~from a Women Grow Business blog at Boot Camp

Once upon a boot camp the young entrepreneur with the growing company and the old advisor with many entrepreneurs as clients came together to talk about building a business successfully.

Here’s what you can learn from their mistakes.

Blunder #1: Being too cheap in the early stages

Whether you are an individual or run a company, you need expert advice early to set your business up successfully. A small amount of guidance can save you time and help avoid major problems later.

Talk to a CPA, an attorney, your local economic development agency, check out the SBA, and even experts specific to your business, and learn the basics.
Don’t wait until the government is after you or you are facing your first lawsuit.
Being a business owner can be downright scary. Spend a little upfront to reduce your risks – and raise your comfort level.

Blunder #2: Not learning all you can about marketing, branding, and selling

Selling scares a lot of us. Marketing sounds so expensive and confusing. And branding seems a little too hyped to be real.

Yet every solopreneur and entrepreneur needs to know how to use each of these effectively for their own work and success.

Fortunately, the resources to learn about these aspects of promoting your business effectively are easily available. Start with some self-education. There are a lot of great tools online and even at your local library.

Once you have a basic understanding, decide what is most likely to work well for you.
Define your needs and goals. Create a plan. Develop your materials. Hire those services you need for support.

Blunder #3: Not networking

Each of them told their friends about their new businesses. But that is not enough! You need to be actively engaging your network.

Take all that you learned in marketing and branding above and start actually talking to people about your brand and your new ideas. Ask for their ideas and suggestions. As you build, you can also ask for specific contacts and then referrals.

Get out there to relevant professional meetings and events.
Ask questions.
Make connections.
Go to local business events where your target clients are likely to be and do the same.
Learn about social media and how to use it effectively. This is a great way to build and maintain your networks while also enhancing your marketing. Develop a plan so it doesn’t become a time sink, though.

Blunder #4: Not knowing your full value

One realized her clients were frequently surprised at her business acumen – somehow they expect her to only know one type of thing. And so she realized she was not effectively conveying her full value to potential clients. The other’s staff recognized before she did what a great evangelist she was and how responsive potential clients were to her ideas.

It is vital that you figure out what makes you different and what added value you offer.
Talk with friends, past mentors, and others who know you well. Ask them for the 5-6 words that describe you and see which you can weave into your branding. Research what your potential clients are seeking. Better yet, tap into your strengths and present them as solutions to issues clients face.

Blunder #5: Not learning from your mistakes

All business owners make mistakes. We’re only human, even if we have to pretend to be superhuman. We mess things up and sometimes it takes us awhile to admit that we did. Many businesses continue to make the same mistakes instead of being open to realizing them and changing their ways.

Be a business owner who can see through pride, worry, excitement and exhaustion and see what needs to be fixed, where things could be better and how you could improve.
Be proactive. The more you learn about yourself and your business, the better chance you have to succeed.

These five tips are only the top of our list of unforced errors … but they are among the most dangerous to your future success – and the most common! If you are starting out, you can avoid them. If you are just going along or rebuilding your business, take 30 minutes a day for the next six weeks and start tackling them.

Lots of links to help you with whatever you’ve been needing. We’d love your comments and ideas!

• Resources for entrepreneurs
• Taxes and benefits guidance for small business and self-employed
• “How to” guides – a long list of topics and guides
• More resources for applications and services
• Going Green: The small business greening guide
• Government information, resources, and law links for entrepreneurs

Common Free Resources

• Google Apps – email through your domain, calendars, documents
• Google Voice – can forward to multiple phones & text/email you the written message
• Mint.com – keep track of all your finances in once place
• QuickBooks Online – allow access from anywhere to anyone in your company
• TeamViewer.com – free screen-sharing software (downloadable or thru browser)
• Aviary.com – stripped down design programs with ability to access from multiple locations
• DropBox.com – online files storage syncs with multiple computers

Patricia A. Frame is an experienced management consultant, speaker, and executive with expertise in human capital. Launching a new Women Grow Business series on human resources for small business, Patricia is founder of Strategies for Human Resources. She helps small to mid-size organizations achieve their goals through more effective human capital strategy and management. She can be reached through her website SHRinsight.com, where archives for her ongoing management series can be found.

