The Insatiable Solopreneur™

Succeeding and Surviving as a Solopreneur

Archive for the category “Networking”

01 May 2013

Business Networking 101: Tips for Making Small Talk Less of a Big Deal

Unless you’re a natural born socialite, walking into a room full of professionals at a networking event when you know ID-10067400very few people can be unnerving. In fact, it can be outright frightening for solopreneurs. But solopreneurs have to at times step outside of their comfort zones and step into uncomfortable environments to make connections and grow their base of business prospects.

That doesn’t mean networking has to be a painful experience though. By learning how to hold your own in the art of “small talk,” you can feel more calm, cool and collected and exude confidence as you meet and greet.

Small talk is that ice-breaking chit chat that opens up the door to more substantive conversations. And it’s not all that easy. I can attest to that! But the more you do it, the more second nature it becomes.

Not quite sure what to talk about? Here are some ideas for making conversation – and making small talk less of a big deal – at your next networking function:

  • Offer something notable about the host organization – Do a little research in advance so you can share some tidbit of info about your host when talking with others. Your host is the common denominator between you and other attendees, so focusing on them when starting your conversation will seem natural.
  • Remark about the venue – Pay attention to your surroundings and make positive, observant comments. Just like the host, the venue is common ground shared by you and others. Talking about it will instantly put you on the same page with whoever you’re chatting with.
  • Ask questions – One of the most effective ways to ease the unease that comes with trying to think of clever things to talk about is to simply ask questions and let someone else do the talking. If you’ve just met someone, keep your inquiries centered on the company they work for and what they do professionally. As your conversation progresses, you’ll probably find yourself talking about non-business topics like family, sports, and hobbies. But don’t get too personal right out of the gate.
  • Talk about news and current events – Look online, read the paper or watch the news so you’re in the know about what’s happening in your community, the nation, the world. Just steer clear of sensitive subject areas like politics and religion.

But small talk isn’t all about your topic of conversation. It’s bigger than that! Your success at small talk also depends on your persona and demeanor. It requires an open, positive attitude that’s welcoming to others. Get in the right frame of mind before networking events and make up your mind to:

  • Be warm and friendly – Smile and be personable.
  • Be inclusive – Don’t leave people out who obviously want to engage in conversation.
  • Make good eye contact when talking with someone - And make eye contact with everyone in the conversation, not just one person.
  • Not monopolize any one person’s time – Mingle – and let others do the same.

With just a little preparation and the right mindset, you’ll more easily and agilely start conversations when networking. Although you might find that it takes some time to find your groove, with practice and repeat exposure you’ll be a savvy small talker ready to take on any crowded room of professionals.

What are your tips for making small talk at networking events? How do you break the ice with people you don’t know?

Image courtesy of David Castillo / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted in Business challenges, Networking and tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment
26 Mar 2013
2 Comments

Small Efforts to Move You Closer to the Big Picture in Your Solo-Business

Whether you’re laying the groundwork or are already up and running as a solopreneur, long-term goals and aspirations Big Pictureare probably at the very core of many of the decisions that you make and actions that you take. Those objectives serve as guide posts to keep you on track, but they can also lead to paralysis if you overthink every little move that you make and put too much constant thought into and emphasis on accomplishing big initiatives. To stay nimble and make progress in building your brand, there are lots of little things you can do in the here and now to make a big difference when getting to where you’re ultimately going.

To name just a few…

Give Linkedin a tad more effort

You can gain so very much by doing just a little bit more on Linkedin.

  • Update your photo – or add one if you’re one of those folks with the shadowy silhouette representing you.
  • Grab the business cards that you collected at recent networking events and send at least 5 professionals (personalized!) invitations to connect.
  • If you’ve got invitations from others waiting for you in your in box, accept them and send messages in return to thank them for asking you to join their network.
  • Post a link to a particularly helpful article and share as a discussion on one or more of the Linkedin group pages that you belong to.

All of these will help people put a face with your name, build your network and make you more top of mind with both your online and offline connections.

Get your bookkeeping crap in order

OK, so you’ve got a sea of receipts piled on your desk or stuffed in a drawer…maybe it seems like too much work to dig through them right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be more organized from this moment forward. Make it a point to document, categorize and file receipts AS YOU RECEIVE THEM. Seriously, it takes just seconds if you deal with one or two at a time as opposed to saving them for one monumental moment when you’ll be stuck with the nearly impossible task of total recall. As with any other business task, procrastinating with financial records keeping will just make it harder in the long run.

