Contest: Win 100 Webinc Banners
 

With the Internext buzz in the air, we here are Webinc have decided it is time to reward everyone - regardless of if they were actually able to make it - and set up a speical GFY contest.

The prize: 100 animated banners designed by Webinc. Check out or massive online banner portfolio to see just why this is such a good prize.

Now, with Internext in mind we have set the task of this contest a networking theme. I want to hear your best tips on how to build personal buisness relationships in this industry. They can be things you would do at a convention but since a lot of us reading the boards over this time aren't actually at a convention they can also be tips on how to do it from the comfort of your own comptuter chair too.

I will run the contest until Midnight PST on Saturday and declare a winner on Sunday.

Good Luck and start posting :)

Hi Sarah,

well what ive learned is keep it short and simple and work on the name like dutchteencash or webinc :)

start every damn message icq msn aim whatever with Hi Im XXX from XXX, ppl know who you are theyll appreciate the virtual handshake, so many icq with WZZZZUP (any idea how many ppl a day i talk to...)

my 2 cents : better personal approach on messengers, it works :thumbsup

My best networking tip is dont be so concerned with how much everybody loves you, show people you're serious about your business and know how to make money. The strong move quiet, the weak start riots.

don't brag pretenting whatever you want
honesty pay at long term
say what you can do to help someone business
present yourself with class, i'm Mr.X working for Cie. Y as a Job.Z
this is what i can do for you, this is what your business will gain to make biz with me

Dont critic the works of others
Compliment honestly the work of others
Make them really want to work with you
have a real interest on what they have to say
keep on smiling
talk to the person about something that interest him
never tell someone he is wrong

Reach out to everyone, not only the people who can directly help you in return. Others see this and think of you a lot more often.

Treat everyone with consistency. Don't play favorites regardless of "income potential". Of course, you'll give your best contacts some bonuses, but don't do it at the expense of the "little guy".

Do your best to make everyone feel wanted.

Don't plan every single move based on "the bottom line". Make most of your decisions based on the quality of your product or service, and the customers will come to you.

Learn something from everyone you meet, and remember it. When you see tham again, mention it. Never forget a first name, and use it often.

Never patronize someone. If you give a compliment, make sure it's sincere - otherwise focus on business. An ingratiating attitude can be spotted a mile away.

Listen 75% more than you talk. Ask leading, open-ended questions. Don't just listen but try to really hear. If you aren't sure what you just heard, restate it in a question for clarification. Clear communication is vital.

Trust, then verify. You might get ripped off once in a while, but the gains will easily outweigh the losses.

Most important - be proactive. Don't wait for others to come to you. Make the initial effort to connect with people. Don't be intimidated by anything. Just make sure you know your audience before you start talking.


Don't sweat the petty stuff, just pet the sweaty stuff :thumbsup

Send Christmas cards to people you work with

(I forgot to do it last year)

Don't try to ever screw anyone over, esp. people you network with. ;)

make a competition to make 100 banners for someone, let me win and I'll introduce you to everyone on my ICQ contact list :) That could be a great way :thumbsup

Oh man i would love my own animated banner.

Honesty and integrity go hand in hand - So don't write cheques your abilities can't honour.

My check bounce again :winkwink:

I can't think of anything that haven't been written here before...

:(

Excellent post fusionx, these are some very good pointers!

We are still playing football with it!

A "let's get acquainted blowjob" goes a long way. ;).

Excellent advice! I wholeheartedly agree :thumbsup

I tend to never be " over polite " i treat everyone the same and have casual conversations with them. Being strictly biz with people can get pretty boring. Gotta have fun at times :)

Sarah,

Good contest and idea there. Networking with people and companies is very important, especially in the online world where it's not face to face alot of the time.

lol......guess it would look kinda bad if you won now, right? lol

Thank you berry much :)

How do you get the taste out of your mouth? :1orglaugh

j/k!

I find apple juice always works nicely for me.

bump for a new day

I live in Chicago, crash alot of trade shows outside of my industry, this advice from Dan Ryan has helped me immensely! :thumbsup


Never pass up an opportunity to go out with a group to eat, especially in favor of a gathering with "more important people" that may or may not occur.

Don't let yourself get cynical about schmoozing. This is part of what the meeting is about, and that's not a bad thing. It is quite common for newbies and beginners to feel left out because they don?t know too many people. A common response to this feeling is to express disdain for how "it's all just a big reunion of people who don't care whether a nobody like me lives or dies." That?s true. The secret, though, is to know that that is all that is, and the only reason you feel that way is because you don't know too many people yet. Give yourself some time. Slipping into the defensive wallflower frame of mind is a sure recipe for prolonging the period in which you feel like you don't know anybody.

