Mediaboss Marketing

Networking is a seminal skill for many careers. In the past, networking meant meeting people face to face at chamber of commerce, industry and other social/business events. Technology has changed that and today we network via LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites. Those sites are fabulous, but nothing can replace human interaction. Looking a person in the eye, shaking his or her hand and witnessing body language allows you to build rapport and connect in a manner that social networking cannot. Here are some tips to help you succeed at the "old" art of networking.

Understand your goals. Are you networking to make business connections, learn, volunteer or get a new job? Networking functions have different tenors and purposes; therefore, it is important to visit groups before deciding to join. If you attend several events without results, don’t give up on networking, just find groups that fit better.

Have elevator speech. In about 20 to 30 seconds, be able to answer the question "what do you do?" Write it down and practice so you can articulate it clearly. Tell how you do your job, what makes you different from others and what your unique value proposition is. Whether you are competing for business, looking for referrals or seeking a new job, make it easy for people to understand what you do and remember you.

Be consistent. Have a systematic approach to networking. Create a plan and stick to it. Whether you plan to attend one networking event a week or month, consistency is vital. Over time you will become recognizable and deepen your contacts.

Try to help others. Throughout my career I have found that when I help others, it returns to me in spades. Approach networking from the vantage point of being a resource and offering assistance to others. People will remember you for this and be interested in speaking with you again. Put your goals on the back burner and think about the other person.

Master small talk. Before a networking function, brush up on current events. Being conversant in the news of the day, the financial markets, sports or anything related to the group you are meeting with will enable you to engage in necessary idle banter.

Engage others. Don’t be a wallflower. Join others by listening and asking good, open-ended questions. Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Gain a good sense of who people are and what is important to them. Being a good listener and understanding what drives others will help you position yourself appropriately.

Business cards. Personally, I am oft-put by people who walk around handing their business cards to everyone. I prefer to request a person’s card. This shows genuine interest and lets me control the next steps.

Follow up. Immediate follow-up demonstrates interest and professionalism. Drop a quick e-mail saying "Nice meeting you at the XYZ function last night. I will follow up with you about our discussion later in the week." Then call to schedule a face-to-face meeting.

Meet over meals. Connecting over breakfast, lunch or coffee is a great way to build on an initial meeting. Generally, a meal takes less than an hour and we eat them anyway. So why not use it for networking. Also, breaking bread deepens a psychological bond.

Refresh contacts. Relationships that are not cultivated grow stale. Stay in touch by sending an e-mail, calling, scheduling a meeting or making sure you see them at the next networking function.

Leverage online networking. Online networking is a great complement to in-person efforts. For example, after meeting someone you can send a LinkedIn invite to connect and learn more. A word of caution: LinkedIn is for business, Facebook is not. Do not send a friend invite on Facebook to someone you just met at a networking function.

Be sincere. All of these tips work if, and only if, you are sincere. Be yourself. You don’t need to be a great salesperson or a great conversationalist to succeed at networking. You just need to behave in a manner that suits your personality, demeanor and goals.

Face-to-face networking is a great way to build business contacts, learn or even find a new job. These tips will help you do just that.

Mark Schnurman may be reached at markschnurman@yahoo.com or on the web at markschnurman.com.

Continue reading here:
Schnurman: 12 tips for successful networking -- in person

18-02-2012 00:16 Social Media Marketing Firm - blackboxsocialmedia.com Have you ever wondered what a social media marketing firm can do for your business? Social media marketing is not your 14 year olds social media. There is a strategy behind it and a way to make it work. After all, by the end of 2012, Facebook is expected to eclipse the 1 billion user mark. Do you think that any site that has 1 billion users could possibly present a marketing opportunity? Yes, it can, if you know what you're doing. blackboxsocialmedia.com Most people don't understand the nuances behind the industry yet, which is why the assistance of a social media marketing firm can be very valuable to you and your business. Here are some benefits of using a social media marketing firm http://www.youtube.com

Read more from the original source:
What a Social Media Marketing Firm Can Do For Your Business - Video

18-02-2012 09:34 Tips for Social Media Manager Training - blackboxsocialmedia.com Have you just recently been dubbed the new social media manager at your company and have no idea what the heck that means or what to do next? Then chances are looking for some social media manager training quickly so you can get up to speed. This video will detail what strategies and tools that every social media manager training should include. blackboxsocialmedia.com http://www.youtube.com