Melanie Spring is the principal and project director at Sisarina Inc. An expert networker, Melanie and Sisarina connect individuals and companies with the tools they need to market and promote their brand successfully and efficiently. Connect with her on Twitter where she’s @sisarina.

The contest we posted to find out about the best thing you've found via social media brought some wonderfully inspiring answers! The most common answer has been friendships - old and new.

Two of our favorite answers were the confidence Nicole found and the birth mother Jen was able to connect with. We weren't able to decide on the best between the two so we had a chat with Annie of Small Act and let her make the final decision. It was tough... but the winner is...

Both of them!!! Congrats to Nicole (@nicoleindc) & Jenn (@dateabledc) for your incredible entries!

Small Act thinks "you can't top finding your birth mother" but Nicole's was so well articulated. They will both receive a 1-year free subscription to Thrive!

Thank you to all who entered our contest. We appreciate you sharing your stories. All entrants from the contest will receive 2 months free trial of Small Act's social media software, Thrive.

The definition of networking is “to cultivate people who can be helpful to one professionally.” The core of this is lost on most business owners and salespeople.

To cultivate means to really work at something. In order to network well, we must plan to befriend those around us.

We work with people we like, not just people we know.

How many times have you been to an event where people asked you what you did then stared over your shoulder to find someone else who might give them business? Notice how I didn’t ask if you have been, because everyone has.

Networking is a subtle art form that has been so badly misused that people cringe when they hear of a networking event. But it’s typically not the event that’s scary, it’s the people. Some people still haven’t learned how to network without selling.

Selling is the base of all scariness in networking.
 

Here are 10 tips to help you stop selling & start building relationships:

1. Be engaged.

If you’re in a conversation, don’t look for other people to talk to. Enjoy what you’re in at that moment.

2. Network with everyone.

Just because someone isn’t a good client of yours doesn’t mean they can’t be a great referral source.

3. Be a resource.

If people know that you give out great information they’re more likely to want to work with you.

4. Be a connector.

If you see people who aren’t engaging in conversation, invite them into your group. If someone says they’re looking for a certain type of person & you know someone who can help them, introduce them to that person.

5. Stop talking about what you do.

Start talking about what you like to do and connect with people on a higher level than just work.

6. Don’t force a conversation.

Some people just aren’t meant to connect. If you feel stuck in a conversation, excuse yourself to use the bathroom or to say hi to someone else.

7. Don’t judge.

Just because someone has a job you’re not interested in, it might not define them. The person might be really interesting in other parts of their life. Ask them about those things instead.

8. Listen.

Stop blathering on and start listening. You’ll probably be remembered as a great conversationalist.

9. Networking happens everywhere.

Networking events aren’t the only place to network. Find unassuming places to meet people & practice friend-making. Those types of events typically result in business relationships.

10. Be yourself.

Stop trying to be a salesperson and just have a friendly conversation. People know when you’re trying too hard.

Next time you head to an event don’t have a goal of how many business cards you’ll get.

Instead, plan to make at least one friend. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much business you’ll get out of that.

Happy networking!

Also published at: Bring it to Fruition & Women Grow Business & referenced on Forecasting Clouds

Hi, my name is Melanie & I’m a connector.

I love connecting people around me so much that I will go out of my way to do it. This is something I do with my friends (friend-sharing), church friends & acquaintances (setting up group meetings), business colleagues (setting up networking events) and neighbors (referring them to other people I know).

When Small Act asked me to put together a webinar on connecting communities and setting up great events, I jumped at the chance. I’m not the type of person to keep things to myself. I’m always sharing information and trying to get others to use the knowledge I’ve acquired. Putting together networking events that are fun, friendly, and make you want to come back is my thing. Creating the perfect atmosphere by welcoming people, choosing comfortable venues and facilitating easy conversations is no simple thing, so I put together a presentation on how best to do it.

