Networking with Ease: [Volume 2 Issue 6]

Networking with Ease eZine – Volume 2 Issue 6

Hello Networking Entrepreneurs!

Spring fever has officially arrived at The Bell residence!

We spent much of the weekend cleaning sorting, organizing and re-arranging. We even put a lot of our winter clothing into storage. If you aren’t familiar with the weather in central Canada, this is a bit of wishful thinking (a.k.a. early in the season) but we’ve got our fingers crossed for more of a “power of positive thinking” effect tee hee! (Keep your fingers crossed for us okay we’re anxious to use our deck!). Be sure to scroll down to this week’s featured resource – SPRING is the perfect time to do a clean sweep of your business to clear out the clutter.

Much of our time this week was also devoted to nursing a sick baby boy… our Shih Tzu Zander (Graham Bell… short for Alexander Graham Bell he he). Little did we know the breed is prone to sensitive skin and food allergies and had no idea it could lead to an ear infection… poor little guy.

Steve’s been a little under the weather too but that didn’t keep him from doing what he does best which is coaching both business and on the ski hill.

In this week’s issue of Networking with Ease, we continue to explore March’s training topic of “Follow up Keep In Touch”…  It’s essential to effective networking and repeat business! Enjoy!

Happy Networking!

Gina & Stephen Bell,
a.k.a. “The Bells”
Signature of Success Consulting, Inc.
Corporate home to:

Networking Masters International
International Non-Fiction Writers Association
JV Mavens Partner and Prosper Network
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Make Meaningful and Memorable Connections with Your *Verbal* Business Card – April 09 Training Call:

“Your Verbal Business Card” How to be so remarkable your prospects beg to know more (and tell everyone your story)
with Networking Masters International co-Founder Gina Bell
DATE/TIME: Thursday April 23rd at Noon PST, 1:00 pm MTN 2:00 pm CST, 3pm EST
Tele-webcast link: http://instantTeleseminar.com/?eventid=6803967
Join us for the live call. Members enjoy access to calendar friendly recordings. (Annual Membership is FREE for a limited time… see BIGGEST GIVE details below!)

It’s inevitable so, you might as well be ready for it, the most commonly asked question at a conference or networking event (heck, even randomly in public) is “What is it that you do?”

Instead of reacting with a deer-in-the-headlights stare, or blurting out a response that generates a confused stare right back, how would you like to be able to answer confidently with a well-crafted, memorable and conversation generating response?

Say goodbye to boring, bland and salesy elevator speeches! During this energizing coaching opportunity you’ll discover how to:

* introduce yourself in a fun and interesting way

* win the attention of your audience in as little as 10 seconds (because if you don’t, you’ve lost them!)

* leverage third party evidence for maximum impact

* engage memorable conversation, invoke curiosity and leave your new contacts longing to know more!

Are you a member of Networking Masters International? Networking Insiders are in the know with access to more than 100 interviews and teleseminars in the member’s only archives. We’ve made it easier – and more affordable than ever – to be a member. See the BIG GIVE announcement below (psst! For a very limited time – membership is FREE – by invitation only! Good thing you subscribed!)

OTHER TELESEMINARS, INTERVIEWS & EVENTS:

March 31st – Networking Masters International – Private Member Q & A Coaching Call 2:00 pm CST (dial-in details will be emailed to Networking Insider members privately)

March 31st - NAHBM (National Association of Home-Based Business Moms) Virtual Networking Luncheon “to meet the experts” http://snipurl.com/evto7

April 1st - Gina Bell at Femalepreneurs.com Business Success Coaching Club

April 4th - Gina & Stephen Bell at BNI Saskatchewan 3rd Annual Charity Awards Gala

April 14th - Gina Bell at MOMeo Telesummit  http://snipurl.com/evuc5

April 23th – Gina Bell at AWE – International Association of Web Entrepreneurs Member Training Event

April 30rd – Networking Masters International – Private Member Q & A Coaching Call 2:00 pm CST (dial-in details will be emailed to Networking Insider members privately)

September 9, 10, 11 – Gina & Stephen Bell at Get Your Networking Working Blueprint Workshop – TICKETS NOW ON SALE! Act fast to benefit from early bird savings and easy-on-the-budget installment options.

And… be sure to join us for Authors Unscripted Talk Show Thursdays at 3:00 pm at INFWA.com

The #1 Way to Follow Up With Clients and Prospects
~ Stephen Bell, co-Founder of Networking Masters International

Okay, so you’ve been out networking and you’ve managed to meet some pretty cool people. This is great but, now what?

A common question that I get from clients is “What is the ‘best’ way to follow up with someone I’ve recently met?”

Now, when it comes to follow up, there are many things you can do… i.e. pick up the phone and call them; send a letter, brochure, postcard, news clipping or invitation thru direct mail; sign them up to receive your print &/or email newsletters; plan to network with them at a regularly attended networking meeting/event etc…

All of the above can be highly effective follow up strategies… but, which one is BETTER? Well, this is a bit of a trick question because the answer depends on you and which one(s) you will actually do!

