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Sincere Networking Success - The 7 Steps to Great Networking Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know

Sincere Networking Success - The 7 Steps to Great Networking Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know
By Daina Bright

Are you tired of attending networking events that don't provide the results you are looking for? You may be feeling defeated, and wondering if all of the hype around networking for small business is just that, hype.

Do you find yourself asking, "Can't there be an better way to network?"

I am a firm believer in the success of networking to create relationships, find potential clients and promote your business. Knowing how to network effectively is more important than attending event after event without a sincere purpose. The secret is to understand that you need to take the time to get to know the networkers as people first and as prospects last.

Follow these 7 steps and you will be on the right path:

1. Find the Right Forum

Not all networking events are created equal. There are groups that are business-focused, social networks, support networks and more. I suggest that to figure out which style suits you best, visit different groups in your trading area to see which you feel the most connected with. Speak with the organizer of the event, they often have the most influence over the atmosphere of the event, providing the agenda or format for the meeting. The members who attend contribute to the energy within the group. Learn from the regular attendees to find out why they enjoy being part of their group, then decide if it is also a good fit for you. And ask yourself; Is this a group of people that you will enjoy spending time with to nurture the know, like and trust essentials of building a business relationships?

2. Don't Settle for Second Best

Who is your ideal market? Is it your intention to network with those people face-to-face? Or are you meeting other business owners who also serve their needs? Are you spending your time with others who understand and are interested in your services? There are different levels within business that you need to be aware of. Understand how you fit into the hierarchy and ask yourself; "Do these people find value in what I do?" If they aren't interested and don't ask you questions, you may be out of their league. If so, move on, and move up a level to a more affluent group of business people.

3. Be Deliberate with Your Presence

There are three basic types of networkers:

• The Hunter, who locates their potential prey and pursues them relentlessly. If you have a universal type of product, one that almost everyone at the venue would easily and immediately buy into, the hunter approach may be just what you need.
• The Scavenger, who hands out a business card to everyone without spending the time to make a genuine connection. If you are unconcerned with the quality of customer you are looking for, and don't need to rely on personal relationship, scavenging is an effortless yet inefficient way of getting your business.
• The Gatherer, who spends time listening, laughing and learning about others. The developer of long term relationships, who cares about their clients and instills compassion and eventually trust.

Decide which type you will be at each event and be deliberate with your presence.

4. Set Your Intention of How You Will Serve the People You Meet

The most important concept that will allow you to create successful relationships within a networking environment is to understand that you can provide value to others without selling them your product or service. You will create greater trust and further opportunities if you believe one simple concept. Once you serve their needs first, yours will be taken care of in the end. Hold that intention with every conversation and be patient.

5. Listen, Learn and Laugh

Take the time to get to know the people you meet. It is essential to let your guard down and listen. Ask questions. Learn about who they are, what they do. There is nothing worse that being pitched a product or service that you don't need, don't want and aren't interested in. And remember to bring your sense of humor. The best way to break down barriers is to share a good laugh.

6. Pitch Perfectly

Have you found a great lead? Is this your ideal client? Before you get too excited, have your pitch down pat. This is the "make it or break it" of your meeting. Timing is everything. You can lose rapport if you rush the exchange. Have the pitch ready but be patient with the delivery.

7. Take the Time to Make the Time Follow up

Simply and efficiently. After you have made a contact, started a relationship, and created some trust, now is the time to continue to show your potential client that you are still interested in them, not just their business. First impressions are important but a lasting impression takes a genuine commitment. Take the lead and continue to build the relationship, you will be rewarded in the end.

Daina Bright "The Success Coach" is a motivational speaker, coach, writer and Mompreneur. She provides a FREE ezine `Clear Path Success and Survival Guide' that inspires women to follow their own path to success. If you are ready to achieve your goals and gain more freedom, time and success on your terms, visit her site at http://www.Brightambitions.com for more great resources.

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10 Steps to Ensure Your Networking Contacts Will Be There When You Need Them

10 Steps to Ensure Your Networking Contacts Will Be There When You Need Them
By Liz Lynch

You make a great connection at a conference or networking event, but how comfortable are you reaching out to them later? Do you struggle to come up with a good reason to call, believing (correctly) that dialing just to say "hi" isn't enough, at least at this early stage of the relationship?