On June 22 I shared that presentation via Small Act’s webinar and was thrilled at the reactions of those in attendance. A huge thank you to all those who listened in. I’ve included my presentation below for your review.

Dave Saunders heard about what we were doing & posted a great blog post about it: Connecting Your Communities with Social Media

Another great resource I came across while putting this together was: How to Network

CONTEST:  In exchange for doing the webinar, Small Act gave Sisarina two licenses for their social media tool ‘Thrive’. After a quick tour of the software, I was hooked. They really know what they’re doing and although they’re working on a adding lot of great features, it’s already really useable & makes social media posting & tracking so much easier!

We’re going to be doing a contest to give away the other license of this software so check out my next blog post for information. We want to know more about how you use social media for your business.

Enjoy the Connect Your Community presentation thanks to Small Act!

Connect Your Community from Ask Small Act on Vimeo.

Check out Small Act's blog post about the webinar.

Humans are creatures of comfort.

We seek it in our friendships, our families, our homes, our jobs and more. Most of us tend stay within our comfortable circles instead of venturing out into the world to find new and exciting things.

As business owners we will fail if we don’t venture out. So I’m going to take you on a little adventure.

Get up and get out

As business owners, we’re the sales people. Although we don’t have to “sell” our services or products, we need to have people to talk to about them.

If you talk to the same people all the time, how will you get the word out?

Get out of the office: We all work a lot but we have to make time to get out and meet people or we’ll remain stagnant. Get out from behind your desk and TweetDeck and find people IRL (in real life).

Go to networking events: Find a networking event that is not focused on your industry.

Your potential clients will be there. They’re not typically at industry networking events.

Go to local events: Just because an event isn’t a networking event doesn’t mean networking doesn’t happen. Find events in your area that allow you to mix with your neighbors.

Get offline: When you go to any event, turn off your phone and put it away. You can’t engage people when you’re behind your phone.

Find a new circle

I recently joined @MomzShare as a sponsor because I met a bunch of really cool moms. I’m only a dog mom but nonetheless, they accepted me because they need someone who can offer the advice I give to my other clients.

Step outside the box: Find a group based on your interests or the interests of your friends. Go to a “boys club” event, hit up a local gardening club & grow from what you learn, or join a wine club.

Make friends with your neighbors: Take a plant to your office neighbor, a plate of cookies to your neighbors at home or plan a gathering for your neighborhood (office or home).

Try your friends: Ask your friends about their circles. I bet they have circles that don’t include you. Knitting, church groups, running clubs, etc.

Randomize your choices: Open the events section of your newpaper or favorite website & point. Keeps it interesting!

Go be proactive!

Here are some places you can get started: ProfessionalsintheCity.com, Meetup.com, Sisarina.com/Events, and http://voices.washingtonpost.com/goingoutgurus.

What can you add? And where will I meet you?

More from:

* Making your personal life work for your business from regular contributor and What’s Next, Gen Y? editor, Robin Ferrier
* Regular contributor Thursday Bram and the value of online connections

Image: modenaroid’s Flickrstream, Creative Commons
By Melanie Spring - as published in Women Grow Business (Original Article)

by: Amy Liz Martin
Original Post on Gen Y Networking

Each Friday, its my goal to bring you an interview with someone who has walked many miles in your shoes: other employers. To kick off this new segment, we’re going to feature Melanie Spring, principal and project director for Sisarina. Her company is a unique website design, marketing and business branding “one-stop-shop” and has grown tremendously in it’s first year. You can also follow her on Twitter: @sisarina

While she’s been in the game for a while, Melanie is always on top of the latest digital trends and brings the best strategies to her clients. On top of it all, she is the queen of networking with Gen Y – one of the many reasons I wanted to interview her. Here are the highlights:

What stands out in your experience of working with Gen Y employees?
Motivation isn’t like it used to be. It used to be that people would want a raise, a bonus or time off. Now people just want reason to be working — purpose. Money is a little motivator but if you have collaborative space, a great company culture and dedicated people, motivation isn’t needed.

