Social network. Social networking. Two phrases you’ve undoubtedly heard over and over these past few years. With the rise of social media, social networking has most certainly evolved into a world of its own. Networking is crucial to success – whether that be in business, or part of the school parents association or your child’s soccer team. We network to grow and learn. In our digital age it’s important to remember that social networking for women goes beyond the web.
With back to school season upon us, it’s a time for new beginnings (a cheat head start to new years resolutions in a way!) so what better time to evaluate your networking than now, with a new school year and networking opportunities ahead of us. For those of us in business, blogging, and social media it’s a primer for the busy holiday season to come as well. Networking is key, but are you doing it effectively?
Betty-Ann Heggie looks at networking in the following posts on her own blog:
Why Women Don’t “Give to Get”
On the surface, “Give to Get” seems simple but for some reason women have a hard time understanding this concept. Yet, it is a key element in developing a coalition and achieving one’s goals. Leaders build networks of followers and men do this more naturally than women. The consulting group, McKinsey and Company, confirmed this when researching successful female leaders. They found that, on the whole, women often fail to reciprocate. Furthermore, they discovered that women find expectations that they should reciprocate to be offensive. We women expect things to be given to us with no quid-pro-quo…(read more)
Be Authentic But Consider Your Audience
Discover yourself and live your life authentically but always consider your audience. It is natural to want to bust loose and reveal who you are down deep but that conservative corporation where you want to make a sale may not be ready for the wild-child. None of us want to be fake and, presenting a plastic person, isn’t palatable. Yet, first impressions count and people make their judgment about you looking through the lens of their value-system and expectations…(read more)
The 5 W’s of Networking
We all need a community – people we can call on when things get tough and we need a hand. A network is nothing more than friends helping friends. Here’s the 5 W’s to making that happen…(read more)
Connect Emotionally for Effective Networking
The best guides brought their history and culture alive through personal antecedes, expressed with feelings. The more emotion they expressed, the more we empathized. The more we empathized, the deeper the relationship we developed. Nothing felt staged – it made it real for us. It is the same with you and networking. We are taught that our business and personal lives should be separate but when we share stories of our families and discuss our feelings, we are more human and people relate. Everyone has a family – it’s a place to find common ground…(read more)
Be Really Present to Make Real Connections
Successful networking comes not just from meeting people but from truly connecting with them. And, that is best accomplished from being in the present moment. In his book, “Never Eat Alone,” Keith Ferrazzi says successful networkers don’t just meet people, they make friends. He cites Bill Clinton’s “unique ability to create an almost instantaneous intimacy with whomever he’s talking to” as an example…(read more)
There’s a lot of helpful information in the above posts (and on Betty-Ann Heggie’s blog in it’s entirety!) This month’s giveaway looks at networking, how would you use $100 to network more? Would you use it to go out to dinner with a few contacts you’ve been dying to get one-on-one time with? Or to print more business cards or flyers for your home business? Perhaps it could be put towards a BBQ to get to know your neighbors more? Use the Rafflecopter form below and you’re entered to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I am trying to start a home business so I would put this $100 towards that to hopefully get me started with my networking
I would start my Christmas shopping early.
I would use the cash to buy a few more portable chargers so my phone (my line of communication is always fully charged!)
i think the best way for me- sahm would be to put it towards posters at staples and start my own park days in our neighborhood!
I never seem to have time to chat with friends and fellow volunteers, and I know they have wonderful ideas and resources. Having some money to spend to go out for “coffee and dessert” would be an excellent excuse to get together and share.
I would use the money towards a craft show booth so I could network in person with both customers and other small business owners.
I would use the money to treat a few clients to a surprise ice cream treat for their referral to me because they trust me with referring their friend and family
Well, I’m a stay at home mum these days, so networking is mainly a social thing for me… but it’s also a really vital part of keeping my sanity. I’d probably use it to go for a girls night out with some friends I’d like to get to know better.
I would use this towards my home business and getting business cards for when I am networking in person.
I could order up some business cards and purchase an app to improve the traffic.
Just starting the networking process and looking into starting my business and wanting to take it a step up. Looking into business cards, new website, etc… Attending a conference would be great too!
Some extra money for gas and coffee with other mommies would help me to restore my network.
I would use the money towards a laptop which would allow me to network more efficiently, even if I am on the go.
I would use this to get a nice set of business cards printed up. I’ve also been thinking that EVERYONE uses pens… pens travel around! So I think a set of pens with my name/website would be a great idea. Who knows where the pen would go or who I’d meet that way! 🙂
My husband owns his own business so I would use this towards upgrading either his website or getting some knowledge on how to properly use social media to his advantage!
I would use it to throw a BBQ to welcome our new neighbors to the neighborhood.
