Business Networking - How To Effectively Compete When You Are Not Alone

Business Networking - How To Effectively Compete When You Are Networking In A Non-Profession Exclusive Group

As many seasoned Business Networking professionals know, there are a number of organizations that offer the very best training to its Members in the art and science of Business Networking. Personally, the 5 years I that received Business Network Referral training and guidance with the number one Business Networking organization in the world has been nothing short than life changing for me. Learning and mastering proven referral based marketing techniques of accelerating relationship building is the most important factor in my many years of success in business.

Without this education and training, I would have surely failed.

But what do you do when you are outside the confines of your Business Networking organization? You know, in the real world where there may be, in my case, two or three other computer guys in the room. How do you compete with that? The answer is quite simple.

But first, let's talk about what not to do.

First, don't get up tight and defensive. People can sense this. Yes, it's disconcerting at first to realize you are not the only one who, in my case, "sells" computer services. You must get a grip and realize that the way you render your services really is quite different than any of your competitors.

Secondly, don't resort to price competition in your Business Networking. Simply stating that you are cheaper than anyone else is only going to bring you short term customers who will quickly move on to the next service professional who may be cheaper than you the next time they have a need. In the service business, price is much further along in the sales process as it should be. People hire service professionals based on "Know, Like and Trust" and then price.

Thirdly, don't make the mistake of not observing how your competition presents themselves. Remember, it's not about you! It's about your prospective customers and potential referral sources. You can learn a lot about your competitors by watching how they present themselves.

Listen carefully to what they say and how they say it. Pay close attention to their entire presentation "package" - How they look; How they say what say; Be keenly aware of their body language; Watch their audience's reactions as they speak and interact with others. With a little time spent observing and talking with your competition, you'll be amazed how much you'll learn.

OK, so what should you do with this observed competitor "intel"? First things first.

First, adjust your own emotional attitude about competitors being present. You should truly be glad that they are present. If you are mentally defensive, trust me, it will show and you'll be think more about how you feel vs what you should do. You should openly embrace your business networking competitors. Your frame of mind is the most important thing to adjust to effectively compete.

Secondly, you need to show your audience that the services you offer are different than anyone else in the room. Though everyone says they want to save a buck but, in reality, price is usually the last consideration before someone hires a service professional. The most important factors are they need to Know, Like and Trust you first, long before price comes into the picture. (Yes, this was worth repeating.)

In a technical service industry, like the computer repair and network support business, most consumers are afraid of the technical stuff. They need to feel comfortable that YOU are the right person and the process of working with you will be painless; maybe even enjoyable.

Thirdly, Do Not use any technical jargon, what-so-ever, unless it's absolutely necessary. If you do, you should give a very simple explanation of each term, etc. Speak to their fears. Use simple language when describing what you do and, above all, comfort them that they have nothing to worry about if they use your services.

Your message must convince them that you, personally, will take great care of them and their issues. For example, one of the most successful insurance companies on the planet, Allstate, tells their audience that they are "In Good Hands". You need to communicate this same message too.

So the next time you are doing your Business Networking thing and or avoiding going to networking events because there may be competition there, remember the following:

1. Go with the idea that you are there to learn about other people including your competitors and, yeah, to have an enjoyable time.
2. Use your Business Networking skill set and do some reconnaissance. Learn how to best differentiate yourself from your competition in ways that are important to your potential customers.
3. When you have an opportunity to get in front of a prospective customer and or referral source don't use industry jargon, ask questions and speak to their concerns.
4. If you find yourself talking "price" right away, you're probably not in front of the right prospect anyway. Move on and adjust your approach.

Referral based marketing is one of the most powerful tools a service professional can use to siginficantly boost their business especially during economically challenegd times.

The next step is yours. Learning and mastering effective Business Networking techniques will ultimately determine your business success or failure. Obtaining solid Business Networking training is where you should start. Knowledge and skill in Business Networking separates you from your competition.

5 Business Networking Tips Anyone Can Follow

Learning how to network well is essential to job search and career success. It doesn't matter what level of business networking skills you have. These 5 business networking tips can either help you get started or serve as a good reminder. Use these 5 business networking tips at any event and see results.

