21st. Century Must Have Business Networking Tools

Discussions Include:

• Why networking is important.
  
• Getting results through networking.
• Overcoming networking challenges during a career transition.
• Tips on using LinkedIn to build relationships.
• Master your networking skills by giving value to others!
  
• What it takes to building a global network that works for you.

The Hangout:

This week's episode features Creative Chat Cafe host Zef Zan and her cohost, Lirone Glikman of www.LironeGlikman.com, as they discuss why the "21st Century Must Have Business Networking Tools." 

Can't watch the whole episode right now?? - No sweat!

Creative Chat Cafe episodes now have a Table of Contents!

Check out the video's TOC (table of contents) below to look for specific topics discussed during the show (note - clickable TOC's are only available in the "About" section of the video on YouTube and viewable on desktop only): 

Table of contents (TOC - show timeline):
0:00:20 - Greetings & intro.
0:01:39 - What's in this show.
0:03:13 - Intro: Lirone of LironeGlikman.com
0:03:58 - Why networking is important.
0:04:58 - Getting results through networking.
0:06:42 - Overcoming networking challenges during a career transition.
0:08:13 - Tips
0:08:32 - Lirone's "must haves" business networking tips.
0:10:07 - Tips on using LinkedIn to build relationships.
0:15:12 - Lirone's tips: Using Contactually for networking and managing your contacts.
0:17:37 - Zef's tips: Put a value to your business cards!
0:20:39 - Master your networking skills by giving value to others!
0:24:49 - Inspiration: What it takes to buidling a global network that works for you. 
0:28:42 - Watch Creative Chat Cafe and let's get connected!
0:29:40 - CCC TOC on our YouTube Channel!

View the clickable TOC's on YouTube here (desktop only)!

The Conversation:

ZEF: In order to successfully market our business in the 21st century, we will have to include a networking plan and utilize 21st century networking tools. These days, we have access to so many networking tools that we can barely even keep up with but there are certainly the basic essentials that would help us get the most out of our networking and get results!

Lirone, why is networking so important to you and/or what you do?

LIRONE: As an international business networking coach, I help entrepreneurs, small business owners, and organizations to achieve their goals through relationships. It is about how you basically manage to create the right network for you and leverage those relationships in order to help others achieve their own goals. Networking is so important because people create relationships with other people - not with organizations or buildings. Each and every one of us have our own unique abilities and traits and once people relate and connect, we can gain even more. 1 + 1 = infinite results!

ZEF: People do more business with people rather than the company that carries the logo or even the motto - not brick and mortar, but human! At the end of the day, it has a lot to do with "who do you know." In order for us to get a return on investment on the time we spend on networking, we need to have tools that would help us become more effective and efficient networkers who get results!

Networking results we are looking for include:

• Business referrals
• Someone who buys your product/service
• A client/customer that can recommend or refer you to someone else
• Attendance rates at business events

Your Hosts:

Meet Zef Here

LIRONE GLIKMAN
LironeGlikman.com

"Lirone Glikman is an energetic business networking coach, blogger and international speaker. She shares her networking knowledge and philosophy in order to help others take control of their lives, reach their goals, succeed, and most importantly, enjoy doing it! She is based in Tel Aviv, Israel and works with audience worldwide."

Join us in our Google + community for more post-show conversations!

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Tips to Achieve Networking Results:

ZEF'S TIPS:

I am just going to talk about business cards today because I see many make a mistake in approaching how we should be using business cards as a networking tool. Yes, we are talking about the 21st century but business cards are evergreen so they are still in my business networking tool kit.

Business Cards - though they are helpful, they are NOT the most important tool in your networking kit.

My approach: Practice "asking" for business cards and not giving away yours. 
WHY?

• You'd want to build that relationship first and use this method as a "pre-qualification" process to determine or narrow down your potential candidates
• This will create "curiosity" that would fuel the follow up - it is important to have a follow up process so that the conversation doesn't end there
• Plus, business cards cost money - correct? So I personally make sure that the people who I give them out to pass that pre-qualification process

Ever wonder why people finish their 500 stack of business cards early?
They are probably pushing/shoving their cards down other people's throats/events profusely and unwisely. Have you ever met anyone like that?

Caution - Don't "oversell" yourself, this can easily be a "put-off."

EXTRA TIP: Use contact apps like Scanbizcard to scan and capture business card images - just in case you lose the actual card.

• Tools like this simplify the contact building process and cuts the management process almost in half!
• You can include notes to help you remember the person who the card belongs to!
• Social media integrations help simplify the process - LinkedIn information as contact "field"

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LIRONE'S TIPS

Utilize the power of momentum - In this world full of distractions, its not easy to remember details, let alone important details of people you just met. In order to nourish and build relationships, I always suggest to use the power of momentum and document the details of a conversation with someone as close to the meeting as you can - while your memory is still fresh! 

• Later on, when you will meet or talk in a few days or weeks time, you will be able to ask questions and show interest about these topics. The other person will be amazed how you remembered that!
  
• It would be perceived as if you really listened and find interest in the person
• Helps strengthen and build relationships

TOOLS:

• CRM SYSTEM (CONTACTUALLY)
  
• EXCEL SHEETS
  
• EMAIL/PHONE CONTACT CARDS
  
• EVERNOTE

1. Contactually - this program helps you manage your connections in an efficient way. It documents your emails with each person, allows you to categorize your connections, and even reminds you when to send them emails. Contactually can even be programmed to send emails for you! This program helps keep you in touch and tap into the right type of connections when you need them. I highly recommend their services.
2.  Bizzabo - this app makes networking so easy! This is by far the most advanced event app that I know - it shows you who will be attending the events and allows you to connect with people before and during the event. It helps us research and come ready to network. It's an easy app that has helped me as an event producer and networker.
3. LinkedIn - this professional networking site changed the entire way we connect and opened more business opportunities than ever before! The secret to effective use of LinkedIn is not to find those right people, but to form a relationship with them. I use the power of personalization to connect with people and then skype with them later. If we further connect, we collaborate and work together, like Zef and I.