by Sarah Michel

Recently a brilliant friend and colleague described to me how she felt attending a professional meeting where she didn’t know anyone sitting around her as being, “awkward and painful,” when she found herself at a loss for how to break the ice with someone she doesn’t know.  Here was someone who has so much to offer anyone lucky enough to engage in conversation with her but her reluctance to initiate interaction caused her to avoid eye contact and retreat inward and miss out on the potential network relationships sitting around her.  These are the people that keep me up at nights.

I have had a life-long fascination with people who have a natural preference for introversion and think that they’re really bad at breaking the ice and talking to people they don’t know.  These people (you know who you are) also think they’re bad at networking, which couldn’t be farther from the truth.  In my experience, they may not work the room and come away with the most business cards but the few people they do meet they will make a meaningful connection with that actually has a high chance of continuing on after the first meeting.  That is how you build a great network – one relationship at a time.

In today’s constantly changing, crazy busy world, your success will be determined by the breadth of people you know and how quickly you can get the information or resource you need to do your job faster, better, or easier.  The more people you meet who live in worlds you don’t even know about yet, the stronger your network will be.  No matter if you’re breaking the ice online or in person, how you phrase your first opening question to capture the attention of the receiver is critical because you have less than 15 seconds to do it.  People are moving at warp speed and you simply won’t break through the million thoughts running through their mind or get them to stop and pay attention to you if you’re not compelling.

Here are 10 proven ice breakers to help you break in and make out with anyone, anywhere, anytime:

• “This is my first time at a meeting like this, how about you?”
• “Tell me about yourself and how you spend most of your time?
• “What has been the best part of your week so far?”
• “What do you like doing when you’re not at work?”
• “What do you love about your profession?”
• “What’s the most interesting project you’ve worked on in the past year?
• “What keeps you up at night, what’s your biggest challenge?”
• “What’s your number one customer’s biggest concern right now?”
• “Who do you most admire in your company and why?”
• “What do you wish your coworkers really knew about you?”

I hope these ice breakers will give you the confidence to start conversations that will lead to amazing connections and opportunities for you if you’re willing to give it a try.

The world is waiting to meet you!

Sarah Michel, CSP, is an international speaker who works with organizations and associations, creating behavioral changes by teaching people how to intentionally connect with anyone, anywhere, anytime through her Perfecting Connecting® keynote and training programs.

by Zoe Training staff

Perfecting Connecting© – what Sarah Michel calls her networking strategies to promote personal and professional success – aptly describes her expertise on the art of intentional connecting. And Sarah should know the power of networking: as a cancer survivor, Sarah’s network helped save her life. And now as a speaker, she shares the lessons she learned from her inspirational journey to motivate her audiences to connect not just for the moment, but for life.

What’s your favorite topic(s) to present on? Why?

NetWORTHing™, which is the new way to network if you want to build social capital in today’s reciprocal business climate.  I teach people how to communicate their value proposition to their network to grow their networth.  I’m all about connecting so my topics are focused on ways to improve your connection to your customers, coworkers (team building), and colleagues.  I’m a certified practitioner with Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and help people discover the power in personality differences to encourage innovation, networking, creativity, and problem solving.

Three words that describe your presentation style:

High energy, Interactive, Humorous

What are your favorite groups of people to work with?

Professional Associations, Nonprofits, Healthcare Organizations, Entrepreneurs

Do you have a favorite quote? What/why?

‘You can have anything you want in life, if you help others get what they need first.” – Zig Ziglar

This is the mantra of a true connector, and if you stand in the intersection of your life looking for ways to connect people, opportunities and ideas, you will experience true happiness and reap rewards beyond your wildest dreams.

What are some things that surprise you or inspire you about your interactions with clients/participants?

I’m surprised and delighted when someone tells me they always thought of themselves as a “bad networker” or someone who “hated networking,” but after hearing me speak, they discover a whole new way to look at. I love when they tell me they had a complete paradigm shift and now walk away with a whole new game plan for how to approach their network and for the first time, feel like they can be successful at it. I’m always inspired when my story of how my network helped saved my life when I battled cancer five years ago, inspires someone to reach out to their network for support. There is no better feeling for me then to think my story will positively impact someone else’s healthcare challenge.