1. Be focused and specific - know exactly what you would like to get out of a business networking event. "I want to build more contacts" or " I hope to find some good leads to job opportunities" are good intentions but TOO VAGUE. If you only have a general idea of what you want out of an event, you will only get general suggestions in return. Try this instead "I want to find entry-level product manager positions in the high-tech industry. As a result, at this event, I want to connect with product managers or recruiters in high-tech companies - to 1) find out what it takes to get into product management or 2) see if they would be willing to give me feedback on my resume by email or 3) find out what they like or don't like about their job." You can have 2 or 3 areas of focus for one business networking event. This way you can adapt your conversation based on who you meet. It also helps to know well what kind of people will be at an event so you define your focus accordingly.
2. Have low expectations - Now you know what you hope to accomplish, it's important to NOT expect it. Expecting a certain level of results puts undue pressure on yourself and can lead you to sound stiff or pushy or rigid at an event. I usually tell myself, if it doesn't seem like I am having fruitful conversations then I can always leave early. This gives me a relaxed mindset and any results I get would be bonus. Also, there are plenty of networking events out there. It's better to go to a few more and therefore allow some to be "duds" than force yourself to make each one very productive. Maybe you are just off one night as well - better cut your losses and go home early.
3. Practice being bold - Once you are at the event, remember to talk to strangers and engage in conversations that may help with your focus. It's amazing how many people go to business networking events only to stand in a corner with a drink or food or talk only to their friends and who they know. I know I have done this plenty of times. Most of us are shy with strangers. But the nature of networking well requires us to go beyond our comfort zone and talk to new people. Remember why you are there (see #1). Don't go with friends to networking events. They can become an easy crutch. Go by yourself and if you have access to a description of the people who are attending, look at it in advance and circle anyone you may want to meet. Then just do it when you are there - start conversations to get to know people. Most likely they also have a level of discomfort and probably appreciate you striking up a conversation, so they are not standing alone. Also remember #2 - you may not always be smooth or graceful in every conversation - how you start it, how you lead it, how you end it, but it's okay. You are allowed to make mistakes - it's the only way to practice. Besides, these are all strangers. If it doesn't work out or you did something awkward - shake it off! They don't really know you anyway.
4. Pay it forward - You cannot just take from networking events. You also gotta give when you can. This business networking tip is essential as you also want to build a reputation as someone who can help others. No one likes "networking stalkers" who just want stuff. If you know a recruiter who specializes in the finance function and you met someone looking for work in that area, offer to connect them. This person will be super appreciative and they do not need to be someone who can also help you. Think of this as good karma and you are just paying it forward - you help someone and they can help someone else. Eventually, that will come around in a good way for you. Trust me. So in your conversations, not only guide it toward what you need but also consciously listen for how you can help.
5. Follow up - it's fruitless to follow all the business networking tips above at an event if you don't put efforts to make the most of it afterwards. Follow up does not mean emailing everyone you met. Remember your focus and prioritize your follow-up activities - they can include connecting with people on Linkedin, sending emails to people who agreed to provide information to you, and also emailing people to help them with something.

Securing Your Business Network

This article is going to explain how to secure your business network. There are a number of things every company should have implemented whether they are small, medium or large. Improving your network security and policies will help to prevent any problems that could occur now or in the future.

The first one is rather obvious, or at least I would hope it is. A good antivirus is essential, there are a number of software packages available for business users, however if you are a very small business (below 5 computers) you can probably use free antiviruses legally.

The second is another given, a good firewall to protect your business network from the outside world. This will prevent any bad packets accessing your network and help to prevent hackers from breaking in.

Peerblock is another great program you should have on your network. This program can be configured to block bad servers, known hackers and other various people from accessing your network. It works using pre set lists and blocks or allows all the IP addresses on each list. This program also helps keep your online and downloading habits protected.

Every user should be made to have a strong password. As well as this they should be made to change their passwords every few months. A good password policy is essential these days to help fight against brute force attacks and dictionary attacks, as a simple password would be cracked fast.

Site blocking is another option. Some businesses may choose to block specific websites such as Facebook, MySpace or YouTube, to try and improve worker efficiency and to prevent users going on bad websites and exposing the computers to malware.

User access rights must be properly set, this means that a new user doesn't have full access to the network as they are not yet trusted. By implementing this change, if a new users account gets breached the attacker will only have the same rights as the user they breached.

Although there are a number of things you can do to try and protect your network, unfortunately there is never anything yon do that will protect your data and network 100%. You will usually find, the thing that lets the whole system down will be the users. so it always essential to make sure all your business network users are fully trained and know the consequences for their actions.

