You, A Crowded Room, NOW What?

Ever hit the door of a networking event and just freeze? All those happy smiling people standing there waiting for something brilliant to come out of your mouth and suddenly you are completely thrown off your game. So you do one of three things, you immediately look for someone you know and quickly engage them in conversation, or you stand there like the nerd at high school dance with no one to talk to, or worse yet you walk up to strangers introduce yourself and spend the next fifteen minutes talking a mile a minute about absolutely nothing. Believe me we have all been there.

Yes, networking can be intimidating and at times a little overwhelming. However, I believe no skill produces a better return on investment than networking when it comes to growing your business. It is well worth your time and investment to learn how to make your networking fun, easy and incredibly productive.

Let me let you in on a few little secrets: Networking is a skill that needs to be learned (I don't believe anyone is a natural networker); Networking is a skill that anyone can learn and be good at; and Networking holds the key to helping you be successful in any economy. So how do you network effectively? How do you network so that it is fun, easy and productive?

First, Make A Plan!

I want you to sit down and think about networking before you do it. So many of us have no rhyme or reason as to why and how we choose our networking events, how we determine who we need to meet, and what we ultimately hope to achieve. If you want your networking to be effective, then you need to first know why you are networking. What do you want to gain and what are your goals? Do you need new clients, better relationships with existing clients, a new job, better job, people to go mountain biking with? It doesn't matter what your purpose is, you just need to know it so you can choose the right events with the right people.

Networking is most effective when your purpose aligns with your event. Make sure the events you choose to attend put you in direct contact with the type of people who can help you achieve your purpose.

Second, Make An Impression!

Your goal with networking is to make an impression - a positive one. You want people to want to know you and want to talk with you. That all begins with how we look, how we introduce ourselves, and the value of our conversation. It all begins with our personal brand.

Professional dress, a smile and great eye contact will make you appear confident and approachable. Your introduction should not only help people understand what you do, but at the same time ensure you standout from your competitors, and your conversation needs to be 80 percent listening and 20 percent asking questions. Asking questions and listening is how we establish trust early on, and how we identify ways we can add value and take the relationship to the next level. Remember, networking is not about you. You're there to listen and learn about others.

Third, Make It Count!

Networking is a beginning not an end. You need to know what your next steps are before you leave an event. Then within 24-hours you need to follow-up on those next steps and take action. Remember your second or even third meeting with a networking contact is NOT a sales call. You're still building the relationship and determining if you can be of service. Focus your second and third calls on adding value.

Follow these three steps - Make a Plan, Make an Impression, and Make It Count - and watch your networking become fun easy and productive. Watch your prospects turn into customers!

By Meridith Elliott Powell

How to Grow Your Business by Positioning Yourself As the Expert in Your Field

With the explosion of the internet and massive growth of small businesses actively networking, your own profession or market can seem very crowded. Wouldn't it be great if, whenever someone in your community was looking for services such as yours, they immediately thought of you!

Lots of business owners try to be all things to all people, all of the time because they think it's easier to market to anyone and everyone and to specialise would limit them. So what are the benefits of having a clear niche and specialism? 

• People like and are attracted to experts
• People remember experts - (who do you remember for example as the expert in helping women feel GREAT about their bodies)
• People are more likely to refer/recommend experts or those with a specific niche, because they remember more clearly what you do and who you do it for!
• Marketing is easier (Oh yes!!!) - many people think it limits them, but actually it positions them!
• It keeps you focused - look what happens to certain retailers when they lose or don't have a focus.
• Publicity is easier to get - journalists and the media love experts too!

So how do you position yourself as the expert in your field?

One of the most important things that any business owner needs to know (in detail) is who exactly they are marketing and selling to; their specific target market and ideal clients.

You need to know the specific needs, challenges & aspirations that your target market has in relation to your services. This way you can you speak THEIR language and build rapport with them easily and quickly, both online and offline.

And once you know your niche area well then you need to continually look for opportunities to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise. You can do this through a combination of: 

• Public speaking - networking events, professional societies and clubs
• Networking, this is actually easier and more effective when you have a clear niche
• Blogging
• Articles
• Regular writing spots - online or offline - what do your target market read?
• Writing and replying to forums
• Writing books on your specialist subject
• PR - what do your audience read or watch regularly?
• Seminars specifically aimed at your target audience
• Creating raving fans (another subject!)
• Free reports and products on websites - a stepping stone to purchasing your full service

The question is, does your marketing make it totally clear who your ideal clients are and what you do for them... or is there room for a little more focus?!

Jenny Littlejohn is a Marketing Coach who specialise in helping service professionals (especially coaches, therapists, consultants and trainers) who are stuck, confused and frustrated with their marketing and business development efforts. Jenny helps them to define precisely who their clients are and how they buy in order to develop and implement an individually tailored marketing program that makes them stand out from the crowd and attract their ideal clients.

By Jenny Littlejohn

Unique Ways To Promote Your Cosmetics Business

Cosmetics consultants have the flexibility to market their business as they choose, but unfortunately they are often limited by small advertising budgets. Backing from the corporate office is sometimes available, but for the most-part it's up to the consultant herself to foot the bill for business promotion. Thus, many of these businesspeople are constantly looking for ways to promote their cosmetics business affordably and effectively. Here are some great ideas:

1. Mailing Lists - Customers have to see your products to be interested in buying them, so a mailing list is the best way to ensure they receive notification about new products, great sales, and seasonal promotions. In addition, having a mailing list is helpful because you can track your client base and reconnect with those who haven't placed an order in awhile.
2. Group Parties - Everyone loves a party! Encourage your best clients to host a party for her friends, family members, and coworkers. Offer the hostess a discount off her order, or even some free product in exchange for a chance to present your business in front of the party guests. If you offer a good enough party promotion, you can even feature it on a car window decal-this is a great way to reach out to a prospective client who will bring you even more new customers!
3. Holiday Gift Baskets - Women aren't your only clientele. Husbands, boyfriends, bosses, etc. are another huge market you can reach. By creating bundle deals or gift baskets for the holidays, you are preparing a fun and unique gift that every woman would love. Include this information in your mailers so your clients can tell their significant other what they want for the special day.
4. Before-and-Afters - The best way to sell your products is to show potential customers what they can do, so create an archive of before-and-after pictures showing your best makeovers. These can be compiled in a binder which you can take with you to classes and appointments, but you can also use it in your marketing. If you really want to be bold, put your own before-and-after on your car signs! Customers will respond very well when they see how proud you are of your products.
5. Social Media - Social-networking is a fun and unique way for consultants to connect with their customers. Create a page for your business so your clients can follow you and stay in the loop with your current promotions and specials. Offer contests, drawings, or daily deals to your followers, which encourage more interaction and keeps your customers excited and happy. In addition, this gives you a forum to share your expertise with your clientele. Consider blogging about makeup tips or skincare-the more-authoritative you seem, the more clients will respond and want to buy from you!

There are many other ways to promote your cosmetics business, but hopefully these 5 give you an idea of where to start. Trying something unique is not only a fun way to promote your business, but it also makes you look current and relevant. Don't be afraid to think outside the box with your promotions-you'll see the results when you make your business stand out!

By Michael Allen