I was reading the blog post written by Scott Ginsberg,

Today’s post was very interesting – he was talking about becoming ridiculously referrable without becoming a “pushy, self-promoting putz!”  I believe you all know the type of people he is referring to – we meet these types of people all the time.  If you are like me, I go out of my way to AVOID those people at networking events – I hate to be pressured into doing something  before I’m ready to do it – so it is much easier to just avoid any connection with them.

I certainly don’t want anyone making the “assumption” that I must be just like them since I’m taking the time to chat with them or hang out with them.  My time is better spent introducing people to one another, finding new people to connect with personally and developing relationships.

Having said all that, I started thinking about some of the things we can all do to become more referrable and one of the paragraphs in Scott’s blog post really said it all!  I have reposted that portion of his post for you here.

Whom do YOU refer? During a recent speech, one audience member shared, “I always refer my chiropractor – she’s great looking and has strong hands!” Naturally, I made an appointment immediately.

So, try this: Make a list of five people you’ve referred in the past month. Then, next to each name, note the various attributes that made that person referable.

Next, re-read your final list of attributes. Rate yourself from 1-10 on each one.

Finally, if you’re not happy with your current referability, set a goal to raise each category by two points in the next six months.

Or, if you REALLY want to blow your hair back, email ten customers and ask them to rate you on those same attributes. You may be amazed at the disparity.

How referable are you perceived as being?  Just remember, you can’t FORCE people to refer you, but you can HELP them WANT to refer you!

During our weekly RUN meetings, we talk a lot about what it takes to receive (and to pass) great referrals.  So I would now like to issue a challenge – not only to my RUN members, but to my readers as well.  Why not try what Scott has suggested – put yourself to the test and see how your referrability scale will increase.  Then, come back here, post a comment and tell me about your experience.  What happened, the good, the bad and the ugly and let’s share our experiences with one another.

There are a few more points to this subject that we will cover in later posts, but don’t wait for those to appear.  Get started today – comment below by telling me that you accept the challenge and I’ll be watching and waiting for  your results!

Don’t keep RUNLancaster and this blog a secret, tell others about it, will you?

To Your Networking Success!

Carol

Referrals Unlimited Network (RUN) is growing by leaps and bounds – we have     generated so much interest in our mastermind/relationship-building/business-building/networking groups that we have had to start multiple groups on different days at different times!

We are different than any other networking organization you have ever heard of or been a member of – become a member of a networking/mastermind/business support group for the price of belonging to one networking organization!

We focus on building relationships by Paying It Forward or Netweaving!  Netweaving is about bringing the threads of your connections into the fabric of your business by helping others get what they need and/or want before any thought of immediate personal payback.  Netweavers know that doing business by following The Golden Rule really works!  ALL relationships take time to build and nurture so this is not a “quick” process.

There are some categories available for each group and would like to extend a personal, exclusive invitation for you to visit us and see for yourself, how RUN is totally different from any other networking group in which you have ever participated!  It’s so different, that you really need to experience it for yourself and I’m sure you will want to become a member of this exclusive group!  Categories are exclusive, per group, so come now and lock out your competition!

RUN members know that the business opportunities may not come directly from one member to another, but from a member’s sphere of influence.  That’s where the magic of networking starts to happen, when you feel comfortable with a member to open up your network as a resource to someone who needs help!

By joining RUN, you will become a Master Networker/Relationship Builder and will have a sphere of influence that will be enviable by everyone that is not participating!  Just think how that will affect the growth of your business in a very positive way!

No obligation is necessary – just come and have lunch (or breakfast) with us – see what this group has to offer in the way of business building, masterminding and networking – I think you will be impressed by what you see.  These are a great bunch of people, dedicated to helping others, paying it forward with the goal of building relationships for business referrals.

Just come by –choose the day that fits best into your schedule – I would appreciate knowing if you are planning to visit just so that I can have enough tables/chairs set up.  Everyone buys their own lunch (or breakfast), so you can choose what you like!  Visiting a RUN group can be done a maximum of two times and must be done within a three-week period. At that point, you MUST make a decision whether or not you will be submitting an application for membership.

Not everyone is accepted that applies, but you do want to see what we are all about so come on out and eat with us – no obligation, no high-pressure tactics to join.  The group sells itself.

Just be sure to remember to bring your business cards and YOUR SMILE!

RUN #1 meets on Fridays at Symposium Restaurant, 125 S Centerville Rd., Lancaster from 12 Noon – 1:30 pm, meeting every week.

RUN #2 meets on Thursdays and will be a breakfast group, at Heritage Hotel, next to Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, on Centerville Rd., Lancaster from 8:00 am – 9:30 am every Thursday, meeting every week

RUN #3 meets on Wednesdays at Symposium Restaurant, 125 S. Centerville Rd., Lancaster from 12 noon – 1:30 pm., meeting every week

Please reserve your spot by calling me at 717-394-6453 or by email at caroldeckert@comcast.net and be sure to invite your friends to come along as well.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

With the economy the way it is today, more and more people are relying on networking with one another to gain qualified business referrals.  RUN can help you do that, by teaching you how to build relationships, focusing on strengths, not weaknesses that lead to a lifetime of valued referrals.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns – please post them below or contact me directly. I’m happy to talk about RUN anytime!

