Home-based Entrepreneurs: Have You Left The House Lately?

By Ali Brown

Photo from | freedigitalphotos.net

Home businesses are great and we can all expound the advantages: flexible hours, no commute, working in your sweats, convenience and independence, etc. But when was the last time you got out of your bunny slippers and attended a live function with real people?

I think it was Woody Allen who said that 80% of success is showing up, and although it was a satirical remark, there's truth in it. If it's been awhile, let me refresh your memory about why it is essential that you get out of the house regularly. It's good for your business and really good for you, too!

There are many different ways of getting out of the house with your business in mind, such as calling up a colleague and meeting for coffee or a drink, attending a networking event or signing up for a seminar.

Start by checking your news outlet's business events calendar for local happenings. Consider attending your chamber of commerce networking gathering, Business Networking International, local entrepreneur group meetings or a local CRAVE party. To make a lasting impression with people at these events, make a point to attend regularly, and they'll think of you when they need your type of product or service.

You'll want to sign up for your local organization's newsletters, Facebook and Twitter accounts so you can keep abreast of their events. Be selective and attend the gatherings that really appeal. Grab a colleague or friend, and you'll be sure to have a great time, no matter what, or, if you're more daring and want to really connect with new people, go solo.

I know it takes effort at the end of the day to get dressed and go out, but it is sort of like exercising, once you do it, you'll feel great. Here are some of the advantages of attending live functions:

1. You'll meet old friends, make new friends, and see face to face what people are up to. We all get busy and forget to reach out to one another sometimes, but seeing people right in front of you is stimulating and renews your core.
2. If you're attending a meeting or training session, you'll learn new, exciting information, hear first hand other's successes and get tips about what doesn't work. These mixers are great places to learn about how other people are getting their business needs met and how to learn about great deals and save money.
3. You'll have a chance to meet potential mentors, people who are ahead of you in the game, and then in turn, you can become a mentor to someone else who needs your guidance some day.
4. Just being in the room with like-minded people can be invigorating and can give you the necessary jumpstart to dive into a project you've been wanting to start and to keep your momentum going.
5. There's no substitute for showing up with your smiling face. People forget quickly, and by getting out there, you remind them that you're still here going strong and ready to offer your products and services.
6. Every successful entrepreneur eventually needs to be comfortable speaking publicly before a crowd. Attending these smaller mixers and honing your message first one-on-one, then at your table of networkers and then finally in front of the entire room, is a fantastic way to build your courage. If you need more help in this area, Toastmasters, whose mission is to help people with public speaking and leadership skills through public speaking and feedback, comes highly recommended.
7. Attend with the intention of connecting with a least one individual, and you'll never be disappointed. This may not be a potential client, but if they become an acquaintance and colleague, they may know someone else who may need your products and services. Get to know people deeper than these one night events allow, and grab some cards, make some calls, and have some coffee dates. That's when the more fruitful conversations transpire.
8. Remember that people attending these functions are all trying to spread the word about their businesses too. Be interested in them, what they're doing and what they offer as well. Even if you don't need their services, you may be able to connect them up with someone else, and they'll remember the favor.

As you see, there are so many benefits to getting out of the house sometimes even if you are a die hard home-based business fan. Exchange those bunny slippers for high heels at least twice a month, and I'll see you out there! (By the way, in case you didn't hear, my own SHINE Event is networking on steroids, so you'll want to check it out).

Self-made millionaire entrepreneur and Inc. 500-ranked CEO Ali Brown teaches women around the world how to start and grow profitable businesses that make a positive impact. Get her FREE weekly articles and advice at www.AliBrown.com.

Get the Most Out of a Business Event...Part 2: During and After

By Ali Brown

Attending a business event soon? I hope you checked out my article about how to get ready for a conference before you attend, but if you missed it, here's the link. This article is about how to make the most of an event while you're there and after. Attending an out-of-town event is an investment, but it pays for itself if you attend with goals in mind, make connections, get training and gain skills you need to catapult your business (or hit the ground running if you are just starting out).