A lot of people ask me, "Liz, I have no problems making connections at the conference, but how do I tap into those contacts when I need them later?"

To paraphrase a famous quote by Sun Tzu, that "Every battle is won before it's ever fought," I would say that "All follow up is won before you ever pick up the phone." What you do BEFORE the follow up will make the process easy or hard.

Here are 10 steps to make sure your new contacts don't disappear into thin air when you need them:

1) Direct your initial conversation towards meaningful topics. At an event where you'll both be mingling with lots of other participants, you have a limited amount of time for conversation. Therefore, don't spend 10 minutes talking about the weather. A little small talk is okay at first to break the ice, but move quickly to topics that move the relationship forward (see #2).

2) Ask questions to learn more about their goals and professional interests. After the initial ice breaker, asking a question about the conference is a great way to quickly transition the conversation into a more meaningful direction. Two great examples are: "So, what do you hope to get out of the conference?" Or, "What was the single most important takeaway you got from the conference?" Then you can move on to broader questions about what they do for a living and what their larger goals are.

3) Establish a reason during the conversation to follow up right after the conference. It's always easier to make the follow up call or send the follow up email if you know they're expecting it. So, connect with something they said during your conversation that could lead you to send them a recommendation, suggestion, or contact info for someone in your network.

4) Make sure the reason to follow up is a value-add for them. Look for a reason to give information that will have value for them, not just something that benefits you. In other words, unless they specifically asked for it, promising to email your sales brochure or your resume doesn't count.

5) Get a business card so you have complete contact info. This is much better than jotting down just a name and email address on a napkin because now you'll have several ways to reach them (email, phone, fax, mail). Even if you never intend to send them a fax, it's good to know that you have that option.

6) Write notes on the back of YOUR business card. You always hear the advice to write notes on the back of business cards you receive so that you can remember something about the people you talk to. But how about trying the idea in reverse? Writing down some notes about who you are and what you will follow up about on the back of YOUR card is a great way to stand out and be remembered.

7) Follow up within 2 business days. If the conference ends on Thursday, and you'll be traveling all day Friday, it's okay to wait until you're back in the office on Monday to follow up. However, if you know you won't be back in the office until later in the week, at least send a short email within the 2-day time period to say how much you enjoyed meeting them, and that you'll send the info you promised once you're back from your travels.

8) Don't ask for too much too soon. Even if you need something at this very moment, you might hold off asking for it until you've had more back and forth dialogue and built a deeper connection. It all depends on how big your "ask" is. If you're looking for the name of a good real estate agent, that's easy, but if you're looking for an introduction to their CEO or biggest customer, remember that they're putting their professional reputations at stake, which they might not feel comfortable doing for someone they just met for 5 minutes.

9) Keep using value to connect and re-connect. You want to keep proving yourself as someone who's worth having in their network. Send more information on areas that are important to them. Offer more help if they ever need it. And the best thing you can do? Send them customers. Not tire kickers who will take up their time with informational sessions, but people who are ready to buy their product or service.

10, When you're ready to ask, be specific and give context. Explain what you're looking for and why you thought they would be the best person to help. That shows you've put some deliberate thought into reaching out to them with this specific request, and they'll be more likely to respond.

If you subscribe to the philosophy of networking smarter, not harder, then follow up isn't a numbers game. You don't have to spend time meeting hundreds of new people every year hoping that a handful of them will convert into good contacts. By following these 10 simple steps, you can turn just about any contact you make into a lasting connection.

Liz Lynch is a business networking expert whose products, programs and seminars help entrepreneurs and business professionals get clients, build their business, and reach their goals through networking. If you're ready to start networking smarter, get your free networking tips now at http://www.NetworkingExcellence.com

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Alpha Dogs and Networking Success

Alpha Dogs and Networking Success
By Carol Lynn Blood

Whom do you seek advice from? When you are looking to expand your technology or are curious about what trade periodicals you should subscribe to, who do you call?

The answer is easy. You need to call your Alpha Dogs. A.D.'s are a group of people that form a very unique profile. Now that the world has gone global, there is a whole new group of people that you need to focus on when you address your current marketing concerns.