To Your Networking Success!

Carol

1. Look at your clients not as a one-time sale, but as a budding friendship.

Friends help friends.  Share your stories with each other – develop those important relationships.

2. Ask for them!

I know, that’s an obvious statement, but so many people are afraid to simply ask.  Why not try this ?  Contact one of your clients/customers today and simply ask – “Of all the people in your office (or of all of your closest friends) which person do you think would be the most interested in the product/service I offer?”  What’s the worst that can happen – you certainly cannot be killed for asking!

3. Begin at the beginning.

Instead of waiting later in a client/customer relationship to ASK for referral support….(which for some can be uncomfortable) begin TELLING your prospects/new clients at the very beginning that receiving referral support from your clients is HOW you do business.  Always tell your prospects what they can expect from you during  your relationship, and in turn, what you will expect from them.

4. Practice makes perfect!

The more you do, the better you become at what you do or know, the more confident you naturally come off to others.  Creating more confidence for THEM to easily refer you to the people in their life as “The only ONE to go to.”

5. Shift the burden.

Many business owners are afraid that asking for referrals from their customers/clients puts an unwanted burden on them. (They feel embarrassed or ashamed to ask for ‘help.’) So, shift your belief or understanding. When you ask your clients to refer their friends or colleagues to you, YOU (once again) are HELPING MORE PEOPLE. (The burden stays on you and off of them!)  People LOVE to help others (generally) so why not make them feel special, and ASK for their help?

6. Create an exclusive experience!

Create an experience for your customers/clients that feels (and is) exclusively just for them. How you do business should definitely stand out (and apart) from your competition. It doesn’t have to be a lot. Keep it simple – yet clearly beneficial to your clients/customers.

7. Clearly express yourself!

Let your clients know ALL that you do. Most will think the only thing you do or offer is what they get from you. Explain through stories, examples, and other offers the FULL RANGE of what you are able to offer.  Don’t drown them in details, it’s better to explain all the products and services you offer, one at a time.

8. Think Long-Term Relationship – not just WIIFM!

Let your clients/customers know you are interested in serving them for the long haul. Sometimes it won’t occur to a client/customer to return to you for your product or service. Let them know you would like to serve them as long as they need the product or service you are exchanging with them.

9 . K.I.S.S.  Keep It Simple, Specific

People love easy and simple (isn’t that why you are reading this top ten?). Whatever your product or service, make the experience of working with you as easy and simple for your customer/client as possible.  Be specific in what you are offering or in what you are looking for!

10. Tell your clients just how important their referral support is to your success.

People love to know when they are doing good and when they have been a key player in something successful.  Be sure to thank them, thank them often, keep in touch with them, find out what’s important to them and to their business and see if you can offer a solution to them!

What other ways are you using to increase the number of referrals you receive?  Tell me about them in the comment section below!

To  Your Networking Success!

Carol

In a continued effort to keep her business unique, Heather not only photographs weddings, graduations and professional photos, but is venturing into some new areas as well.  Areas such as Boudoir Photos, confidential, mature photos for your loved one; Pre-Natal Photos for those special pre-baby photos and Girly Girlz Photo Shots for young girls birthday parties (complete with makeup, costumes, food and fun), young girls can dress  up and be photographed as their favorite Princess and many other characters, and a myriad of other unique poses and locations to make your portrait package complete.

Heather’s Photography Studio is located in Lititz and you can contact her at heather@hajphotography.com It is my pleasure to recommend Heather for your next family, or business photo experience!

As for the mixer, we had a great time with approximately 20 people in attendance (7 were new folks joining us for the first time).  Our mixers are small, but are unique in that every one gets plenty of one-on-one time with each other, to truly learn a little bit about everyone and begin to build relationships with one another.

For the RUN Members who were unable to attend last night, we missed you!  I hope you will be able to attend our next one – scheduled for September 29^th at the Downtown Heritage Museum in Lancaster.  Mike Donnelly, a member of our Thursday group, volunteers there and will be giving presentations on the antique type setting equipment that you will be able to try out yourself!  Should be a fun evening!

We had nine guests last night!  How awesome is that?  I would suggest that you contact them and meet them on a one-to-one basis.  Many of them will be visiting one of our three chapters and will be candidates for membership.

Nathan Bunty, Unruh Insurance (Denver PA) Nathan@unruhinsurance.com

Neil Rhen, Executive Printing (Elm, PA)

Neil.rhen@executiveprintingcorp.com

Ryan Martin, M&R Auto Service (Lancaster, PA)

rmartin@epix.net

Kellye Martin, Kellye Martin Events (Lancaster, PA)

Kellyemartinevents.@yahoo.com

Bede Fahay, Kiwi Marketing Group (Lancaster, PA)

bede@kiwimarketinggroup.com

Kae Kohl, Kiwi Marketing Group (Lancaster, PA)

kae@kiwimarketinggroup.com

Kathryn Gwinn, Solutionz by KAT (Lancaster, PA)

solutionzbykat@yahoo.com

Danielle Miller, Danielle Miller Inc. (Quarryville, PA)

Dmmiller247@gmail.com

Brian Johnson, J.H. Carpentry, Inc. (Lititz, PA)

jhcarp@ptd.net

I’m sure each of our guests would love to hear from you so reach out, send them an email or better yet, a handwritten note!

