Online Networking Without Being Overwhelmed

Online Networking Without Overwhelm by Jenn Givler

One of my favorite marketing activities is networking online. Many of my clients engage in this activity as well. But, soon after starting online networking, many people find themselves in a state of overwhelm – so many groups – so little time! First, how do you know which groups are ideal for your business, and second, how do I effectively manage my online networking and avoid becoming overwhelmed with it all?

First, let’s talk about some of the ways that you can networking online. You can participate in online networking groups such as the type you might find at Yahoo, Ryze, or Zaadz. You can also participate in special online events through organizations like WECAI.

It’s important to find networking groups where your niche is hanging out. These are the people that you will be able to help build your business. When you visit sites like Yahoo, do a search on keywords for your niche and see what kinds of groups are out there. For example, if I’m looking for networking groups, I might search on “women entrepreneurs.” Hanging out with your niche will help you gain clients, and it will help you discover what your niche’s needs are as they relate to your business.

You can also join networking groups where your peers congregate. These are great to discuss industry trends, get business questions answered and share ideas. For example, I’m a member of a few groups that are geared toward coaching.

You want to be sure the groups you’re interested in are fairly active. An active group usually has a couple hundred members, and will have at least 15 to 20 messages in a week – some have a lot more than that, but that’s a good number to look for.

When you join a group, spend a few days getting to know what the rules and expectations are. For example, some groups do not allow e-mail signatures, some groups have special days for ads. Also, spend some time reading the discussions and learning about the members.

When you’re ready, post your introduction, and jump into any conversations you feel you’d like to join.

If a group is busy and it seems like the conversations move fast and there are new threads constantly being added, you don’t have to respond to everything. When you visit the online groups, usually there is a message archive that you can browse. All of the threads are usually grouped by topic, so you can choose which discussions you’re interested in following and responding to. It is completely fine to only respond to the threads that you are most interested in. Don’t forget to offer your expertise in discussions where it is warranted. This will help members get to know what you can offer them, and it is a great way to establish yourself as an expert.

Another rule of thumb is to not work a sales pitch into every post you make. That can seem insincere. Save your sales pitch for ad days and for your e-mail signature. The goal of networking in any situation is to build relationships. You may not make sales or get e-zine subscribers the first time you post – and that’s ok. You want the members of the group to get to know you, and you want to get to know them.

Consistency is the key to make online networking work for you. Decide how much time you’re going to devote to this marketing activity and then be consistent. For example, you may decide to visit your online groups three times per week and spend 2 hours responding to posts. Or, you may decide to only visit once per week and spend 3 hours networking. Be organized with your efforts and stick to a schedule. This will make it easier to manage, and it will ensure that you don’t get stuck socializing when you really should be working

In addition to making really great business connections, online networking is a way to make amazing friends and meet fantastic people. Remember, not every single person you meet through networking will become a customer, but they will be a great connection – and you never know where that might lead!



Jenn Givler is the Catalyst for Thriving Businesses. She teaches entrepreneurs how to break through fear, frustration and overwhelm in their business. Visit her web site and receive your free report: The 5 Reasons Your Business Is Still Stuck – Even though you’re doing everything right. http://www.jgivlercoaching.com

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Targeting your market to increase the quality of your prospect

Targeting your market to increase the
quality of your prospects.

By Scott Hache
Platinum Designs

Identifying your target audience is the first and most crucial step in starting or improving your business. You must develop a plan which will effectively capture the attention of your potential customers.

Without a proper plan in place, your business would be like a game of darts, without the dart board. You must find your target or else your time, effort, and hard earned dollars could be lost in cyberspace.

First you must know who your customers are. You may define your customers by creating a customer profile. Your customer profile will consist of three major components. Demographic, Psychographic, and behavioralistic.

The Demographic Component

Identifying the Demographic Factors:

1. Age

What age group are you trying to target? ( ie. Children, Young Parents, Baby Boomers?)

2. Gender

Certain products or services could be better tailored towards a certain gender. Women typically are more nurturing where men typically are more into the bottom line.