Enjoy these strategies for getting the most out of a live event:

• Sign in early. Avoid the early morning rush, and pick up your conference materials the night before. Peruse the materials and make a strategy for opening day. Remind yourself of your conference goals. Leave some time for enjoying your surroundings, checking in with some friends, or making some new ones, and getting a good night's rest for the big day.
• Bring your biz cards. Be sure to have those business cards handy and any other marketing materials that you brought. Remember that it's best not to force them on people, but if they ask, you want to be able to get them out quickly and easily.
• Attend on time. Arrive at the conference a few minutes early to get a great seat. Although it's tempting to monogram your chair and stake your claim, consider moving around the room for different sessions to meet more people. 
• Introduce yourself. Take the first step and introduce yourself to your seatmates. Engage them, and really listen, and show interest in them by asking questions, and they'll be more apt to do the same for you.
• Take notes. Taking notes at a conference is sort of like taking pictures on a memorable vacation. You want to bring your camera, but not have the trip be about the camera. So with that in mind, jot down the major points, but don't let the note taking overtake listening well and enjoying the experience. More importantly, record your "ah-ha" ideas for later follow-up.
• Socialize. Take advantage of all social opportunities (networking, coffee, tweet ups, parties, VIP oppportunities) available. If you're shy, open conversations by asking questions such as what people like best about the conference. Keep an eye out for potential strategic alliances.
• Create good Karma. You remember the first day of school and how someone helped you out? Some attendees will be feeling like that, and you can help them along by showing them the ropes. Also be on the lookout for someone who is further along than you are in the process, and see if she can help you out a little. Be a mentor, and find a mentor -- it's good Karma.
• Mingle. Check out all of the tables you'll see around the conference site. Some of them may be product tables just to fill the gap that you have in your business education. And don't forget the sponsor booths. Let them tell you what they offer -- there may be a goody in it for you. 
• Fill out surveys. You'll never know how much went on behind the scenes to bring you to the event (unless you've hosted one yourself). Take a minute to fill out the survey so your hosts will know how to make the experience even bigger and better next time.
• Take care. It may be difficult, but you'll want to find some downtime here and there to catch a break from all the action. Be sure and stay hydrated with water as well. Make time for exercise, even if it's just walking around the hotel to get some fresh air. Try to get a full night's sleep, too.
• Have FUN!

You prepared well before you left for your out-of-town event, and then you made the most of every second that you were there, learned a lot and had a great time. Don't stop there! You're energized, and excited, and you're overflowing with momentum. You just have a few tasks left to make the most of your experience:

• Review. Take the time to look over your notes, organize them, and prioritize them into a one to two page itemized list. Try and do this when everything is fresh, such as on the plane ride home. This will turn into your "action item" list that is pivotal to your following through.
• Reconnect. You've made a lot of fabulous contacts: potential clients, strategic partners, joint venture partners, potential vendors and friends. Get them into your contact database at the least, and ideally write them hand-written notes for greatest impact. Airplanes and airports are great places to do that.
• Make it happen. Lastly, and most importantly, take your new vision of yourself and your "action item" list, and make it happen. Move past the resistance, grow past the fear, and one action item at a time, make your vision become a reality.

Self-made millionaire entrepreneur and Inc. 500-ranked CEO Ali Brown teaches women around the world how to start and grow profitable businesses that make a positive impact. She was named one of 2010s Enterprising Women of the Year and was recently included in the Ernst & Young 2010 Class of Entrepreneurial Winning Women. She was ranked on Forbes.com as the #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. Get her FREE weekly articles and advice at www.AliBrown.com.

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Business Networking Events -- How to Decide Which Networking Event or Group Works Best for You?

By Sue Clement

Do you sometimes feel like you're networking too much -- bopping from one event to another, hoping to make that "right" connection...or a sale? Well, successful networking is more than attending a dozen events every month. Instead, just pick a few that you can commit to and then invest your time to leverage it fully. The question, of course, is how to pick the right networking groups and events.

Here's the key to picking the kinds of events that will help you with your goals:

Think QUALITY over QUANTITY

Remember that networking is about building relationships. You need to be visible and make connections to get the best result from your time. If you join a networking group, you need to be able to attend their meetings consistently enough to build quality relationships. Attending just once or twice a year won't work!

And that means that you have to be very selective in the networking groups you get involved with. You want to be able to be a regular in a few select groups, not someone who's hardly even remembered in a lot of different groups.

So how do you go about selecting the right networking group to join or the right event to attend?