Are you involved in any community projects/issues?

I’m on the board for Partners in Housing in Colorado Springs which helps homeless families achieve self-sufficiency and ultimately home ownership. It’s a two-year program commitment and we have a 75 percent success rate with our partners. I have been an active volunteer for over a decade and on a mission to end homelessness in Colorado Springs. I’m also involved with our school district and special education services because I have a daughter with learning disabilities.

by Zoe Training staff

A sought-after expert on conversation skills and business social networking techniques for use at networking events and social functions, Debra Fine’s media appearances include: the Today Show, the Early Show, NPR, CNN, Fox Business News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Men’s Health Magazine.

The formerly shy, tongue-tied “enginerd” is the author of the best-selling book, “The Fine Art of Small Talk.”

What’s your favorite topic(s) to present on? Why?

“The Fine Art of Building Relationships: Face to Face Interactions in an Online World.” Every individual and organization is looking to enhance relationships with potential as well as current clients/customers and gain increased visibility in the marketplace. This may mean making the most of out of networking occasions or simply turning every conversation into an opportunity. In addition, skills offered during my presentations benefit internal relationships with teams, mentors, C-Suite, staff and colleagues. This program is my favorite because it supplies tools that can be instantaneously implemented with immediate rewards.

Three words that describe your presentation style:

Entertaining, Informative, Interactive

Are you involved in any community projects/issues?

I have been a Rotarian since 1993, involved in all levels of service both locally and internationally. This upcoming 2011/2012 I will serve as the President of the Denver Southeast Rotary Club.

Do you have a favorite quote? What/why?

“Every conversation is an opportunity for success.” When we take the time to reflect on our business, social and even romantic interactions we understand that conversations – small, big, filled with conflict or mired in misunderstanding – make a huge difference in our lives.

Tell us a recent book you’ve read and would recommend:

“Start-up Nation” by Dan Senor and Saul Singer is an intriguing guide to the entrepreneurial success of Israel. What types of individuals and teams bring success to new ideas? What can a nation do to motivate and encourage an entrepreneurial culture? I learned a lot and was very inspired. Also, even though you did not ask…I have another favorite this year (I am an avid reader who is a member of two book clubs!): “Born to Run” by Christopher McDougall. I long ago stopped running and expected this would appeal to runners only. Boy, was I wrong! The author uncovers myths and tells a story (non-fiction) that is gripping and filled with interesting information.

What are you most grateful for in life?

My first innate response is: my children and husband. But after a moment I realized that I am most grateful for my good health. Without it I would not be the parent I am, or the upbeat, happy person they can model and enjoy. Despite a brush with cancer, and other minor challenges, I have enjoyed a life filled with energy and strength.

by Sarah Michel

Are you a victim of Network drive-bys?  Have you been assaulted by a business card bombardier who only wanted to sell you something?  Attended one of those “Grab & Gab” and “Tell & Sell” rubber chicken so-called networking events where you left feeling violated?  Well, if you’re like the hundreds of people I talk to every week who have had enough, today I bring good news;  there is a new movement out there shaking things up and redefining what real networking is all about -  The Moxie Exchange.

Networking with Moxie is all about approaching people with a focused determination to help them.  It’s when you have the courage and faith to believe that you can have anything you want in life, if you help others get what they need first.

I recently met the head “Moxette,” Maureen Berkner Boyt who is passionate about creating a forum where “business and the coolest women you know collide.”  Spend five minutes talking to her and you will be drinking the Kool-Aid, too!  She has really identified a pain point for business people who want to network with authentic and smart people seeking reciprocal relationships.  In order to join the movement, you must sign-off on their established a code of ethics which I think all of us should subscribe to every time you attend a networking opportunity.

