Posted by dscaringi on July 21, 2011
I recently read a Linked In status post that rang very true. It got me thinking and so I want to share it with you:
“The 3 C’s of life: choices, chances and changes ~ You must make a choice to take a chance or your life will never change.”
This is a positive mantra for life which also applies to business success. I often hear people say that they want to have more business, better exposure or stronger relationships with clients and employees. To see these types of change in your business, follow the three C’s.
- Make the choice to be the agent of change for your business. Deciding to act starts you on the path to success.
- Along the way, you need to take some chances. Don’t be afraid to try a new approach, or reach out of your comfort zone. Sticking with the safe path doesn’t always pay off.
- Over time, you will see the changes you are working towards. If you consistently work towards your goals, results will happen.
Posted by dscaringi on July 18, 2011
Linked In is a great tool for building, supporting and maintaining a network. It doesn’t take a ton of time, but it does take a little bit of know how. Consider these tips when developing your Linked In habits this summer.
- Send a Linked In request to anyone you meet in a professional setting. Use Linked In to follow-up with the people you meet at events or through mutual connections. Send requests in a timely manner– don’t wait a week after meeting someone. By sending the request promptly, you are still fresh in their memory.
- Reach out and invite the people you know. Include a note in your request to personalize the outreach. If it is someone you don’t know well, spur their memory of how you met in your note. Chances are they remember you and would be happy to connect with you.
- Accept invitations only from people you know. The goal isn’t to have 1000 connections that you kinda, sorta know. Connect with people who you want to include in your network in a meaningful way.
- Complete your profile accurately. Treat it as an online bio which contains key information about you and your abilities. It will make a difference if someone is deciding to hire you, do business with you, or make referrals to you.
- Don’t be shy…request introductions via your connections to build your network. Is there someone at a company you would like to meet? Search the person or company on LinkedIn and see if any of your connections are also connected to this person.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember about Linked In is that at all times…be professional. LinkedIn is a business network which directly reflects the type of person you are to the world. You can’t take anything back, so think before you type. Don’t clutter your Linked In profile with mindless status updates or casual images. When used properly, Linked In is a very powerful tool for building a network.
Posted by dscaringi on July 7, 2011
There is a lot of talk about tweeting as part of a marketing plan. Many people are aware of the tool, but overwhelmed by it, not knowing where to begin. As long as you are thoughtful about what you post, you really can’t lose with it, so why not give it a try? It is easy to do, doesn’t require a lot of time and can be fun. Take time this summer to build Twitter into your plan. Setting up an account is simple, just follow the prompts on Twitter and away you go!
But wait, you say… what do I Tweet about? Here are a few thoughts:
- Links to valuable information– such as blogs, websites, articles, etc…
- Quotes that inspire.
- Ideas that cause people to think or act.
- Questions you may have and would like input on.
- Retweets of other people’s tweets that you think are useful or amusing.
- Current events and news.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember about using Twitter is that it is a forum for listening and sharing. Provide value through insight and never sell your services or products.
So, this summer, try out Twitter a few days a week and watch how you gather followers who also share information and learn a lot in the process. Don’t stress about it– just take your time and get comfortable. You may find that you enjoy using this unique communication tool more than you anticipated!
Looking forward to seeing you on twitter…let me know if you have started with the help of this post: @DebScaringi