I could use this for a professional blog redesign!
Would splurge on my kickers.
I would use it towards a fair entrance fee so that I can meet and greet a high volume of people.
I would upgrade my internet to a faster speed as i find the current one to be slow!
I would use it to treat my golf buddies in the long off season
I would use teh money to pay a babysitter so I could attend networking events. My husband travels a lot so going to these in the evenings is often not possible.
I would use the money to attend the CSTD conference and meet more of my peers and network
i would use it to help with my blog!
I need a new sign for my front lawn for my home business and would buy some more business cards and get them handed out too.
I would use it for back to school shopping with my kids
i would use it to help with my new blog 🙂
I would use it to invest in new business cards and yoga props for my classes.
I new laptop as I start working from home
booth at a craft fair
I would use it to create a website. I have the domain already 🙂
I could host a gathering for my friends at my house )
I would use it to buy a new smart phone.
I would use it to increase the exposure to my page and get more marketing materials to generate more leads.
I would use the money to buy a cell phone.
I would use it to gather a few girls I want to learn more about and invite them to our local pub to have a cocktail on me and find out more about their businesses.
I would use the money to set up a website, a blog and business cards!
I am entering your giveaway.
In response to your question of
How you would use the $100 PayPal cash prize to network more effectively?
I would use it to pay my website fees.
Thank you for having this giveaway.
I would ust the money to pay for the gym.
I would use it to network by going out for coffee meetings and spending time doing work on my computer at a coffee shop so I can do it without kidlets.
I would use it to offset some costs for my first conference – Blissdom this October where I hope to network and make connections.
I would use it to get some business cards for networking events.
i have a 3 home based business ..i sell scentsy ..epicure and i make baby blankets ,, $100 would go a long way with helping me ..i could print new business cards and sinage adn get my name out there more!!
I would have a party for my friends that I never get to see. 🙂
I’d throw a little get-together 🙂
I’d buy a smartphone.
I would finally get my husband a cell phone. Maybe that way I won’t be the only one running around getting kids and groceries, I can get a hold of him for some help.
Craft fair booth has been a long-time dream
I would use it to invest in new laptop for myself!
I’d use it to buy a new printer/fax machine.
I might use the $100 to support people in my network who are looking for charitable donations. It seems like there are constantly fundraisers happening and it would be nice to offer money to a few more people who request it.
I would use it towards flyers to get the word out about our new business!
I would love to hold a mommy play date and get to meet new moms to add to our group!
I’d put it towards having our new neighbours over for dinner. We have a new family move in across from us and a new one moving in next door very soon.
I would use it for a night out with friends, or family.
I would use the money to network with my community members by holding a community BBQ.
My networking has little to do with career or moneymaking…it is mainly my way of keeping in touch with the world. Networking with other moms and support sites for those others with chronic debilitating illness is how I get through each and every day. I cant tell you how I’d spend the money networking…I’d honestly spend it on my own treatment or donate to another chronic Lyme victim who needs it.
I would use it to start a website.
I would use the 100$ to make baked goods for our schools upcoming corn boil.. I could meet more parents this way
I’d use it for business cards, and a little tweaking to my website so I could get it live!
I would use it for a fundraiser my little guy is having at school!
I would use it for a get together with the people my hubby works with.
throw a bash for my coworkers
I would use it for new business cards that included my work facebook page
I would get new business cards in time for Blissdom!
I would use it to get new business cards that had my facebook, pinterest and twitter addresses on them.
i would use it for business cards as well
I would use it to re-do my website for my small business!
I would use it to promote my hubby’s business!
My friends keep telling me that I need to start a blog with all the tips and tricks I know and ideas I share. From planning your dream wedding to making your own bouquets and decorations on the cheap, designing your dream home to easy DIY home repairs, I’ve tried my hand at just about everything. My father taught this girl well how to take care of herself and spread the knowledge. And thanks to my mom the craft queen – I’m pretty sure I’ve tried just about every craft possible out there. I love finding ways to repurpose just about anything (especially old jewelry). I would use the funds to get a better camera to take photos for the blog or put towards a MAC computer.
I would use it towards a school fundraiser for my daughter!
I would use it to increase the size of our local mommy group. We are all going to have second babies and there are new moms that would benefit from our knowledge.. and chatting with new moms is fun!
for a fundraiser for my daughters school
I have been thinking about getting some sort of netbooks so I can communicate on the go.
I would use it towards some sort of class.
I think I would use it towards a writing class – or possibly for a blog update!
I would use it to attend networking events like toastmasters so I know how to speak in/to a crowd.
I would use this $100 to get on the phone to network with colleagues far away more often.
I would use it towards a class
I would use it to get my own domain and start a website for my upcoming business