Optical Transceiver Modules Can Meet Business Network Designer Specifications

In order to create a fluid network that will allow transfer of data from a source to an end receiver via a wireless network, particular optical transceiver modules with varying bandwidth capacities and transfer speeds were made attainable for the market to utilize. Supplying speedy transmission with minimal amount of interference and increased signal security, MSA specified innovative solutions are unlike the average use of RF integrated circuits. Among the optical transceivers commonly used today are XENPAK modules, built in a variety of physical layer interfaces upholding fiber optic modules that are of multiple or single modes.
Built in accordance to IEEE's 10 Gigabit Ethernet standards, XENPAK modules are made in line with leading transceiver and equipment producers' specifications. They make integration tasks much simpler because these devices are hot-removable and hot-insertable. It can convey information transfers in bulk within a transmission distance of 100 meters to 80 kilometers on standard CX4 cables. They are able to upgrade circuit capacity without the need for cable reinstallation and are likewise very efficient to operate on various wavelengths. To the contrary, compact form factors like SFP modules are currently trending more, even though these modules are guaranteed to deliver better system performance.
Traditional soldered-in modules of the past are now inferior when compared to these convenient, small, modular optical interface transceivers. The SFP modules, or small form factor pluggable transceivers, are not only applauded for their compact size, but also their sturdiness when it comes to their industrial performance. These hot-swappable devices are also very useful in implementing Gigabit Ethernet and Fiber channels in storage area networks and data centers.
Models made by Cisco are widely used and have become the industry's standard even though Huawei and Hewlett Packard are amongst the leading brands for SFP modules. This is probably because Cisco SFPs are backed by a multitude of switches, routers, and optical transport devices. Containing an assigned serial number, as well as the vendor name and ID, and a unique security code, Cisco SFP modules are safeguarded with a serial EEPROM.
Most of their choices in the use of modules are based on price, reach, type of supported media, device size and power consumption as software designers are searching for quicker time-to-market options to aid multiple capabilities. They can be encouraged that they can have the right distinctions to address their needs, regardless of whichever optical transceiver they implement into their systems. Businesses and industries' fervent demand for better performance will definitely be achieved as this phase of innovation moves ahead.

Benefits Of Business Networking

Are you starting a new business? Or maybe you already have a small business? Whichever is the case you will no doubt have made business plan, forecast your cash flow and probably frightened yourself as to where all your money has gone.

In order to generate new business it's essential to market your business and certainly this can be a very costly business. Advertising is seriously expensive and in my mind it works best for those already with an established brand because it's about recognition and repetition, so unless you're already in the league of Coca Cola it's probably not a good solution.

Business networking is not about a closed shop where everyone gives each other work, it's much more powerful than that. It's fundamentally about the act referring business to people that you have grown to know, like and trust, and for them to do the same for you. Understanding how to give a quality referral is an art itself and something that I cannot cover today so for the time being let's just consider the benefits of business networking.

It is not a well known fact but 70% of new business that your company gets is through word of mouth. Networking allows you to formally explain what your business is about and as fellow networking business people get to know you so you will naturally start to win new sales leads because people like to pass business to people that they know.

Simply attending a networking event will raise your profile especially if you network on a regular basis. Remember my earlier point about advertising; recognition and repetition, attending a regular networking event achieves this.

Not only do you have the opportunity to present your business, you also get to meet with a lot of business people from other walks of life that will inevitably be able to help solve some of your problems. And you will be able to do the same, it's all part of the relationship building process and at the end of the day it's this relationship that counts when recommending someone's services.

You'll also get to know an awful lot of people that will be able to help you when you have a problem. Have you ever picked up the yellow pages and looked for a particular service? How do you choose? It really is hit and miss. By getting to know reliable contacts who can provide you with what you want and who can be trusted is worth so much in terms of your time and money.

Likewise, if there's no one in your network who can help, the chances are that someone knows someone who can and will recommend them. Suddenly you find that your business is moving forward at a much more rapid pace. Your confidence will soar!

Sharing experiences is also part of the game. Just talking to people about their experiences, their goals and their problems will stimulate lots of new ideas and open your mind to new opportunities. All of a sudden you have a completely new approach to doing something or even a new business venture that you may never have otherwise thought of.