If you go back in business history by twenty or more years, they were our community leaders. These leaders were also our opinion leaders. If these leaders liked or disliked a business or product, they told ten friends who told ten more and so on. They did not have the ability to start a blog and share their thoughts online or submit their views on a website for the world to know how they felt.

Times have changed. Alpha Dogs now have the ability to reach thousands of people with one comment placed on a key location within the world wide web. They have the know-how to make a connection with hundreds of people within a short span of time. They have the unique ability to get the word out fast when it is something that they feel strongly about.

If you are curious how to spot an A.D. within your circle of communication, look for the people that have a tendency to lead a forward-thinking life. They are usually leaders within their communities either in the business world, nonprofit community or civic arena. They believe that you reap what you sow, which leads to a pretty optimistic individual who believes that ultimately good prevails over evil. They like to take their ideas and develop them into successful venues. Most importantly, they are usually awesome relationship builders.

When you market to Alpha Dogs and they believe what you have to offer, you have the ability to control the market. You control the market because they will influence others by spreading the word. The next step to working with this important audience is to form a plan that will allow you to gain knowledge from this important group. This invaluable information will help your business grow and prosper.

Unfortunately, you will not find them running together. As nature has seen fit, they will be in charge of a pack of Beta Dogs (not influencers). It is your job to try to figure out who the best Alpha Dogs are for your product or service.

In This Case, Size Matters. You need to find eight to ten people considered to be Alpha Dogs and build a group who will help support your future efforts. Smaller groups will not function as well because your group dynamics will not be as effective. Ask your A.D's to participate in your six to eight month program, being careful to rotate people off and on so opinions stay fresh. This group has only one job. They need to listen, engage and commit to supporting your personal success with their ideas, content and support. They will share their point of view and clarify market access because they have the information you need to find greater success.

Communication Goes Both Ways. This is the true key to your newly formed group, communication. Your participants will basically be good relationship people. In this group, trust matters. Ask them to test products for your organization. Have this group look at your marketing and tweak it as they see fit. Be open with your world sharing products, services and marketing. Ask for honest input.

Put On Your Big Boy Pants. You are asking for their opinions. Be sure you are paying attention to what they are saying because their comments will be an early indication of what others will eventually be thinking. A.D.'s work best when they are trying to solve problems. Take the information and act on the suggestions to insure your business growth.

In exchange, you must remember to always give them great respect and social validation in front of others who run in the same social/business circles. They want to be liked and are proud of the fact that they are influencing you and your business. Share the news with others!

Track Your Dog's Success. Want to know how well this group is working? See if your participants are doing an effective job of getting their ideas out to the public. Find out what venues they are using like web sites, publications, articles, etc. Then track what they are telling others about you through the same sources.

Consumers are looking for guidance because there is so much information available. The Internet allows people to find others whom they trust that can offer good advice and information about current trends and upcoming products. They get this information from our Alpha Dogs. A.D.'s influence others because they are always informed on these issues and can offer solid, reliable help on these issues. They post their opinions on the internet and at other sources. They get the word out any way they can.

Get out your proverbial dog biscuits and start whistling for those Alpha Dogs. Gather them up and start building your support system. Give your organization the strategic advantage it deserves.

You can read more articles by subscribing to Carol's free monthly newsletter at http://www.urpr.biz or view her monthly column in the Heartland Messenger at http://www.heartlandmessenger.com

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Asking For Referrals Is Not a Dirty Deed

Asking For Referrals Is Not a Dirty Deed
By Daryl Logullo

Why is asking for referrals so hard to do sometimes? After all, word of mouth is the most effective form of advertising, so why do we jeopardize our own efforts by hesitating to talk about them? It's almost like a dirty deed that we fear will make us look like aggressive salespeople rather than seasoned professionals.

Asking For Referrals Demonstrates the Following Important Elements:

1. Your Level of Confident Professionalism. The opposite is actually the truth. By not discussing, you are not showing the level of confidence required to build a successful business. While some people will be so impressed with what you do they will feel compelled to tell others, there are people that won't be sure if you are receptive to new clients. How will they know you are open to referrals unless you start asking for referrals?

