Tag Archives: social networking

Six Degrees of Separation- Land A Job Through Volunteering

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Six Degrees of Separation- Land A Job Through Volunteering- AdvancingWomen.com.

According to Judith Luther-Wilder, CEO of Women Incorporated, a company she founded, “Everyone, including the pet pig, has written a book about networking. Twenty rules do not work. Each community is different… At its best, networking is exploring personal interests.”

Luther-Wilder puts a great deal of emphasis on connecting between volunteering for an organization and networking. When you volunteer for an organization, you will instantly have something in common with the others in it, and that will be an initial bond offering a comfort zone to get to know them better. If contemplating a career change, volunteering offers the individual the opportunity to learn and be appreciated, at the same time while providing the environment to decide if this is really the change they want to make. An oriental studies major, Luther-Wilder credits volunteering as starting point for every amazing job she has had.

Opportunities exist in volunteering that may not be available in the traditional corporate environment. She was speaking, as a volunteer, about war crimes to an audience that included Peter Sellars, the director of the Los Angeles Opera. Impressed with her abilities, Sellars proceeded to offer her the job as executive director of the LA Festival. This was a position that neither her academic training nor prior job history would not necessarily have “qualified” her to obtain through traditional channels.

Lee Bright, President of Bright Marketing International and Director of Marketing for The Food Show, teaches a seminar entitled, “Building a Relationship in Five Minutes or Less.” Bright has an amazing ability to draw out people, and she truly listens to what they are saying. One of the keys to networking Bright says is, “the ability to make a person feel they are the only people in the world. What people remember about you is how interested you were in them.” Everyone likes to talk about themselves, especially their favorite things whether it is their business, children, issues, or hobbies.

“If you are genuinely interested in someone, it will show,” a belief Bright and Luther-Wilder share. “People do not like to be worked,” contends Luther-Wilder. “Networking is not a volume business. When there is a connection it is because of a commonality of interests.” Reciprocity is another element that needs to be emphasized. If someone asks for your help and it is something you can do, do it.

She tells the story of a friend who sold real estate, who started out volunteering for local political candidates and non-profit agencies dealing with women’s issues. She discovered she loved the advocacy and fundraising. Through the contacts she made in these two areas, she was able to leave real estate for a career in the non-profit world as a development consultant

How Volunteering Can Help You Land Your Next Job,

In this post, author, Rebecca Metschke, notes “You can use volunteering as a means to help ( explore you next career opportunity). Rest assured: volunteering will not eat up all your time (which means you’ll still be free to pursue other avenues which can help you to with your search concurrently) – depending on the organization, you may find ample opportunities to help in the evenings or on weekends.

Choose the organization wisely. Keep in mind where you want to go and what you want to accomplish with your career. Consider how the job will help you sharpen your skills, or provide you the opportunity to learn new ones. Once you’re there, see if you can get on a planning committee or figure out some other means to broaden your exposure within the group and build your network. Never underestimate the fantastic connections you can make as a result of your volunteer work.

If you’re already volunteering, look at your organization and your job from a different perspective. Suppose you’ve been donating your time at your church – or at the art museum – or at your local school. Now that you’ve been laid off, think about that volunteer role and how it relates to your career. How can it help you with your job search? What new skills might you be able to learn? Have you actively networked with people there? If you’re looking for work, have you let these people know about it?

Your volunteer experience may also lead to a full time position with the organization to which you’re donating your time. When a position opens up, a volunteer can be the perfect fit. You’re a known commodity. You’re familiar with the project. You understand the nature of the foundation or non-profit or school or campaign (fill in the blank) from the inside. You get the idea – they’ve already taken you for a “test drive” and they like what they see.

Volunteering can be a win-win. It gets you out of the house, you’re making a contribution – and you just may find your next “day” job in the process”

Synchronicity, six degrees of separation, networking; it is all about people connecting and remembering that perfect source can come from anywhere.

How The “Solopreneur” Can Market Through Social Networking – Ladies Who Launch

Social Media 101: Learning the Basics | Starting a Business and Growing your Company, Ladies Who Launch.

by Katy Tafoya, Ladies Who Launch member, Los Angeles

Is It Social Media? Social Networking? Web 2.0?

Don’t let the buzz words fool you. For the most part, social media, social networking, and Web 2.0 are all pretty much the same thing: user-generated content. Any time the content of a Web site is created by a person and not a program, it’s considered user-generated. This can include blogs, online communities, e-zines and articles, networking organizations (including your profile), podcasts and Internet radio, videos and Internet TV channels, and bookmarking sites.

Why Do People Participate in Social Networking?

Aside from helping to expand your actual network, many people get involved in social networking to become part of a community. Like the word implies, being a “solopreneur” can often be lonely work. Networking, whether face-to-face or online, can be fun and easy. It may turn out to be just the five- or 10-minute break you need in your day.