Moxie Code of Ethics:

• Interact with Integrity
• Bring Your ‘A’ Game (A is for Audacity, Authenticity and Action)
• Ask, Listen, Collaborate and Initiate. No “Tell, Sell, Blab and Grab” Allowed!
• Be Helpful: You Are There to Inspire the People Around You to Mobilize Their Moxie!
• Share Your Ideas, Your Experiences and Your Moxie Moments with Others
• Be a Positive Influence. No Whining, Only Wowing!
• Always Respect the Confidentiality of the Moxie Membership (Your Network)

I was asked to share my Perfecting Connecting strategies and philosophy with the Moxie Movement.  Watch the webinar and see what happened…

Be a Moxie Networker and watch your netWORTH with your network grow!

Sarah Michel, CSP, is an international speaker who works with organizations and associations, creating behavioral changes by teaching people how to intentionally connect with anyone, anywhere, anytime through her Perfecting Connecting® keynote and training programs.

by Don Cooper, The Sales Heretic™

With all the attention on social media over the past couple of years, it’s easy to forget that face-to-face networking is still extremely valuable. However, it isn’t enough just to meet people at networking mixers once in a while. People need to really get to know you. And they need to remember you, like you and trust you before they’ll want to do business with you. So try one or more of these tactics to speed that process along.

1. Volunteer
Every organization needs volunteers, and savvy networkers jump at the chance. People will see you in a position of responsibility and service. You also get a chance to showcase your talents and learn new skills.

2. Work the Registration Table
You’ll meet virtually everyone who attends the event. More importantly, they’ll meet you.

3. Donate a Door Prize
Your product or service will be showcased in front of the entire crowd. And everybody loves to win things. For maximum effect and goodwill, make sure the prize is an outright gift rather than a discount or coupon.

4. Join Committees
In most organizations, the majority of the work (and the majority of the networking) occurs in committees. Because committees typically meet on a regular basis, you get an opportunity to see the same people frequently, giving you all ample opportunity to get to know each other well. By the way, this is also where you will often find the “movers and shakers” who you most want to meet.

5. Write Articles
Virtually every trade association and business group has a newsletter, magazine or journal. And they are all in need of articles of value to their members. Contact the editors of these publications and ask about needs, schedules and editorial guidelines. Write according to their guidelines and include your contact information for the authorship credit. (Bonus Tactic: Be sure to get reprints to include in your promotional materials.)

6. Speak for the Group
Speaking at your group’s events can give you valuable exposure at absolutely no cost. Anything from a ten-minute talk to a two-hour seminar can serve your audience while positioning you as an authority in your field. And everyone wants to meet the speaker!

7. Host an Event
For several hours people will see your facility, employees, products and/or services. You can even take guests on guided tours and give away samples or coupons to increase your impact. To reduce the cost, time and effort involved in hosting a networking event, consider sharing the event with a caterer or restaurant. You provide the location, they provide the food and you both get the credit. And the exposure!

Use these seven tactics to raise your profile in your community and you’ll see your sales increase as a result!

By combining his sales expertise and performance skills with intensive research, Don Cooper delivers programs that are industry and even company specific. So audience members get unique insights and practical, relevant tools they can use immediately to increase their sales—which is why Don is typically the highest-rated speaker at conferences and why his corporate clients bring him back again and again.

by Ashley Andrus

Well, it’s the time of year for “best of” and “Top 10″ lists, so in honor of the brand new 2010, we thought we’d share a run-down of the most popular training topics our clients are planning for this upcoming year:

1. Behavioral Interviewing
There is nothing more important than hiring the right people. Hiring the right person for the right job provides tremendous organizational benefits by increasing employee productivity, reducing training time, and controlling the high cost of employee turnover—not to mention the positive impact on team morale. You’d think, with double-digit unemployment rates across the country, that it would be easy to hire right now…right? Well, maybe. Read more…

