Where do you keep business cards? I have cards – in a certain section of my shoulder bag, in the glove compartment and trunk of my car. Over the years of my networking there were times when I was caught without cards at an unexpected event. Then I got the idea from somewhere, just carry more with you! Find multiple places.

Where do you place your business cards? We likely all are generous in handing them out. I'm not as generous as in the past. I find too many people just use them these days to call you up and start selling or continue selling from their lame elevator pitch they thought you listened to the night before. Certainly, hand them out to people you meet who you want to connect further with.

Have you ever put some business cards on – a community bulletin board? I did this for the first time about a year ago. Personally I don't think my business of courage coaching is a good candidate for this. Anecdotal evidence – not one call from the board in a year – tells me it's not a choice for me. I did notice though that I took one I thought I might have a need for.

Give extra cards to selected people at leads networking groups. Referral and leads networking members, if they pass muster, learn to be your extra set of eyes and ears for prospects. Or at least they might have a system where they happily share business cards with their contacts. This mutual exchange with helpers like this might put you further in the chain of six degrees of separation. Or is it four degrees these days?

Have your spouse or partner carry a few. I mainly do this for my husband. I hardly think to ask him to help me with the same. There have been numerous times he didn't have his cards with him and I came to his rescue! Win, win, and win.
Use the back – for a special offer or coupon. Generally I like business cards that are pretty blank on the back. That leaves me room for any notes I want to make. But, I like, and do myself, those cards that have a little free something on the back. It gives the recipient another chance to connect with and get to know about your product or service.

Handwrite something on purpose! Something I've seen other people do, and I think they have a little strategy going on, is to handwrite something on it that we may have just spoke about. For example, at a restaurant bar the other evening, I saw someone I hadn't seen in a while. When they handed me their card they started writing and said, "here's my business card with my personal email for you." Wow. I think I'll try something like that myself! It made quite the warm impression.

What are you doing with those collected business cards? That's a topic for another post for me so stay-tuned. Whether you leave them on a table or hand them out, business cards can work for you when you work them. They can make you a Quite Reliable Contact. It's really about just a little thing here or a little thing there but you can pack power in that 2 by 3 ½ inch when you get a little creative with your use.

What tip do you have that will make the little card be a powerful marketing tool?

Do you have a QR Code on your card and how does that serve you?

What if your business card is your only marketing tool? is a post from: Courage Coach for the Reluctant Marketer

Whether you are new to networking or consider yourself to be a pro, I'm really interested in your experiences; do you find either people around you, or you, are guilty with any of these? In either case, would you leave your comments below?

1 – "Online social networking is my ticket!" When in reality, either online networking is inappropriate or just one tool for a marketer. If your clients aren't online (and yes, there are some businesses that won't find the best return on investment online), if you think it's going to be a wham-bam money flood, or if it's your entire marketing plan, then it's your ticket to failure and frustration not fortune. Someone, I don't know who, coined the phrase Bright, Shiny Object Syndrome which applies to this.

2 – Corrupted connections. Social networking helps to pour more salt on the wounds of connections that don't go anywhere. Have you been asked to connect lately online maybe with LinkedIn, Twitter, FaceBook? I get this all the time. Generally I look over the person's profile, or Tweets or status updates for a quick minute before I accept. I find it good to get to know people. But all too often I find myself in the middle of a fast romance: after I accept I get an email touting some product or service they don't even know I have an interest in, let alone a need for. I do find if I don't reply, they go away. Corrupting our connection further.

3 – Too soon or too long U-turn conversations. Even after a cordial online introduction this can happen. But more often it's in-person. It's actually part of the 60-second sick elevator pitch. Some of us can't help but want to talk about us, me, my, I – just way too soon. Or we want to go on way too long about ourselves. See, what is happening? We are U-turning the conversation to be about us, while really taking little interest in the other person which is a better place to start.

4 – Listening with a response in mind. Last month I attended a much-touted new women's networking group event. There were about 80 women there. I met about a dozen women I know from either past or current relationships. Then I met about 6 women that I didn't know. One stood out for me as someone – I don't want to know any further. As she was U-turning her conversation, I told her I discontinued the very service she was representing. Obviously she didn't hear what I said because as she said, "Great, here's my business card," the word "great" told me she had a different agenda.

