jorgefusaro.com » Networking

How to Become a Successful Networker

Jorge Fusaro — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:10:28 +0000

Unemployment is a tough reality of 2009. Job seekers, career movers, entrepreneurs, sales executives, and bloggers, among others, need to exercise their networking skills to be noticed.

Successful networkers take other people’s needs seriously. They know the value of giving and receiving. They are not afraid to give and receive nothing in return.

Successful networkers actively involve others. It is important to let your network know what company hired you, laid you off, and what type of job/business you are looking for. Let your network know how they can help. Don’t be afraid to ask for advise, feedback, and/or referrals.

Successful networkers inform proactively. Let your network know what you are doing professionally and what your core strengths are. Share your professional development with others, such as, the experiences you have recently accumulated and what you are currently learning. Share your notes or insights from a recent conference or seminar. Let your network know if you are considering, starting, or finishing grad-school or obtaining a professional certification. Keep them in the loop if taking up a new hobby or learning a new skill, such as cooking, dancing, or learning a new language.

Let your network know your contact info and when it’s best to get in touch with you. Be clear when communicating who you are and who you are not. What can you do for them? For their business? For their organization? Team? Community?

Emphasize what makes you truly unique and valuable!

In closing, invite your network into your life and make yourself available. And remember, next time you attend a networking event, put on your helper hat!

What have you found to be successful when networking? Please share on the comment section below. Thanks!

10 Networking Tips to Stand Out in a Crowd

Jorge Fusaro — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:00:35 +0000

I really enjoy meeting new people and connecting with like-minded professionals. These past weeks, I attended some unique and rewarding networking events in New York City. I’ve noted that there is a direct relationship between great opportunities and a diverse and reliable network. Below are some networking tips that that I have learned and continue to refine over the years:

Be yourself and be trustworthy. Let people know who you really are. Authenticity is the way to create healthy and trustworthy relationships.
Know how to introduce yourself. Be ready to respond when others ask you: “What are you working on?” or “What do you do?” You have one chance to make a good first impression.
Be smart when deciding who to network with. Strategically pick groups where you can contribute your expertise and obtain what you are looking for: partnerships, new knowledge, mentoring, referrals, or new business.
Ask open-ended questions to spark the conversation. Questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no limit the scope of conversation. Open up the dialogue by asking questions that begin with: who, what, where, when, and how. This will get the conversation flowing and will show interest on your part.
Listen twice as much as you speak. If you are asking good questions, you will get good conversation. Listen for insights. When speaking be generous sharing ideas, feedback, and resources.
Maintain a focus on giving. The approach “how can I help you?” instead of “what can I get from you?” goes a long way. I believe that those who sincerely give without expecting anything in return, end up receiving more.
Know what makes you unique and convey it to others. If you are one of many, you will not stand out and most likely be lost in the crowd. Flag your competitive advantage—strengths, skills, and/or knowledge—that make you most valuable.
Bring plenty of business cards and distribute them. Make sure your business cards have all the necessary contact information. Write helpful reminders on the cards you collect; i.e. common interests, traveled to, s/he likes to, etc.
Follow-through quickly. Send an email. Connect on Linkedin, be-friend on Facebook, or follow your new contact on Twitter, especially those you feel connected with. Don’t let new business cards get lost in your desk drawer.
Build relationships with those who may benefit from your expertise and vice versa. Setup a call on Skype, meet for coffee, or arrange to meet-up at a future networking event, etc.

Don’t attend a networking event if you don’t have business cards, an online presence, and your “who can I help you?” hat on. For more on networking read, “Networking Strategies to Thrive in a Tough Economy” and “How to Become a Successful Networker.”

If you have any other networking tips or any comments, please share them below.

A Purple Cow Evening with Seth Godin and Hugh MacLeod

Jorge Fusaro — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:25:04 +0000

Last night was quite a thrill for new media marketers, social media strategists, artists, entrepreneurs, bloggers, and fans of Seth Godin and Hugh MacLeod in NYC. We were part of a private event limited to 100 people at ilili. The purpose of the event was to celebrate/commemorate MacLeod’s cartoon for Seth Godin’s Purple Cow Best Seller book.

Art which made this event possible.

Hugh MacLeod started working as a copywriter for a NYC firm, who soon after his arrival in NYC, started to illustrate on the back of business cards. His witty, unorthodox, and untamed approach to corporate worklife, technology, and society, have earned Hugh international acclaim and a unique place among contemporary artists. You can learn more about Hugh and read his blog here. I had the opportunity to chat with Hugh and ask him what is his favorite piece. He chose and spoke to me about two of his favorites. One of them is below. Available for sale, here. Seth Godin needs less of an introduction. He is a business champ! Seth has paved and radically shaped new media marketing and business. Not only with great ideas, writing, and speaking, but also superb start-ups. Make no mistake, Seth is in the Business Hall of Fame. Seth blogs everyday and everyday, he challenges our thinking.

Seth Godin and Me. Photo by David Parmet.

For more info and comments from the other guests, check the hashtag: #purplecow A cool slideshow from the event on Flickr by David Parmet.

Networking Strategies to Thrive in a Tough Economy

Jorge Fusaro — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:28:03 +0000

You have heard it said over and over again: “It’s not what you know but who you know that makes the difference.” This unknown proverb has become the wisdom of the ages, passed down from mentors, parents, coaches, and career counselors.

