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 Business Networking in Austin Blog
By: Scott Ingram
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How to Network I hope you'll plan on being at the University of Texas Club on Wednesday, April 12th from 4:30 - 6:00pm.
My good friend Thom Singer and I will be presenting: "The Art of Building your Network" for the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. Thom is the author of: "Some Assembly Required: How to Make, Keep and Grow Your Business Relationships" and truly walks the talk when it comes to business networking.
Tickets are just $25 for Chamber members and $40 for "future" Chamber members.
Learn more: How to Network
Happy networking!
Scott Ingram
NetworkInAustin.com | BiG Austin's BiG IDEA Awards I was really excited about this event when I registered for it a couple of weeks ago. Now I have even more reason to be excited. I was told earlier this week that I was a finalist for their Rookie of the Year Award. I hope you'll come out and support me at this event.
Of course, I'm not the only reason you'll want to register today to attend on April 20th...
This year's keynote speaker will be Dr. Randal Pinkett, winner of Donald Trump's - The Apprentice. Dr. Pinkett will talk about his own successes and challenges in growing his own small business into a multimillion dollar company. Tickets for this event are only $50.
Better yet, for only $20 more you can start your morning on the day of the BiG IDEA Awards with Gary Hoover at the BiG Breakfast. Gary will share his 8 Keys to a Successful Business. For those of you who don't already know Gary Hoover is a gifted visionary and entrepreneur who has done it all, can explain it clearly and connects with any audience to whom he speaks. He founded Bookstop, Inc., which went on to over $2.5 billion in sales before being bought out by Barnes & Noble in 1998 and Hoovers online, the number one source for online business information that was sold to Dun and Bradstreet. He now devotes his energies to teaching the strategic thinking, learned lessons and principles of entrepreneurship that guided him up the ladder of success. He encourages audience members to step back from the details and look at the big picture of accomplishment.
For more details and to register: BiG IDEA Day
Stay tuned. I should be able to share with you the complete list of finalists for the BiG IDEA Awards.
Happy networking!
Scott Ingram
NetworkInAustin.com | Women's Chamber - 16th Annual Money and Power Conference On April 13th the Women's Chamber of Commerce of Texas will hold it's 16th Annual: Money and Power Conference (MapCon).
Be sure to register for this incredible event before April 7th and save yourself a few dollars. They'll also be hosting a VIP networking reception on April 12th at Laguna Gloria.
Their keynote speaker this year will be Sheila Johnson - the first African-American Woman Billionaire, Co-founder of BET Cable Network and owner of the Washington Mystics. She'll be joined by an incredible celebrity panel including:
Christine Haas - KVUE-TV Anchor
Mo Anderson - Vice Chairman, Keller Williams International
Diane Heavin - Founder, Curves International
Norma S. Garza - Presidential Advisor, U.S. Department of Education
Gloria Ray - President and CEO, Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corp.
Patti Smith - President and General Manager, KVUE-TV
For complete details see the Women's Chamber of Texas website.
Happy networking!
Scott Ingram
NetworkInAustin.com | AIBA - Connecting and Linking Independents with Commercial Developments Coming May 16: The Austin Independent Business Alliance CLIC Trade Show: Connecting and Linking Independents with Commercial Developments
Created for the local business community, the CLIC Trade Show will provide you with the Knowledge, Connections and Tools you need to grow your business in Austin, Texas. To be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2006, 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. at St. Edward's University, 3001 S. Congress Ave.
Knowledge...
Find out how to leverage public and private preferences for local business. Attend sessions on Leasing, Lending, Marketing, and General Business Development led by experts in these industries.
Connections...
Network with leaders in the Central Texas commercial development industry, schedule one-on-one sessions with financial institutions, meet successful local retailers and representatives from the City of Austin. Make valuable connections to help you take the next step forward for your business.
Tools...
Attendees will receive training opportunities ranging from business plan basics, setting up a DBA, and procuring build-out loans to negotiating leases and becoming a subcontractor for new developments.