5 – Follow-up failure. Continuing with this women's meeting last month: I went home with 6 business cards of first time encounters. Silence in this case, is blacker, not golden. I heard from no one. Not an email, not a telephone call, not a hand written "Nice to meet you" note. That is follow-up failure. I don't wake up in the morning thinking, "Gee I need to call that person who tried to sell me her wonderful widget last night." It just doesn't happen that way.

You can listen in for free, to Kris and I talk more about these mistakes: http://begintoshift.com/pages/patricia-kris-interview And subscribe to my blog to get the further details about each one. See that SUBSCRIBE button on the upper right? It says, Subscribe by Email Enter your email address: Delivered by FeedBurner. That's the place!

And now, what about you and the 5 mistakes you may not know you are making? How do you relate to them?

5 Networking & Sales Mistakes You Don’t Even Know You’re Making is a post from: Courage Coach for the Reluctant Marketer

Image by Phil Davis NY via Flickr

It makes sense in some parts of the world to have this as we are in those unpredictable, dreary, cold winter months. And it occurs to me there are some similarities of this day and – the reluctant marketer.

If you find that your networking is unpredictable, dreary and cold, why not escape? Here are a few ideas of what you might want to escape from:

1 – Your networking sucks. You know it. How? You don't have the results you want. Oh sure. You attend events, make contacts but they seem corrupted somehow. I can remember years ago when I was and overactive networker. I would come back to my office with dozens of cards and feel so overwhelmed the next step was to - escape!

2 – Your elevator pitch is so humdrum there's no hum, let alone a drum to beat. Bragging moment (I think:) You know those BNI kind of meetings where you go round robin around the room for introductions? I must be doing something right in putting into action what I talk about because usually the person just after me tells what they feel. "Geez, I wish I went just before her!" Even you want to escape from hearing what you have to say in that 60-second pitch!

3 – You've managed to take the drudgery out of following-up with an easy plan: you don't follow-up. I didn't even have an Apple app to remind me to follow-up when I first started selling. Those were the days: the office sales support would hand salespeople a handwritten list first thing every morning of follow-up calls to be made. But the guilt isn't escaping you as you let follow-up fail.

So just for today anyway, escape! Or try to. Here's how:

1 – Don't attend any networking events today. Just let yourself be free of the whole stress of it.

2 – If you feel compelled to give that elevator pitch that is going to dive to the basement anyway, run for the nearest exit.

3 – instead of looking at those business cards with dread, just pile them up until tomorrow.

How are you going to escape your fear reluctance on the one and only day deemed – escape day?

Can the Reluctant Marketer Escape Any Fears? Today is just that day. is a post from: Courage Coach for the Reluctant Marketer

Are you a solopreneur or small business owner who is frustrated about being able to increase revenues in this dour economy? Maybe it's about time you give collaborating with others a serious look. It's not just for the online elite or celebrities! Inspired by the article, 50 Benefits Of Joint Venture Marketing, here are the top ten pain in the butt reasons to get your rear in collaboration or joint venture gear:

1. Long-lasting business relationships are difficult to find. JVs will test your boundaries and limits, and expand your perspective. They will also improve your self-confidence, communication and relationship skills. Three years ago, I was super independent and just beginning to JV. I was choosing partners who were “unavailable”. What I learned about those initial experiences is that I only partially believed in, and committed myself to JV’ing. Consequently, my JVs weren’t lasting beyond 6 months. Eventually, when I was willing to constructively face confrontation and exercise my assertive skills, long-lasting JVs and results became possible!

2. New products and services are a low priority. What’s fun about JVs is that they stimulate your creativity and desire to provide more value to your customers. - Because they boost your motivation to “get the job done”, which means also decrease perfectionist and procrastination tendencies. Talk about many benefits all at once! Of course, this is contingent on finding the “right” partner because if your personalities, skills and strengths are too similar or not complimentary enough, then the JV won’t have lift. Conversely, if there’s great potential and new “products” between you, then your vitality will be renewed. And your customers will feel that emanating from you!

