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 

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.

Guest Editor for Connected Women

This week I was invited to be the guest editor of ConnectedWomen’s ezine. It was great to be able to share with other women how I am personally using technology to expand and enhance both my personal and business life. What tech gadgets do you use to make your life easier - tell me.

Lynette Palmen AM is the Founder and Managing Director of Women’s Netword Australia. Get yourself into the WNA community. Subscribe FREE to the weekly eNoticeBoard.

Digital Magazines - Good idea or not?

Are you currently reading or viewing any magazines in digital format and if so how useful do you find the concept? Take a look at the mag addicts  site, click on a magazine to preview and you’ll see how the concept works.

Digital magazines are the latest buzz, but I am interested in hearing your thoughts on the value you see in us offering our glossy magazine Working Women in both print and digital format.

A digital format of Working Women magazine would provide an entire copy of each edition and include functionalities such as page flipping, comment and note taking boxes, book marking and hyperlinks straight through to the websites and email addresses listed in all articles and advertisements.

There’s the obvious environmental benefit and our advertisers would gain outstanding value and amazing exposure through an increased online presence. But would you as a reader find value in the service?

For so many reasons I personally think it’s a great idea.  But I am an online junkie. I currently use the web as my prime source of news, business information and resources. But in saying that, every month I also read an abundance of printed magazines, so I have a foot in both camps. I just don’t think you can replace the experience of a great read over a hot cup of coffee. So is it horses for courses? Is there a place for both formats or are we galloping ahead of the current needs and wants of our readers? Will we see the day where digital magazines become common place? Let me know your thoughts.

Lynette Palmen, Founder and Managing Director W: www.womensnetwork.com.au

Social Web Attracts Women

Women are emerging as the queens of social online networking, according to a recent study by Rapleaf. Women have always been the biggest users of networking skills, nurturing relationships, exchanging info and igniting trade with each other. But this study reveals that women are currently the biggest users of the social web. 

The report is not small either, it includes 49.3 million users. It’s not surprising really, women are time poor and they have always enjoyed communicating and socialising more than men. The researchers indicate that men do network, but to get them interested networking needs to go hand in hand with transactions and outcomes. After all, why bother talking unless you have to?

If your website and eMarketing tools are still on the back burner in your ‘to do’ tray, you best get moving. The study shows that the emerging market of 14-24 year olds are currently the biggest users of the social web. Women outnumber  men 3 times in this age group with 16 million female users and 11.5 million male users in this demographic.

The lesson here is that if you run a business and have plans to be running a viable business in 5-10 years, you best get eMarketing and Social Web savvy. In the blink of an eye the  14-24 year olds will be 24-34 years of age. How are you going to connect with them is the question you need to be asking yourself.

Lynette Palmen AM is the Founder and Managing Director of Women’s Network Australia, the leading business and professional women’s networking organisation in the Nation. Subscribe FREE to WNA’s weekly eNoticeBoard.