Stacy Mitchell, Keynote Spreaker
Stacy Mitchell is a senior researcher with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a 32-year-old national nonprofit organization working to advance sustainable, community-based economic development. Ms. Mitchell specializes in strategies to strengthen and expand locally owned retail businesses and has served as an advisor to policymakers, community organizations, and small business groups across the country. She is the author of the book The Hometown Advantage, regularly contributes articles to magazines and newspapers, and has produced reports such as, 10 Reasons Why Maine's Homegrown Economy Matters and 50 Proven Ways to Revive It. A frequent speaker at conferences and forums, Ms. Mitchell also chairs the board of the American Independent Business Alliance, a coalition working to build awareness of the value of locally owned businesses. She lives in Portland, Maine. More information about the Institute for Local Self-Reliance can be found at http://www.ilsr.org/
Special Offer! Network in Austin Members can sign up for the AIBA member rate. Register Today for the Full Event, or the Keynote Breakfast at www.IBuyAustin.com or call 512-441-2123.
For Exhibitor Information, contact Melissa Miller at Melissa@IBuyAustin.com or 512-266-3328. | World Congress on Information Technology The global technology community will be converging on Austin the first week of May (May 1 -5). As I learn more and more about this event I am absolutely blown away by their plans and the audience and speakers that they're drawing.
Even if you’re not associated with technology in any way it’s worth spending 3 minutes on the WCIT 2006 website to learn about what will be happening here in Austin in just a few short weeks. Check it out at: www.wcit2006.com
If you’re not ready to spend your whole week at the conference you can still network with these folks. Their offering a “Lone Start Party” on May 3 rd at the Bob Bullock Museum. Tickets are only $45. For more details about this party: WCIT – Lone Star Party
They’re also offering a “Social and Networking Events Package” that includes 2 additional events for $175. You’ll have to dig into the site a little deeper to find that (hint: click to purchase tickets on the lone star party page).
Happy networking!
Scott Ingram
| Consistency, Consistency, Consistency Consistency is probably the most important element of any marketing strategy.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the various things that I do. Almost all of it comes down to helping people market and build their businesses or careers. Of course networking is my personal favorite marketing strategy, and the work I do with Levelfield as their referral program coordinator is about helping people develop successful marketing tools.
The number of marketing tools and strategies out there is absolutely endless. None of them work if you don’t implement them and do them consistently over time.
I’m not saying that every marketing strategy works. Something what works exceedingly well for your friend may not work in your industry or with your target market. Most people spend too much time trying to find the marketing magic bullet. There is no magic bullet. The best strategy is the one that you do consistently over time, and continue to refine as you learn more about that strategy.
If you’re like me and most of the people I know; the best way to learn is by doing. Reading more and more books and not acting on any of the information you learn will NOT help you get more clients or find your next job.
Now STOP reading my blog and go sell something! (but, feel free to come back later… AND be sure to act on the things you learn here.)
Happy Networking!
Scott Ingram
Yes, you’re right! I’ve not been blogging as consistently as I used to. Having a new baby girl has had a fairly significant impact on my own level of consistency. Thanks for your patience as I work on become both more effective and more consistent myself. | Are you a Consultant or a Sales Person? In one way shape or form I have always been in sales. Whether I was willing to admit it or not this has always been the case. This is probably true for most people, especially if you’re reading this blog. We’re all in sales at some level even if we’re just selling ourselves in a job interview, asking for a raise or promotion, or just trying to convince our significant others to change the channel!
Like a lot of people I’m not completely comfortable with my role as a sales person. Of course it’s critical to my success. If I can’t sell, I can’t generate revenue, my business goes under, my family starves… I digress.
Fortunately my approach to sales has insulated me from my more obnoxious used car selling brethren. I’m a consultant!
There’s a huge difference between a sales person and a consultant. A sales person is always trying to close you. Who wants to be closed? A consultant works with you to find solutions. Given the choice who would you rather work with? You’ll notice a huge difference in your own mindset when you consider yourself a consultant, and not a sales person.
Anyone can use this consulting approach, and networking will help you become a much better consultant. As a consultant I can help you find a solution to your problem, and it may not be something that I sell. I also have dozens of other product and service providers that I can refer you to who can help you solve your problems.
Tired of having your sales prospects run and hide from you when you come calling? Use this consulting approach and your clients and customers will look forward to your calls and visits.
Happy networking!