2. Business Writing
Many experts estimate that as much as 90% of human communication comes from non-verbal clues such as voice inflection and body language. In business writing, however, you have only the words to get your meaning across, so the way the writer uses those words becomes more important. On-the-job writing matters—to your company, to your readers, and to you as a writer. From sales proposals to client emails to internal communications, your employees represent your organization every time they write an email or craft a document. Read more…

3. Coaching/Mentoring
Coaching can help managers and supervisors provide a structure for enabling their employees to achieve high performance. But the bewildering array of both available resources and management duties can complicate the process. What situations call for coaching vs. counseling? What’s the difference in coaching and performance management? How exactly do you give constructive feedback? Read more…

4. DiSC
There are, of course, many different assessment tools that rate behavior, preference, attitudes, etc. and provide a framework for understanding the way in which you see the world and the differing ways in which others may approach the same set of facts or circumstances. Myers-Briggs/MBTI, Emergenetics, Lominger, Insights and many others remain popular, but the most common tool we see clients utilizing is the DiSC. Read more…

5. Emotional Intelligence/EQ
All managers can relate horror stories about employees or team members who were clearly intelligent, technically capable, and able to perform the duties their job demanded…and who wreaked havoc on their teams because their social skills or self-management capability was lacking. When it comes to individual and team success, IQ is not enough; in fact, the skill set known as Emotional Intelligence (EQ) has consistently proven to be a better indicator of workplace success. Read more…

6. Facilitation Skills
Most of us feel like we spend too much time in meetings. Meetings that are too long. Meetings that have too many participants. Meetings that don’t have clear objectives. Meetings that get sidetracked by off-topic discussions. Meetings can be a waste of time…but with an effective facilitator, that doesn’t have to be the case. Read more…

7. Harassment Prevention/Respectful Work Environment
Even when training budgets are tight, harassment prevention and awareness remains a topic of interest to many organizations due to the legal liability issues that can be involved. Ensuring that both individual contributors and managers understand the policies/procedures and responsibilities of the organization is essential, but may not be enough. Read more…

8. Networking Skills
Networking…it isn’t just for salespeople! Although for many people the word “networking” conjures up a cringe-inducing image of a pushy salesperson shoving a business card into every hand she can find, the reality is that networking is about serving as a resource—about giving, not taking—and it’s essential for both individual and organizational success. Read more…

9. Project Management
In past years, much of the project management training offered by organizations was geared towards those employees who were planning to become a Project Management Professional (PMP) and whose job title or function specifically encompassed a formal project management role. Today, however, we see organizations recognizing that many employees manage projects (albeit on a less formal basis) and recognizing the benefits of a project management overview. Read more…

10. Work-Life Balance/Stress Management
It goes without saying that the state of the economy, mass layoffs, and ever-increasing demands on our employees’ time creates a perfect storm of stress. The negative impacts of stress can range from the physical to the mental and can have devastating impacts on both individuals and teams. Organizations are exploring a variety of resources they can offer to help weather the storm. Read more…

Wishing you an excellent and productive 2010!

Ashley Andrus is President of Zoe Training & Consulting. Her passion is making HR folks and meeting planners look like *rock stars* by providing one-stop access to 90+ speakers, trainers, facilitators, coaches, and consultants.

by Debra Fine

Stanford University School of Business conducted a study that monitored a group of MBAs 10 years after graduation. What did they learn? That their ability to converse had a huge impact on their success and grade point averages had no bearing whatsoever.

The ability to connect with others through small talk can lead to big things, according to Debra Fine, author of The Fine Art of Small Talk (Hyperion 2005). A former engineer, Fine recalls being so ill at ease at networking events and even the 10 minute coffee break during a meeting that she would hide in the restroom. Now a motivational speaker, Fine believes the ability to develop relationships with people through small talk is an acquired skill.