How do you adjust your communication style when talking to Gen Y employees or students you mentor?
I realize that it’s more about the impact we have, not the things we do that causes Gen Y people to grow. Being that I’m not too far ahead of that generation, I tend to identify as a ‘been there, done that’ mentor to my employees and interns. Too many people talk down to the younger crowd just because they’re younger. Allowing them to have an opinion is key since they have more resources at their fingertips earlier than even I did. They know a lot more than my generation did at their age.

You’re famous for your #DCTweetups (Twitter meetups) and they tend to pull in a significant Gen Y crowd. How do you best reach out to Gen Y and get them involved?
The old style of networking just doesn’t work anymore. Chamber of Commerce meetings are boring and just a ‘card-passing’ event. To keep up with the younger networkers, my events have become a social happy hour event with a friend-making and business connections component. People work with people they like, not people who sell them.

What do you feel motivates Gen Y to network in the ways they do?
The motivation for doing something that’s purposeful is the key. Paid or not, Gen Y is resourceful and understands they need to grow quickly to make it in the economy we’re in. Gen X is more of a social media generation right now but I believe Gen Y is growing in it and will just keep it at a steady growing pace as they get older. Being able to share what they know will only propel them forward.

What advice would you give employers in communicating/networking/mentoring Gen Y’ers?
Don’t talk down to them. Realize they probably know more than you and could mentor you in a lot of ways. Allow them to be heard but also give them the space to listen to you without feeling ‘young’.

Any other insights?
A lot of people say that Gen Y is a class of lazy slackers who just want more vacation time. In reality, they just want to work harder so they can play harder. I’ve rarely seen someone 10 years older who will work as hard at something. Congratulate them after they’ve done a great job instead of incentivizing them with money beforehand — they’ll work a lot harder if they get the recognition rather than the raise.

Melanie’s recommended reading: Dan Pink’s “Drive”

What insights would you add about motivating Gen Y to connect and perform to the best of their ability? Let’s keep the conversation going! And if there is anyone you would like to see interviewed for this feature, please let me know.

After taking the time to create, develop and promote your professional brand online, you might think the hard work is over. However, taking the time to track and evaluate your efforts will prove to be a worthwhile endeavor. Sure, you can check your analytics and your keywords, but there are some little, fun things that you can do to see what’s resonating with your customers and prospective clients.

delicious

Delicious is a social bookmarking service that allows users to tag, save, manage and share web pages from a centralized source. With emphasis on community, Delicious works to improve how people discover, remember and share on the Internet.

Within delicious, you can search for your company’s name or other specific attributes (e.g. CEO name or other prominent staff member) to see if a page of your site or other site featuring your company has been tagged by delicious members. If anything relevant to your company has been tagged, you can see what words members used. This can give you insight into how people categorize and tag your work. If they aren’t already used, you can add these keywords to your site’s metadata.

Digg

Digg is a place for people to discover and share content from anywhere on the web. From the biggest online destinations to the most obscure blog, Digg surfaces the best stuff as voted on by our users. Searching for your brand, company name, tag line can let you see how many times readers have tagged and shared your story.

StumbleUpon

StumbleUpon lets users discover and share great websites. By using ratings to form collaborative opinions on website quality, users can “stumble upon” web sites that probably wouldn't be found using a search engine. By searching for your company’s name or defining characteristics, you can get a sense of who is reviewing and recommending your site.

Keep the Conversation Alive

Delicious, Digg, and StumbleUpon are just three sites you can monitor on a regular basis to keep track of how your brand is being received and perceived. There are many other ways to keep an eye out for what’s being said. Sign up for Google News Alerts, track Twitter topics and gather data from Google Trends.

Don’t just stand idly by, though. Contribute to these news aggregators by adding, recommending and sharing your own and others’ sites. It’s a great community service and there’s no harm in planting the first seed to start your own forest.

Your brand identity is more about what people are saying than the keywords being used to search for you. Though analytics are important, having the conversation flow continuously is crucial to keeping your brand alive.