HOW MUCH NETWORKING IS TOO MUCH?

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All right…this is my third and last post about my house painter friend who has avoided the recession and actually grown his business using traditional networking and social media like LinkedIn.  Unless, of course, he comes up with another brilliant idea I feel compelled to share with you.  His name is Ben Zito from Cherokee Hills Painting Company.

 I’d been asked to speak to the Homewood Chamber of Commerce on How to Use Social Media to Build Your Business.  The best way to illustrate what works is to give a real life example.  What better way than to invite Ben to the luncheon…have him stand up and then share his story.  The audience would see that Ben is a real guy who is actually using his networking and social media skills to be successful.  This would also give Ben an opportunity to promote his business.

 I was so excited with my idea and shot off an e-mail to Ben asking him to come.  I never expected this response.

 “Thanks for the invitation to your networking event.  I cannot make it as much as I would like to.  You see, tomorrow is a real work day.  I try to work with my employees as much as possible.  Three reasons:  (1) I like to paint.  (2) My workers like to see me paint (keeps the skill level up to high grade).  And (3) The home owners like to see the boss paint (they see that the owner is not just talk).  Have a nice day.”

Ben continues to prove he gets it.  As important as networking is, you actually have to do work and add value to your clients to be successful. 

 It’s important to get out of the office and connect with others.  It’s important to market, sell, & Tweet.  But bottom line, all the promotion & connections in the world don’t mean a thing if you don’t produce.

 This is David Sher, your e-networking guy saying it’s not what you know, but whOO you know.

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THANKS TO SOCIAL MEDIA…SMALL BUSINESSES CAN COMPETE

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I was rushing out the door, heading for a workout, when I got a call on my cell.  It was from a business owner friend of mine who had a problem.   He was being audited by Federal wage & hour & he was looking for an experienced attorney who specializes in that area of the law.  He said, “I know you have lots of connections,” and I was wondering if you know a lawyer you could recommend.”  Fortunately I hadn’t had any need for wage & hour counseling, but I had recently talked with a client of mine who was having the same issue.  I called him up & he, indeed, knew an experienced attorney, he was currently working with. 

 Helping people find jobs, connecting friends who are looking for vendors or vendors looking for clients.  I spend a fair amount of my week helping others.  Now you are probably saying, what is that all about?

 And I know this sounds strange, but the more people I help, the more people that seem to help me.  Steven Leung, from the San Francisco area, who I wouldn’t have known -without Linked, taught me how to do podcasts.  Wade Kwon, our local blogging expert, spent an hour with me giving me tips on how to improve my blog.   In fact, you may be listening to this podcast because of some search tips or tags Wade showed me.  Duncan Lamb, a brilliant business man and a good friend of mine, actually came to my house to help me with some computer issues.  My friends on LinkedIn, Facebook, & Twitter are always answering my question.

 I was talking to a long time attorney friend of mine and he said, and I quote, “I don’t want to get on LinkedIn…someone might ask me for something.”

 Now I don’t usually get philosophical, but I am going to quote the Talmud, “If I’m not for myself, who will be for me?  If I’m only for myself, what am I?  And if not now, when?

 This is David Sher, your e-networking guy, saying it’s not what you know, but whOO you know.

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SKIP THE RECESSION…A SUCCESS STORY USING LINKEDIN

How a house painter avoided the recession by using networking and LinkedIn

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All of us remember Susan Boyle, the middle aged frumpy woman from England who became an overnight singing sensation on Britain’s Got Talent.  In a matter of days, because of YouTube, she became the most famous person in the world.

 I don’t think any of us in business has the desire to be the most famous person in the world, but it sure would be nice to be known in our own market place.  Well, I’ve got a great story for you.   It’s about a young business man who is doing everything right.

 It was my responsibility to find a speaker for our Chamber who knew how to use the Chamber to build his or her business.  A fellow was recommended because he comes to everything.   But what surprised me is this man is not an accountant or an attorney.  He is a house painter.   When I called him, he surprised me by answering the phone.  He accepted my offer to speak, but then told me since it was raining he was at home calling prospects.   

He invited me into LinkedIn & then told me a story that blew me away.  On LinkedIn, we all have the opportunity to list three web sites.  Most people put their company web site…which he did also.  But in addition, he included a link which he calls “Painting Answer,” and when you click on it, you go directly to the Better Business Bureau site where he is featured with an A+ rating.   He told me he solicited a LinkedIn recommendation by the President of the Chamber that drove people to his LinkedIn profile, where they then clicked on “Painting Answer.”  

 The BBB told him he had 340 hits on their site the first week.  It’s no wonder this fellow painted 140 homes last year, and this year, with a terrible economy he has not laid off a single person.

 By the way, his name is Ben Zito from Cherokee Hills Painting.  Ben doesn’t know there’s a recession, because he knows how to use traditional and social media to build his business.

 I’m David Sher, your e-Networking Guy, saying it’s not what you know, but whOO you know.

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SOCIAL MEDIA CAN MAKE YOU HAPPY

Helping others is a tactic suggested by Sonya Lyubomirsky in her book, “The How of Happiness.” Social Media like LinkedIn & Facebook gives you the tools you need to help.

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GO THAT EXTRA MILE TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP

How much effort are you willing to invest to build a relationship? 

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