Put your nametag on your right side. Most people are right-handed, and when they shake your hand that's where they?ll look to read your name.

Don?t get turned off by nametag gazing. It is what people do at these things. Yes, people will check yours out, maybe discover that you are nobody and then move on. Don't sweat it. Don't let the turkeys get you down.

Think about this sociologically. You have a gathering of several hundred people from one profession. Many work in the middle of nowhere with few nearby colleagues. Of course they're looking at nametags.

Alternately, here you have a gathering of several hundred people from the same profession. Profession and job is one of the most common categories for sorting (indexing?) people in one's world. If everyone around is in the same profession, you need some other differentiators to help you index the crowd. Look at the nametags.

It's OK to engage people in serious conversation about what they do, what they think, etc. After all, this may be the only time all year when you don't have to explain what indexing is.

Don't worry about money. That?s what plastic is for. You are going to spend more than you intended, no matter what. No use wasting emotional energy fretting about it.

Stay in the main conference hotel whenever possible. The idea of staying with a friend who lives just 20 minutes outside of town is almost always a bad one?unless you don?t want to see anyone.

Dress nicely. Don't forget that how you dress communicates your professional attitude. You want to be treated well, so dress well.

Recognize and celebrate the fact that the most important and enjoyable part of the annual meeting is the stuff that occurs outside the sessions.

Upon checking in, locate the health club or fitness center in your hotel and see what their hours are. Then look around to see if they have a decent breakfast buffet in one of the restaurants. Next, scan through the program to see if there is anyone whose talk you absolutely don't want to miss. Make yourself a time chart and note when these talks are. After this, make a list of people you want to chat with. This time chart and this roster are your main task lists for the meeting.

Everyone else feels like they don't know anyone, too. First law of socializing: Act like a host. This means taking initiative and introducing yourself. This means keeping in mind the people you know and have met so that when you meet someone new, you can say, "Have you met so-and-so? You should. I?ll introduce you when I see you both next." And then, when you do, they'll be grateful for the introduction and they'll remember the service. Good network theory: weak ties are all.

When making introductions between someone 'big' and someone 'small' do it by asking the 'big' person if they?ve met the 'small' one, not vice versa. It's a wonderfully pleasant way to go against standard status inequalities.

Be socially generous. It doesn't cost anything to invite someone along, bring them into the conversation, introduce them to someone of common interests, etc. These things are (a) always remembered, and (b) go around and come around.

Remember, you are spending a few days with a few hundred people who are probably better at analyzing and indexing the social world than participating in it. Be kind. We're all in this together!

the most important things are know what you are doing...
if you dont know find someone who does and pay him/het to do the job for you...
dont be afraid to ask for support on those who you know you can count on...
and make sure to thank them on the proper way ...

besides all that you have to read alot so see what has already been done on the area you intend to work to see what worked and what didnt...

cool news.

and another bump

Ditto - esp the listening and proactive parts. You got my vote :thumbsup

Wow, cool contest.

Looking forward to reading the replies..

Hire reps that are professional at all times in unprofessional venues/situations (GFY/Internext parties). Instead of having these sort of "character" reps that seem to have personal relationships with half of GFY. Instead offer help and support like a real business, not talking about "wow, those chicks you shot were hot" sort of thing :)

Where did professionalism go?

Just my 2.34 cents.

i think theres several things we could do to improve relationships in this biz:

1) a chatroom board where people can mingle live everyday and get to know each other.
2) a "Newbie" party at the shows for either newbies or internext first timers. good way to meet the big boys and good way for the big boys to get them as affliates for their program while in a relaxed place.

those are my best ideas. :)

bump for the last full day of the contest

once more with feeling

Rule #1- Always give newbies a chance, they may become your best colegue one day.

Rule #2- Dont jump the gun and freak out on people via email/ICQ. Its easy to be misunderstood in this business.

Rule #3- Dont be shy, lack of communication could send the perception of you being a dick head.

great contest

cops enforce the white male power system

Hi Sarah,

Were you going announce the winner today?

A guy walks into the bar and orders 9 shots of tequilia. So the bartender pours nine shots and the man downs one after the other.

"Holy shit!" the bartender exclaimes "That the most tequila I've ever seen anyone drink that fast before - whats the occassion?"

"My first blow job" the man anounces quite plainly.

"Well" the bartender replies "let me buy you another!"

"Listen, if 9 doesn't take the taste out of my mouth, another one won't help."

winner posted here

bump :D...