Archive for Business Networking

Top 3 Networking Tips for Introverts

by Janet
January 16th, 2013

handshake

  1. If you find it difficult to approach others, offer to sit at the registration desk or greet people at the door at networking events. You’ll get to meet a lot of people without stepping so far outside your comfort zone.
  2. Offer to speak. I am very uncomfortable networking in large groups, but if I’m there as a featured expert, it’s very different.
  3. Arrange to meet with others one-on-one over coffee or lunch. This allows you to build deeper relationships, and you’ll be much more relaxed.

If you let introversion or shyness keep you from networking, you may miss out on some great business or career opportunities!

What is your favourite networking survival strategy?

Illustration courtesy of idea go / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Categories Business Networking
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Self-Marketing for Introverted Virtual Assistants

by Janet
March 5th, 2012

Since becoming involved with the virtual assistant industry, I’ve noticed that a lot of introverts are drawn to this profession because it allows us to work independently in the comfort of our own homes and to communicate mainly through email or online.

virtual assistant attending a webinar

Unfortunately, when it comes to networking and promoting our businesses, many introverted VAs run into difficulty. After all, talking about ourselves just isn’t something that comes naturally to us.

That’s why I was really pleased to learn that Donna Gunter (who has been mentioned previously in this blog) is offering a webinar called Get Found Online: Best Strategies Helping Introverted Virtual Assistants (or VAs Who Hate to Market Themselves) Massively Increase Their Visibility Online, Today.

In this free class, Donna is going to talk about:

  • The 3 natural gifts almost every introvert possesses that serves as the foundation of your Internet marketing success
  • The million dollar questions you must answer BEFORE you start any marketing
  • A simple two-step plan that will instantly establish you as an expert in your field
  • The most effective method of establishing relationships online
  • How just one email per week can help you build a waiting list of clients
  • The best 15 minutes a day you can use to quickly build your network from zero to hundreds or thousands
  • The one Internet marketing secret NO ONE tells you about that will quadruple your marketing reach
  • The most effective strategy to share your expertise with hundreds of potential clients in only an hour a month

This learning opportunity is open to new and experienced virtual assistants worldwide and will be delivered via the internet, so you don’t even have to worry about travel or long distance expenses.

To register, visit the Canadian Virtual Assistant Connection and click on Webinars under the Resources tab.

Photo: Mitarart / Photoxpress

Categories Business Networking
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6 Marketing Strategies for Introverts

by Janet
October 5th, 2011

I recently read an interesting article by Introvert Marketing Coach Donna Gunter, in which she identifies the six best ways for introverts to promote themselves easily. I hadn’t thought about it in quite this way before, but after some reflection, it seems that all of these strategies have worked well for me.

one-on-one business networking

Here are Donna’s recommendations, along with my comments as to how I’ve applied them in my business.

1. Step into the shoes of your ideal client and target market.

When I started my business, I didn’t have an ideal client in mind. Like many new entrepreneurs, I was delighted to work with anyone who was willing to pay me. Gradually I came to recognize that I was happiest and best suited to working with professional organizers. Having been an organizer myself for a few years, I have a good understanding of their needs, so it’s easier for me to tailor my messages to that group.

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Categories Business Networking
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Power Struggles

by Chris
August 17th, 2011

Octavia E. Butler

“All struggles are essentially power struggles. Who will rule? Who will lead? Who will define, refine, confine, design? Who will dominate? All struggles are essentially power struggles,and most are no more intellectual than two rams knocking their heads together.”
— Octavia E. Butler

How would an introvert handle a power struggle?

I’m ashamed to admit that so far, the dog is winning. How do I struggle? I walk away. A more clever introvert might walk away and make a plan. The first time I walked away, the dog bounded after me – I won. Tonight was the second time I walked away. The dog stayed at the sidewalk. When I finally caved and went to him, I saw that his leash was caught. But he’s a clever little beast and he’s done this before. The leash wasn’t caught by much – a flick of my finger dislodged it.

Is a power struggle not introvert territory, since it is by its nature an ‘outer’ event?

Or do we have power struggles in our inner depths? Yes, I believe we might. I have an on-going struggle with Mom (may she rest in peace) about how tight jeans should be. I *think* I’m wearing them my way. But I’ve gotta watch out for those subliminal messages.

Inner or outer, I delude myself that I’m in charge of me. I think.

Categories Business Networking, General, Relationships
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Heat Waves & Cocktails

by Chris
July 30th, 2011

“Everyone’s alone — or so it seems to me.
They make noises, and think they are talking to each other;
They make faces, and think they understand each other.
And I’m sure they don’t. Is that a delusion?”
T.S. Eliot

 

We’re having a heat wave now. Temperatures in the 90s. Warnings on TV and radio to stay inside if possible and to move slowly if we must go out into the blazing sun. When I open the door to go out, it’s like stepping into an oven. And that experience is similar to what I (as an introvert) feel when I step into a cocktail party. It really does feel like walking into a wall of jaggedy vibes. That’s the first thing that I perceive. The second is the high noise level. People are hollering conversation at each other. All my instincts are hollering at me to get out of there, but I’m determined to carry this through. I plunge into the room.