3. Profession

Does your ideal customer work for a large corporation, or do they stay at home watching the children?

4. Education level

Would your ideal prospect be someone who has a college or university education?

5. Household income level

The income level of your prospects may play a role in the targeting of your market. Is the product or service affordable enough for the average person? Or does your marketing efforts have to be tailored towards

6. Family Size

Determining the size of the consumers family can be beneficial for consumer products.

By determining who your ideal customer would be you can effectively target your marketing efforts toward your prospect.

The Psychographic Component

The Psychographic component is the factor that influences your customers purchasing decisions. What are the Attitudes beliefs and Emotions of your prospects?

Identify which characteristics best represent your targeted audience:

• What is their current lifestyle?
• Are they are single or more family oriented?
• Are they conservative, trendy, and/or socially responsible?
• Does your audience share a common past-time or hobby?

The Behavioralistic Component

The Behavioristic component is the factor which determines the Motivations or reasons for the customer to buy your product or service.

Identify what is most important to your prospects.

1. Price
2. Location
3. Quality
4. Product Warranties or Guarantees
5. Customer Service and/or Support
6. Brand name

You may also want to determine how often your targeted customer will purchase your product. Will they re-purchase or re-order your products or services on a regular basis?

Once you have built a profile for your ideal customer, the next step is to research the market to determine where you could best advertise to capitalize on the market in which you are targeting.

Visit search engines, websites, read magazines, etc. which reflect the demographics, and interests of your ideal prospect. If you are looking to target young business men, maybe a high-tech site would work. If you are looking to target parents of young children, why not try some parenting websites. You need to get a feel for what type of advertising will work with your audience.

Targeting your market is a crucial step in marketing your business online and offline, once you have developed your customer profile and researched the market carefully to determine where to spend your marketing dollars. You are ready to begin to market your business!

Going Back!

Did you ever sit in one of those message chairs in mall at the Brookstone store? Didn't you want to just sit there forever but you knew there were others chomping at the bit to have a turn? (Or how about wanting a turn but some kid is sitting there playing with it - like they need it for their back! )

The whole point of those chairs is for back relief. Once you sit in one of magical chairs, your body melts and you can feel the tension being drawn out by every messaging finger running up and down your back, neck, legs, arms, well you get the picture. Today's article will give you some other tips for helping with that back pain. It is a growing issue for many since we are delegated to our chairs for most of the work day.

After reading the article, think of another way you help your back. You could do I what I do and work from home where you can get up and go or take a break whenever you want. Check out my website after reading about back care. See which helps more!

Category: Healthy Body - Back Pain
Written by Kristen Holt - Editor for SmartLivingNews.com

BACK PAIN
With our busy lives and/or sedentary desk-jobs many of us can feel the effects of what we do in our backs. Accidents, work-related injuries, poor posture and stress are all factors that contribute to a very common ailment most have encountered at various times. In fact, the American Physical Therapy Association writes, “In our modern, industrial society, back pain is the most common cause of loss of activity among adults under 45. It’s estimated that over 80% of all American workers suffer back pain at some time during their careers.” Indeed, some occupations place greater demands on a person’s back than others but even the normal, every-day kind of activities we engage in can contribute to the irritation of back pain.

The good news is that we can make a conscientious effort to take care of our backs in the midst of our schedules and work obligations. As with most things, prevention is the best remedy so it is important to pay attention to our activities, stresses and lifestyle. By making adjustments where possible, we can take the preventative steps necessary to keep our backs free from pain and/or injury.

