Vanya Wryter Consulting Services

Tag: LinkedIn

  • Business Etiquette for Entrepreneurs

    Business Etiquette for Entrepreneurs

    Life would be a little too easy if we could become an expert at one skill and then build a thriving business around it. Once we’ve figured out what we want to do, and we are open for business, we still have to market ourselves; otherwise, we may find ourselves waiting. Waiting like we do at a surprise party, wondering when the guest of honour will arrive. In this case, our guest of honour is our future client. And ideally, our future client would know how to find us. One way is to lead them to us with a trail of personal connections. You might have been thinking of bread crumbs, and metaphorically, you could think of it that way. Entrepreneurs are keen to add value and bring success to other people’s lives. If you aren’t in business to help others, then chances are, you won’t get far in your journey. After reading The 5 Essential People Skills by Dale Carnegie Training, I thought of some tips that really boost a business owner’s reputation and bring them more clients. I’ve even added some suggestions to the original list in the book. My biggest tip starts with the old adage, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This bit of advice applies the moment you venture out to meet new people.

    Social networking that grows your business

    If you’re looking to increase your client base, always search for networking events that your potential clients could be attending. A glance at the event description will help you gauge the likelihood that your potential client will be there. If you’re not sure, then ask yourself what your potential client is looking for and whether this event could be the answer to their search. When you are at the event, interact with as many people as possible. These opportunities are like mini job interviews. Introduce yourself and keep the conversation light with social or general work topics that avoid debate and hostility. For example, sports, current events, and the weather are fairly neutral. You may even talk about your background and your work. When you are asked a question, try to keep your answers less than a minute long to avoid babbling. Show that you’re interested in the other person by using your active listening skills. Nod and acknowledge points that he or she is making. Use appropriate body language, such as maintaining eye contact and facing the person you are speaking to. If the person you are talking to is a little on the quiet side, guide the conversation with open-ended questions such as, “How long have you been in business?” instead of closed questions (that request yes/no answers) such as, “Have you been to this event before?” Instead of expecting to get something out of the meeting right away, give value first. Instead of just looking for potential clients, and abruptly ending the conversation when you realize this person will never do business with you, find out what you can do to give them value. Ask what brings her to the networking event to see what she is looking for. Maybe she wants a specific type of business connection. Ask someone to tell you more about his business and compliment him on an aspect that you like. This attitude of giving value will make you instantly likable. As you continue to network, your new business acquaintance might introduce you to others at the event. Having someone introduce you to a stranger makes it much easier to connect with others than by starting a conversation from the cold. Similarly, introduce people you’ve just met to others. At the end of the event, you may find yourself with a whole deck of business cards and possibilities. In summary: connect by talking about social topics, practice active listening, add value to others, and introduce new connections to your network.

    Follow up with new connections as soon as possible

    When you return to your office after a networking event, it’s easy to get caught up with all the tasks that you missed during your absence, and to fall back into your usual routine. Set some time aside to follow up with the new connections you made at the event. If you can, send them an email within 24 hours. Keep your new collection of business cards organized. I sometimes write a quick note on each one to remind me where I met each person. If you’re more ambitious, enter each new connection into a database. This way, if someone asks you if you know an event photographer, you have people you can recommend. As I go through the list of new connections, I also note who I said I would follow up with. Following up on promises is crucial when you have your own businesses. People get a sense of how trustworthy and reliable you are right from the start of your new connection. If you said you would shoot them an email to set up a meeting time, send that email to mention where you connected and remind them of the purpose of your meeting. If you said you were going to introduce someone to your network, email them to make the introduction. It’s possible a quick email to refer Pam, who you met at the networking event, to Steven, who you know is great at marketing, will start a series of opportunities. You never know. For example, Steven may thank you by sending you some real estate business from his network. Or Pam might send you useful links to websites that give you some good business leads. The possibilities from a single networking event can be very far-reaching. In summary, follow up with connections as soon as possible, whether it is to set up a time for another meeting, or to introduce people to each other from your network.