3. You think outsourcing your workload has to cost a fortune. Outsourcing and delegating one’s weaknesses to a supplier (e.g. Webmaster or Virtual-Administrative Assistant) becomes more enticing and probable because your JV budget is larger than what it would be when you’re operating solo. If you don’t make that smart strategic move, then your business will stay stuck at a certain plateau. In human terms, that typically translates into being unmotivated, uninspired, discouraged and sometimes even disillusioned.

4. Up selling and backend products fall victim to forgetting. Your business’ profit potential is dependent on how fluid one “product” flows into the next, including the up sell and backend “products”. Getting “there” usually happens faster when you’re in a JV because as a team, you have a bigger pool of prospects to poll and communicate with, and to therefore gain clarity and plan for the future.

5. Creating products takes too much time and effort. If you enjoy creating products but you’re impatient about getting them out the “door” or your Inner Critic doesn’t allow you to complete them, then this point will really bring it home for you.

6. You can't afford to invest in yourself. In any collaboration worth its time, there will be opportunities for trade. One collaboration allowed me to exchange my expertise for highly specialized personal life mission coaching. The result was, not one penny out of pocket for either person sharing their expertise for their personal development.

7. Joint venture deals require money I just don't have. In a down revenue time, wouldn't you just love the luxury of someone else to share costs with? Collaborations are usually partnerships where is there is unlikely greater out-of-pocket expense because of being able to divvy up costs among the collaborators. Your budget is better off.

8. If other businesses are struggling, there's little point in joining up. Have you heard there is strength in numbers? The morale and emotional strength in people that are optimistic by nature but just at a similar bump in the road can help you leave your worries behind.

9. There's just no time. Nonsense! You know that's just not true. How many things do you already procrastinate about? What kind of actions are you already taking that fit the category of what some call, "brainwasher" actions like computer games, way too much time on social media, activities that make you think you are creating but are spinning your wheels action and you know it? You have time to put a spark back in your business efforts.

10. The – take your pick – depression, recession or a slow economy is a time to pull back. Au contraire! It's a time you want to act more quickly. I tend to get a little lazy at the end of the year with the holidays and all. For you, it may be the looming dark cloud of a slow economy. Whatever stimulates you to pull back, a collaboration can be just the thing to help you move forward. You have the momentum of new energy, new products and new ideas that help new optimism to take hold.

Regardless of what is ailing your business, collaborations can be good for the health of revenue and profits. So what’s it going to be for you? Pick your poison of the top ten to take you down or – the sky's the limit! And if you want to know all the nuances in the most successful way to find and profit from collaborating, then let us help you with true-life lessons. Get your Complete Guide to Collaboration, with a 60 minute teleclass recording and slideshare presentation, at http://bit.ly/CollaborationeBooks . Or if you want it on Kindle, it's published there now, http://bitly.com/CollabGuideKindle .

What's your biggest pain in the business butt reasons that you might want to consider collaborating?

Top 10 Pain in the Business Butt Reasons to Collaborate is a post from: Courage Coach for the Reluctant Marketer

Image by timlewisnm via Flickr

This special online event is brought to you by Biba Pedron, from Your Business in Style Today I introduce you to Carol Deckert, Networking Expert/Coach of http://www.carolconnectspeople.com

Thank Goodness for Professional Relationships!

One Saturday morning, I received a telephone call asking me if I was in London. Thoroughly confused, actually being wakened from a very deep sleep, I said no, never have been to London, wasn't planning to be in London - in fact, never have I been issued a passport! My caller, whose identity will remain private to avoid any retaliation from the guilty parties, continued by telling me that someone must have hijacked my identity on FaceBook and is sending messages to my connections telling them that I was mugged and held at gunpoint, robbed of all credit cards, cell phone and money and now am stuck without funds to pay my hotel bill and get a return flight back to the USA. This scammer asked them if they could help by sending money that would be paid back upon my return to the US. I was dumb-founded, just couldn't believe that something like this had happened to me - I'm a small business owner, building a business by teaching others to build relationships. What could a scammer expect to get from me?

You have no clue how shocked I was! We always think that those situations happen to others, but it could never happen to me . . . but, I'm living proof that it does happen to innocent people. Without that phone call, I would not have even known what was happening. My business could have literally disappeared - without any wrong doing on my part!

