Lorraine Ball

Robby Slaughter, owner of Slaughter Development, an Indianapolis-based productivity firm, stopped by and shared some networking  strategies for small business owners.  Robby offers some great advice on how to decide if you’re in the right place for your networking, how to open a conversation, and how to make networking a part of your ongoing marketing activities.

To hear our short conversation check out the podcast now.

 

 Productivity and Networking: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I spent 20 years in corporate gigs.  While there, I built a network inside my company and the industry, but didn’t make time for other networking events.  That was a huge mistake!  When I was ready to make a job change, or ultimately start my own business, I did not have the resources and connections to make the transition smoothly.

I wish I had known then what I know now about the importance of networking at every stage of your career.  Was reminded of this fact when I read this great post from the Harvard Business Review!

In the article, the author suggests:

1) Figure out who should be in your network. It shouldn’t be just the people who eat lunch at the same time you do. Ask yourself: Who are the people who can help you? Who knows what’s going on? Who gets around roadblocks? Who are the critical links on the supply or information chain?

2) Stick your neck out. Most people will be more receptive than you think. No one turns down a call from someone who starts the conversation with “I’m new in my job and I’m trying to get to know people who….”

3) Remember that networking is not a one-way street. When you first meet people, reciprocate by sharing information you know will be useful.

Not sure how to get started?  Consider inviting Lorraine to speak at your next sales or team meeting.  Networking is easy… and it is for everyone!

Had lunch today with Doreen Long of Allegra printing.  (If you haven’t met her you should) Her firm does a great job.

We have been friends for a number of years, but somehow time gets away from us, and it has been  a year since we did more then just nod at each other across a room.

So today we had lunch and caught up.  We discovered a lot had happened in our businesses since our last conversation.

• She has expanded her facility and added a new press – I have clients who can use this service
• We have hired two new employees and added an expertise in starter websites. She has clients who can use this service.

What a wake up call this meeting was for me!  Here is someone I like, and send referrals to, and yet, because we had not chatted in awhile, both of us have missed more then a few great opportunities.

The lesson – Stay connected.  Even as you meet new people, make sure you find time to get back together with old referral sources, and keep the relationships healthy!

As a Networking Junkie, I love building relationships and partnerships.  And teaching others how to do that as well.   Not all my ideas are original.  Actually I have mixed my own experiences with best ideas from a number of people and made them part of my routine.

Check out this post from DuctTape Marketing talking about getting creative with partnerships. With it’s emphasis on strategic relationships, it sounds like the writer is truly a networking junkie!

So who are your most creative partners?

I’m not your typical blogger. I write on a variety of subjects for different readers and I don’t believe all the information belongs in one place. As a result, I have multiple blogs. Well to be perfectly honest I have one blog, this one, (www.lorraineball.com) and several sites built on a Wordpress platform, where I write and post content for specific niche groups.

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I believe in the power of social networks. As a consultant, I rely on various networks and blogs for information and as a place to post new content. I am on Twitter, Brightkite, Facebook, LinkedIN, Plaxo, Smaller Indiana, and LetsMakeitRain.

I try to post regularly, and follow comments and new posts by friends and associates. I also post content on my own blogs: Business Notes From Roundpeg, www.Lorraine Ball.com, www.Indy-Biz.com and www.866MyNyBiz.com and on several lenses on Squidoo. Keeping the content fresh is hard enough, finding time to log in and read all the content is overwhelming …

Then along comes FriendFeed – and life just got simpler! While I still need to post content on sites indidually, I can catch up on everyone I am following all in one place, post comments and read what others have to say. I haven’t used it long, but I think I am going to be a FriendFeed Fan.

Thanks to Kyle Lacy for pointing me in this direction.

This from my friend Brett Healy, about an event he is hosting at the end of the month!

Happy Independence Day, Confluence Registrants! -We’re very excited to inform you that 124 registrations are in, and the event is growing daily. Our workshops are jammed packed, and we had to stop accepting any new workshop attendees.

We will likely close registration when we hit 200 attendees at this event to make sure there is plenty of room to network.

We are allowing a small number of table-top exhibitors for a nominal fee, email me if you need details.

The fastest-growing Indianapolis networking channel is Rainmakers.  If you like events that are fun, lively, high-energy, and packed with well connected networkers check out: www.gorainmakers.com.

A great resource for small business and networkers alike… Check out Lorraine Ball’s RoundPeg: http://www.roundpeg.biz/ and subscribe to her email list and calendar of Indy events.

Ladies all over the world are tapping into Linda Rendelman’s Business Women Connect: http://www.businesswomenconnect.com/

If you’re tech-savvy you should know of: http://www.techpoint.org/Pages/TechpointHome.aspx

And, of course the all-suite Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce: http://www.indychamber.com/

Finally, if you like contributing your thoughts to folks that listen and respond check out: http://www.smallerindiana.com/

In his presentation at the Smaller Indiana, BlogIn, Erik Deckers shared his thoughts on how to write for a blog. Beginning with a great title:How to write gooder blogs then anyone else .

Erik advises: Good writing is clear, concise, precise, understandable and interesting.

• Be clear: Your clarity can be measured – check out: www.neilstoolbox.com
• Use short words, use short paragraphs
• Don’t overwrite and omit needless words
• Revise and rewrite
• Get rid of adjectives and adverbs

While SEO is important, write for subscribers before you write for the spiders.

This is a wonderfully well written piece on networking  for introverts!

Do you have a network of people supporting you?  Lorraine Ball believes you should!