2. People Like to Do Business With People They Know. The fact of the matter is that most people prefer to do business with people they know or have heard about through friends as opposed to total strangers. That makes the process of asking for referrals easier and more beneficial than cold canvassing. So the bottom line is that you can build you business based on referrals or keep cold canvassing your whole career - which do you really prefer?

3. It Is a Strategy that Is Easier Than Cold Canvassing. Clearly, it is easier to take advantage of expanding the network you already have than adding completely new members. Cold calling is hard work and doesn't always yield results. Your current business is actually a web of client referral relationships with unlimited possibilities to connect with the people your clients know. To reach these important relationships, you need to pursue them. It is essential to change the way you think when it comes to referrals. There is nothing pushy about asking and it's a natural part of doing business that people expect. Remember, they don't know how busy you are and whether you want referrals.

4. How It Should Become a Habit. They key to asking is to make it a habit. During your initial conversations with a client, let them know you always strive to deliver your best because you want them to tell everyone they know about your business. Post a sign in your office and add a line to your business cards and stationery that you welcome referrals. If a client compliments the work you are doing, let them know you are pleased and ask if they know anyone else who would benefit from your services. Your clients will be impressed with your desire to serve and your dedication, which is sure to bring in viable referrals.

Referrals are one of the most powerful sales tools you have so don't minimize their relevancy because you feel it's a "dirty deed." . When you make asking a part of your everyday routine, it will become easier and easier. As your network begins to effortlessly grow based on positive word of mouth, it will become second nature.

Daryl T. Logullo is the Founder of Strategic Impact! and MaximumReferrals.com He concentrates on referral building strategies for today's professional. Get a $199 FREE Sample Client Referral Letter, to study, adapt and apply to your own busines, here: http://www.MaximumReferrals.com/am

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Benefits Of Business Networking

Benefits Of Business Networking
By Louise Yates

Are you starting a new business? Or maybe you already have a small business? Whichever is the case you will no doubt have made business plan, forecast your cash flow and probably frightened yourself as to where all your money has gone.

In order to generate new business it's essential to market your business and certainly this can be a very costly business. Advertising is seriously expensive and in my mind it works best for those already with an established brand because it's about recognition and repetition, so unless you're already in the league of Coca Cola it's probably not a good solution.

Business networking is not about a closed shop where everyone gives each other work, it's much more powerful than that. It's fundamentally about the act referring business to people that you have grown to know, like and trust, and for them to do the same for you. Understanding how to give a quality referral is an art itself and something that I cannot cover today so for the time being let's just consider the benefits of business networking.

It is not a well known fact but 70% of new business that your company gets is through word of mouth. Networking allows you to formally explain what your business is about and as fellow networking business people get to know you so you will naturally start to win new sales leads because people like to pass business to people that they know.

Simply attending a networking event will raise your profile especially if you network on a regular basis. Remember my earlier point about advertising; recognition and repetition, attending a regular networking event achieves this.

Not only do you have the opportunity to present your business, you also get to meet with a lot of business people from other walks of life that will inevitably be able to help solve some of your problems. And you will be able to do the same, it's all part of the relationship building process and at the end of the day it's this relationship that counts when recommending someone's services.

You'll also get to know an awful lot of people that will be able to help you when you have a problem. Have you ever picked up the yellow pages and looked for a particular service? How do you choose? It really is hit and miss. By getting to know reliable contacts who can provide you with what you want and who can be trusted is worth so much in terms of your time and money.

Likewise, if there's no one in your network who can help, the chances are that someone knows someone who can and will recommend them. Suddenly you find that your business is moving forward at a much more rapid pace. Your confidence will soar!

Sharing experiences is also part of the game. Just talking to people about their experiences, their goals and their problems will stimulate lots of new ideas and open your mind to new opportunities. All of a sudden you have a completely new approach to doing something or even a new business venture that you may never have otherwise thought of.

Last but not least it's amazing how much satisfaction we all get from helping others.

There are many business networking techniques to learn in order to make the most of this style of marketing but once you've understood the basics, give it a little time and I'm sure that you'll soon understand the true power and benefits of networking.

Learn business networking tips and advice for word of mouth marketing, generating referrals and free sales leads.

Executive coaching information for a clear perspective on your business performance, life and career development.

