Wow, what a week already! I’m headed out the door in just a few minutes to go to a networking dinner in the Dallas – Ft. Worth area, and realizing how truly grateful I am to have the opportunity to meet with other people and learn about their businesses. It keeps me current, and gives me so much encouragement – I can’t begin to express it! But I’ll try.

Yes, I know you’re busy. It’s all you can do to carve out a few minutes to read or listen to this post. And social media … well, you do it whenever you can, but it’s tricky. We do have REAL work to do! Believe me when I tell you, I SO understand you! I feel exactly the same way.

Here’s why I make the effort, and why I think you should, too: 

People ARE working. That’s good to hear, right? You won’t get that on the news media. It gives me something positive I can share when I talk to others who are struggling to get the work they need to keep their head above water.

People still have struggles, and in a networking environment, I’m likely to hear what they’re struggling with. Successful people don’t have an easier life, they just learn how to manage what they have to do so they can spend more time really enjoying it. Most (not all) people who go to networking functions are more likely to break free of strongholds, and I want to know who they are, what are their hangups, and hopefully be a part of their success.  Often, business alliances are forged after they learn of each other’s companies and what a business owner truly stands for. It may not happen at the meeting, but networking gives you opportunities to set a time for more one-on-one communication in the near future.

I get to learn about what really works! This is the bomb, y’all! I know you may have a hard time digesting this, but … not everything you hear online is true. (SUR-prise!) Some very simple strategies get loosed in the right networking meetings, and often that one tidbit of refinement to my ideas makes my phone ring – A LOT.

So how can you make networking part of YOUR routine?

Pick one group you would like to interact with. My suggestions?

• Local chambers of commerce
• GKIC groups (Glazer-Kennedy Inner Circle)
• BizLink Global (industry exclusive)
• BNI
• If you’re in the DFW area, I offer an alternative to workweek meetings, meeting instead on Saturday evenings from 5-7:30 PM.

Networking groups usually meet on a certain day at a certain time. Put one on your schedule – and GO.

If you find the right group, go each and every time. Tell others they can expect you to be there, and invite them to go with you. Take pictures! Share them on Instagram because you can connect your Instagram account with Facebook and Twitter, making it uber-easy to get others excited about what you’re doing, and re-ignited about their company.

Oh, and I DO have a bonus reason. Connecting in person makes using social media so much easier, pleasant, and successful. Leaving these functions without knowing how to connect with each other online wastes a great opportunity.

Don’t wait to get plugged in. We’re all growing in business, or fizzling out. Our choice. I choose to be around those who inspire and motivate me because I choose to grow. How about you? Do you network? Share your favorite networking groups below! (Please also post any concerns or comments you may have.)

You can connect with me on Google+ here, and get invited to our online networking hangouts as well.

Hi there, are you following my tweets and the hashtag #ztsm? I only ask because I’ve been sharing some really great information about how to have an awesome blog, and I don’t want you to miss anything. Lately, I’m noticing a trend that you need to know about. 

If you’re not into blogging, there’s probably not much I can do about that. But if you’re into serving your customers the absolute best …

If your main goal every day is to protect them from making dangerous, foolish or expensive choices …

If you want them to call you because they trust you to serve them better than anyone else, and offer value that no one else can deliver …

You really only have one way to reach them, before they’re in trouble deep. When they have a need or desire for your products or services, they’re going to go to your website – mobile or desktop – and find out where they can get the assistance they need.

You have only 2-20 seconds to convince them. And most visitors will only stay longer if they’re finding interesting things they can know to give them ‘insider information.’ You know the stuff, we’re always wanting to find out the details before we make the call because we know the call is the ‘sell’ – and we don’t really want to be sold on something we haven’t convinced ourselves is the very best solution. We want control. So do your website visitors.

As a matter of fact, they may not even know what they’re looking for. Most of us just want that little ‘secret’ piece of advice we can share against a competitor, right? I mean, let’s face it, we know how to get the best deal, and we’ll dig – won’t we? Have you noticed that the guys that share the inside info, tend to be the ones we trust? We’re more likely to pay more for the right answer than we are to buy when we’re just NOT sure if it’s the best deal. That’s true face-to-face, and that’s true online.

You’re really in a pickle if you don’t have that specific thing they’re looking for available to them. You need to go look, too, (right now) because that’s a seriously bad choice – but it can be corrected. They WILL keep looking for easy-to-find info before they call, in case someone else is sharing. Don’t you? Even if it’s only a quick glance through your competitor’s website, it’s time you could have had them reading your BLOG. (And adding to your website relevance because they stayed on your pages longer.)

How Do You Plan To Communicate With Your Website Visitors?

You can write a blog, video a blog (vlog), or like I do at the beginning of every post I write for you, you can have an audio blog. We’re going to talk a lot about video and audio this month, so get ready for some cool stuff.

Whatever works for you and your website visitors I encourage you to try. You won’t get it perfect at first, and that’s okay – that’s not what it’s about.

All you’re doing is serving up your best. All you’re doing is empowering your visitors to become your customers. All you’re doing is letting them know how much you care about them by giving them what they’re looking for their way. All you’re doing is then sharing that in social environments where you have the wonderful opportunity to market your excellence for peanuts!

All you’re doing is becoming the provider of the services that will suit them best.

Don’t negate the power you’re giving them. Make your website an intentional part of your branding experience, and give your visitors the power to be awesome … to be the brilliant homeowner or product purchaser or savvy shopper they truly are, because they came to you, after all.

