Women’s Network Australia Blog

Free Report - Social Media for Small Business

Like it or not if you own a business and intend to be successful you’ll have to get your head around social media and exactly how you are going to implement it into your business.

It’s not rocket science predicting the future and how consumers will be communicating and gathering information on which they will make all purchasing decisions, just take a look at any 10-21 year old. They can barely go 3 hours without logging onto their favourite SocNet site to catch up on the latest gossip and who is saying what about whom. 

Now you might not think this is doing them any good (that’s the mother in you talking) but the fact is to succeed in a commercial enterprise your focus needs to be on meeting market demands, not making value judgements about how people choose to live their lives. (Unless of course you’re running a counselling service for online addicts) So if you don’t want to end up on the quaint bygone era business junk pile, you’d best get with the program.

The other day I came across this great little eBook about social media for small business owners. It’s a perfect read for small business owners and entrepreneurs seeking to leverage social media to expand and enhance their businesses. You’ll learn the basics about social media, including tips on how to get started with social networking, social bookmarking, blogging, micro blogging and more.

It’s a 23 page PDF doc written by John Jantsch from ‘Duct Tape Marketing’ and better still it’s sponsored by Microsoft Office Live Small Business which means it is yours for FREE (no registration required either).  Follow the link to download Let’s Talk - Social Media for Small Business by John Jantsch for free.

Lynette Palmen AM - Founder and Managing Director of Women’s Network Australia speaks to, for and about women in business and issues relating to their success. Visit www.womensnetwork.com.au 

Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award

Do you know a woman who possesses vision, innovation, entrepreneurial drive, leadership, individuality and tenacity? If so don’t hesitate to nominate her now for the prestigious Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award.

2009 celebrates the 150th anniversary of Veuve Clicquot in Australia and the fifth consecutive year of the prestigious Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award in Australia.  This year’s winner will fly to France to join past and present laureates from other countries across the globe at the annual Veuve Clicquot Businesswomen’s meeting.   Nominations close on December 5, 2008.

To upload a nomination form go to  www.veuveclicquotaward.com.au

Paid Leave - Competitive

Just as we’re finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel in regards to taxpayer-funded Paid Parental Leave let’s hope the issue doesn’t end up in the too hard basket, conveniently moved to the side as yet another casualty of the current economic crisis.

The final round of the public hearings of the Productivity Commission’s report are taking place over the next week with the finalised report due to the Government in February 2009.

One would hope that common sense will prevail. The Federal Government is currently talking up an education revolution, but it doesn’t seem much point does it to be educating the population only to lose a significant group of talented women when the reach child bearing age. You can’t fix one problem without the other, it takes education and retention to maintain a competitive labour market.

Lynette Palmen AM, Founder and Managing Director, Women’s Network Australia speaks to for and about women’s issues. www.womensnetwork.com.au

Networking - The Social Norms

The business community is currently a-buzz with the virtues of social networking and how it can return results for business success. Just to get a feel for what all the hype is about, this past week-end I decided to bite the bullet and spend some time familiarising myself with the Top 5 social networking sites.

It was a bit like doing 5 networking events in the one day. I was totally exhausted and over it by the end. My conclusion after the exercise was that exactly the same mistakes being made by those networking real time have now transferred to social networking sites.

Here are my thoughts:

Be Selective: As is the case with networking organisations, joining multiple social sites won’t help you achieve better business results. You’re much better off selecting two favourite social sites and spending time working them to their fullest extent. Throwing enough mud hoping some of it sticks doesn’t work real time and it’s not going to work online either.

Stay on Target: If aiming to attract and influence potential clients, select social sites where your style of clients hang out. At all times keep your branding and position in the market place top of mind.

Maintain Image: Decide how you want to be perceived in the market place and write your content with this point in mind. Balance it with the type of personal stories your target market can relate to and if you have a keen sense of humour share this along the way.

Stay on Purpose:  Sure building your business and product profile online is the aim of the game but full on selling inhibits relationships. If you don’t want to be avoided like the plague provide content rich information and resources and you’ll attract a steady stream of followers.

Lynette Palmen AM, Founder and Director, Women’s Network Australia. Subscribe free to WNA’s weekly eNoticeBoard service or attend a WNA networking event in your region.

What veteran networkers know to be true

Mention the word networking to most people and they cringe in horror. But for many, when economic times are tough and budgets are slashed, networking comes back on the radar as a low cost and effective means of making connections.

Be ready because due to the current down-turn in the world economy there’s going to be a flood of novice networkers hitting the market. Many who in more buoyant markets have dismissed networking as a brash business card dispensing in your face exercise are now being forced to seek ways of attracting new business.

Switched on veteran networkers know that you don’t just turn your networking button on or off with market fluctuations. There is a level of respect between networkers. Regardless of the state of the economy, they know for sure that networking is a vital and invaluable skill that saves them time, effort and money in building business and personal relationships.

What veteran networkers know to be true

It’s vitally important to build your networks on a ‘care’ factor. Being authentic and interested in other people is the secret essence to successful networking. Falseness or a hidden agenda of making quick sales is a sure way to kill off any potential relationships.

Be prepared to always step outside your comfort zone. The shyest of people often make the best networkers. It comes naturally for them to listen to others opposed to mouthing off about themselves. It’s no secret that you always learn heaps more by listening than talking.

Don’t expect that from just throwing a few business cards around at networking events that your phone will start ringing. It takes 18 months to build meaningful networking relationships that start producing quality results, so sadly laziness and the lack of ability to stick to anything eliminates most people anyway.

Networking is not about building a trophy case of business cards. Don’t bother taking someone’s business card and tell them you are going to ring when you have no intention of doing so. And if you do make this mistake and feel guilty because you don’t have the time to follow them up use one of WNA’s free ecards to make initial contact until you do have the time to make a personal phone call.

If you’re an employee and not a business owner DO NOT attend networking events with an ‘I’m above it all as I have nothing to sell’ attitude. Besides the fact that your employer would be totally embarrassed to think you were out there representing the firm with such a poor attitude, recognise that the skills and information you possess across all aspects of your life - not just where you work - are all part of what you bring to the networking table. Get with the program and realise that you do actually have something to give and receive through the networking process. It is not about selling something!

Take responsibility for your future success. If your employer will not cover your attendance at networking events step up and part with the money yourself. Throughout your life employers will come and go but the quality networking connections you make are with you for life. They are yours and no one can take them away from you.

Lynette Palmen AM, Founder and Director, Women’s Network Australia. Subscribe free to WNA’s weekly eNoticeBoard service or attend a WNA networking event in your region.

If the world could vote

I came across this site today http://www.iftheworldcouldvote.com/ which was set up by three guys in Iceland.  When I just visited it a few minutes ago over 712,000 people from across 200 countries had already cast their vote.  Many feel the President of the United States is the most powerful position in the world so who is it that would have the backing of the global community? Check out the results and vote if you feel inclined.