A Sales and Marketing Team?

Solopreneur businesswomen are often left to do it all by themselves. While this can oftentimes feel a bit overwhelming, it can be manageable. It helps if you think of social networking as being your sales and marketing team at work. This is how you get your message, your business, and your product out there to the public.

How Can Social Networking Help My Business?

Helps to increase your search engine relevance
It’s an easy and natural way to get your name out there
Lets you share your knowledge in your area of expertise
Helps expand your contact base and your business referral network
Allows you and your business to be accessible
Can act as a customer relation tool for your service and products
You can advertise directly to your target audience
Lets you expand your network both nationally and internationally

Network & Build Expert Credibility At The Same TIme: Content as a Referral Source

Network & Build Expert Credibility At The Same Time: Content as a Referral Source

Here’s a great new service called Help a Reporter Out (HARO) – this service, founded by PR Geek Peter Shankman, matches journalists on a story with expert sources. Anyone can sign up to get the three daily emails full of stories just waiting for you to contribute to.

HARO started out as a Facebook group as a way to keep track of journalist’s looking for a particular expert for a story. The free service, that essentially hooks journalists up with credible sources to interview, grew rapidly and needed a home off Facebook to manage the size. As of this writing HARO is approaching 20,000 members. Hey, it’s free and its works, no surprise it grew.

Journalists go online fill out a form and their request gets added to the three time daily email distribution to members. As a member, If you see a story that you could contribute to, your simply reply directly to the query. A word to the wise, replying off topic may get you kicked off the list. Quality over quantity is what works here.

So, If your looking to promote your business sign up here. Get in the habit of scanning the daily emails quickly and see if any stories jump out at you. Keep your replies brief and to the point. Journalists love trends and ideas backed up with data, so add that as well as a pre-written paragraph of what makes you an exert.

If you’re a journalist and want to start putting your story ideas out for comment, experts or even research, sign up here. Keep in mind this includes podcasters looking for guests, bloggers doing research for a post, authors needing experts and case studies for a book, as well as journalists writing a story for a major daily.

Business Applications for Facebook Marketing

Business Applications for Facebook | Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing.

Facebook is just so-so as a business tool:… the real power comes when you hang the proper accessories, known as applications, on it and really trick it out for business and professional use.

There are thousands of application available with one click once you have a Facebook profile. But, don’t get caught up in adding every goofy dodad, just because you can. Think logically about your goals for being on Facebook and then choose the tools that will help your communicate, achieve and amplify those objectives.

Here’s a directory of Facebook applications

And, here are my favorite applications for business use.

Telephone – With Telephone you can call, send and receive voice messages through Facebook, just like having voicemail on your phone. All you need is the application and a microphone and you can start sending messages to your friends.
Slideshare – SlideShare is the world’s largest community for sharing presentations. You can upload your own PowerPoint, OpenOffice, Keynote or PDF files and view presentations shared by others. This is a great way to spread thought leadership and expertise through presentations you may have delivered locally.
CircleUp – For Groups and Events is a lightweight collaboration app for groups and events. This tool facilitates some of the communication needed to promote your group activity and events on Facebook and elsewhere. This is particularly useful if you’ve created and maintain your own group on Facebook or often promote teleseminars and workshops.
Free Conference Calls - Use Free Conference Calls to organize a business meeting on the fly. With free conference call you can call in from anywhere; your home, mobile, Skype, or any VoIP service. Using this app inside of Facebook can help make some immediate connections a little deeper.
Facebook Video – Facebook Video provides a high-quality video platform for people and pages on Facebook. With Video, you can upload video files, send video from your mobile phone, and record video messages to your friends. This application is so easy to use that it makes sending video introductions or message a powerful way to network on Facebook
Testimonials – Use Testimonials to gather your personal and professional references in one place. Encouraging customers and contacts to post testimonials about your work and expertise adds great marketing content to your profile.
Introductions – Introduce your friends to each other and make new ones. Ask for an introduction to a web programmer or good lawyer. Then make introductions for your friends. This application speeds the process of effective networking by helping focus on giving and receiving introductions in a systematic way.
Business Cards – Business Cards helps you network better on Facebook. Personalize your card and attach it to your Facebook messages! View postings and network with others! This application is much like the signature common in email messages. It’s just one more way to say business when using Facebook.
My LinkedIn Profile – Makes it easy to promote your LinkedIn account with a badge on your Facebook profile. Cross promoting social network activity is a great way to extend your reach.
What I Do – Allows you to promote your services/products to your Facebook network. Display your skills/wares on your profile box and list yourself in a business directory. Recommend your colleagues services and products too.

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