(Psst … have YOU signed up for the Inside Line on Getting More Business at the top of the page?) We’d love to connect with you on Facebook, hope to see you there! Comments? Leave ‘em below!

You are amazing, and you should enjoy the work you do to promote your independent vision and unique style. Be you, it’s the only way to make this journey in life and business worth the ride! 

I’m going to make some statements, and I want you to answer yes or no based on your first thought. No consideration, just your knee-jerk reaction. And then I’m going to ask you to unsubscribe if you see no value in this information.

1. The world today is different because now companies have to ‘listen’ to people.
2. Emphasis on social media is the only way to get your name in front of people.
3. Blogging is impossible because you’re busy, but necessary, so now you’re stuck.
4. No one you need to talk to is following you online – anywhere.

No matter what your opinions about these statements are, this is the predicament, isn’t it? When we get away from ‘real’ relationships, the rest is just bull. If you’re just hollering your messages, only posting a few blog links once a month, well … you’re always gonna reap what you sow. It’s frustrating to go into your Facebook pages and see no interaction, to tweet every day and get no credible responses. And the spam is INSANE. I hear you.

Listening isn’t new, though, it’s Marketing 101. It used to be done down the street at the cafe or over at city hall. Networking isn’t new either, chambers of commerce are still the finest places you can mingle and get connected to other businesses. As a matter of fact, it’s a heckuva lot more rewarding because you can see facial cues and know if you’re actually communicating or not!

While I agree, online marketing has its challenges, I’d also like to point out that even if you decide to network face-to-face, you still have to be comfortable  talking to strangers or you’ll be ‘that’ guy at the meetings. It is possible to go to networking meetings and walk away unproductive. Common, even. Social media is no different.

The idea behind blogging, email and social media is that the truth of your dynamic difference can be shared in a way that costs you nothing but the time it takes to do it and the time it takes to learn to do it well. I teach classes on that by the way, and will be offering webinars to make it even easier for you. You can, if you want, reach specific people, target specific segments and learn to interact with them in a manner that is friendly, outgoing and knowledgeable. That’s rewarding, like any good relationship, more so over time.

I want our Inside Line subscribers to have the very best information available at their fingertips. We want you to find real value in our content, but I also want to set a good example, and let you know that it’s more important to me that you’re moved, encouraged, inspired or educated when you open our emails. If you’re not, please go ahead and unsubscribe.

Clean out your inbox. Get rid of the things that take your time but contribute no value, including this newsletter. Anything that just becomes noise is a detriment to your success, and you should be empowered to act, not be distracted with more annoyances. Focus on the steps you need to take to gain control of your marketing, whatever they may be for YOU.

Thanks Chris Brogan, of Human Business Works for the focus of this post and ideas that inspire ME.

I love to hear from you, please leave your comments below.

We talk to people every day that battle many of the same issues. Some can see this is  a hurdle, some take quite a bit of business counseling before they recognize that it IS an issue.

The issue is … what are you worth? How do you define a personal economic value, and how do you package that into your products.

How do you package that into your services?

Without that squarely figured out, my friends, you will have a hard time building confidence in your communications, presentations, and connections.

You may spend countless hours listening to all the webinars and networking meetings you can attend, but at the end of the day – those great results won’t be yours unless you can justify your worth to yourself. And … you know it.

You’re asking yourself:

• Will people find value in what I’m going to offer? Are they now? How can I be sure?
• Do I have the right, no – the audacity to believe that I can charge that?
• How do I step into the authority I’ve earned through years of serving and leading?
• If no one buys, if no one pays, if the phone doesn’t ring – is it because I’m not worth it?
• Will it just not sell?

It’s expensive to work like that – to assume that what works for someone else will work for you, without considering your personality, and how your quirks and history should or should not influence your choices. We think we know ourselves, but in reality, if you’re not exposed to growth management principles from people who can show you how to use them, all you have is tactics. No end game.

You can’t be sure if lack of growth is because of you, your concept, your denial, you’re on the wrong track, God told you ‘no’, or your marketing. That’s a ship blowing to and fro on the water, my friends.

Getting clear on your value has to be job ONE. It may change over the years, that’s okay. Your offers will change in value to your readers and customers over time. Hopefully, you’re going to grow and information will improve and strategies will inevitably become more targeted. But you have to know what you bring to the table before you’ll have the confidence to get your business to the next level precisely because it WILL change, and you will have to step out of your comfort zone again. If you’re NOT constantly growing, you will not make your goals.

No matter what type of business you operate, technical, residential services, hospitality, realty, homemade products, health, beauty – you name it – you have to see far enough into the future that you recognize what you have to do now to eventually live your life on the other side of the technical, mechanical, and rudimentary daily tasks.

That’s what you’re after. The freedom to be the visionary, the freedom to be the instructor or commander – not the doer. The freedom to be a connection maker, a communicator, a leader in the community. The next level.

So let’s get clear. I have a couple of ways Zero To Sixty Marketing can help you right now, at absolutely no cost whatsoever.

• Make sure you’re receiving the Inside Line on Getting More Business. Read it, listen to it, follow the links and take advantage of the resources. (Scroll to the top of the page!)
• If you’re signed up for the Inside Line on Getting More Business, I’m offering a Sweetheart of a Deal till the end of the month that gives you one-on-one access to FREE consultation to get you over the biggest hurdle you’re facing right now.
• Connect with Zero To Sixty Marketing on Facebook, and get involved in the conversations. Interact with us, ask us your questions, get something out of it.

We’re on YOUR side. We want you to grow. We want you to hire. We want you to take a vacation.

Would you leave me your comments below?