NetworkingLeads.com Blog

Dear NetworkinLeads.com Loyalists,

NetworkingLeads.com was founded on one simple principle: "Connect people together in order to make a positive difference in the community".

Once this basic principle was applied to the real world setting, we saw the following results:

  • New business relationships and opportunities were created;
  • New employment opportunities were created;
  • New ways to promote your business were discovered;
  • Non-profit organizations/charities benefitted from the help and support received from the   
    sponsoring business(es).

We want to take this opportunity to tell everyone that we have not been able to have the monthly networking meetings and events because we are currently in the process of remodeling the new location that will provide you with the venue to do the following:

  • Create new business contacts;
  • Promote your business;
  • Meet with clients in a private meeting room;
  • Host an event in the meeting space;
  • Sponsor a networking event;
  • Provide first hand assistance to the charity of your choice;
  • And much more...

We certainly appreciate your patience and ask that you please pardon our while we work on making NetworkingLeads.com even better so that you can get connected and stay connected to all your new leads.

On behalf of the NetworkingLeads.com Team, we want to thank you for all your patience and support.


CENTRO Article

Women Entrepreneurs

Recently, I have been hearing a lot of buzz from various credible business sources the topic of Women Entrepreneurs and how there has never been a greater need or time for women to start businesses. In other words, women entrepreneurs are in high demand.

What I have gathered form all the various sources that I have either heard or read was that women bring the following to the world of business (the following points were taken from highly successful business women):

 

1. Integrity: applied in both life and business.

2. Understanding: the ability to understand and feel what is in the hearts and minds of people.

3. Communicators: the ability to be superb communicators and advisors.

4. Strong Work Ethic.

5. Obsession to please the customer.

6. Team: the ability to pick people that share the same work ethic and morals in order to be a part of the same team.

 

I was born and raised by a great entrepreneur. I think my mother talked to me about integrity, hard work, and honesty way before teaching me how to walk. I still have a life coach that I turn
to when in need of business advice. Her answer always seems to be the same no matter the question presented–make your decision based on what your gut tells you is the "right thing", because no matter the outcome you will be successful as a human being.

In terms of NetworkingLeads.com, I am proud to see the many women entrepreneurs that attend the networking events. They are walking the path of success with every
handshake they make.

We will see you soon at our next Get Connected NetworkingLeads.com event. If you have any comments that you want to make, I ask that you please do so by either posting it on the NetworkingLeads.com Homepage or on its Facebook page. This way we can all share our business stories together.

Edgar J. Guzman

Founder of NetworkingLeads.com

Advices to people who need to network that are shy:

Practice: The saying goes “Practice makes perfect.” Practice will make you better at what you do. Get a friend or a family member to practice with you. Listen to their advice and criticisms and use that to perfect your pitch.


Be Passionate About What You Do! When you show passion about what you do, it will become infectious and people will be interested. Most often passion can overcome your shyness and it will show to others.

Listen: When offering something of value it is easier to be less nervous. A shy person can offer what we all want, “to be heard!” Being a great listener makes for a great networker and it will help you to overcome your shyness.

Find a Great Networker: Find a person who is great at networking. See if they will work with you on your business pitch. We all need that person in our life to give us that great advise personally right? Why not find one for networking and listen to them.

Start With Who You Know: Practice sharing information about your products and services with family and friends. You will feel more comfortable practicing with people you are already familiar with.

Be Confident:  If you lack confidence, try a little bit of role-play. Think of someone you may know or see on TV that is confident and play that role. If you start pretending to be confident all of a sudden out of know where it will happen, you will start feeling confidence!

Know Your Business: This is KEY! Know what you’re talking about. Know your product inside out. You must believe in what you do. If other people see you believe in it and they see your passion it will come across to them with believability and passion as well.  

Get Out There: Walking into a room of strangers to pitch your product can be scary at first, even for those who are not shy. The does and don’t when you enter that room. Don’t cling on to just one person you may know and feel comfortable around. Throughout a business-networking event it is crucial you try to meet each person face-to-face. Sometime walking around with another person can intimidate the very person you are pitching to. So go solo and make the rounds. Remember one thing, it’s a networking event. The people in that room are expecting you to pitch your services and products. No one is going to be surprised or offended when you walk up and introduce yourself and start talking about what you are selling.

Follow Up, Follow Up, And Follow Up: The success comes in the follow up!  You must follow up and follow through if you want you business networking efforts to pay off. This is the most important RULE to success that exists in networking.  

A recent Harvard Business Review (HBR) article recently addressed networking.

A recent Harvard Business Review (HBR) article recently addressed networking and the value they bring to your business. NetworkingLeads.com is going to spare boring you with the details of the article but we do want to highlight some important points the articles raises that we think all of you must consider.
 


