3. What do we mean by
“online networking?”
Using your online presence ‟ your
website, blog and/or social media
presence - to make and retain new
contacts and generate new business
5. SMBs ARE GOING DIGITAL
According to a recent
study by BIA/Kelsey, by
2015 SMBs will allocate
30% of their marketing
budgets to traditional
advertising (down from
52% in 2010), with the
remaining 70% going to
digital/online media
(mobile, social, online
directories, online
display, digital outdoor),
performance-based
commerce (pay-per-click,
deals, couponing) and
customer retention
business solutions (email,
reputation and presence
management, websites,
social marketing,
http://www.biakelsey.com/Company/Press-Releases/110830-Digital-Advertising,-Performance-and-Retention-Solutions-Will-Be-70-Percent-of-SMB-
Marketing-Budgets-by-2015.asp
8. Don’t have the bandwidth or
expertise for extensive use of
social media?
At a bare minimum, you need to have a…
Website
„ A good, catchy URL that makes „ Clear navigation and calls to
sense for your business, doesn’t action
have quirky spelling and is
available on social platforms „ Security (SSL certificate) ‟ a must-
have for any e-commerce
„ A logical roadmap
„ Social media integration
„ Critical business information
„ Mobile-optimized
„ Contact information that is easy to
find „ Good, reliable hosting
Profile on LinkedIn so that people you meet can
follow
up with you and connect.
10. Why did you join the
Chamber?
To make new contacts?
To grow your business?
To market your company?
To connect with your
community?
Our website is your benefit and
will
11. ABOUT OUR WEBSITE
We use WebLink Connect for our
membership and website management ‟
meaning that our database and our website
are fully integrated.
We chose WebLink because it is a complete
membership and customer relationship
management software package designed
specifically for membership-based
organizations.
12. OUR WEBSITE IS SEARCH ENGINE
OPTIMIZED
SEO ‟ Search Engine Optimization, increases the
number of relevant visitors to a website by
elevating a webpage’s visibility to an individual
using a search engine to find information.
What are Search Engines?
Guide to find information on the internet and
a billion dollar business
Google -76%
Yahoo! ‟ 11%
Bing ‟ 11%
13. WHO USES SEARCH ENGINES?
(Almost) everyone, according to a 2012 study
released by the Pew Research Center. In January
2002, 52% of all Americans used search engines. In
February 2012 that figure grew to 73% of all
Americans. On any given day in early 2012, more
than half of adults using the internet use a search
engine (59%). That is double the 30% of internet
users who were using search engines on a typical
day in 2004.
14. OUR WEBSITE IS SEARCH ENGINE
OPTIMIZED
Search optimized membership directory
designed to maximize our members'
exposure to search engines and drive
traffic to your businesses.
Automatic creation of search engine
optimization technical components (such as
H1 and title tags) to keep it automatically
updated and indexed on search engines.
15. OUR WEBSITE IS SEARCH ENGINE
OPTIMIZED
Natural language URLs, meaning that our pages have
addresses such as
restonchamber.org/attorneys
instead of
restonchamber.org/dir/list/category?=1234+I
D?=6789
resulting in higher relevance for our links and
pages and making it easier for our members and
community to access and share.
Dynamic creation and updating of hundreds (and
potentially thousands) of new and relevant pages
(individual pages for each member company) that
are indexed on our website domain increasing our
website's ‟ and your business’ ‟ reach among search
engines.
16. MOBILE OPTIMIZED WEBSITE
Mobile version of our membership directory that
automatically changes to make viewing possible on
mobile devices such as iPhones, Androids or iPads.
Site visitors using mobile devices can click on
website links and view events, maps and coupons
just like they can in the full site. Plus, if they want
to call a member listed in the mobile directory,
they just need to click on the number on the screen
to automatically dial.
17. The Reston Chamber’s site has a “Members
Only” section that offers you the ability to
make payments, update business and
contact information, change
communications preferences, view
referral reports and more ‟ all in an
exclusive password protected area.
18. Let’s start by taking a quick tour of our
site.
Member
Search
Paid
Member
Advertising
Directory
About the
Chamber
Event ads
Upcoming events Member ad
space Advertising
Sponsors
News & Press New Members
Releases Welcome
new members
19. To access the “Members Only” section of
our site, your organization will need to
have a username and password. This
information must be provided to you by
the Chamber, and you need to use your
organization’s (not an individual’s)
credentials to log in.
If you do not have a username and
password please contact the Chamber at
703.707.9045.
20. Once you log into the “Members Only”
section,
you will see the following welcome
screen:
In the “My Events” section you will see any upcoming events
that you may have registered for. In the “Upcoming Events”
section you will see all upcoming events at the Chamber. To
register for a Chamber event, just click on the name of the
event and complete the steps to receive member pricing. In
21. Notice on the right side of the screen there
is a section called “Member Links.” We are
going to click through each of these links
to show you how you can use each feature
to enhance the reach of your business.
38. Logging Out
You can return to
the member home
screen at any time
by clicking the
“log in” button at
the top of the
screen.
Remember to log out when you
are finished making profile
39. Once you have updated your
business listing, use the
directory to generate new
business!