Here are some key criteria to consider:

A) The Mix of Attendees
The most important question you should ask yourself is whether the people who attend the meetings are a good fit for you. Specifically, ask yourself the following questions:
-- Are they people you connect with?
-- Do they share or service your target market?
-- Can you comfortably pass referrals to them?
-- Do you have anything in common with enough of the other members?
 -- Does the group fit your style - professional, casual, educational, fun, etc.?

B) Convenience
The second most important criterion is whether the meeting times and locations are convenient -- because if they aren't, you're unlikely to attend regularly enough to reap the benefits. Consider these questions:
-- Is the location is easy to get to?
-- Is the day or time one that allows you to attend consistently?

If you come up with answers you like, consider joining. If it seems that a group is a poor fit, don't waste your time. You'll be better off spending it networking with a group of people who you can truly connect with.

And to make the most of your meetings, make a personal commitment to follow up with everyone you have a conversation with and then pick one person to have coffee with. It's a great way to expand your network and grow referrals. You'll gain increased visibility, have stronger connections, leverage your time AND get more business.

If you would like to boost your business results even more in the new year, join Sue Clement at her FREE webinar with powerful strategies to get a headstart on your competition and take your business to the next level. To sign up, click here.

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7 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Next Business Networking Event

Photo from: wearethecity.com

Many job seekers will see plenty of invitations to business conferences and professional networking events. A live event can be invaluable, providing opportunities to learn new skills and develop new contacts who can advance your career or job search. And if you're thinking about changing your corporate hat for an entrepreneurial one, an event can offer inspiration for a new business idea and connect you with the right people to start your journey.

Whether out-of-town or local, events are an investment in yourself and your career -- one that you can easily offset with new contacts and skills to land that job interview. To get the most from your next live event, consider these tips:

1. Start with the end in mind. If you're attending these events for the connections, make a note of the type of people you want to meet. For most job seekers, you're ideally looking to meet high-level executives in companies within your specific industry -- especially those who may be hiring. If you're attending a seminar to gain skills and inspiration, make a note of what your personal objectives are for the event. If you're thinking of launching your own business, you could be seeking to discover possible clients, referral resources or vendors.
2. Research topics, speakers and panelists. Check the website's agenda for the event, and know who will be speaking and what the topics are. If there are breakout sessions, tentatively decide which ones address your needs the most. By doing your homework, you'll be better informed and be able to understand the training at a deeper level.
3. Know your strengths and gaps. Let's say that you know you excel at your area of expertise and are a top-notch project manager. You also want to be aware of the areas where you need improvement -- for example, your technical skills and sales skills. Just writing these thoughts down before the event will help you stay aware of opportunities presented at the event -- such as unexpected conversations.
4. Know some of your key contributions. In the event you meet a hiring manager or a high-level executive, you may want to have a few relevant examples of how you've contributed to your past positions. Keep a cheat sheet handy with your sales numbers, internal improvements you've initiated, the number of team members you oversee or money saved by your cost-cutting suggestions. (Get tips on creating a personal-branding tagling and a winning "elevator speech," in "Build Your Brand.")
5. Connect with attendees. Seek out Facebook event pages or forums that have been created for your event. It's a great way to virtually meet conference attendees before the event, so when you do meet in person, you'll be fast friends. Keep an eye out for Tweetups -- impromptu gatherings of Twitter users -- or, better yet, organize one yourself.
6. Plan your travel well. If possible, arrive at your event destination a day or two early to relax, get acclimated, get on the same time zone, and get accustomed to your surroundings. Stay at the hotel where the conference is held to save time going from your room to the event, save money on car rental or cab fare and increase your potential for connecting with other event attendees. (Your room is also a great place to get a little privacy and get a breather, so it's nice to have close by).
7. Come prepared. Of course you'll want to bring a stack of business cards, but also consider a thoughtful take-away item that sets you apart, such as a pocket-sized calendar with your professional contact information. Be clever and memorable.

You're just about ready, but here are a few more must-haves: an empty water bottle for being green while you travel, a few of your favorite power bars or snacks and a method for jotting down lots of notes and your all-important follow-up list of action items when you get back home.

Now get out there, and get to work!

Entrepreneur mentor and success coach Ali Brown teaches women how to start and grow profitable businesses and create careers that make a positive impact. Learn more at www.AliBrown.com. 


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