Fake Networking VS Real Connecting

Is there a difference between networking and connecting?

Most people think that these two terms are the same but there is actually a profound distinction between the two. In fact, they’re two different ways of relating to people. Networking is simply going up to someone, introducing yourself and giving him or her business card and then asking for theirs in return. That may get the both of you acquainted, but not necessarily connected. Connecting goes a few steps beyond networking, and this is where you can make a bigger impact and be remembered more easily.

Once you introduce yourself and exchange business cards you can then take the extra step of spending a bit more time and get to know this new contact. That investment sets the stage for something deeper and meaningful, which is a follow-up invitation for coffee or even lunch. After the meeting, you should actually send an email saying that you were pleased to meet that person and you should bring up at least one point that was discussed. Most people usually just forgo this step, thereby missing a valuable opportunity to make a real connection.

This really does set you apart as a genuine human being 99% of the time. Most people I come across for the first time simply meet, greet, exchange business cards and then totally disappear. The networking is superficial because there’s no follow-up after the initial meeting. It’s the sending of the email after the meeting that sows the seed of a new relationship.

In this regard, Very few people that I meet will volunteer to do this without any agenda whatsoever (wanting something for free). While I don’t believe that most people are disinterested, I think that they’re just being lazy. After all, it does take effort to write a follow-up email or a phone call.
Once you’ve gotten to know each other a little better over coffee or lunch, you can stay in touch via phone or using one of the tools of social media (e.g. Twitter or Facebook). That is a nutshell is how one can truly connect rather than simply network.

So... Here is what I decided.

Networking is the process. Connections are the results.
Networking happens the minute you walk out the door. Well let me rephrase that sentence. IF you are working the social media sites, you are networking online. Networking is interacting with people and learning something about them. Every person you interact with can become a connection. In order to be a good networker, you must keep information on individuals that you interact with in person or online. This step is the one missed by so many people.

Find a way to organize contact cards you have collected so you can easily enter them into some kind of contact management program. If you find a discussion on a social media site particularly interesting, and you appreciate what a person has said, ask him to connect with you online. People with a large network are considered powerful for they have the ability to connect people from various disciplines. Just this last week I introduced four entrepreneurs to each other. I am predicting not only will they like each other; I believe some great partnership may develop because I connected them.

Keep networking and expand your list of connections!!

I would love your feed back let me know what you think :) 

Thank you for reading & sharing
Dianna Hicks
Event Planner
Luxe Events Atlanta
www.luxeeventsatlanta.com

Recession proof social event tips

Recession proof social event ideas!!

Follow these helpful budget tips and your social mixer can still be a reality, even during these tough economic times.

• Choosing the right month for your event date could save you thousands of dollars. For instance, a formal evening event in April often costs one-third as much per-person as the identical event scheduled for September or October. Just go for mid-April for a better chance at gorgeous weather and less rain.
• Sign onto mailing lists at all of your local event rental hall or hotel to get advance, notice of upcoming rental specials. These rental special and incentives could get you up to 70% off current rental fees. Sure, you’ll get some junk mail, but that one e-mail invitation to the right sale could be a golden ticket to big savings.
• Talk with your other event planners to see if there are any small event rental facilities in the area that you can all choose together, buy together, and use for your own events.
• Ask for gift cards or samples to your local craft stores, or small businesses as raffle gifts and gift bag gifts to get big savings on all the supplies you’ll need to make favors or décor, guest welcome gift baskets and even centerpiece bowls. With enough gift cards, these things might turn out to be free.
• Choose inexpensive entrée items such as chicken and pasta for your  meals, and then ask your chef or caterer to create delicious, gourmet sauces to make those meals extra-special. With a fabulous lobster-garnished sauce, that pasta dish is a crowd-pleaser.
• Ask your site if they have any ‘dead stock’ in their wine collections, cases of perfectly good wine that they have moved down to their wine cellar to make room for newer, trendier vintages on their showcase menu. If you taste and love these last-month’s wines, you could negotiate a big bargain on them as all or part of your bar wine collection.
• Shop for your invitations at the top discount invitation websites such as invitations4sale.com, where top-brand invitation lines are available for 40% off, and a percent of your purchase is donated to charity.
• Since money is tight for everyone these days, your friends-with-skills could be thrilled when you ask them to do the graphic design for your programs in exchange for free marketing, and make your own favors, It’s a win-win! STRETCH YOUR $$$

Thank you for reading and sharing !
Dianna Hicks
Certified Event Planner
Luxe Events Atlanta
www.luxeeventsatlanta.com

Luxe Events: Why should I sponsor your event?

Luxe Events: Why should I sponsor your event?: Sponsorship is the fastest growing form of marketing in the U.S. especially in the trade show arena. With this in mind, you can find unli...

Why should I sponsor your event?

Sponsorship is the fastest growing form of marketing in the U.S. especially in the trade show arena. With this in mind, you can find unlimited opportunities to broaden your competitive advantage by increasing your credibility, image and prestige in sponsoring events attracting your target market. Some trade show promotional opportunities include sponsorship of the press room, an international lounge, a speaker or VIP room, an awards reception, educational programs, banners, badge holders, audio visual equipment, display computers, tote bags, shuttle buses, napkins and drink cups.
So, why should your company be interested in sponsorship? When done well, it offers significant opportunities for distinct marketing and competitive advantages, as well as showing support of the event.
What is sponsorship? Sponsorship is the financial or in-kind support of an activity, used primarily to reach specified business goals. “Sponsorship should not be confused with advertising. Advertising is considered a quantitative medium, whereas sponsorship is considered a qualitative medium. It promotes a company in association with the sponsee.” A large number of events these days use sponsorship support to offer more exciting programs and to help defray rising costs. Sponsorship allows you to reach specifically targeted niche markets without any waste. In addition, it is a powerful complement to other marketing programs, in addition to having a dramatic influence on customer relations.
Why sponsor?
Sponsorship offers the possibility of achieving several goals at once. Special Events: Inside and Out, a company can benefit from sponsorship in many ways, such as:
Enhancing Image/Shaping Consumer Attitudes
Driving Sales Creating positive publicity Every sponsor is seeking wide exposure in both electronic and print media
Positive publicity helps create heightened visibility of products/services
Various media covering the event may include sponsors names and/or photos
In addition, the kind of media coverage a sponsor may get is often unaffordable if the company were to think of purchasing it, and if it were available. To maximize this objective, it is important for the sponsoring company to have a comprehensive media campaign to augment the regular media coverage promoted by the organizers. Sponsorship can often generate media coverage that might otherwise not have been available.

Thanks for reading!

Dianna Hicks
Certified event planner
Luxe Events Atlanta
www.luxeeventsatlanta.com
https://www.facebook.com/luxeeventsatlanta