 

Check in with a client about something other than work

It will only take you a few minutes at most, but it can generate goodwill that lasts. Simply send an email to a client (ideally one whom you haven’t had much contact with recently) to check in and say “Hello.” If it seems awkward to reach out only to say something along the order of “Hi, how are you?” then consider finding and sharing an article or blog they might find interesting or telling them about an upcoming event or webinar that looks right up their alley. Going the extra mile to show that you care or to be helpful in some (non-billable) way can put you way up there on the likeability meter.

In the interest of space and time, I’ve listed three here, but I’ll follow up with another post soon to share more small steps that can move solopreneurs closer to checking off their big picture business plan to dos.

And I’d love your help! Please either comment here or email me at dawnmentz@gmail.com with the little actions you’ve discovered can make a big impact when working toward achieving overarching business goals.

Image courtesy of imagerymajestic / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted in Business Planning, Communications, Customer Service, Freelancing, Marketing, Networking and tagged , ,
15 Mar 2013
2 Comments

Forget Them Not – 4+ Tips for Remembering a Person’s Name

We’ve all had those awkward moments. The time arrives at a networking function or other public gathering when we Question markbump into someone we’ve met before, but when faced with the need to introduce that person to someone else, we draw a big, fat blank on the name. We immediately feel awful for the person whose name we’ve forgotten! We immediately feel awful for ourselves as we deal with the embarrassment!

And yet, after posting a short and sweet poll on Facebook and talking offline with a few people, I’ve discovered it doesn’t bother most of us very much at all if someone forgets our names.

Of course acknowledging that we personally don’t take offense to when our names slip minds doesn’t seem to make us feel any less like heels when we’re doing the forgetting.

So how can you keep yourself out of that precarious position? Here are a few tips that might help…

  • Be present

Not just physically there, but also mentally checked in when someone introduces you to someone else. If you give that introduction your undivided attention, you’ll be more likely to recall the person’s name on a future occasion.

  • Say it out loud

When getting introduced, say the new acquaintance’s name out loud when you meet them. “Hello, Miranda. It’s very nice to meet you.” Saying the name and hearing the name from your own self can help reinforce it in your memory bank.

  • Look them up after the event

When meeting new people, ask for their business cards, and then look them up on Linkedin. By all means, connect with them if appropriate, too. Taking your offline networking online, will help you become familiar with a person’s face and name.

  • Run the alphabet through your head

I know. It sounds strange, but it works for me most of the time. When I’m in a situation where I’ve run into someone I’ve met before, but just can’t put a finger on the name, I start (silently) running through each letter of the alphabet in my head. Almost always, the letter of a person’s first name jumps out at me, and from there I can figure out the rest. Though it doesn’t always work, that little trick has saved the day on many occasions!

As always, I don’t have all the answers and my solutions might not be the best fit for you. So be sure to check out these other resources for tips and ideas, too…

How to Remember a Person’s Name (And What to Do When You Can’t) – “Have them spell it out,” is a keeper from this Art of Manliness post by Brett and Kate McKay.

How to Remember a Person’s Name – on WikiHow.com. “Write it down,” is one that I hadn’t thought of.

Three Simple Steps to Master Name Recall – “The more visual and interesting associations you create to recall a name, the easier it is to do so.” According to this article, putting your creative powers to use can help you remember a name down the road.

And I’ll bet you’ve got your own tips and tricks! I welcome you to share them here!

Posted in Communications, Networking and tagged , , , ,
22 Jan 2013

3 Reasons Far-Reaching Solopreneurs Should Hold Fast to Local Roots

Business technology is beautiful! It enables us to expand our reach far and wide as solopreneurs. We can network, Face-to-face networkingcommunicate, collaborate and complete projects across the cloud – and across the world – without ever talking on the phone or meeting in person. Without a doubt, we’re faster and more efficient than ever before.

But that doesn’t mean local relationships aren’t necessary to solo-professionals.

As unlimited as your potential may be to do business online and out of your geographical territory, building camaraderie with other professionals in your own back yard remains important. Even if you do the bulk of your business out of the area, strong local ties bring unique benefits.