The magazines and etiquette books (and even my friends and relatives) give advice on how to enter a room. Apparently I should pause in the doorway and allow the other guests to admire my pretty face. Oh dear. I flubbed it. I’m pretty sure that what I had on my face was horror.

 On the right, immediately next to the door, is the open bar, with a bartender who moves with the speed of light. I ask for white wine and get a martini. You can tell them apart by the olive. I smile and keep going.

It doesn’t take long for frenetic interaction with dozens of people to drain my energy. If only I could take a bit of a break – maybe just go outside and recharge in the quiet – then I would be able to stay. But there’s no popping in and out of cocktail parties. Once you leave, you’re gone.

Why do cocktail parties exist? Why would anyone want to bellow conversationally with strangers? Is it for networking? A sort of corporate speed-dating? That may be it. I haven’t been invited for cocktails since I retired. I guess I can learn to live without them.

 

Categories Business Networking, General, Introverts at Work, Social Anxiety & Shyness
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Public Speaking and Introversion

by Janet
July 6th, 2011

hall woman gatheringStudies have shown that more people fear public speaking than fear death. I can relate to that!

When I started my business nine years ago, I was invited to speak about Personality Type and Time Management at a local bookstore, and it was just too good an opportunity to turn down. I was so terrified, however, that I was actually relieved when no one showed up (scheduling it at the same time as an NHL playoff game was probably not the best idea!), even though it meant I didn’t get the chance to promote my services.

Since then, I’ve spoken in front of many groups, both large and small, at a variety of different events. Although I’m still pretty nervous before speaking, once I get up there, I actually enjoy it! In fact, many people express surprise when I identify myself as an introvert. I’m actually pretty surprised myself. The only thing I can figure is that as an introvert, I’m not comfortable approaching others, but if they come to me as a subject expert, that’s a whole different story.

Apparently, I’m not alone in this. In a recent blog post, Jonathan Fields revealed:

One of my more recent discoveries is that I love to speak. After I’m done wanting to throw up in the minutes before I go on, I feel very alive on stage. Something happens and I get lost in the moment. Not always, but often.

He goes on to explain that it’s what happens after speaking that differentiates us from extraverts. Find out more by reading Flipping the Extrovert Switch, especially the comments.

But before you do, please tell us about your own experience with public speaking. Do you like it? Do it because you have to? Avoid it at all costs?

Categories Business Networking
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How to Avoid Networking Pitfalls

by Janet
August 5th, 2010

I read an interesting article this week which begins:

Self-described introverts often say, “It’s so easy for extroverts to network. They are not shy about approaching someone they don’t know or introducing themselves at social functions.” In fact, while that may be how things appear, many extroverts have their own set of challenges. By understanding the pitfalls that one another faces – and understanding how those can turn into opportunities – both introverts and extroverts can learn from each other.

Since we don’t often see an article that addresses the challenges of both introverts and extraverts, I thought I would share it here. To learn more, read Extrovert or Introvert: Your Guide to Networking by Lynda Margaret.

Categories Business Networking
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Is social networking an introverted or extraverted activity?

by Janet
May 20th, 2009

I’ve come across quite a few articles and blog posts lately that raise the question “Is social networking an introverted or extraverted activity?” It’s an interesting topic that I touched on briefly last year in a post called Social Networking: Introversion vs. Extraversion.

An unidentified author at oneIndia claims that social networking sites are turning extraverts into introverts, because people are increasingly using these sites to communicate with friends and family members in lieu of staying in touch by telephone. I have to disagree. For starters, extraverts don’t become introverts simply because they’ve chosen to communicate in writing (an introverted preference) rather than by telephone (an extraverted preference). They may prefer social networking because it allows them to easily communicate with many people and expand their social circle beyond those that they know offline. Actually, any credibility this author may have had was destroyed when they went on to say that people are watching less television and spending more time on social networking sites, since watching television is clearly a more introverted activity than social networking, so I won’t waste any more time on this article, which was brought to my attention by Patricia Weber, Business Sales Coach for Introverts.

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Categories Business Networking, Contemplation
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Conversation: 5 Small Talk Steps To Sell YOU, Build Relationships

by Janet
September 22nd, 2008

By Paul Barton

How to make conversation?

Knowing how to make conversation is critical if you want to build a relationship – a romantic relationship, a personal relationship, a social relationship or a business relationship – or if you want to help sell yourself for a job … get ahead … make a sale.

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Categories Business Networking, Relationships
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Story Time

by Janet
July 21st, 2008

Much has been said and written about preparing for networking events by developing a 30 to 60 second “infomercial” that you can use when introducing yourself. But then what? Since introverts don’t particularly enjoy (or excel at) making “small talk,” the next step can be very challenging, but blogger Meghan Wier has come up with a great solution.

In her blog post, What’s Your Story?, Meg describes the process of drafting a 3-5 minute synopsis that you can have on tap when someone asks you to “tell us a little about yourself.” You know that situation is inevitable, so why not be prepared? You’ll feel more at ease, and you’ll be more interesting too – both of which will help you to network more effectively.

Categories Business Networking
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