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5 Ways to Get Networking Momentum

5 Ways to Get Networking Momentum
By Liz Lynch

Many of us think about making a big push at the end of the year to try to finish up important tasks or be further along on our goals. It's a bit like a "hail mary" pass in football, where the clock is ticking down, your team is behind, and you have nothing to lose. So you try to throw the ball as hard and as far as you can hoping someone will catch it.

Instead of trying to finish strong, why don't we change things up this year and try to START STRONG? Instead of inching up to the starting line, why don't we rev up our engines and break free from the inertia that holds us in place?

Here are 5 things you can do right now to start gaining networking momentum that can pull you through the rest of the year:

1) Break your bad habits.

When I spoke at the Massachusetts Conference for Women last month, one of my fellow panelists asked the audience what they normally do with the business cards they get from others. A couple of people in the front row said that they usually throw them away! It's difficult to break out of bad habits completely, but making even one small step, like following up with just one person you meet, can make an enormous difference.

2) Push yourself to get out there.

Attend some new networking events this month, or go to a few more than you normally would. For example, my friend Bill Sobel runs the New York Media Information Exchange Group and has been inviting me to his monthly events since August. I've always been out of town or had some other excuse not to go, but I'm committed to attending his next event on January 17 to rub elbows with innovators in the wireless and mobile space. Not normally my target audience, but you never know what may happen when you put yourself in a new environment.

3) Fix your weaknesses.

Whatever has been holding you back from getting stellar results from your networking, now is the time to address them. Maybe you're still stumbling through your elevator pitch, or haven't yet found a way to start conversations comfortably (or exit them gracefully). None of this is rocket science. You just need to sit down with the right information and just get it done once and for all.

4) Play up your strengths.

If you go to networking events and hang out with the same group of friends every time, turn the strong connections you have with each other into something that will benefit more people. At the next event, make a plan for each of you to bring along one or two guests, whom no one else knows, to meet your friends and each other. All of you will easily walk away that night with double or triple the number of new contacts you normally make.

5) Get creative.

What can you do to stand out from the crowd and give your business a little push? My friend Pam launched a direct mail campaign for her business aimed not at new prospects, but to former referrers and lapsed alliance partners. Sometimes colleagues need a tiny nudge to remember that you're out there, and a little creativity on your part can go a long way.

These ideas are just the tip of the iceberg of what you can do to get momentum flowing in your direction starting now. Take some risks and make this a breakthrough year.

Liz Lynch is a business networking expert whose products, programs and seminars help entrepreneurs and business professionals get clients, build their business, and reach their goals through networking. If you're ready to start networking smarter, get your free networking tips now at http://www.NetworkingExcellence.com

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7 Low Cost No Cost Ways to Network

7 Low Cost No Cost Ways to Network
By Douglas C. Brown

Effective networking is one of the best ways to gain good market exposure. The good news is that you can do this at low cost! Whether it is the list of friends and acquaintances you have or meeting someone new, it always helps to have more contacts. Here are some low cost ways to improve your network of contacts.

a. Calling up: If you are scared or have inhibitions about cold calling then shed them right away. Pick up your telephone and start calling your contacts. You could contact journalists and media persons right away. Contacting such persons will prove to be very beneficial for your organization as having relations with them can mean good publicity for you in future. At a later date whenever you need to introduce a new marketing campaign or product, just contact these media persons and you are assured of publicity.

b. Social media websites: With the recent wave of Web 2.0, it's foolish not to leverage this wonderful technology for increasing one's network of contacts. With various blogs, forums and online discussion groups, there is no dearth of opportunity for building on your contacts. You never know - one contact can lead to another and may even land you a business deal!

c. Introduce yourself: If you are the shy and reserved kind of person who takes time to open up to a conversation, you can forget about networking. Successful networking is all about being proactive, talking and meeting people as much as you can. Make sure to go meet as many people in your niche segment and introduce yourself and your business to them.

d. Free speeches: Free speeches help any business person establish authority in the niche segment. So if you speak well and know your subject matter fairly well, consider giving a free speech at a common and popular venue. You will not only find large crowds gathering but once you give out your business cards you'll be amazed at how soon customers start enquiring about your products.

e. Group meetings: Group meetings and public body associations are great ways to socialize and network. Make sure to carry plenty of business cards when you reach the place. Once you are there, be proactive in introducing yourself and handing out your business cards to clients. This really helps create an impression on potential business partners and you will very soon find yourself receiving enquiries from customers.

f. Events: By having a fun-filled and interesting event in your office premises, you can get to network a lot. Try having a dinner party or an informal luncheon and invite everyone you know. Anyone who is interested in this niche vertical can also be invited. This way you get to meet plenty of new people and add them to your contact list.

g. Help out: If you know some associations or professional groups, consider getting involved in an active manner. You may not be able to volunteer for a lot of the work but trying to help out in little ways can really help build on your network of contacts. You will not only meet more people but also be able to propagate your business in this manner.

