Beyond Bagels and Coffee - New Ideas for Networking

in Forum: Advice, Smarts and Warnings

Source of this discusssion: /articles/9118/1/new-networking-ideas.html Page description: Learn how you can go beyond the coffee, bagels and elevator speeches to network more effectively.

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Jun. 05 2008 at 4:56 PM
Posted by: jbs “Quote Reply
The new setting for business for the entrepreneur now takes place in "The Bagel Patch" , by giving "A Bagel Pitch ",eg at an Einstein's Bagels. jbs
Jun. 06 2008 at 4:18 AM
Posted by: dkbush65 “Quote Reply
Good thoughts Jennifer! This is a great concept and we all need to keep elevator pitches in their place. There's a time and place for every marketing strategy and this one should be a marketing practice to master so you can communicate quickly what you do and in a relevent way. With the marketplace leaning more and more on social networking opportunities (both off and online) I too believe the conversations need to be natural and focused on the person you're talking to in order to build a trusted relationship. P.S. ActivEntrepreneur sounds exciting. Is this a national or regional play? The site had local links so I was unsure. David Bush CEO/Founder \| eLifePlans.com Helping Leaders Design and Live Extraordinary Lives See My Blog at eLifeLeader.com
Jun. 06 2008 at 8:54 PM
Posted by: RobAdams4CEOSpace “Quote Reply
Great article, Jennifer. To help build relationships, during the more social networking time I like to reverse the networking process 1)I introduce myself and then ask the other person for their name, 2) I then ask "and what do you do?" and then genuinely listen, 3) I then ask "What do you need next?" I do not tell the other person what I do unless they ask.... Which they normally do after I have taken the time to listen to them. I no longer feel like I am pitching or pushing what I do. Rob Adams CEO Space Northeast Regional Director www.ceospace.net www.ceospace.biz www.ceospacenortheast.com 302-698-1709
Jun. 06 2008 at 9:37 PM
Posted by: ActivEntrepreneurJen “Quote Reply
David, Thanks for your thoughts and feedback. ActivEntrepreneur is national - we have 2 chapters in NY and we also have 2 new chapters in LA and Central MA- and more to come! It is exciting and we truly believe that a successful business begins with a healthy entrepreneur! Rob, I like your reverse approach! Focus and listening skills are significant when networking. Edited by: ActivEntrepreneurJen - Jun. 06 2008 at 9:45 PM
Jun. 12 2008 at 12:20 PM
Posted by: kcorder79 “Quote Reply
RobAdams4CEOSpace wrote: Great article, Jennifer. To help build relationships, during the more social networking time I like to reverse the networking process 1)I introduce myself and then ask the other person for their name, 2) I then ask "and what do you do?" and then genuinely listen, 3) I then ask "What do you need next?" I do not tell the other person what I do unless they ask.... Which they normally do after I have taken the time to listen to them. I no longer feel like I am pitching or pushing what I do. I really think this is a great way to go...people really need to start a personal relationship with someone before they just go get pushy. And using your time to show interest in someone is a great way for them to feel like what they're saying actually matters, they in turn feel obligated to do the same! Thanks! Tired of high gas prices? Then stop driving to work, duh..... Learn to Work from home blogging at http://jusmeplease.wordpress.com/
Jul. 08 2008 at 1:44 PM
Posted by: cigarman “Quote Reply
I did referal groups for my sign business for 3 years and did not get a lot of referal
Oct. 24 2008 at 7:27 PM
Posted by: DuchessOBlunt “Quote Reply
I listened to your podcast here on SuN and wanted to see what you are all about, because the "walk and talk" did it for me. I also checked out your website. It looks to me like this is national for the US only. Am I correct? I was hoping to be able to go in and maybe learn a little more because I wanted to find out if there was a way to maybe get an interview with you for our newsletter, or some way to promote you on our site. We are mostly Canadian at the moment, but hope to grow internationally as it is a community type site with some pretty great ideas. I would love to be able to promote the same concept for our ladies, to get together, to get out there, to connect with your friends (in our case it is for the FUN of it though). Thank you for sharing your ideas with us. I plan to try and incorporate some of them. (I trust that is NOT infringing?) Regally Yours, The Duchess O'Blunt (aka Brenda) www.thetwistedsisterhood.ca Edited by: DuchessOBlunt - Oct. 24 2008 at 7:42 PM