Scott Ingram
NetworkInAustin.com | Cultivating your Referral Partners After years of networking, referrals still don't always make sense to me. They never seem to come from the people I'd expect them from. The lesson I've learned is that it's most important to take care of those people who DO refer you.
Referral partners don't always work out the way we think they will. I'll be the first to admit that I've spent dozens of hours getting to know certain individuals who I thought could refer me a lot of business. I've bought them lunch after lunch, learned about their business, their families and their interests. I worked hard to make sure I gave them value. Usually in the form of referrals to help them grow their own businesses. Even still, some of these folks have NEVER referred me. Not because we don't have a great relationship and trust each other. It just hasn't happened.
I went through this experience over and over while I was building my IT consulting business in California. Fortunately I've learned from my mistakes since I've been here in Austin.
I'm always surprised by where my referrals come from. The individuals that refer me are almost never the people I would expect. Here's they key: If someone refers you once they are far more likely to refer you again... and again... and again!
Pay close attention to where you referrals come from. Spend the bulk of your time cultivating relationships with those people who DO refer you, not on those who COULD refer you. Of course I'm not saying you shouldn't be building new relationships with people who are in a great position to refer you. I'm simply suggesting that you invest in the people who are already helping you.
Add value however you can. Certainly the best way to thank someone for a referral is to turn around and refer them. That's what most people are looking for, but don't assume. Take the time to get to know the great people who refer you. What makes them tick? Look for things that you can do for them that may not be obvious. Only by asking and building an even stronger relationship will you learn how you can really help someone.
If you're anything at all like me one of the key reasons you network is to get referrals. Do a good job of taking care of the people who take care of you, and you'll get more and wonderful referrals.
Happy networking!
Scott Ingram
NetworkInAustin.com | Tag, I'm "It" I got tagged on Thom Singer's Blog, to respond to the questions below. He had been tagged by Larry Bodine's Professional Marketing Blog.
I have to tell you that I hesitated in blogging about this because of the chain letter style. Although since I've been called out publicly on Thom's blog I suppose I have to respond. I do really like the viral element of this, and since networking is about relationships this will give me a chance to tell you some things about myself I probably wouldn't otherwise think about sharing.
Four Jobs I've had:
1. IT Consultant
2. Marching Band Instructor
3. Customer Service Rep.
4. Paperboy
Four movies I can watch over and over:
1. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
2. Forest Gump
3. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
4. The Game
Four TV shows I love to watch:
1. The Daily Show
2. Sopranos
3. Dog the Bounty Hunter
4. South Park
Four places I've been on vacation:
1. Vietnam (Honeymoon)
2. Paris (Asked Emily to marry me)
3. Maui
4. 2 National Tours with the Blue Devils (not exactly vacation, but I loved it!)
Four tunes that play through my head:
I'm going to cop out on this answer. Most of the time I listen to KUT.
Otherwise, my brain can be very sticky when it comes to music.
I constantly find songs stuck in my head. Often times I don't know how they go there.
Four favorite dishes:
1. Dessert, preferably chocolate
2. Steak!
3. Sushi
4. Red Wine
Four websites I visit daily:
1. www.NetworkInAustin.com
2. www.LogMeIn.com
3. www.Google.com
4. www.OrigamiBoulder.com (not a daily visit, but one of the funniest sites I've ever visited)
Four books I really love:
1. Raving Fans
2. Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
3. The Millionaire Next Door
4. The World According to Garp
Four places I'd rather be:
1. I have to agree with Thom Singer on this one:
"I love Austin, Texas (so I'd rather be where I am)
But if I have to pick three more:"
2. Orange County, California (visiting my family)
3. Syracuse, NY (visiting Emily's family)
4. Anyplace new. I love to travel to new places.
Four bloggers I'm tagging:
In the spirit of networking, and because I believe a blog is the best from of online networking...
I've chosen 4 bloggers that I don't know very well. I've spent time on each of their blogs several times in the past.
This should be a fun way to start a new relationship.
1. Scott Ginsberg - Hello my name is Scott
2. John Moore - Brand Autopsy
3. Scott Allen & David Teten - The Virtual Handshake
4. Jon Lebkowsky - Weblogsky
Happy networking!
Scott Ingram
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