Networking is crucial to business growth. This especially holds true if you're in the service sector. So use these proven methods to network your way to more business and more profits!

(c) 2007, Doug and Claudia Brown of www.whatisyourplan.com All rights reserved. Reprint rights granted so long as article and by-line are published intact and with all links made live.

Doug and Claudia Brown use their 40 plus years of business building experiences to educate people and businesses on how to dramatically increase their revenues. Free Report "17 Strategic Steps to Steps to Achieving a Six Figure Income or More" at http://www.whatisyourplan.com/

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It's In The Relationship

It's In The Relationship
By Beverly S.

Of course, you know if you have a business of any kind- you will deal with people in some capacity...whether it be indirectly or directly. The key to building your business will be mostly in the relationship you have with your clients. For a more friendlier note, let's think of your clients as your valued friends.

Clients/Friends will link to you providing you have something that will benefit them, whether it be a "need" or simply a desire. If they happen to find out about your services/products and need what you have, they might first inquire about your service/products thru your contact information. During the initial phase of contact with your clients; They are evaluating your service by your ability to connect,degree of concern,willingness to help-to provide resources if need be,also your ability to value and understand them. They will feel a deep connection of faith and trust by you listening to them and not appearing/sounding desperate or "pushy" with your information.

Once, they have an established decision to do business with you, they will most likely feel more satisfied by an on-going show of your appreciation. Here are a few tips to establish a better relationship with your clients:

1) You could send them a Thank You Card, for allowing you to service them.

2) You could send them a birthday greeting, if you have their email. There are many beautiful electronic greetings to choose from and some companies offer freebies.

3) Automate and set up Alerts so your customers will automatically hear from you, periodically.

4) You might even offer them something free (Let them "test drive" a new product or service for free).

5) Offer them a small referral fee for any referrals they send to you. If this is not feasible for you to do just remember to thank them for any free referrals.

6) Think outside the box, around the holidays- take time and personally call your clients up to give a 2 minute verbal greeting...of course if you have a larger client list- you could automate a recorded message instead. Make sure you do the recordings to personalized- do not use friends/family. This is a personal greeting from YOU.

7) Send out newsletters or mail to give important updates on your products/services.

8) Start an online customers suggestion box. Display a visual box if you deal directly with your customers

9) Send out questionaires to gather insight on how to form a deeper relationship with your customers.

10) Always be polite and show that glow of "human warmth". If you have anyone assisting you in your business; It is very important to drill them on relationship building as well.

The key factor is to build a long lasting relationship with your clients to show you really do appreciate them as your clients and your friends. They will develop a sense of loyalty due to your kindness, warmth and efficiency of great servicing.

Beverly Smith, Business Developer.

Establishing networks of business oriented individuals

BSmith@ameriplan.com

© copyright Mon Jan 14 18:30:15 MST 2008 - All Rights Reserved, reproduce freely with attached data

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Strategic Alliances - Business Referrals on Steroids

Strategic Alliances - Business Referrals on Steroids
By Peter Kirkham

If you have had success using referrals to grow your business, you are going to love strategic alliances.

There is simply no better way to get referrals than a strategic alliance, but it must be with the right partner.

A strategic alliance is when two businesses with complimentary products and/or services that share the same prospective customers get together to form an alliance.

For example, a printing company could have a strategic alliance with a company that sells laser toner. They share the same type of customers, their products are complimentary but they are not competitors.

Another example would be a car mechanical repair workshop and a panel beater. Another would be a plumber and an electrician.

When you start thinking about it the opportunities are endless.

How does it work?

I new you would ask that.