• Ways to Prevent Back Pain and Injuries including:

  • Adequate rest
  • Make your work environment as safe as possible
  • Take care to watch your posture especially when lifting heavy objects and/or working in environments requiring repetitious physical labor
  • Lowering your stress level as much as possible (see also SmartLivingNews Archive: Handling Stress and General Anxiety, Oct. 01, 2005)
  • Regular exercise

• For Avoiding Pain and Injuries:

  • Set realistic weight-loss goals. Being within the ideal weight range for your height and frame will minimize stress on your back.
  • Regular exercise (especially aerobic training and/or specific stretching exercises) can help strengthen your back muscles and increase your flexibility.
  • Pay attention to your posture and avoid slouching or straining when standing for long periods of time. Also, change your position frequently.
  • Find chairs and positions that support your back when sitting down.
  • When lifting heavy objects keep the object close to you and lift with your legs.
  • Ask for help when lifting heavy loads.
  • Try adjusting your work environment if you can reduce the need for repetitious bending and/or physical labor.
  • Use a headset when spending time on the phone to avoid cradling the phone between your shoulder and ear which adds stress to your back.
  • Invest in shoes with little/no heels and non-slip or rubber soles to relieve back stress as well as to avoid trips and falls.
  • Try and eliminate as many potential stressors in your life as possible – This may include taking a lighter work load, performing deep-breathing exercises, taking a walk, or taking time to talk to a friend, etc.
  • Get adequate rest.

  For Relief of (lower) back pain:

  • Contact your doctor/chiropractor immediately for back pain caused by physical injuries and/or you experience extreme pain affecting your ability to move around, etc.
  • Lie down with your back on the floor, place pillows underneath your knees and either bend your knees or lay your feet on a chair. This is the best (temporary) position to relieve back pain.
  • Take a walk frequently – even every few minutes or hours for a couple of days.
  • Carve out time to rest your back (1 – 2 days).
  • Place a heating pad on the area of your back where you feel painful muscle spasms for 20 – 30 minutes at a time. This will help release tension and relax the muscle spasms.
  • Try using ice packs for severe pain.
  • Massages can also provide relief.
  • Begin a moderate exercise routine. An inactive lifestyle contributes to stress build-up and back pain.
  • Incorporate vitamins and minerals into your diet including glucosamine, calcium and magnesium to promote muscle health.

• http://familydoctor.org/117.xml
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/back-pain/HQ00955
• http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&TEMPLATE=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=20406

www.abiz4health.ownanewbusiness.com

18 Ways to "BE"

1. Be strong enough to face the world each day. 2. Be weak enough to know you cannot do everything. 3. Be generous to those who need your help. 4. Be frugal with what you need yourself. 5. Be wise enough to know that you do not know everything. 6. Be foolish enough to believe in miracles. 7. Be willing to share your joys. 8. Be willing to share the sorrows of others. 9. Be a leader when you see a path others have missed. 10. Be a follower in the midst of uncertainty. 11. Be the first to congratulate an opponent who succeeds. 12. Be the last to criticize a colleague who fails. 13. Be sure where your next step will fall, so that you will not stumble. 14. Be sure of your final destination, in case you are going the wrong way. 16. Be loving to those who love you. 17. Be loving to those who do not love you; they may learn to love because of you. 18. Be yourself.

URGENT ALERT: A Favor to Ask

Hey Sisters, Every one of us has been affected by breast cancer. We've watched our mothers, sisters and girlfriends fight it. Many of us had endured our own battle. Today, we can all do something to help in the fight. The Breast Cancer Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on "donating a mammogram" for free (pink window in the middle). This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To make your free contribution, click here. Pass this information along to people you know. PLEASE TELL 10 FRIENDS TO TELL 10 FRIENDS TODAY. Links: The Breast Cancer Site info page Breast Cancer Survivors 4 Things To Know About Mammograms/Discussion Share Your Story

What Makes Leaders Different?

What Makes Leaders Different?
By Rex Houze, Executive Vice President of Leadership Management International USA, Inc.(r) and co-author of Bridging the Leadership Gap.

All of us know leaders who stand out in a crowd, who have risen to the top and who accomplish significantly more than their peers. Let ' s examine some of the characteristics that make these leaders different:

VISION - Leaders have a clear picture of what they see their group becoming or doing in the future. There ' s a difference between eyesight and vision. Vision is the ability to get MEANING from eyesight. Effective leaders have vision.

