Hey, Gary, would you mind if I stole some ideas from your Profile page? Love it.

Regarding your question...

I'm chiming in with Peter. What IS the book about? Networking and referrals??

- Shelley

Hey all, Ok I always hate it when people post questions without enough info to answer it, and then there I go and do it myself.

Editors get real ticked at me when i start giving out too much info. But I'll try and you all have to promise to keep it to yourselves.

Here's an unedited excerp:

Occasionally I have the opportunity to participate at various business and networking events as a guest speaker. At one such event several years ago I was approached by a woman in the audience after my talk who introduced herself and suggested we “network” because she offered a service she thought my company’s clients would want. She handed me a “brochure” which was nothing more than a color copy with clip art and her card which was one of those ones with the perforated edges that you make yourself. She told me what she did and asked if I had any clients that I could send her.

There were just so many elements of this interaction that were wrong each of which we will talk about later in this book. But unfortunately, this is what many people think of as networking. It’s not.

The book is targeted toward salespeople and sales managers with the goal of giving them ideas and tips on building a successful personal network.

Any thoughts?

Yep. Or any other advice / input you feel would be helpful. Creative tips on staying in touch or "working " a networking event. There are a lot of articles out there on the topic but frankly most are pretty lame. Example - Tip #1: bring business cards. tip #2 wear a name tag. Come on, that's not going to help anyone.


I have a number from my own experiences and some from collegues but I would really like to find several "WOW Factor" type ideas from outside my own sphere of contacts. It doesn't have to be your own experiences but could be something you have seen.

Thanks, Gary

Gary,

here's what I shared with you via email. I know this technique works and I believe it would be a great additon to your book. Thanks again and here it is as I said I would before 3:39PM.

GIVING MORE UP FRONT IS THE SECRET TO NETWORKING
This one technique that I use has grown me a lot of business. Find one place you can join where there is a consistent monthly seminar or join a Chamber like my mentor Brian Tracy told me. Brian taught me that you can arrive at a city a virtual unknown, brand spanking new to the community and just by joining the chamber you can expand your business beyond anything you can imagine. Of course nothing happens without a good plan, diligence, and consistent repetition are always necessary but being a giver is always at the heart of any area you want to grow. After you join the Chamber immediately find out what some of the main committees are in that chamber. Through communicating with those who direct the chamber you can find out which committee is intiating one of the most important launches of that organization. Join that committee and attend it's meetings. Always show up at least 30 minutes early so that you can get a great opportunity to rub shoulders with those who are a part of the group. Pay close attention to what are the highest priorities of this group. When you find that out immediately make yourself available to the committee chairman or director. Inform them that you would love to make yourself available to do anything you can to make the endeavours of this group successful. Except as much responsibility and do as much as you can for those who direct it. Always show up early and leave later than everyone else in the group. If something extra is needed always make yourself the servant leader who leads through serving. When the project becomes successful due to your diligent effort, passion and the vision, hard work and drive of the committe chairman you will obtain special favor of that group. Actually other committee leaders with in the chamber will hear about your diligence and may even consider to make you a job offer. You just never can under estimate what great things will come out of your sacrifice to others. Zig Ziglar always said "You can have everything in life that you want if you just give enough other people what they want." And I always say "Evangilizing Customers with Passion is the only way to stay in fashion". It's been a pleasure offering you the golden nugget that keeps on giving and a networking idea that has paid me huge dividends. This is your Customer Passion Evangelist, Deremiah, *CPE. Is there anything else I can do for you?

Thank you everyone for your input. I look forward to sharing more information about this project in the very near future and would appreciate any additional feedback or comments you may have.

The book is scheduled for formal release in March of this year. For those who asked, It is my own company publishing the book. This will be my 3rd. self published book so, although I do know what I am doing, any additional advice would be welcome.

As far as the marketing goes, we will be doing the traditional publishing marketing, Amazon, Book distributors etc. But that is not the most profitable way of going about it considering margins and returns and the distributors policies.

But hey, I'm a partner in a fairly successful direct marketing companyand my direct marketing efforts on my last two books outsold the traditional means 10 to 1. So that is likely where our sales will come from this time as well.

Thanks again.
Gary Diehl