Fine offers the following tips for starting − and ending conversations:

• Come up with three things to talk when preparing for a function along with a couple generic questions that will get others talking. If you’ve met the client before, remind yourself of things about her, such as a vacation she was headed to or specifics about her family.
• Be the first to say “hello.” If you’re not sure the other person will remember you, give the gift of your name to help out. For example, “Jared Holst? Debra Fine… good to see you again.” Smile first and always shake hands when you meet someone.
• Take your time during introductions. Make an extra effort to remember names and use them frequently. Exhibit host behavior by introducing others that join the group to each other.
• Get another person talking by leading with a common ground statement regarding the occasion or location and then asking a related open-ended question. For example, “What do you hope to gain from this conference?” or “What have you heard about the speakers?” You can also ask them about their trip in or how they know the bride or groom.
• Show interest in your conversational partner by actively listening and giving verbal feedback. Maintain eye contact. Never glance around the room while they are talking to you.
• Listen more than you talk.
• Be prepared to have something interesting to contribute. Staying on top of current events will provide you with great conversation builders, leading with “What do you think of?” Have you heard?” What is your take on?” Spare us from your opinion unless you remember to follow up with “What is your opinion?” or “Tell me your thoughts on …”
• Be aware of your body language. People who look or act ill-at-ease make others uncomfortable. Act confident and comfortable even when you’re not.
• Have a few exit lines ready, so that you can both gracefully move on. For example, “I need to check in with a client over there,” “I skipped lunch today, so I need to visit the buffet,” or “Who do you know at this meeting that could help me with …?

Turn every conversation into an opportunity for success!

Debra Fine, is the author of The Fine Art of Small Talk (Hyperion). She presents keynotes and seminars on conversational skills and networking techniques internationally. Debra is a 15+ year member of the National Speakers Association, presenting her programs to hundreds of audiences around the world to clients that include General Electric, Lockheed Martin, American Bar Association, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Credit Suisse First Boston, and New York University Stern Graduate School of Business. Her recent media appearances include The Today Show, The Early Show, NPR Morning Edition, Fox Business News, and CNN.

by Sarah Michel

Let’s be honest…this time of the year can be very stressful. Shopping, decorating, addressing greeting cards, hosting and attending parties, mailing gifts, studying for school finals, housing out of town family members and winding down your business for 2009 are all stressful activities. The fact that we’re expected to do them all simultaneously forces me into the fetal position, rocking and sucking my thumb!

How did things get so out of control? The intent of this time of year is to stop momentarily and step off the merry-go-round of life and focus on the people and things in your life that you’re thankful for. Actually letting people know how much you appreciate them, is the best gift you can give someone.

I admire people who have walked away from the commercial focus of this season doing away with the traditional gift orgies that leave most of us in debt this time of year. Many of these creative people I have met have chosen to have family “white elephant gift exchanges” where everyone brings a gag gift, tacky Christmas sweaters or an inexpensive theme gift where the focus is on just being together and having fun.

I recently attended a family holiday party where we “adopted” a family that had just gotten their first Habitat for Humanity home and we all brought a house warming gift for the single mom and her three sons. We all went around the room and said what we were thankful for, all 62 people, including children. Every single person mentioned their family and friends. When you really think about it…is there anything else that really matters more?

This year my family opted to give each other an “experience” instead of traditional gifts and we’re heading to Hawaii for Christmas! I think ten years from now my children will not remember what gifts they were hoping to open Christmas morning, but I’m betting they will remember everything about this amazing experience we’re giving them instead.

If you need a little reminding of the “reason for the season” here are a few ideas to consider:

Perfecting Connecting® Action Steps:

• Look for a volunteer opportunity in your community that you can do together with your family/friends. Sharing a giving experience together is a great way to reconnect.
• Introduce a new and creative idea that takes the focus off of the commercialism and puts it onto the importance of family and friend connections like adopting a needy family, white elephant gift exchange or taking a trip together with no gifts exchanged. Just being together is the gift.
• Pick up the phone, write a letter or send a card to 5 people you’re thankful for and let them know how much you appreciate them and how grateful you are to have them in your life.

I’m very thankful to all of you in my network and I look forward to our paths crossing in 2010.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year!