GOAL-DIRECTED - Leaders know where they stand, where they ' re going and how they ' re going to get there. They realize that no one ever accomplishes anything of consequence without a goal. They also realize that in order to fulfill their vision, they need to set a series of goals that will help them to do so. Effective leaders are goal-directed.

CLEAR PURPOSE - Leaders know why they exist, what they believe and what their values are. Having a clear purpose gives them the energy and focus they need to accomplish their goals and fulfill their vision. Effective leaders have a clear purpose.

SELF-CONTROL/SELF-DISCIPLINE - Leaders are many times required to do things that ordinary people don ' t like to do. The truth of the matter is, leaders probably don ' t like to do them either. The difference between a leader and an ordinary person is that a leader does whatever it takes to accomplish the goal, and many times this requires self-control and self-discipline. Effective leaders have self-control and self-discipline.

ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE - To achieve their goals and fulfill their vision, leaders need to persuade others to take action on their ideas. This requires that they think clearly, speak clearly and listen carefully. Effective leaders have the ability to communicate.

ENERGY - Leaders need the physical vitality and mental alertness that comes from a high level of energy. Hard work, clear thinking, commitment and persistence require a high level of energy. Leaders boost their energy through proper diet, nutrition, exercise, positive thinking, rest, relaxation and an outside hobby or interest. Effective leaders have a high level of energy.

PERSISTENCE - There are only two reasons why most projects fail: not starting and not finishing. Leaders finish what they start because they remember their vision, focus on their goals and visualize their goals as already accomplished. They have the staying power and persistence to follow through on their goals regardless of circumstances or what other people say, think, or do. Effective leaders have persistence.

POSITIVE ATTITUDE - Leaders look at how things can be done, not why they can ' t be done. They look for ways over, around, or through obstacles. They have an "I will not be denied" attitude. To paraphrase W. Clement Stone, "There is little difference between ordinary people and leaders. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether the attitude is positive or negative." Effective leaders have a positive attitude.

To be a more effective leader, clarify your vision and purpose. Develop a written and specific goals program. Develop your self-control, self-discipline and ability to communicate. Maintain a high energy level by taking care of your mind and body. Persist in all you do, and approach every challenge and opportunity with a positive attitude. Do these things and you ' ll not only be different, but you ' ll also MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Twenty Ways to Promote Your Business Offline

These are generic and particular to my business. These are tips for anyone to use no matter the type of business you have. ENJOY!!!

#1. Take a small zip close baggie (snack sizes work well) and include the following in it:

Your Business Card, Business Oppty Mini Flyer, a Piece of Candy such as hard candy or a lollipop, mini flyer of current host specials, discount coupon (optional) etc.

Hand these out to the bank tellers, retail cashiers, at your kids sport events, every where you go!

#2. When I stay at hotels & motels I leave my business card, a small product, and the mini coin canister for the maid! I put her tip inside the mini coin canister! I have gotten 3 orders by doing this!

Be creative when you leave tips for Hotel Maids, Waitresses, Waiters, Hair Dressers, etc. Don't just hand them your business card, make it memorable!

You can also buy cute little beaded change purses at your local dollar discount store!

#3. Print out flyers with your contact info (not your personal address), your website address & email address along with any current specials you are offering.

Then contact local area mobile home park offices, apartment complex rental offices, housing developements etc and ask them if you can leave fliers in their office or hang on their tennants doors. Give the office employees a free gift or discount on their personal orders.

#4. Contact local area bridal supply stores, bridal gown stores, caterers, tux rental centers, wedding dj's etc. Ask them if you can leave your business cards & fliers about the great (Company Name) Bridal Gift Registry for them to give to their customers.

Offer store owners a free gift or a personal discount for helping you spread the word about your business.

#5. Daycare Centers! They are excellent to contact and leave business cards and/or fliers at!

I print out a flyer of just a few items from our Tupperware Childrens line and I attach my business card & a pamphlet about products.

So whatever company you represent, find some items that cater to children or to moms and make up a flier!

