3 Big Lies About Networking...

 OK, I don't know if these are really the three biggest lies or not but they are frequent excuses heard from myself and other people. What makes them not true or are they true? You tell me...click on the comment link or twitter me a reply @thirstyfishinfo

Amplify’d from www.entrepreneur.com

Think about the most successful people you know. What's one thing they have in common?

They have mastered the art and science of networking, and business flows to them almost as a matter of course.

Before you can commit yourself to the task of building a healthy network, you probably need to overcome at least one of these three major networking misconceptions.

1. "I can’t network if I'm not an outgoing person."

2. "Person-to-person referral business is old-fashioned."

3. "Networking is not a hard science. Its return on investment can’t be measured."Read more at www.entrepreneur.com

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Have you mentally challenged yourself?

We know that a child needs some mental stimulation to help them grow intellectually and emotionally. What about adults? Is it enough to just survive our days? Tell us what you do to challenge yourself on a consistent basis?

Amplify’d from www.nicabm.com

Which room would you prefer…

Or this:

Did you cringe at the thought of putting a child in the sterile room at the top? There’s nothing to interest or excite them in such a sterile environment.

Researchers Elizabeth Gould and Charlie Gross from the Department of Psychology at Princeton looked at the difference that habitats can make in brain structure.

have you mentally challenged yourself recently?

It’s so easy to keep to the same pattern of work, applying the same formula and seeing new but similar results. How about pushing that mental comfort zone, even a little?

what about social interaction?Read more at www.nicabm.com

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Social media "chicken and the egg". Which comes first?

I liked this post as it reminds us all that social media is fun and it is work. I get a lot of complaints that folks don't have the time or interest to get a twitter account. Well, you don't have to...unless you don't want an audience. Then there is that thing about saying something that someone actually wants to hear. That is where the real work (or the egg) comes in. Thirsty fish thoughts? Let's hear them.

Amplify’d from www.convinceandconvert.com

There are many ways social media differs from traditional marketing. It’s approachable and human. It’s a two-way dialog, rather than unilateral declarations. It treats the customer as a teammate, rather than a target.

But there’s another big difference. In social media, the audience comes after the message, not before.

Thus, there are really no shortcuts in social media

Nobody ever promised social media was easy, just that it was fun, and effective.Read more at www.convinceandconvert.com

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How much influence do you have?

Maybe a better question would be how do you get it but as you will read below, that is not an easy answer. Of course, measuring it isn't easy either. What we do know is that influence is essential for any type of leadership or business success. What about relationships, like the intimate kind?

Amplify’d from www.brasstackthinking.com

Influence is simple… which makes it complicated.

When we talk about influence, and particularly when we talk about measuring it, we have to define our terms…and know the limits.

Influence is contextual.

Someone writes a post. Someone else retweets it. Another person sees the retweet, reads the post, and writes a comment. Still another person finds the post on his own and then follows the commenter’s advice, to the benefit of hundreds of others.

Influence is the product of reach and authority.

To influence the actions of others, you have to have access to them—and they have to perceive you to have some level of authority, either over them or in an area of expertise they value

(Most) Influence is invisible. Read more at www.brasstackthinking.com

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How do you conduct a survey to improve traffic and reader value?

The authors of Problogger give some great insights into how to use a survey to build more reader loyalty and participation. That translates into traffic and perhaps income if you are using an affiliate or ad model of income for your site. Even if you don't monetize your site at all, it is a great way to stay relevant. No one wants a site that gets no readers. Boring.



To practice what we preach, send us a comment on how we can improve this site as well! We want your thoughts...

Amplify’d from www.problogger.net

Determine What You Want to Know First

Ask Specific Questions

Set ‘Rules’

Set Good Expectations

Be Willing to Hear Critiques

If you’d like to see how I do this – I recently gave readers opportunities to comment on my main two personal blogs at How Can I Make ProBlogger More Useful to You? and How Can We Improve Digital Photography School.

For another example of how do this check out this recent post over at Copyblogger in which Brian asks readers to tell him what Copyblogger means to them. It’s a great question because not only does he learn a lot but readers are responding in ways that cement their readership as they’re telling each other what they like about the blog. Read more at www.problogger.net

 

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Can artist benefit from social media?

In other words, can you make any sales of your artwork using social media? The answer is YES...

Amplify’d from www.artprintissues.com

There is undeniable demonstrable value in social media for artists and other entrepreneurs.

Social media is far more than the ubiquitous Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn mentions. It includes blogging, publishing. networking, commenting, photo sharing, and more.

Working smarter is far more effective than working harder

Here are a few art marketing / social media suggestions

Look for groups and people where you might find potential collectors. Being in a bunch of groups with other artists may help you gain career or business insights, but not collectors. Limit the amount of time you spend posting to family, friends and old high school chums. When you do, find creative ways to remind them your art is for sale.

Get a tool like Hootsuite or Tweetdeck that will allow you to write a bunch posts that are set to publish at different times. Limit the amount of time you spend on social media. Don't sit there with it on all day long. It will suck your time and deplete your energy.

Don't try to work too many social media venues at one time

Make sure you do everything you can to get the email address of every potential collector you encounterRead more at www.artprintissues.com

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What are the real reasons someone is successful?

I admit I haven't read Malcom Gladwell's book Outliers (I will order it now) but he outlines the effects behind success. You might be surprised what are some of the scientific reasons some people are more successful than others! Jimmy Kimmel is fun to listen to also :)

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Malcolm Gladwell "Outliers" on Jimmy Kimmel Live 1-13-09 Read more at www.youtube.com

   

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