As I sat down to start working yesterday, I found quite a few emails and messages from online friends, both on FaceBook and on LinkedIn, all asking pretty much the same question(s) with their number one concern being my safety. Think about that - how awesome is that for people who I have not met face-to-face, but have built an online relationship with - to take the time to make sure I was safe and to know that someone was misrepresenting me! I thank them all from the bottom of my heart!

Many thanks to all of you for taking the time to telephone me, send me an email and drop me a note. This has been a real eye-opening experience for me, but I'm looking to make it a positive one!

As a Networking Coach, my business is based on building relationships. Thankfully I have been successful in this area, because good online friends, like you, are very supportive and caring, during times like this. If I had not built these relationships, my online contacts could have very easily disappeared, without any notice to me, when spammers took my account and used it to what they thought, would be their advantage. All the hard work and dedication I have put into building my reputation online could have disappeared within a second or two, without my knowledge!

I have filed a report that this was a 419 Scam with FaceBook and followed their recommendation to immediately change my password, there was not much else I could do.

In the meantime, I'm letting everyone know that this was a hijacked account and to take all precautions possible to insure their protection of their identity. Thankfully, my connections know, like and trust me and for that I am truly grateful!

I'm documenting this frightening experience on my blog, and on several others, with the intention of spreading the word as far as possible about identity theft and the consequences to the innocent victim(s).

You have no idea how much your support means to me, thanks so much for taking the time to telephone me or send me a note! Relationships DO work . . . if you didn't know, like or trust me, you would have "assumed" (and been wrong) that this was really me, asking for money to help me get back home. Communications from me are usually about business, quotes, tips, tricks, general advice so it was clear to my connections when they received this IM that this could not really have been me, requesting they send money to help me get home!

One other point I wanted to make . . . I don't message my IM with the exception of using Skype and I only message with those I know on Skype - I don't search for new people to chat with, I chat with only people who have connected with me in some way and we have exchanged Skype details.

Please, do take care and protect your identity. Online business can be fun and financially rewarding, but don't get carried away thinking everything is A-OK without keeping an eye on what people are saying about you. Set up Google Alerts, do everything you can to find out when and how your name is being used. With a bit of caution, you can be very successful with your online connections. Online reputation management is critical to your business success.

Comments, thoughts, suggestions on what else I could do about this situation would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts!

To Your Networking Success!

Carol Deckert - Networking Expert/Coach

Carol Deckert is a Networking Expert/Coach. She's the founder of Referrals Unlimited Network, has more than 10,800 first-level connections in LinkedIn and approximately 1,800 “friends” on Facebook and more than 5,000 followers on Twitter! Carol knows you do need the numbers before you can accumulate quality connections, because not every connection will be a good one for you. Through her individual and group coaching, she helps others learn to do what she did, saving them lots of time and heartache, by teaching them how to network efficiently and effectively. Contact Carol on Skype: deckert1116 and follow her blog http://www.carolconnectspeople.com

Thank Goodness for Professional Relationships! is a post from: Business Sales Coach for Introverts and Shy

Reason #1 - Networking

Having an extrovert friend at a networking event makes walking in the door much easier for the introvert.  Instead of resting by the punch  bowl waiting for someone else to reach out, tag along with your extrovert friend.  You'll be introduced to their circle as well as meet new people right along with your extrovert friend.  It's a great way to take the pressure off.  It also helps you conserve your energy so you can enjoy more and longer networking opportunities.

Reason #2 - Brainstorming

When it comes to developing new ideas, two heads are better than one - especially if they are different kinds of heads. Having an extrovert friend to help you brainstorm increases your potential ideas exponentially.  Let me explain.  You may come up with an idea.  Then your extrovert friend adds to it or adds two or three ideas to it.  Then you can look at the idea again and add multiple thoughts to it, too.  However, without the inclusion of your extrovert friend's differing viewpoint, you would have only had your single idea to start.

Reason #3 - Marketing

Nothing beats an extrovert friend to help you market your ideas, your business, whatever!  Once an extrovert gets excited about a concept or product, they want to share.  With the social media outlets available today, you want your extrovert friends to share their excitement with their large circle of friends.  With a little encouragement, they'll be sharing your ideas and connecting you with people who need you.