#6. Alot of churches hold a Spring and Fall Fest! Contact them about getting a table or a booth. A lot of times this will cost you under $15.00 for a space!

Make sure you take products with you along with business oppty fliers, plenty of catalogs, business cards etc.

Do a contest drawing at these types of events. Make up entry blanks that gather the customers info so that you can initiate contact with them again!

#7. Join your local area chamber of commerce! They are always holding local business events that you can participate in.

#8. College Campuses! Dorms & Housing Students are always looking to spend money! Alot of college students are also looking for an extra income so target them with the Business Oppty too!

Drop off fliers and business cards to the College Student Center! They usually have bulletin boards, tables and other things where you can leave your information at for FREE!

#9. Contact your local area Welcome Wagon or Welcome to the Neighborhood Group! Ask them about you leaving mini catalogs, fliers, business cards, discount coupons, freebie mini gifts, etc with them.

They are always looking for additional items to place in their Welcome Bags!

#10. Contact your local area hospitals and ask for Human Resources Dept. The Majority of hospitals hand out New Mommy Diaper Bags filled with products, samples and other stuff for New Moms who just had a baby!

It's FREE for you to add in your information! I have gotten party hosts, new customers and new recruits by participating in these types of programs.

#11. Contact your local medical offices, particularly Gynecology and OB Offices and Pediatric Offices and inquire about you leaving information with them.

This is a way for you to target Parents of Children with both the home party oppty, the business oppty and new customer sales.

#12. Donate a Product to your local area Radio Station, they have numerous contests and they are always looking for sponsors!

Your donation can be written off as a tax deduction plus you will get FREE Advertising & Business Exposure for your donation!

#13. Donate a Product to your local area Bingo Halls! They are always looking for sponsors of their Bingo Prizes! Bingo is BIG in a lot of areas!

#14. Call your Chamber of Commerce and find out about Local Area Job Fairs. Get a booth and set up info about the fabulous business oppty!

#15. Call your Local Area Colleges and find out when their next job/employment fair is. Many times you can get a booth or table for less than $35 and you will get alot of GREAT new recruit leads by participating in events like these.

#16. Contact local area car dealerships. Ask if they would hand out a small packets that you make up for FREE to their customers who come in to take a free test drive!

#17. Target your local area gyms! You can get a table space for $20 or less in most cases! Make sure you have 3-5 products on display, plenty of catalogs, business cards and fliers.

#18. Network with others in your community who are in home business. Find out what events and activities that they participate in. They are usually "in the know" and can help you get started in networking in your community.

#19. Contact Companies in your area to see if you can come in and set up a table in the employee lounge or cafeteria for a employee shopping break! These days alot of companies will allow you to do this if you ask them!

#20. Does your local area tv cable company have a local information channel? Inquire about advertising! These ads will reach thousands of potential buyers for you! It's best if you only use your website address for these types of advertising and not your personal at home address.

False Fat

False Fat may be weighing you down

Your diet is decent, but if your bulges won't budge, try to incorporate these recommendations from Weight Loss Coach Jonny Bowden:

1. Cut out wheat. Whenever I recommend that people try this as a strategy, I invariably get two kinds of responses. One is from irate dietitians who chastise me for going against the "wisdom" of the food pyramid and warn me of the dire consequences for human health if people actually followed such a crazy recommendation and stop eating bread, pasta and cereal for a while. The other response comes from people who say this recommendation changed their lives. Wheat is one of the seven top allergens, and untold numbers of people have undetected sensitivities to it. Dr. C. Leigh Broadhurst, one of the brightest researchers I've ever met and the author of the wonderful book Diabetes: Prevention and Cure, once told me that if she had to pick one strategy for weight loss and health, it would probably be cutting out wheat. Dr. Jeffrey Bland, also no intellectual slouch, has commented on the possible long-range implications of gluten or glidian sensitivity (both are components of wheat). Eliminating wheat (at least temporarily) is on the top 10 list of so many cutting-edge health professionals that it is foolish not to give it a try.