    Check that your information is up to date and easily available

    New connections will want to know more about you. First, if they met many people at the event, they might not remember details about you right away. Have some keywords on your business card that jog their memory. “Realtor.” “I help you with your marketing needs.” “Business consultant.” If your business card doesn’t have your photo, make sure your LinkedIn profile has one. They may look you up on LinkedIn to remind them who they were talking with about X business opportunity! Your profile may also have details about skills that interest them, even if it didn’t come up in conversation. For example, a woman I met was looking for someone with publishing experience, but we had only talked about marketing. When she saw publishing in my profile, she inquired about it. Your website is also an excellent source of information about you and your company. A new contact can find testimonials vouching for your great service. It is also where they can subscribe to your blog and continue to get information about your business niche. I started a partnership when a new contact suggested posting a referral to his company on my website. The benefit was my clients could enjoy a discount for his services, and he would pay me an amount for the referral. It’s not the same as an affiliate program, but it’s a similar idea. In summary, your LinkedIn profile and your website are ways to help increase your business. When someone refers leads to you, promote them back by sending business their way. You can also work out a type of partnership that is mutually beneficial.

    Pay it forward

    The overall idea for successfully increasing your client base is to pay it forward. When you meet someone new at a networking event, or even online through a LinkedIn group, add value to them first. Always add value first. Even if it’s just to compliment them if you can’t think of a way to help out their business. When you meet someone for the first time, listen intently and show interest in what they do. It will make a favorable initial impression. You want people to see how much you want to help others, and how much other people matter to you. Think of ways to help people without considering how you can get money back for your time. Entrepreneurs aren’t paid by the hour or by salary. They don’t necessarily get rewarded every two weeks for their hard work with a paycheque. Sometimes they send out all these good vibes, follow up on leads, and build new bridges… and don’t reap the reward until weeks or months later when a referral turns into a paid project or a lucrative partnership. Sometimes a promising lead turns into nothing. However, if you focus on paying it forward, if you work on helping others first, eventually, you start to get results! If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to make sure you don’t miss the next post!

  • How to Get Hired by Adding Value

    How to Get Hired by Adding Value

    Recently, people have been losing jobs by the thousands, so the competition you face for getting a job is fierce. How can you stand out and become the first choice with a potential employer or client? If you want to get hired for the long term, start by adding value.

    Networking and Relationship Building that Adds Value

    First, build a relationship for the long term by networking and getting to know what other people do. If you haven’t done this already, create a LinkedIn profile that describes what you do, your industry and niche, and what type of work you are looking for. Then join LinkedIn groups for similar industries, like and comment on people’s posts, and add advice or information that people in the group will find interesting.

    Join local business groups and attend their Zoom meetings to find out what is trending in business and to build connections. Become a connector by suggesting possible clients and connections for group members. Add value by providing feedback and suggestions for their business ideas. People will get to know you more and will recommend you to their connections when work opportunities arise.

    Giving Value to Businesses to Create Business

    After you’ve created some connections online or in person, continue to build on those connections by adding value. Arrange a coffee or virtual meeting with your connection once in a while to talk about what you’re both doing. Are either of you taking courses, working on building a new skill, or changing direction in your career?

    Show support for each other by listening and by offering what you can to help your connection with what they are doing. For example, suggesting videos that teach more about a specific topic, recommending someone that could be a great resource such as a consultant or advisor, or offering to help out with a new business venture.

    Getting Hired by Making Your Value Known

    When you build relationships and help out your connections, people will get to know you and what it is that you offer. You will be top of mind when they hear about a job opportunity or client that needs someone with your skill set.

    These connections will have come to trust you and they will want to return the favour whenever they can. They will remember how you were there for them when they needed advice or when they asked for your opinion on a new endeavor. This level of trust is more valuable than any type of advertising.

    Recently, a long-time connection of mine reached out for some writing services. She said I was the first person to come to mind when she needed a writer for her latest business venture. I had previously been there for her as a sounding board for other business ideas and I had helped to promote her business on LinkedIn.

    Creating and strengthening your connections is important.

    Summary

    Getting hired the traditional way is a lot tougher when you have much competition. You’re a name in a long list of candidates. However, if you invest the time to build professional connections, and you’re adding value to them over time, you will be a top choice when they are looking to hire someone they trust.

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