Solopreneurial Support System

Chances are your local business community includes solopreneurs of all varieties who deal with the same challenges and issues that you do. Many of them are probably ready and willing to offer their insight over a cup of coffee to help you overcome the obstacles that they’ve encountered and persevered over. Nothing trumps advice from someone who has walked the walk and beaten the odds.

Targeted Referrals
Getting to know nearby professionals face to face allows the opportunity for you to establish trust more quickly and easily than you might be able to online or over the phone. When people take the time to meet you in person, they’re showing genuine interest in learning about you and what you offer – and that can increase the odds of you getting meaningful referrals. Just remember to be equally engaged in listening about the other person’s business, products and services so you can reciprocate by giving targeted referrals in return.

Sense of Belonging

Though the majority of your work might be untethered to a single space, having professional roots provides stability and identity. Being an active participant in your local business community also allows you to be involved in something larger than yourself. In short – It feels good. It’s motivating. It feels like home.

Share your thoughts! What perks have you discovered by developing relationships in your local business community? Any of you find that it hasn’t helped you very much?

Image courtesy of Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted in Freelancing, Networking, Professional Development and tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment
13 Nov 2012
2 Comments

The Perks of Crossing the Facebook “Friend” Line with Clients

As a solopreneur and professional services provider, you are your brand – so your clients can’t help but think of you andAdd as Friend your company as one. As clients get to know you and feel more comfortable with you, you can expect to get occasional friend requests from them on Facebook. Though some might “friend” you to dig into your background, I believe most simply and genuinely seek to reach a new level of camaraderie with you because they sincerely like you.

Certainly, some cons go with the pros of crossing the Facebook friend line, but there are some very real benefits to making your clients your friends. By accepting their friend requests and letting them into your personal Facebook world, you can:

  • Strengthen your bond – Having a means to communicate and interact on a more personal level can lead to  stronger emotional connections between you and your clients. They see you with your family…your friends…your pets. They get to know you more deeply and will feel more vested in you professionally as a result.
  • Impress – By seeing all that you’re involved with outside of your business, clients will get a feel for your sense of – and contributions to – your community. Demonstrating your commitment to improving the world around you can be a wonderful way to showcase your good works and give clients the peace of mind that they’re doing business with someone who cares about others.
  • Entertain – Assuming you’re a bit more casual in tone and in the topics you present on your personal Facebook account than you are on your professional social networks, your less-businessy, fun side will shine through. Your clients will relish getting a glimpse of your sense of humor and quick wit. And they’ll feel more at one with you having experienced your lighter side.

But before you get stoked about the perks potential from friending your clients, objectively evaluate whether your activity on your personal Facebook account will generate a positive or negative response. If you believe (or someone has told you) that your content is borderline offensive or inappropriate, friending clients might not be a good move for you professionally.

Also, set a policy for how you’ll handle Facebook friend requests from clients – and be consistent with it. Treat all clients who seek to cross the line the same. Assuming you value your professional relationships with all of them, don’t pick, choose, and alienate individual clients while letting others into your personal circles. That could hurt not only feelings, but also your business.

What’s your rule on having clients as Facebook friends? Have you ever ignored a client’s Facebook friend request?

Image courtesy of “Master isolated images” / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted in Facebook, Networking, Social Media and tagged , , ,
05 Jun 2012
2 Comments

The Essentials Every Solopreneur Needs to Track about Leads, Prospects and Clients

Solopreneurs who provide professional services know that “who they know” goes a long way in bringing in new business.Where do your clients come from? There’s no sitting around and waiting for new clients to find us; we have to make connections. And that can be done in many different ways.

But as important as making connections is, so is keeping tabs on how those connections happened and where they’ve led. Without having a handle on where leads, prospects and clients are coming from and the outcome of those inquiries, there’s no way to really know which of your marketing tactics are working the best for you.

Tracking those things doesn’t require any sort of elaborate database. A simple Excel spreadsheet will do the trick provided that you record the information that matters – and that you keep up with it!

The essentials:

  • Name of the lead/prospect/customer (Company and contact name)
  • Email address
  • Physical address
  • Phone number
  • Website and Social Media links
  • Types of services inquired about
  • How did they find you? / How did you connect with them? (e.g. Chamber mixers, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, web search, referral from a client, direct mail campaign…)
  • Date when you first connected
  • Potential assessment (e.g. general interest/no specific opportunity, specific project opportunity, potential for recurring work, etc.)
  • If applicable, date when they became your client

Easy, right? It will take you 5 minutes tops to capture this basic information when someone contacts you about your services and even less to update it when a prospect converts to a paying customer. If you devote that small bit of time to the cause, you’ll have at your fingertips a simple way to quickly see where the majority of your leads – and clients – are coming from. And with that, you can begin to focus your marketing and sales time, energy and dollars on the strategies and tactics that have shown the most promise and results.