Networking is important and critical for success. Whether you are an artist, entrepreneur, student, leader, or professional, strong networking skills will eventually pay off. Opportunities multiply when you have a reliable and diverse network of friends and colleagues.

Technology, social media in particular, has allowed introverted types to interact socially with more confidence. Social networking websites have given users access to see and connect with others that they would have not been able to connect otherwise.

What networking is:
In his book, Endless Referrals, Bob Burg, provides my favorite definition of networking: “I like to define networking as cultivating mutually beneficial, give-and-take, win-win relationships… The end result may be to develop a large and diverse group of people who will gladly and continually refer a lot of business to us, while we do the same for them.” I have little to add to Burg’s words, except that networking is more about other people than it is about you. Networking is about relating and filling someone else’s need(s).

What networking is not:
Networking is not about popularity. Some people believe (or have been convinced by internet marketers and even consultants) that a high count of fans or followers will bring business knocking at the door. Let me say it in another way: online favoritism (“I likes” and “retweets” will not get you that job you are targeting.

I have learned a lot from Seth Godin over the years. In a recent interview at the AMEX OPEN Forum, Godin was asked how social networking can benefit businesses. He ranted that networking is not about keeping score by adding a bunch of people on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and/or LinkedIn: “Networking is always important when it’s real. And it’s always a useless distraction when it’s fake.” What makes it real? Try engaging and doing something for someone else.

We can agree that social networking has revolutionized the web and continues to provide dozens of accessible and effective marketing tools for small and large businesses. It has also helped us reconnect with long-lost friends from school, college, and past co-workers.

Yet connecting with people online doesn’t just transfer into business. A valuable exchange needs to happen; an exchange of information, knowledge, and/or resources between two parties. That’s the first secret to successful networking.

For more successful and practical networking strategies read “10 Networking Tips to Standout in a Crowd” and “How to Become a Successful Networker.“

Networking Quotes

Jorge Fusaro — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:09:42 +0000

“The way of the world is meeting people through other people.”
– Robert Kerrigan

“~ It’s not what you know but who you know that makes the difference.”
– Anonymous

“More business decisions occur over lunch and dinner than at any other time, yet no MBA courses are given on the subject.”
– Peter Drucker

“I like to define networking as cultivating mutually beneficial, give-and-take, win-win relationships… The end result may be to develop a large and diverse group of people who will gladly and continually refer a lot of business to us, while we do the same for them.”
– Bob Burg, Endless Referrals

“The successful networkers I know, the ones receiving tons of referrals and feeling truly happy about themselves, continually put the other person’s needs ahead of their own.”
– Bob Burg

“Position yourself as a center of influence – the one who knows the movers and shakers. People will respond to that, and you’ll soon become what you project.”
– Bob Burg

“Networking with integrity creates a greater willingness of all parties to be part of a human conduit to serve as energy and resource to one another. Sometimes you will give more than you receive and sometimes you will get back more than you give. It’s not about keeping score.”
– Chris London, MANHATTAN SOCIETY: The Art and Spirituality of Networking

1,000 True Fans can Generate a Six-figure Income

Jorge Fusaro — Fri, 23 May 2008 00:17:14 +0000

Kevin Kelly wrote a hot article titled, “1,000 True Fans” that blew my mind. In a nutshell, Kevin presents a concept where 1000 True Fans are enough for a creator (artist, musician, photographer, craftsperson, performer, animator, videomaker, speaker, author, etc.) to make a six figure income.

A True Fan is defined as someone who will purchase anything and everything you produce. They will drive 200 miles to see you sing. They will buy the super deluxe re-issued hi-res box set of your stuff even though they have the low-res version. They have a Google Alert set for your name. They bookmark the eBay page where your out-of-print editions show up. They come to your openings. They have you sign their copies. They buy the t-shirt, and the mug, and the hat. They can’t wait till you issue your next work. They are true fans.

Then there are your other fans (not true yet faithful) which will buy some of the things. In essence, you don’t have to target a whole continent to make a decent living. 1000 True fans are good enough.

This concept is very cool. It has been on my mind for the past couple of weeks. Last night, I met a true fan at a Lakers game in Los Angeles. My friend Brian Dowd and I, sat next to Betty and her husband (a cute Chinese couple in their early 60’s) who have owned a couple of season seats for 21 years. Even before the Staples Center existed (they played somewhere else), the couple owned seasonal tickets. As I talked to Betty, my excitement for the Lakers (and basketball) increased. Betty’s joy is contagious. She has not missed a single home game in 21 years!!! She wore a Lakers shirt, jersey on top, cap, and carried her Lakers’ jacket to keep herself warm. I asked her about her Laker goodies and learned that she has drawers filled with apparel, posters, photos, memorabilia, and even “Lakers room,” with a real-size Kobe Bryant mannequin. Her custom license plate spells Kobe and Lkrs . Make no mistake, Betty is a true fan.

The goal of reaching 1000 True Fans is achievable and can be highly rewarding. Now imagine 1000 more fans like Betty. Ten-thousand, a hundred, or a million.

Ask yourself: Do I have true fans? Who are they? Why do they rave about my art or my brand? Where are my true fans? How can I get more of them? What tools can I use to nurture our relationship? How can I add more value to this relationship?