Reason #4 - Encouragment

While we extroverts seem a little crazy and a lot over busy (as my introvert husband reminds me), it is encouraging to see what can be done.  Extroverts will be the first to tell you, you can do it!  Having an extrovert friend, to help you garner some speed and enthusiasm just when you need it, is a blessing!

Reason #5 - Balance

Since I live with a strong introvert, I am constantly confronted with his desire to stay at home and recharge.  In fact, over the years, I've learned to protect the time he needs to rest and re-energize.  However, I sometimes need to provide the counterweight with my desire to get out and see people.  While my introvert may fuss at the process of leaving home, he finds he enjoys the time to share with friends and business associates.  Without each other, I would be an on the go, non-stop, all the time extrovert and he would huddle in his man cave letting the world pass him by.  Together, we have balance in our lives.

As an introvert you don't have to marry an extrovert to enjoy the balance, just recognize the need to have some close extrovert friends.  You'll be glad you did.

Theresa Wagar is the owner of Premier Design Websites.  With 15 years experience in helping small business successfully market themselves online, she has worked with extroverts and introverts alike.  Her latest video training project, www.blogkickstart.com is designed to help anyone starting  in online blogging overcome their technical challenges without a webmaster.  Theresa lives in the Virginia countryside with her introvert husband (thus the countryside) and two teenage sons.

5 Reasons Every Introvert Needs an Extrovert Friend is a post from: Business Sales Coach for Introverts and Shy

Reason #1 - Networking

Having an extrovert friend at a networking event makes walking in the door much easier for the introvert.  Instead of resting by the punch  bowl waiting for someone else to reach out, tag along with your extrovert friend.  You'll be introduced to their circle as well as meet new people right along with your extrovert friend.  It's a great way to take the pressure off.  It also helps you conserve your energy so you can enjoy more and longer networking opportunities.

Reason #2 - Brainstorming

When it comes to developing new ideas, two heads are better than one - especially if they are different kinds of heads. Having an extrovert friend to help you brainstorm increases your potential ideas exponentially.  Let me explain.  You may come up with an idea.  Then your extrovert friend adds to it or adds two or three ideas to it.  Then you can look at the idea again and add multiple thoughts to it, too.  However, without the inclusion of your extrovert friend's differing viewpoint, you would have only had your single idea to start.

Reason #3 - Marketing

Nothing beats an extrovert friend to help you market your ideas, your business, whatever!  Once an extrovert gets excited about a concept or product, they want to share.  With the social media outlets available today, you want your extrovert friends to share their excitement with their large circle of friends.  With a little encouragement, they'll be sharing your ideas and connecting you with people who need you.

Reason #4 - Encouragment

While we extroverts seem a little crazy and a lot over busy (as my introvert husband reminds me), it is encouraging to see what can be done.  Extroverts will be the first to tell you, you can do it!  Having an extrovert friend, to help you garner some speed and enthusiasm just when you need it, is a blessing!

Reason #5 - Balance

Since I live with a strong introvert, I am constantly confronted with his desire to stay at home and recharge.  In fact, over the years, I've learned to protect the time he needs to rest and re-energize.  However, I sometimes need to provide the counterweight with my desire to get out and see people.  While my introvert may fuss at the process of leaving home, he finds he enjoys the time to share with friends and business associates.  Without each other, I would be an on the go, non-stop, all the time extrovert and he would huddle in his man cave letting the world pass him by.  Together, we have balance in our lives.

As an introvert you don't have to marry an extrovert to enjoy the balance, just recognize the need to have some close extrovert friends.  You'll be glad you did.

Theresa Wagar is the owner of Premier Design Websites.  With 15 years experience in helping small business successfully market themselves online, she has worked with extroverts and introverts alike.  Her latest video training project, www.blogkickstart.com is designed to help anyone starting  in online blogging overcome their technical challenges without a webmaster.  Theresa lives in the Virginia countryside with her introvert husband (thus the countryside) and two teenage sons.

5 Reasons Every Introvert Needs an Extrovert Friend is a post from: Business Sales Coach for Introverts and Shy

As an introvert who finds online social networking a less intimidating way to connect, I am still likely more cautious with connections than an extrovert. In Twitter twords, "follow" these cautions which  actually translate across almost any social network that you might have interest. You followed me first, and here were go:

You follow me first; much appreciated. I don't usually go on a search for connections. So, with your following me, I click on your profile in hopes of finding out about you. I like to know something about the people who are following me. But wow! The only thing in your profile is your name. OK. Let me look further.

