network – Career Life Institute

5 Ways to Stay in Touch with Your Extended Network

When it comes to thinking about staying connected with your extended network, especially if you have a large one, it can almost be as daunting as, say, public speaking for a lot of people. But, it can be broken down into manageable steps. The most important thing with networking is that you stay in touch with those you connect with and you make every effort to keep a relationship going – even if you don’t “need” something at the moment.

Here are our five best tips for continued networking success.

1) Pass Along Articles of Interest to Your Contacts

One great way to stay in touch is to pass along anything of interest to your contacts. You want to continually demonstrate that you’re not only passionate about your industry (and follow it regularly), but also that you are genuinely interested in your contact’s best interest. It never hurts to reach out to someone you know and say, “Hi, John, I came across this article and thought of you. Perhaps you’d find the statistic on the growing demographics of 18- to 24-year-olds interesting for your research. I hope you’re well. All my best, Paul.”

2) Keep Your Network Posted of Your Updates

We recommend that you touch base with your contacts at least twice a year. A year can be quite a bit of time, and a lot can happen. If you are hired for a position, pick up a new internship, move to a new city or start a new blog, these are all reasons to update your network on what’s happening in your life. It’s also important that you use these opportunities to thank those that have helped you become who you are or get you to where you are today.

3) Remember Special Occasions

This can be a hard one. In a perfect world, we would all remember everyone’s birthdays and important events, but unfortunately, real life can get in the way of that. If there are certain members of your network who are your friends on Facebook, make it a daily habit to look at the “Birthdays” reminder to see if there’s anyone you should reach out to. And this doesn’t mean you should leave a generic “Happy Birthday” on someone’s wall; rather take the time to type out an e-mail and let the person know you’re thinking of them. It doesn’t take a lot of additional effort, and it’s an easy way to stand out from the “Facebook wall clutter.” In addition, keep an eye on big events announced by your contacts. If you want to get into public relations and you see that your friend launched a new campaign, send them a congratulatory note.

4) Create Google Alerts for Your Contacts and/or Their Businesses

One great way to keep tabs on a contact or his or her company is by creating a Google Alert. It’s free and takes less than a minute, and the service can send you valuable information on a colleague that you might have been too busy to notice. Then, when you see big news about someone or his or her company, take a minute to send an e-mail and follow up. If you’re not sure how to set up a Google Alert, check out our recent post on the CareerSparx blog, “Your Dream Employer? Do More Than Google Them.”

5) Follow Them on Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn

Again, the idea is to stay connected with your contacts and what’s going on in their lives. If you see that a birthday is coming up or something important just happened, make note of what you see on your social media accounts and follow up via a personalized e-mail. Another tactic is to hit “like” if they post something produced by their company on a Facebook profile, or retweet a Twitter update for a big project of theirs. They will appreciate the support, and you will achieve your goal of staying connected and on their radar.

By following these five easy tips, you will be able to stay better connected to your network. And as you’ll see, it really isn’t as hard or as overwhelming as it seems. Best of luck.

Guest Expert:

Mario Schulzke is the creator of CareerSparx, an online course that helps recent college graduates begin their careers. For more information, download their free 61-page guide on how to start your career or check out the CareerSparx blog.

View the original article here

The Art of Networking

Networking is a proven strategy for building your career, your business and your credibility. Experienced business people know that anything is possible through networking. Because it is a very creative process, it’s one of the easiest and most effective ways to market yourself (and your business as a successful entrepreneur).

The key to networking is cultivating relationships and sharing ideas, information and resources. This is a two-step and two-way process: the first part is to let people know what you do and why they should come to you to do business. Learning how to “toot your own horn” – sharing your expertise and what you offer – in a clear, assertive way is essential. The second part is to listen to what others have to share –their area of expertise and the products and services they have to offer. Your intent should always be to set up a “win-win” situation where all parties benefit from the exchange, whether immediately or sometime in the future.

In setting up your two-way street, the universal law of giving, as referred to by Deepak Chopra in his Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, can be seen in action through effective networking. “The universe operates through dynamic exchange . . . giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy. In our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives.”

At Business Connections (a local County-wide networking group of women business owners and business-owners marketing to women), members are given the opportunity to participate in “30-Second Spots,” at every meeting. This is an opportunity to present yourself and what you have to offer through your business in a very concise, direct way. Not only do you benefit from hearing other members give their promotional spot, each time you do your own 30-Second Spot you improve with practice, practice, practice.

NAFE, the National Association for Female Executives, a national networking association, says the “two key words for successful networking are planning and personal.” That means planning for the results you want, and making contacts for professional and personal gain. Networking has to be planned to be effective – it doesn’t just happen – and quality networking only happens when supportive personal relationships are built.

In reality, networking (relationship building) is a 24-hour-a-day process. When you are consciously looking to expand your network, you will be most effective when you are focusing on people who already have the results you want, as well as paying attention to the formal and informal networks you can join.

Remember that networking itself may not provide immediate benefits. It may take years to see the results of your networking efforts, or you could be pleasantly surprised at any moment by an important phone call from someone you recently connected with. The timing is always less important than the relationship

So what are the important steps to creating a warmly successful networking relationship? First, take time to prepare for your upcoming meetings and events. Realize every event is an opportunity to network. You will always get more of what you are focused on, so make the most of every group situation, whether it is a familiar group you've been meeting with for years, or a totally new group you are walking into for the first time.

It's also important to remember the number one basic networking principle: we are all equal. Whether you are currently ‘in transition’ or the CEO of an expanding business, you have something of value to share with others. Make sure your “attitude is right” – that you are excited about your opportunity to meet new people, and then be open to the whatever shows up. In a formal setting or a business networking event, bring your most current promotional materials to share.

Even in an informal setting it's good to have extra business cards with you at all times. You never know where your next best lead is going to come from, it could be in a coffee shop or on a bus, or even at your son's baseball game.

So, take the time to develop your “art of networking,” and realize it’s an organic and creative process. Each of us has wonderfully unique gifts to share with others. Move beyond your shyness and take full advantage of all the networking opportunities that come your way–opportunities to promote yourself and your business, but most importantly, the opportunity to build relationships of value.

Network Trends

In a recent NAFE survey they found some interesting trends. Women who first came to join the organization were often just starting out in business or in their careers, and joined because they wanted help in getting started, so they were seeking the knowledge of those who had already succeeded.

After a few years, many of them "dropped out" of membership, actively pursuing their professions, building their businesses, and raising their families. Then, once the growth, development and acquisition phases were over, many of them came back into membership again as mature, successful business and career women. The focus this time was in wanting to give back to the younger ones who were just starting out. Now that's networking come full circle.

Did you notice, though, that the new and the experienced are taken care of, but the women in the middle – the ones actually making it all happen – are the ones left out? During a recent Roundtable session, one of our participants expressed how difficult it can be to remain motivated and fresh as you grow beyond the start-up issues into a mature business. This is where Mastermind Groups, Advisory Boards, Trade Organizations and Creative Alliances can make a huge difference. Especially when the members have a similar maturity level (in terms of their business) and diverse backgrounds.

Genius ideas come from "mixed metaphor" thinking and cross-platform brainstorming. Considering how someone in a different business or field might handle a situation will give you new ideas for your own business. As you begin to build your business, be on the lookout for those formal and informal opportunities to begin to create your own supportive team of "expert" thinkers.

_________Editor's Note________________
You can join our Women Entrepreneurs Roundtable for the price of a long distance phone call. Twice each month women from the US and Canada gather for an hour on the telephone to discuss issues relevant to women in business.
©2000 Katie Darden, Career Life Institute