Small Business Network Security

We have all heard the story of the hacker "taking down" a corporate network, maybe stealing corporate data or even someone's personal information. The millions of dollars lost, the credit card numbers now publicly available, or even private photos stolen and now not so private.
What we don't often hear is of hackers targeting small to medium-sized businesses. The sector, in fact, is under serious threat. Verizon's 2011 Data Breach Investigations Report indicates that the small to medium businesses have become the main target for hackers. This is clearly linked to the lack of security investment made by smaller companies that has created an environment where there is relatively low risk for hackers compared to targeting major corporations.
What does it cost?
According to Symantec's SMB Information Protection Survey, the average cost of cyber attacks for a small to medium business is $188,242. This number is especially daunting since smaller companies are typically not insured against cyber theft or hacking (usually covered by a cyber insurance endorsement). Clearly, most small businesses simply cannot afford to take the risk of a hacking incident.
Why does this happen?
Small businesses maintain valuable employee, customer, and industry data just like large businesses. Because small businesses often fail to adequately protect their networks, hackers can automate the hacking process and steal valuable data easily. Additionally, small businesses often don't notice hacking activity until it is too late - which allows for hackers to breach networks and steal data without detection.
Advice:
1. Implement a firewall appliance in business office and home offices. Also, install a software firewall on all machines used on public networks (coffee shops for example). Simply put, a good firewall is a barrier that keeps hackers out.
2. Develop a corporate security policy. This policy should include password protections including creating complex passwords and changing passwords at least every 90 days. Additionally, the policy should direct employees to safely use the internet and network resources provided them by the company. Consequences for violating this policy should be also included.
3. Install and maintain anti-virus software that automatically updates, scans and protects all computers. Employees should be educated about viruses and discouraged from opening emails with suspicious attachments or from unknown senders.
4. Keep operating systems up to date each month. Microsoft releases patches and updates on the second Tuesday of each month and updates should be installed shortly after on each computer. Additionally, ask your IT Service Provider to check updates on your server(s), network equipment and PCs regularly.
5. Implement email security. Outsourcing email security to a known email security provider will allow emails to be cleaned prior to ever reaching business networks. This will cut down on maintenance costs and threats. Additionally, ensure that the company antivirus product chosen integrates with your email application.
6. Update your insurance policy. Small businesses should ask their insurance agent to add a cyber insurance endorsement to their business insurance policy. This will alleviate the cost of breach notices, damages and possible litigation.

Becoming a Business Network Celebrity

When you get into business networking, your life will change. Your inner celebrity will begin to emerge. When you change peoples' lives you will start to impact your community. YOU will get to be KNOWN. Having top of mind awareness in the community will not only bring you money in your business, it will elevate you to being a celebrity in your community and you will have to have the standards. Follow these simple rules and bring out the celebrity in you.
1. LIVE WITH INTEGRITY: When you were a child, do you remember your parents, teachers or peers say, "DO what is Right!" In life, it's all about making a CHOICE and using Integrity above all else. When doing what is RIGHT, it's not always comfortable and at times you might feel like you are on a path less traveled or unpopular. Integrity is about "Who You Are" and "What You are All About" and "What Your Values Stand For".
2. DON'T BLAME OTHERS: We all have WOES. It's easy to blame others for our woes. It's a CHOICE to make the DECISION to own your life and own your own woes. Being a Business Network Celebrity, you will have the choice to let the World affect you or go out into the World and affect others in a positive way!
3. BE AUTHENTIC: Come from the HEART. Give up pretending to be somebody that you are not. Express yourself, be courageous and don't be afraid to show the world "Who You Are and How Special and Unique You Really Are". When we pretend, we keep others from meeting the "REAL YOU". Be okay to open your heart fully and allow yourself to experience pain as well as joy.
4. MAKE CHANGES: If you always DO what you have always done, you will always get what you always got! In other words, nothing changes, if nothing changes. Let go of FEAR and take a Risk to make the changes needed in your life and business.
5. EVERYTHING IN LIFE HAS A PURPOSE: I found that by recognizing and having Faith in the Lord, I TRUST that HE is in control of my life and my circumstances and HE has given me everything I need to take on the Challenges that life presents to me at every moment. I want the BEST for all of the people that I meet. I know that by Letting Go and Letting God, giving up resisting what you can't control and just allowing yourself to go with the flow of life, rather than against it, will allow you to live in the present moment with JOY - whatever it brings your way!
With these tips and putting them into practice you will get your inner personal celebrity to come out. Being a Business Networking Celebrity will change not only your life, but all of those whom you come in contact with. I write these thoughts to help you gain the Relationships necessary to be Successful in both your Personal and Business Life.