Asking better questions

I have just read 'At your fingertips, A guide to successful online business networking' by William Buist. It is full of really practical stuff on the effective use of online networks.

The section on asking better questions brought to mind a discussion at a recent NRG-networks seminar on effective 121 meetings. The consensus in the discussion was that questions were really important in demonstrating that you are listening attentively. They help you build trust as you show a genuine interest in the other person and their goals. As the other person shares more in their answers you can really find out how to help and who to introduce them to.

In the book William suggests asking "What is your expertise?" rather than the standard "What do you do?". A better question will make the other person think more about the answer and will lead to a better conversation.

Good Networking
Dave Clarke
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What should you blog about?

At a recent seminar after the monthly NRG-networks lunch at Marble Arch in London Internet Psychologist, Graham Jones, was talking about 2 simple ways to double your website traffic. One of the questions he posed was what was common to the websites we all visit regularly? The answer being content, content and more content.

In my recent article 'top 10 tips for building business with the effective use of offline & online networks' tip 7 is that your blog is the cornerstone of your online presence & you build your reputation by sharing your expertise. The important thing is that you are sharing content that is relevant to your intended audience.

I was talking about this last week with the owner of a printing company and he asked me what he should blog about. I asked him about the problems that his customers are looking to solve when they use his services. All of the examples he gave me were about how his business customers were looking to improve the ways they communicated their marketing messages. As a marketer he had a clear understanding of their issues and many practical examples of where he had helped. My reply to him was that those were the things to blog about. The stories, hints, tips, & insights from his clients' issues and problems are great content to add value to others with similar issues.

If he regularly generates that content and communicates that through his network he will build an audience of interested readers. Many of them will know people with the issues and problems that need an expert like him.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast


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How do I use Twitter & Social Networks?

Quite a few people have asked me recently about using Social Media & Social Networking sites to promote their business. As I result I wrote an article for our website on my top 10 tips for building business with the effective use of offline & online networks. I have also developed a seminar on this to present at our NRG monthly networking lunch groups in the UK.

Social media and social networks provide great tools to help build your profile and develop relationships alongside your offline activities. It is important that you consider this strategically otherwise you may waste a lot of your precious time.

To help on deciding where to invest your time and effort strategically ask yourself a question.

"On which social media & social networks will I find those people with access & influence in my market?"

Once you decide which are right for you then you can then share the stories, hints, tips, & insights that you blog about. As I say in my top 10 tips article your blog is the cornerstone of your online presence & is the place you build your reputation.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success

business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast


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