the same thing on the web can have ramifications over a longer period of time. For example, when I first started searching my own name on the web I was shocked to find an upset note complaining about a faulty product associated with my name. When I investigated further, I found out that I had actually posted the note a year ago to the manufacturer, and Google had pulled the note out of context with my name attached. This opened my eyes to the importance of paying attention to what I put on the Internet and the value of spending some time attending to that. I am not talking about falsely representing yourself on the web to look good, but I am talking about insuring that what’s on the Web represents the type of person you are committed to being. So you see, “the conversation of you” on the Web is your permanent virtual showcase, including more than just what you do or your job. It is giving people a sense of the total person, beyond a mere description attached to a job.
Just as in business networking in person, trying to be everywhere all the time does not work well. My advice about business and social networking is to start by picking one to three good networking sources. Work with them and get to know them, — even though every one of your friends may be sending you an invite to other online groups you’ve never heard of . For example, you may want to start with linkedin.com, or a local business group like inside919.com. Allot a set amount of time each week for learning about how to use it, or even go to some training on the topic. From You Tube, to blogs, to the site’s own resources, there are a lot of free educational resources on the web to help you learn to navigate wisely. Watch what others do and notice the effect it has on you, both positive and negative. Remember to use the same social skills you would have in person on the web (sometimes people forget this key point.) Don’t over-dominate one community group with listings of things you are selling. Make sure to lead with value and contribution.
Being part of networking communities on the web is as important to a business owner as it is to someone with a “career job”. The saddest thing I have seen is the hardworking employee doing their best to “take care of their family” by focusing only on doing their job. When someone takes no time to build a conversation about themselves outside the company and is suddenly laid off, it is a lot harder and more costly to market yourself for a job on the web when you are unemployed. It is a good idea to talk to your PR person, marketing person, web developer or career consultant to have these conversations aligned strategically on the web. Even if your name is not unique, you can make it stand out with quality information attached to it. Using a Blog reader or a news aggregator is a great way to keep track of many information sources in one location. Look forward to seeing YOU on the web!
At a recent event of the Business Alliance at the Cardinal Club in Raleigh NC there was a presentation on this topic by myself and several other people. Here are the contacts from that meeting; they all have good resources on their blogs:
John M. O’Connor – President – Career Pro Inc. – www.careerproinc.com – john@careerproinc.com – (919) 624-1336
Lorana Price – CEO & Creative Director – Holy Cow Branding – www.holycowbranding.com – lorana@holycowbranding.com – (919) 342-3349
Whitney Hill – President – Carolina Web Consultants – www.internetpeople.net – whitney@internetpeople.net – 919-676-7500
Frank Williams – Founder of Pioneer Strategies – www.pioneerstrategies.com – (919) 833-4345
And myself: Martin Brossman – Success Coach / Trainer / Author: www.CoachingSupport.com , Martin@CoachingSupport.com , (919) 847-4757
My podcast is: www.inquireonline.info
Business Networking at The Capitol City Club of Raleigh
A great place to socialize and build business alliances!
By Martin Brossman with input from other quality members of The Capitol City Club of Raleigh.
Imagine a place where there is a great view, where you meet quality people, and where you can build powerful business alliances with leaders in their field. Imagine further, that you saw the value you could contribute to the community with a membership base of over 4000 people and a facility spanning two buildings in the expanding and ever improving downtown Raleigh area. This is the Capital City Club & the Cardinal Club.
For me, the club has been a leading resource for building valuable alliances and introductions in the triangle area. I want to talk about some of the resources available and the ways in which I utilize these resources. The club is not a place to just ‘sell your widget’ but is a place to build and maintain business relationships within a social atmosphere. It is a place where people get to know you and will appreciate your integrity, one of the building blocks of trust. Initially, you may want to test out these new relationships with a smaller project to assess how well you work together. Nothing occurs by ‘just being a member,’ you have to commit time and energy to interact with people at the club and to take full advantage of the resources the club has to offer.
What are some of the things that the club offers to the business owner, consultant, or employee?
• It is great place to meet clients, associates, and friends for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The service and food is excellent and you will never be rushed.
• It provides the opportunity to share and define a variety of business development approaches. A new member recently described the outstanding payoff he experienced when he bought tickets to join his clients at some sporting events which turn, led his clients to quickly recognize the value of spending time together building their business relationship.
What are the specific business opportunities?
• There are the three Leads Groups who meet twice a month first thing in the morning (Leads I on Thursday, Leads II on Tuesday, and Leads III on Wednesday). I am honored to lead the ‘Leads II Group’ which has 26 members. Members are able to tap into the collective business experience and expertise of their fellow members. The business to business focus does not exclude members who have a business to consumer focus. There is a satisfying shared feeling of professionalism and friendship. New members are always welcome to visit each group.
• The Business Alliance gathering is a group where quality speakers can be heard for the cost of a meal. It is an opportunity to heighten your company’s visibility and provides a robust networking and learning environment.
• The monthly Women’s Ventures meetings, like the Trendsetters, are a special resource and opportunity to meet with other female professionals.
Other business relationships are formed at social events and many lead to lasting friendships, such as those of the Wine Society which has a monthly meeting and is offered at minimal cost for the entire year. For the cost of a meal you can utilize the meeting rooms to gather with groups of clients and business partners (with the exceptions of rooms equipped with special conferencing technology). If you need to check your email or make a quick call, the office center is available to you. In addition, private phone booths with cell phone access are available.
Of course little of value in life comes without a certain degree of commitment. It is important to use the club several times a month with a special effort placed on meeting new people. If you come armed with the attitude of contributing as well as receiving, I assure you, good people are going to help you. I look forward to seeing you at the club and will help in any way I can to enrich and broaden your experience.
In closing, I want to thank members who contributed thoughts and critique to this article, to name a few; Jean Wiley, Greg Brissette, Lee Heinrich, Whitney Hill and Ralph DiLeone.
Martin Brossman
(919) 847-4757 or
martin@coachingsupport.com
www.coachingsupport.com