• Look up prospects in the directory and
reach out to potential contacts
• Use the “Business Connect” feature to
make new connections
• Look at other member’s event and see if
they would be a good fit for your
networking needs
40. Other ways to market your
business on the Chamber website
• Paid advertising is a member benefit
• Become an annual or event sponsor for
additional exposure
• Share your news and press releases
with us
• Connect with us on social media:
• Find us on Twitter and Facebook
@RestonChamber and look up our LinkedIn
group
• Give us updates you would like the Chamber
to make on our social media pages
41. III. Get Out of Your Comfort
Zone:
Tips for Successful
Networking
42. Did you produces over 100 events
the Chamber
know…
each year, with 40 focused exclusively on
networking?
• Monthly Network Nights
• Bi-Monthly Coffee Breaks: Speed
Networking
• Bi-Monthly Coffee + Contracting: GovCon
Networking
• Monthly New & Prospective Member
Orientations
44. What type of networker are
you? “Grazer” “Boozer”
“Close Talker”
“Room Worker”
“Dead Fish”
“Wallflower”
“Pushy
Salesperson”
45. Identify your networking
comfort zone.
• Do you fit any of those stereotypes?
• What, if anything, makes you
uncomfortable
with networking?
• What do you need to improve? What do
you want to do better?
46. Get Out of Your Comfort
Zone
Tips for Successful Networking
1. Develop a networking
strategy
47. Get Out of Your Comfort
Zone
Tips for Successful Networking
2. Dress for success and
come prepared
48. Get Out of Your Comfort
Zone
Tips for Successful Networking
3. Arrive on time
49. Get Out of Your Comfort
Zone
Tips for Successful Networking
4. Don’t be a wallflower ‟
ask easy questions and
listen to the answers
50. Get Out of Your Comfort
Zone
Tips for Successful Networking
5. Ditch the aggressive
sales pitch
51. Get Out of Your Comfort
Zone
Tips for Successful Networking
6. Talk confidently
and concisely
about your product
or service
52. Get Out of Your Comfort
Zone
Tips for Successful Networking
7. Follow up after the
networking event
53. Additional Resources
-Washington Post’s Networking 101:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/jobs/how-
to/network/ and http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
srv/jobs/how-to/networking-story.html
-INC.com’s How to Network Effectively:
http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/08/how-to-network-
effectively.html
-Harvard Business Review’s “An Introvert’s Guide to
Networking”
http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/01/the_introverts_guide_to_ne
twor.html
-USA Today’s “Small Business Strategies: Why Clothing
Choices
Are Key”
http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/columnist
/abrams/story/2012-06-28/dress-for-success-rhonda-
54. Learn more about us at
www.RestonChamber.or
g
www.facebook.com/RestonChamber
www.twitter.com/RestonChamber
www.linkedin.com/company/greater-reston-chamber-of-
commerce
Hinweis der Redaktion
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Quick intro on Chamber – members across region/all verticals not only in RestonSolepreneurs to Fortune 100 Companies like Northrop, Microsoft, Google600+ Members10 largest Chamber in the DC area
Quick intro on Chamber – members across region/all verticals not only in RestonSolepreneurs to Fortune 100 Companies like Northrop, Microsoft, Google600+ Members10 largest Chamber in the DC area
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Establish a clear goal for each networking event (walk away with ? solid leads)Think about who your ideal client or lead would be.Is your goal a good match with your ideal client or lead, given the type of networking event you are attending?Set realistic goals and make contacts you can actually follow up with.Need help? Talk to the Chamber staff – Ashley and Andra are here to facilitate networking. Or if you are really struggling there are dozens of professional coaches in the Chamber membership.
Note to self: first impression statisticsDo not present yourself in a way that distracts from your business/product/etcBrush your teeth and bring a mint!Dress professionally - wardrobe coaches if you are really strugglingBring plenty of business cardsDitch the folders and handoutsName tag: right side! Turn your cell to vibratePay attention to your body language: a happy conversation involves smiling and eye contactFamiliarize yourself with new Chamber members (on homepage) and use Chamber website to get to know fellow members and prospective clients
Feels counter-intuitive but gives you time to prepare and assess the eventTake advantage of Chamber resources : before event begins, ask if any particular industry or contact is attending that could be a good fit for your networking goal
Don’t wait for someone to approach youBe proactive – walk up to a person or group and start with simple questions: What brings you to this event? Are you a Chamber member?You have an advantage as a Chamber member because you have a common ground as fellow or future members, why you got involved, other events you have attended, etc.Listen intently to replies; if you are not a natural extrovert you are probably a good listener. Listening is a good way to get to know a person.Ask Chamber staff to make introductions throughout event
Networking is about relationship buildingKeep your exchange fun, light and informal. You do not need to do a hard sell within minutes of meeting a person – use this event as an opportunity to get the conversation started, not to close the deal.People are more apt to do business with people whose company they enjoy.If a potential customer asks you about your product or service, be ready to…
Your elevator pitch is part of your first impression – want it to be just like you, professional and well-deliveredNeed to find the balance between not talking confidently about your company and talking your company to deathNeed to have a prepared elevator pitch that you develop and practice ahead of timeStay away from jargon/industry exclusive acronyms and try to tell a story or use an emotional appeal to connect with the other personDo not share negative information or challenges your business is experiencing: be positive!Amy example
Timely and personalized follow up: networking is where the conversations begins, not endsIf you have had a great exchange, ask someone the best way to keep in touch (email, social media, phone, meet in person)Leads have a shelf life of bananas – follow up within three days or the impression you have left will diminishFollow up with an action itemUse Chamber resources to follow up – you can use your Chamber page to share. Get the list of attendees/contact info from the Chamber. No spamming with new contacts, especially with Chamber members – maybe not a good idea to put new contacts on your email distro list