Your turn! How do you keep track of where your leads, prospects and clients are coming from? What marketing tactics are working best for you?


Dialing 8 Project

Consider joining the Dialing 8 Project! A forum for learning, sharing & getting the most out of your social media efforts for your small business.

Free images from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted in Marketing, Networking and tagged , , , , , , , , ,
01 Jun 2012

Fortune Cookie Friday: “Good news will come to you by mail.” – But you need to work for it!

The first Friday in June has arrived – and with it, another Fortune Cookie Friday! Time to explore the wisdom within…Fortune cookie

 

“Good news will come to you by mail.”

Well, that sounds promising! But in business, good news isn’t generally something that comes from out of the blue without any sort of effort behind the scenes to make it happen. As solopreneurs, we have to give good news a jump start. We have to pave the way for good news to reach us.

How can you set the foundation for good news to come your way?

  • Do your homework to make sure your services and products are fulfilling a want or need in the market.
  • Network to build relationships and establish respect for – and trust in – your brand.
  • Be responsive to client inquiries and feedback.
  • Go the extra mile to be a source of information and tips that will help others succeed.
  • Make use of your social media channels and email to do all of the above, but don’t rely on them completely. Communicate through phone calls and face-to-face meetings whenever possible, too.
  • Be fair to your customers – and to your business – in your pricing.
  • Be patient.
  • Genuinely care about what you do every day; it will show, and people will notice.

Do all of these, and good news will surely arrive!

What do you do to boost the volume of good news that flows your way? 


Dialing 8 Project

Consider joining the Dialing 8 Project! A forum for learning, sharing & getting the most out of your social media efforts for your small business.

Free images from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted in Fortune Cookie Friday Posts, Networking and tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment
22 May 2012
2 Comments

United We Stand: Small Business Week and the Solopreneur

It’s Small Business Week! What better time to reflect on the many wonderful aspects of being a solopreneur and to offer Face-to-face networkinginsight to people who are just now setting out on their own?

Now in my third year of running my freelance writing business, when I look back on all that I’ve learned along the way, one particular fundamental jumps out as the #1 piece of advice to give to new solopreneurs:

Take the initiative, time and effort to build face-to-face relationships with other solopreneurs and small business professionals.

Although you’re running a solo business, you can’t afford to be a loner. Businesses are built on starting – and developing – relationships. As a solopreneur, it can be tempting (and maybe comforting) to hide away in your home office and interact with prospects and peers solely via electronic means. Resist that temptation! Put a face to your name, and whenever possible, seize opportunities to meet potential clients and colleagues in person.

Why?

  • Learn best practices from your peers. Believe it or not, you will probably find that even your competitors will be relatively open about sharing tips and brainstorming on how to overcome challenges.
  • Extend your referral network. The more business professionals who know and trust you, the better your chances will be to have prospective clients directed your way.
  • Discover new resources in your community. Through mixing and mingling, you might very well find other businesses that provide services to help you run your business more efficiently or that can add value to your offerings through partnering to provide complementary services to your clients.

How to get started

  • This week, there are special networking opportunities all over the nation celebrating Small Business Week. Why not find one local to you and break the ice with other solopreneurs and small business owners.
  • Reach out and invite a LinkedIn connection out for coffee.
  • Join your local chamber of commerce and become a regular at their networking events. Most are likely included in the price of your membership.
  • Volunteer your time and talents to a business-focused organization in your community. Main Street organizations, chambers of commerce, merchants’ associations, SCORE chapters and other local nonprofits provide connections with other business owners AND they offer opportunities for professional development as well.

During this Small Business Week, make an effort to meet face-to-face with other professionals in your locale. And, where geography doesn’t cooperate, take a few minutes to make a few phone calls to supportive connections whom you’ve had strong rapport with via email and social media. That little bit of time can generate a lot of good will – and you just might enjoy it more than you expect!

 

How do you build and strengthen connections with your peers and prospects? What Small Business Week networking events are you attending?


Dialing 8 Project

Consider joining the Dialing 8 Project! A forum for learning, sharing & getting the most out of your social media efforts for your small business.