Sarah Michel, CSP, is an international speaker who works with organizations and associations, creating behavioral changes by teaching people how to intentionally connect with anyone, anywhere, anytime through her Perfecting Connecting® keynote and training programs.

by Mike Faber

Choosing to work from home as an entrepreneur in the coaching and professional speaking business has been the single most freeing, and terrifying decision of my work career. At first, the “flight from cubicle” life seemed idyllic: I could wake up when I wanted to, pursue exactly what made me happy, and move from the office to home in a matter of seconds. No more battling traffic on the freeway at rush-hour! Reality started to hit as time passed, along with the first and third of every month. Instead of a comforting pay-stub in the mail, all I saw were bills. The cubicle seemed like a prison when I worked at my last company, now it beckoned like a siren’s call. I had to make a choice — get active and engaged in my new career, or start looking for another six-by-eight cube to call home.

By this time, early 2005 for me, I had far too much invested to go back to the cubes. Chances are you do too! A 2000 study* by the US Small Business Association reported that 46 percent of home-based businesses use personal funds for start-up capital!

I looked around for ideas on how to charge up my career and get “back in the game.” Problem was, in corporate life, I’d really never been in the game at all. The networks I’d established and the support groups I leveraged were within my company. Once I left, those groups broke apart like a Kleenex caught in the dryer. Oh yeah, working at home gives me time to do many, many loads of laundry. How could I avoid getting stuck in the lint basket of professional life? Like many answers, they were right in front of me, in the stories my coaching clients told me of their entrepreneurial successes and failures.

Based on thousands of coaching sessions over a fifteen-year coaching career, here are the five key components of entrepreneurial business success.

1. Don’t wait for others to help you; help them. While working solo can feel like a lonely voyage, you are not alone! Challenges that crop up for the first, or hundredth time, have been faced and conquered by others. Share your insights with peers, and then ask for their help where you need it. Form a “mastermind” group to meet frequently; you can even do it over a pot-luck lunch or supper. Ask that each member bring one success to crow about and one challenge that seems insurmountable. Brain-storm solutions with each other and be ready to take action.

2. Think Big! I coach a life insurance saleswoman and she’s considering whether to hire an assistant. The most successful agents in her company have full-time assistants, but she’s afraid of committing to pay someone else on her already thin budget. Instead of hiring someone full time, our shared insight came up with starting an intern program in her practice, leveraging local college students majoring in business. That saves my client money and helps her contribute to a young person’s future success.

3. Break through plateaus. How often have you experienced some short-term success, and then decided that it was okay to “cruise” a bit? That’s like celebrating five days of healthy eating by going out on Saturday night and inhaling a large pizza pie yourself. Create a list of your five most productive business-building activities and post that list in the most prominent places you can think of. Doing these activities is non-negotiable; as integral to your business’ health as brushing your teeth and flossing is to your dental health. Here are the “top five” I’ve developed for my speaking and coaching career.

• Write an article a week for publication.
• Make five new or “renewed” (see Action #4) contacts a day.
• Spend thirty minutes a day on marketing and Internet strategic updates.
• Offer my support to one professional colleague per day.
• Perform one act of gratitude per day.

What’s on your list? Consistency of action is the key to success! Once you’ve determined your “top five,” get after them like a dog after a juicy steak.

4. Your best new clients may be your “old” clients. How often do you update your current clients on what’s new with you, your industry, and your community? Start to view yourself as your existing customer’s lifeline to breaking information and the latest trends in your area of expertise. If you’ve immersed yourself in your career, then you are the expert in their eyes. Reach out to folks you’ve done business with before and “renew” their allegiance to you. Assess their current needs just like you did when they first purchased your product or service. Remember to ask for referrals!

5. Choose to be fearless. Before I embarked on my coaching career, I looked up the local life coaching professional organization on the Internet. Randomly, I chose to call a past president and asked to buy her coffee and hear her story. Laurie and I met at a bagel place in town, and for the price of coffee and a muffin, she shared priceless insight on what she loved and what frustrated her about coaching. Her generosity of spirit was always there, but had I not called a stranger out of the blue, I never would have known.