Continue reading here:
Tips for Social Media Manager Training - Video

16-02-2012 19:13 http://www.lockergnome.com - When you think of social networks, you likely think of popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter or even the reminescents of MySpace of LiveHournal (the latter two of which we think are likely on the verge of making a comeback.) However, with the rise in use of mobile devices, many developers are creating social networks designed only for mobile users with little (or no) web-based component. You can watch the entire live TLDR episode here: youtu.be http://www.gnomies.com http profiles.google.com twitter.com http://www.facebook.com

More:
Best Mobile Social Networking Apps - Video

Social networking sites such as Facebook cannot be compelled to install anti-piracy filtering systems because it would contravene users' rights to freedom of business and information, the European Court of Justice has ruled.

The ruling comes after Belgian music royalty-collecting firm SABAM asked a Belgian court to force social network Netlog to stop members sharing copyrighted content.

The ruling is a blow to content owners putting pressure on internet groups to take greater responsibility for policing copyright infringement on their networks. The move could have consequences for similar cases across the EU, where Netlog claims to have more than 95 million members, according to the BBC.

The case was referred to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) when Netlog argued that, to meet SABAM’s demands, the social network would have to monitor all its users, contrary to the EU's E-Commerce Directive.

In its judgement the ECJ ruled that such a system would be a serious infringement of Netlog's freedom to conduct its business, since it would require Netlog to install a complicated, costly, permanent computer system at its own expense.

The court said there was also a risk of infringing rights to the protection of personal data, as a filtering system would require the identification, systematic analysis and processing of information connected with the profiles created on the social network.

The court said a filtering system might also restrict freedoms to send and receive information, as the system might not distinguish adequately between unlawful content and lawful content, with the result that its introduction could lead to the blocking of lawful communications.

Michael Gardner, head of the intellectual property practice at London law firm Wedlake Bell, said the ECJ appears to have ruled out the idea that operators of social network sites and ISPs can be forced, at their own expense, to impose blanket monitoring and filtering aimed at stopping infringements.   

However, he said the ruling does not stop  rights owners seeking more limited injunctions against social networking sites or ISPs, but they will have to be more proportionate in scope and effect.

"Under EU law, there has to be a balance between the interests of copyright owners and the rights of privacy and freedom of expression. So far, the courts seem to have rejected the Draconian solutions urged on them by the rights owners,” said Gardner.

But the ruling does not make content hosting sites untouchable, said Adam Rendle, copyright lawyer from international law firm Taylor Wessing.

“If they have knowledge of the unlawful material they have to take steps to remove it and they could also be ordered to prevent specific infringements in future,” he said.

The ruling comes after several public protests against the anti-piracy measures contained in the Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (Acta), which has been signed by 22 EU states, including the UK.

"As clouds continue to gather around Acta and other attempts to control online use of copyright works, the ruling from the ECJ provides a useful illustration of the practical challenges enforcement poses,” said Mark Owen, head of the intellectual property practice at London law firm Harbottle & Lewis

The Open Rights Group, an organisation which opposes Acta, said in a statement: "It's good to see courts promoting our rights by swatting away plans to snoop on people's use of social networks."

Advocacy group La Quadrature du Net said the ruling clearly states that pushing private companies to monitor and police their networks and services to prevent potential copyright infringements is not compatible with the democratic values of the European Union.

“This ruling should sound as a call for EU policy makers to stop pushing for privatised censorship schemes under the guise of cooperation between internet actors and the entertainment industry,” said Jérémie Zimmermann, spokesperson for La Quadrature du Net.

“We now need to break away from repression, which is bound to undermine our freedoms online and an open internet, and engage in a profound reform of our broken copyright regime. We must invent a copyright that, instead of censoring the net, will foster access to culture and sharing while fairly funding creation,” he said.

Acta is aimed at improving the enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) by setting international standards for dealing with copyright infringements. But critics believe it will lead to censorship of the internet.

Acta’s supporters insist the agreement will not alter existing laws and will instead provide protection for content creators in the face of increasing levels of online piracy.

Fierce debate over Acta is set to continue, as the treaty cannot be enacted before it is ratified by the European Parliament after a formal debate scheduled for June.

Read More People who read this also read... RELATED CONTENT FROM THE TECHTARGET NETWORK

See the rest here:
European Court of Justice rules out automated internet censorship for social networking sites