Image(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted in Networking and tagged , , , , , , ,
03 Feb 2012

Fortune Cookie Friday: Small Business Advice in an Edible Wrapper – Be Sociable!

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Fortune cookie

Fortune Cookie Friday is here again! This week’s fortune translated into advice for solopreneurs…

“You are sociable and entertaining.”

An interesting find for someone who is in what is often misunderstood as the profession of recluses!

As a freelance writer, I do need to spend time void of social interaction so I can concentrate on my work for clients. But as a solopreneur, getting out there to meet and greet others in the professional community is absolutely essential for growing my business. Other freelancers face the same duality. Whether you’re a web designer, business consultant, artist, or virtual assistant, you’ve got to balance the time you hang the “do not disturb” sign on your door with the time you devote to outreach efforts to market yourself.

Unless you’re a stand-up comedian or have a livelihood based on presenting, you don’t need to be adept at dishing up one-liners or doling out anecdotes. You do need to be social, though. That means having the capacity to interact with others and establish a good rapport with them. Listening, not talking, is the most important skill of all. Actively listening to prospective clients puts you in the position of learning about their specific needs, so you can identify the ways you can help them. Those who spend all their time talking, lose out on that key opportunity.

If you can flash a Hollywood smile and wow them with your charisma, great! But worry less about making a polished walk down the runway, and focus more on being attentive, alert, and reciprocative during conversations. “Sociable” trumps “entertaining” when it comes to building trust and establishing relationships.

I’m open to interpreting your fortune cookie finds, too. Feel free to share your next slip of confectionary-bound wisdom here or email it to me at dawnmentz@gmail.com and I’ll try to use it in my next Fortune Cookie Friday post!

Related reads:

Active listening for business success via Bookboon.com

Active Listening is an Effective Listening Skill and Strategy via More For Small Business.com

Active Listening – The Single Most Important Social Media Activity for Business Success via Technorati


Dialing 8 Project

Consider joining the Dialing 8 Project! A forum for learning, sharing & getting the most out of your social media efforts for your small business.

Image: Carlos Porto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted in Networking and tagged , , | Leave a Comment
27 Dec 2011

Who You Know – And Who Knows You: Growing Both to Grow Your Solo-Business

Connect with me!  Facebook  | Twitter | LinkedIn | Google+

As 2012 approaches, I’ve been thinking a lot about where my freelance writing business started and where it has takenNetworking people me over these past two years. I’ve also been “connecting the dots” to determine what’s gotten me this far as a solopreneur – and what I should continue to do to keep the momentum going.

Although freelance writing might be different in many ways from your business, there’s one thing I believe holds true universally for solopreneurs in growing our businesses: Who you know AND who knows you matter immensely.

Who You Know

“Build it and they will come” doesn’t work. Having a website that’s at the top of the list in searches isn’t enough. As a solopreneur, nothing is more important than making connections and building relationships when you’re starting your business and as you grow it. You’ve got to meet people – real people – who either need your service or can refer someone who does to you.

Get out there, shake hands and start conversations at Chamber of commerce events, professional networking group meetings and other activities that provide opportunities to mix, mingle and spread the word about what you do – and learn more about those who might be able to use your services. Use social media to strengthen those connections, expand your reach and keep your brand top of mind.

Who Knows You

Here’s where your efforts to meet and greet go viral. The more effort and energy you put into making connections and nurturing relationships, the more your brand will become known to prospects who you never contacted directly. Social media plays a huge role in this because it gives you the capability to show what you know to those not directly connected with you. Use it to extend your brand awareness and demonstrate your expertise by:

  • commenting on updates and comments on others’ business Facebook pages.
  • posting links to interesting articles that will facilitate discussions on Linkedin group pages.
  • providing advice and answers to discussion questions/issues posted on Linkedin group pages.

As you know, many other ingredients go into starting and maintaining a solo-business, but making and building relationships is at the core of the recipe for success. No matter how stellar your service, you need to be out there – physically and virtually – sharing your value proposition and getting others to share it as well.

How has who you know and who knows you helped you advance your solo-business?

Related Reads:

Two Weeks to More Client Leads by Lexi Rodrigo via Freelance Folder

Why savvy female business owners need to think online AND offline networking by Heather Townsend via The Womens Business Clubs.com

Image: Vlado / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted in Networking | Leave a Comment

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