You have that sad little egg shaped avatar as your photo. A local networking event would have given me at least a face. As an introvert in business I recognize that some people may be a bit hesitant to put their photo in a public place. I accept that as possibly your reason. I also know that some people might be challenged with images online, so I dig a bit further.

I don't see a link to any website or blog. No links, anywhere. Now, all I have is a name to go on. Not even a face to match with it! Maybe real conversations aren't what you want? But, could you at least say why you are showing up online? Persistent to know about who followed me I move on.

There is a link! With excitement about reading about what you do, what your interests are, maybe learning a bit from a blog post, I click on a url shortened link in your profile. Aw geez. Give me a break. You're taking me to a tacky sales page and I don't even know you! I chalk it up to inexperience and look further.

Your update, tweet, status - is blank! You extended your handshake and now I've got a limpest of holds on me. I don't know what you look like, I can't learn a thing about you, you want to sell me something. I'm still dogged. I search for you on other networks. It's more of the same. LinkedIn has no information; FaceBook wall is closed to me. Sigh.

Your updates, tweet, status - a string of all the same message. What is that about? What are you here for and why on earth do you want to connect with me? I'm suspect and stymied. It's not likely we're here for similar reasons so, it's time to delete your invitation and move on.

This process takes just a couple of minutes; not long for an investment to meet something new. It's possible extroverts have some of my same criteria but I find as an introvert, I'm networking online and in-person more for the relationship building. Numbers are the least of my goal.

What online clues or cues do you have for deciding whether to follow or not to follow, to like or not to like, to connect or not to connect?

You Might Be an Introvert If You Do This When You Get Followed, Liked, or Connected With First is a post from: Business Sales Coach for Introverts and Shy

In Jerrilynn Thomas' new online magazine, Affluent Business Woman, for the Up & Coming Female Millionaire, she shares one of her favorite quotations. “Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much,” Helen Keller. In business, with online social networking, it's now possible more than ever that building on the basics of collaboration will help you to be that millionaire in you. What does an introvert bring to collaborating when our famous quote is more like, "One is company and two is a crowd?"

Have you have ever been at a doctor's office and noticed business cards for a masseuse or a nutritionist? Or maybe you were at a grocery store and noticed they also had a corner taken by your favorite coffee shop in the store? These are forms of collaboration; in-person in your local community, business collaboration. Usually, those business owners have taken time to build the relationship with each other. It's not usually a trial and error process. So whether your business is mostly locally, or it know no boundaries, as an introvert you bring strengths to a collaboration.

First, the basics to collaborating:

1. Businesses help other businesses.
2. Businesses refer business.
3. Share resources.
4. Share time.
5. Share expenses.
6. Cross market or promote.

Match that list to basics of introverting:

1. We love thinking, planning and creating! That is a check for, businesses help other businesses.
2. Small talk annoys us. To refer a business means there is a substantial conversation we could have.
3. Since we value our alone time, if sharing resources helps to move the collaboration forward, we can do that.
4. As introverts we must create our own structure so that we can find time to rest and recover for a brief escape. The time shared will be prime time and we'll give 100% or more.
5. We usually think things through before acting so those expenses will be well invested and we're happy to share.
6. Promotion is not about being verbally diarrhea-like all over someone. Think of it as tooting your or your partner's horn in harmony with the audience.

Only you know the balance of in-person or online collaboration that would best serve your business goals. In the long-term as technology opens up more of the world to all of us, the shaking up of your business begins with you – and that collaboration partner or two. Serious minded introvert entrepreneurs will find online collaboration can be both easier and not so different as what you might experience in-person.

You can get the free 20-page excerpt, http://tinyurl.com/CollaborationGuideExcerpt, to the success of your next collaboration from the “Complete Guide to Successful Collaborations,” to collaborate efficiently, successfully and satisfactorily.

What other collaboration basics can you add to the list?

What strength do you, introvert or extrovert, bring to the process?

Introvert Entrepreneurial Collaboration Success is a post from: Business Sales Coach for Introverts and Shy