You can choose to chart a professional course entirely on your own. If you do, I salute you and wish you well. What I have found is that leveraging a diverse group of people and ideas is the single most important factor in whether a home-based entrepreneur succeeds or fails. That, and your hard work and focus on the five key components of small business success, will keep you far away from the cubes!

Mike Faber is an award-winning sales professional, business leader, and television personality. He’s also a speaker and certified professional coach who has taught thousands of business leaders to communicate passionately and effectively. Mike brings the lessons of a 30-year career in sales, management, and broadcasting to audiences in a style that combines humor, candor, and lessons that can be applied to all walks of life.

by Ashley Andrus

If you’re like most people, you finished that saying with, “…it’s WHO you know.”

That was true for a long time…but in the age of online social networking, it’s more accurate to say, “It’s not who YOU know, it’s who THEY know.” More than ever before, the internet makes it easy to access the networks and circles of influence of the people you know.

As networking expert Sarah Michel explains the equation in today’s market: The value of others + the value you bring to others = your netWORTH (™) . In this economic climate of free-falling 401(k) values, your network has become quite literally your netWORTH (™) . Are you putting social networking tools—especially LinkedIn and Twitter—to work for you?

There’s a catch, though. Too many people forget about the second variable in that equation (the value you bring to others) and focus exclusively on the first (what’s in it for me?) REAL WORLD TIP: The people you’re reaching out to don’t care what’s in it for you—they care about what’s in it for THEM.

Some quick tips on maximizing your efforts so your equation is balanced: 

THE GOOD:

• Success in HR outlines “15 Amazing, Sneaky Little Ways To Use LinkedIn to Advance Your HR Career”. Their pointers don’t apply just to HR folks. Anyone hunting for a job (especially a professional services-type position) will benefit from following these strategies.
• For tips on getting your LinkedIn profile in tip-top shape, see this overview from Mike O’Neill at Integrated Alliances (IA), an expert in maximizing your LinkedIn presence. Need more help? IA has a full step-by-step guide you can purchase here.
• For Twitter, see this About.com overview of resources for job seekers within Twitter. Remember that Twitter is also an excellent place to establish your expertise on whatever it is you happen to be an expert on.
• Whether online or in person, do some research upfront, tap into your network, and find ways to bring value to whomever you’re reaching out to or interviewing with. Success story shared by the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce: A guy goes in to a job interview—and he brings a possible sales lead for that company. He wasn’t applying for a job in sales; however, he demonstrated that he can bring value from the first moment he walked in the door. He got the job.

THE BAD:

• “I” is one of the most common words in the English language, but fight that urge–remember not to be “all about me”. I met a woman in transition recently at a networking function. When I asked how I might be able to help, she asked me if I would send a blast to all of my LinkedIn contacts about her. Less than 5 minutes after meeting me. Hmmm….let me think….no.

THE UGLY:

• Remember that once you put something out onto the Internet, it’s there for posterity. Posterity is another word for “forever”. That offhand comment, rant, or slam could come back to haunt you later. See ResumeBear’s “30 Ways to Lose Your Job on Twitter” for some real-world cautionary tales. (Thanks to @noraburns for tweeting that link!)

Even if you aren’t looking for a job right now, these same principles apply for using LinkedIn and Twitter for sales, business networking, and other applications…including building up relationships for when you DO need your next job!

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a workshop! Opportunities abound, and here are two resources:

• Nora Burns will be offering “Twitter 101” at the Denver Jobing offices on May 4th and June 19th. Details in the blog post here.
• For LinkedIn, see the list of upcoming webinars and workshops with Integrated Alliances here.

Web 2.0 isn’t going away. Google is here to stay. Jump on that bandwagon and put “the folks who THEY know” to work for you!

Ashley Andrus is President of Zoe Training & Consulting. Her passion is making HR folks and meeting planners look like *rock stars* by providing one-stop access to 90+ speakers, trainers, facilitators, coaches, and consultants.