A strategic alliance is where you provide your strategic alliance partner with a gift or benefit for them to gift to their prospects or customers.

This gift or benefit must be seen as valuable and worthwhile by both your alliance partner and his prospects and/or customers.

What do I offer?

The offer is usually a discount or a credit on your own products or services, so aim to break even on the first sale.

You would have to agree, a cheap price to pay for a new customer.

A printing company could offer say a $200 printing credit when the new customers printing bill reaches $700. A motor mechanic could offer a free 21 point safety check.

Your offer really needs to strong & compelling so that your prospective alliance partner sees real value and is confident that his prospects and/or customers will see the same value.

The partnership

There are two ways to set up a strategic alliance, they are.

A One Way Alliance - a one way alliance is where you provide the gift/benefit to your alliance partner and they pass it on.

A Two Way Alliance - a two way alliance is where you and your alliance partner provide each other with gifts/benefits roughly of the same value so you each can gift them to your own prospects/customers

The method

There are a number of ways to execute a strategic alliance, they are.

· The Big Hit - sending an alliance letter to every customer and or prospect, outlining the offer & possibly including a discount or credit voucher.

Learn how to use Sales Letters to grow your business.

· Drip Feed - sending the offer to a select amount on a regular basis ie, if the companys customer base is large it may bet better to send say 100 per week as opposed to 3,000 in one day knowing that if 10% responded straight away they would not have to personnel to manage the enquiries.

· Point of Purchase - when a customer makes a purchase he is presented with the special offer as a Thankyou for the sale.

· Hand Out - handing the offer out or a dumb letterbox drop.

As you can see, there are many options to consider and your choice will be based on the type of business you have, your budget, your sales target and many other issues.

Peter Kirkham is a Qualified Printing Trade Specialist and Commercial Printing Broker with Print Acumen Pty Ltd in Perth, Western Australia.

With over 40 years of industry experience, Peter provides a wonderfull collection of insider tips & proven methods that will save you a substantial amount of money & time on company printing. His FREE guide, Printing Secrets Exposed is freely available to everyone to download.

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Business Networking - 3 Business Card Tips for Making a Great Impression That Doesn't Cost a Cent

Business Networking - 3 Business Card Tips for Making a Great Impression That Doesn't Cost a Cent
By Lynda Goldman

Business cards are a great tool to help you make a positive first impression. The Japanese have an elegant way of presenting business cards. They hold out the card in front of them with both hands, and hand over the card with a slight bow. It's a sign of respect, and almost becomes a little ceremony. When they receive your card, they look at it carefully and admire it. You are expected to do the same when you receive their card.

How can you use this etiquette to make a great impression in business today? You don't have to be Japanese, and the extra moments you take in handing out your business cards won't cost you a penny.

1. Compliment the card. When you receive a business card, don't stuff it into your pocket. Instead, take a moment and look at it carefully. Admire it. Find something to say, and make a positive comment. It can be about their product or service, their logo, or the location of their office. It doesn't matter what you say, as long as it's positive. In reality, you are complimenting the person who gave you the card.

2. Treat it with respect. Don't fold the card in half. Don't pick your teeth with it. Never put it into your back pocket and sit on it. Don't write anything on it without first asking permission. Instead, carefully place it in a business card holder or pocket of your jacket.

3. Don't hand out your card while you are shaking hands. When you meet someone and shake hands, give that person your full attention. Make eye contact long enough to notice the color or his or her eyes. Shake hands warmly and firmly. Smile. Say their name, and how nice it is to meet them. Then when you exchange business cards afterwards, make that a small ceremony, as with the Japanese. It will give you a way to connect again.

Business card etiquette says a great deal about your professionalism in general. It only take a few seconds, and doesn't cost a penny to show etiquette when you hand out a business card. Why not take that extra step to create a great first impression?

You are invited to use these tips to make a great first impression when networking.

You're also invited to receive a free report: "Breakthrough Communication Skills" packed with powerful tips for business success, at http://www.ImpressforSuccess.com when you join my Communication Capsules newsletter.

Would you like to attract new customers, increase sales, and boost your career? Click here for a simple How-to Guide called Networking for Fun and Profit. http://www.goldmansmythe.com/howto.html

From Lynda Goldman, author of How to Make a Million Dollar First Impression.

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