  • Who is in your network? I think it is important that you surround yourself with serious and ethical professionals that truly are there to promote business and the community. Also, the people that attend your network need to be committed to the process. We say this because most people simply float from one network group to the other if they do not see an immediate result. You do not want people like that to be in your network. You want serious and committed individuals.
  • How well does the network connect? You need to make sure that your networking group is organized and connected to the business world and to the community. This is a big must!
  • Is there functional communication? We have always said that networking is what you make of it. If you make new connections but do not follow up with them then you are wasting your time. You need to stay connected.   

 

In addition, to the above three points raised by the HBR article I would also like to say that one of the most important things about networking is that you associate with an organization that allows you to actually walk around and mingle with people rather than be controlled by rules and regulations. Time is a key commodity that no one can afford to lose. If you are going to choose a network choose one that allows you more time to meet people. As you all know, NetworkingLeads.com is committed to connecting people together in order to promote business and the needs of the community.
 


 

The networking leads event held on June 14, 2012 was a huge success. So far we have received many responses from different businesses telling us all the new customers that have been made and also another person told us that a new job offer was extended.  
 


NetworkingLeads.com will be hosting its next breakfast social mingle event on Thursday July 19, 2012 from 7:45 am to 9:00 am. at the Event Center. More information on this event willbe posted soon.
 


 

GET CONNECTED!
 



NetworkingLeads.com EVENT FOLLOW UP REPORT

NetworkingLeads.com wants to take this opportunity to thank everyone for making yesterday’s networking leads event a great one.    
 
We have been made aware via the email responses received thus far that not only did people make new connections yesterday but also signed up new paying clients. It makes me very happy to hear this because 50% of NetworkingLeads.com’s two-pronged goal has been met. The two-pronged goal:

 

  1. Connect people
  2. Bring all the newly connected people together in order to help people and/or non-profit organizations that are in great need


 Yesterday new connections were definitely made. We now need to tackle the needs of our community.
 
We are currently in the process of brainstorming the theme for the next event and would like to come up with a concept that will address the goal.
 
PLEASE SEND US YOUR IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS.
 
As you may all know by now, NetworkingLeads.com was recently incorporated because its rapid growth required it. Last week, we received a call from an out of state organization inquiring about the possibility of expanding the NetworkingLeads.com concept beyond Florida’s borders. While it was exciting to receive such a call, we realistically have to place this possibility in the back burner for now because NetworkingLeads.com, as a newly incorporated company, does not have the human capital to make this possible today. NetworkingLeads.com is in its infancy stage. For now we will place all our concentrated effort in connecting the local community for the benefit of its members and of those people or non- profit organizations most in need.  
 
NetworkingLeads.com is about ALL OF US, as members of our local community. Make NetworkingLeads.com part of your marketing plan and also use it as an instrument that you can use via your business to do well for others. This is the core concept of NetworkingLeads.com. Lets all please stand up and make it happen.
 
This can be made possible by send us the following:

  1. Your business connection ideas,
  2. Your non-profit benefitting ideas,
  3. Your growth ideas,
  4. Your business profile to highlight at the events and on NetworkingLeads.com’s web page;
  5. Your comments;
  6. Your support;
  7. Your membership participation on the web page and as a “featured business” at the next networking event;


 Once again, thank you for making yesterday’s networking leads event a memorable one!
 
Thank you Joe & Son’s Olive Press and Aaron’s for your corporate participation. The food was amazing and the furniture difficult to not fall asleep on.
 
GET CONNECTED!



NETWORKING: MAXIMIZE YOUR ROI

Gordon Gekko (Wall Street Movie) said “Money is not the prime asset in life time is”. 

 

As a small business owner, you do not have the luxury to waste time by attending networking events that do not maximize your return on investment (ROI). 

 

In order to maximize your ROI, you should know the following:

 

Attend networking events that allow you to meet many different prospects. The more time you have to talk and pass out your business information the better.

 

Know what you need. Many business professionals cannot even define their prospects.

 

Do not be desperate. A healthy relationship requires nurturing. Do not get frustrated if you do not get the leads you want after only your first networking event.   

 

Follow up with your new connection.

 

Be honest.

 

Get away from the computer. Your physical presence at the networking events is vital.

 

On Thursday, June 14, 2012, NetworkingLeads.com will provide you with the perfect venue that will “make you feel at home”. 

 

The Olive Press will be providing a buffet sampling table of olive oil while Aaron’s rental will provide the furniture that will make it more comfortable for you to sit and chat with your new connection. Do not miss out on this great networking leads event. 

 

You also have the opportunity of displaying your company’s profile on the wall for everyone to see. So while you are talking to someone, the projector is also promoting you at the same time.  

 

All of this is FREE!!!!!

 

The networking leads event will be held in the Event Center.