There really isn’t a “best” way to follow up. It really doesn’t matter what I think is the best strategy if it outlines an approach that isn’t comfortable or motivating to YOU.

Action Tip: Take a moment and think of the many ways that you could follow up with prospects and clients. Make a list and immediately cross out the ones that seem complicated or time consuming and focus your attention on ideas that are simple and quick. If you keep revisiting one of the strategies you originally crossed off the list, dig a little deeper and ask yourself what is preventing you from using that strategy? It may be as simple as finding a system to simplify it, or perhaps it is a task that can be automated or delegated?

One final consideration is… how do your contacts WANT to be followed up with? Simply asking them what their preferred method of contact is, will enhance their experience with you and your company. i.e. “Okay, great! We’ll do lunch next week then. Should I call you or email you to confirm a time?” or “Yes, I’d be happy to send you more information about that. Would you prefer that by mail or email?

You’ve heard it before, and I’ll tell you again… there’s a FORTUNE in your follow up. It doesn’t matter how you do it, rather that you do it!

Really, there are so many little things you can do to create greater results from your networking efforts.  A great start is to explore the wealth of information, articles, interviews and resources right here on this blog!

Here are two more great articles to get your networking working:

• * An Interview with co-Founder Stephen Bell on “True Networking”
  
• * Media Releases… Defining Your Audience by Networking with the Media expert Susan Regier
  

It’s SPRING – time to make a clean sweep of your business and clear out the clutter!

Do you know the single biggest threat to your success? It isn’t the economy. It isn’t your competitors. It’s YOU and all those negative beliefs, self-sabotaging habits and the fears that keep you on safe ground (because you and I both know that playing it safe is the surest road to mediocrity)!

Join Carla Young creator of MOMeo Community as she interviews three of the expert speakers from the Spring (Success) Cleaning Telesummit as we discuss the mental clutter that is holding you back from achieving your true potential as an entrepreneur in this FREE preview call series! http://snipurl.com/evuc5

Call #1: Sales Expert Kim Duke shares THE biggest sales mistakes entrepreneurs make time and time again and how to instantly and easily turn your sales around with no money! PLUS a sneak preview of her brand new 90-Day Formula!

Call #2: Success Expert and Former Olympic Medalist Jim Hunter reveals inner psychology behind why over 82% of lottery winners end up broke within 3 years and what winning an Olympic medal taught him about the mental game and success!

Call #3: Lynn Burkholder and Carla Young share the insider secrets into WHY we as women and mothers are particularly subject to the FEAR FACTOR in our businesses and in our lives (and what you can do about it to avoid the terror trap)!

**PLUS**… we’ll reveal the super-sneaky way for you to listen in to the ENTIRE paid telesummit for FREE!

If you want to make 2009 your best year EVER, grab your spot for the FREE Preview series NOW! http://snipurl.com/evuc5

P.S. Gina Bell, co-founder of Networking Masters International is a resident expert for MOMeo Community and will be speaking at the MOMeo Telesummit on April 14th.

Yes, you read it right… You can be one of a limited group of entrepreneurs who claim FREE annual membership for one full year. Your only investment – a small shipping and handling fee of just $9.95 (less than you’d spend on an average take-out lunch!).

Hurry! When word gets out about this Big Give, the memberships will go fast!

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Here is a brief description of what you’ll receive when you join… Membership Benefits include:

* Networking Mastery 3-CD set. Enjoy a new CD in your mailbox every 3-4 months
* Live Monthly Teleseminars (includes downloadable audio recordings)
* Live Monthly Q & A/coaching calls (includes downloadable audio recordings)
* Immediate access to an ever-growing educational audio archive worth thousands of dollars (currently more than 100 recordings on file!)
* Member Discount: Get Clients Now! Group Mastermind at www.getmoreandbetterclientsnow.com
* Member Discount: 3-day Live Get Your Networking Working Blueprint Workshop. Watch the event trailer now at www.getyournetworkingworking.com
* and a whole lot more!

Full description and details at: http://www.thenetworkingmasters.com/benefits

Payment Methods: MasterCard, Visa. Membership fee CDN dollars.

Membership Renewal: Credit card payments automatically renew in 12 Months. Regular annual membership fee is $239.40 per year renewed at easy-on-the-budget monthly installments of just $19.95 per month. You will receive a membership renewal reminder via e-mail 10 days before the renewal. It’s very important that you register with a valid and monitored email address. Also, please add info[at]thenetworkingmasters.com to your safe senders list.

Networking Masters International is a division of Signature of Success Consulting, Inc.

Gina Bell is a multi-passionate entrepreneur, successful coach and author, President and CEO of Gina Bell, Inc. a company devoted to teaching multi-passionate entrepreneurs how to create fun, fame and good fortune online doing ALL that they love to do! Gina is also Founder and President of the International Association of Women in Business Online {IAWBO} as well as the Networking Masters International and JV Mavens Partner and Prosper Network to name a few of her companies and projects. Learn more at http://www.GinaBellinc.com