2. Eliminate dairy. Especially cow's milk. Interestingly, this is something that the high protein folks and the radical vegans such as Dr. Neal Barnard agree on, though for somewhat different reasons. I'm not talking, incidentally, about the wonderful, nutrient-rich, unprocessed certified raw milk that people such as Sally Fallon rave about, but unfortunately raw milk is just not widely available. I'm talking about that stuff on your grocer's shelf. No, you won't get osteoporosis (which has to do with a lot more than calcium), and yes, you can get your calcium from other sources. I wouldn't necessarily extend this recommendation to naturally fermented products such as yogurt and some raw-milk cheeses, by the way, though some people might want to try eliminating all dairy at first. If you're still skeptical, visit Notmilk.com and then talk to me some more. And remember that the number one source of nutritional information in this country comes from the dairy industry.

3. Eliminate sugar. This one is really hard for most people but might pay off the most. And while you're at it, see what you can do about aspartame.

4. Try a fruit and vegetable "fast." Three days on a healthy, rich brew of vegetable soup plus some low-sugar, high-fiber fruits (berries, for example) and a daily portion or three of raw vegetables with a little olive oil never hurt anyone and will give your digestive system a needed vacation from most stressors and toxins.

5. Don't drink. The impact of this recommendation varies from situation to situation, but there are people who have lost significant amounts of weight and bloat simply by cutting out alcohol. Remember that alcohol is a kind of super-sugar and can be a very significant source of calories for some people. And there isn't a single health benefit in it that you can't get from fruits and vegetables.

6. Try counting calories. Just for a while, just as a strategy. Though I've said many times that calories are not the most important thing in a diet, they still count. Study after study has demonstrated that most people, especially those who are overweight, consistently underestimate their caloric intake. And even those who have learned to eat right for their type sometimes fall into the trap of thinking they can eat unlimited amounts as long as they're eating the "right" foods. Use this strategy as a reality check for a few days.

7. Try the old switcheroo. If you've been eating a high protein diet, try a vegan plan for a few days. If you've been eating vegan, try higher protein. Sometimes just a change is all it takes to move off a plateau, and sometimes hidden food sensitivities remain hidden because we tend to eat the same things all the time.

Let me say again that the above seven items are suggested strategies, not absolute commandments. Not everyone has to do all seven, and all seven won't be equally meaningful for every individual.

But when you're stuck, need a change or can't figure out what's going on, these are good starting points for experimentation.

As always, adapt what you read here to your own circumstances, but stay open-minded. None of the above strategies will hurt you, and you may be amazed at how much they will help.

Jack Johnson's Upside Down

I had to post this song by Jack Johnson as a follow up to the Dreaming post. This song is about dreaming and following that dream. Check out this verse and all the others. Enjoy and again SWEET DREAMS.

"Who’s to say
I can’t do everything
Well I can try
And as I roll along I begin to find
Things aren’t always just what they seem" Jack Johnson

Artist: Jack Johnson

Song: Upside Down

Who’s to say
What’s impossible
Well they forgot
This world keeps spinning
And with each new day
I can feel a change in everything
And as the surface breaks reflections fade
But in some ways they remain the same
And as my mind begins to spread its wings
There’s no stopping curiosity

I want to turn the whole thing upside down
I’ll find the things they say just can’t be found
I’ll share this love I find with everyone
We’ll sing and dance to Mother Nature’s songs
I don’t want this feeling to go away

Who’s to say
I can’t do everything
Well I can try
And as I roll along I begin to find
Things aren’t always just what they seem

I want to turn the whole thing upside down
I’ll find the things they say just can’t be found
I’ll share this love I find with everyone
We’ll sing and dance to Mother Nature’s songs
This world keeps spinning and there’s no time to waste
Well it all keeps spinning spinning round and round and

Upside down
Who’s to say what’s impossible and can’t be found
I don’t want this feeling to go away

Please don’t go away
Please don’t go away
Please don’t go away
Is this how it’s supposed to be
Is this how it’s supposed to be