Watch for some of the photos to be uploaded soon – Heather was busy snapping photos all evening!

The evening went slightly longer than planned – several people were still networking with one another after 8:30 p.m.     I gave a very short overview on why RUN is different than other networking groups and we pulled business cards for some awesome door prizes.  It’s not often that you attend a networking event allowing the opportunity to meet and greet each person individually, but also to receive a door prize too!  Just a few of the ways RUN is different and unique!

Want to know more about RUN and our members – contact me – I’ll be happy to tell you all about these awesome people that are so totally focused on building their business by helping others and building relationships!

Guests are welcome to attend any of our weekly meetings (visit 2 times before applying for membership) and are always welcome at our mixers.  Our mixers are held to introduce RUN members to the business community and to share the excitement of being a RUN member.

Referrals Unlimited Network (RUN) is growing by leaps and bounds – we have generated so much interest in our mastermind/relationship-building/business-building/networking groups that we have had to start multiple groups on different days at different times!

RUN members focus on building relationships by Paying It Forward or Netweaving!  Netweaving is about bringing the threads of your connections into the fabric of your business by helping others get what they need and/or want before any thought of immediate personal payback.  Netweavers know that doing business by following The Golden Rule really works!  ALL relationships take time to build and nurture so this is not a “quick” process.

There are some categories available for each group and would like to extend a personal, exclusive invitation for you to visit us and see for yourself, how RUN is totally different from any other networking group in which you have ever participated!  It’s so different, that you really need to experience it for yourself and I’m sure you will want to become a member of this exclusive group!  RUN members know that the business opportunities may not come directly from one member to another, but from a member’s sphere of influence.  That’s where the magic of networking starts to happen, when you feel comfortable with a member to open up your network as a resource to someone who needs help!

By joining RUN, you will become a Master Networker/Relationship Builder and will have a sphere of influence that will be enviable by everyone that is not participating!  Just think how that will affect the growth of your business in a very positive way!

You have NOTHING to lose – just come and have lunch (or breakfast) with us – see what this group has to offer in the way of business building, masterminding and networking – I think you will be impressed by what you see.  These are a great bunch of people, dedicated to helping others, paying it forward with the goal of building relationships for business referrals.

Just come by -choose the day that fits best into your schedule – I would appreciate knowing if you are planning to visit just so that I can have enough tables/chairs set up.  Everyone buys their own lunch (or breakfast), so you can choose what you like!  Visiting a RUN group can be done a maximum of two times and must be done within a three-week period. At that point, you MUST make a decision whether or not you will be submitting an application for membership. Not everyone is accepted that applies, but you do want to see what we are all about so come on out and eat with us – no obligation, no high-pressure tactics to join.  The group sells itself.

RUN #1 meets on Fridays at Symposium Restaurant, 125 S Centerville Rd., Lancaster from 12 Noon – 1:30 pm, meeting every week.

RUN #2 meets on Thursdays and will be a breakfast group, at Heritage Hotel, next to Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, on Centerville Rd., Lancaster from 8:00 am – 9:30 am every Thursday, meeting every week

RUN #3 meets on Wednesdays at Symposium Restaurant, 125 S. Centerville Rd., Lancaster from 12 noon – 1:30 pm., meeting every week

Please reserve your spot by calling me at 717-394-6453 or by email at caroldeckert@comcast.net and be sure to invite your friends to come along as well.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

RUN Members have decided not to “participate in this recession” and realize that more and more people are relying on networking with one another to gain qualified business referrals.  RUN can help you do that, by teaching you how to build relationships, focusing on strengths, not weaknesses that lead to a lifetime of valued referrals.

As always, your comments are valued and welcomed – please use the space below to tell us what you need!

If you are interested in hosting a RUN mixer at your business location, please contact me and we can schedule one for you!

To Your Networking Success!

Carol

We will, however, hold the regular weekly meeting for RUN Group #2 on Thursday @ 8 AM at the Heritage Hotel, Centerville Rd., Lancaster, PA 17603

We will hold the regular weekly meeting for RUN Group #3 on Wednesday @ 12 noon at Symposium Restaurant, 125 S. Centerville Rd., Lancaster, PA 17603

I know that these summer months get to be very busy with lots and lots of things to do with your business, your family, vacations, etc.  Please do not forget to contact me to tell me if you are unable to attend the meeting – the restaurant puts in extra work to set up the tables the way we like them for our meeting and it just doesn’t seem fair to them to just have no one show up.   The commitment you made when you joined RUN was that you would attend as many regular meetings as possible, with the exceptions being an illness for yourself or a family member, a specialist appointment, a legal appointment or a client appointment that just could not be held at any other time.

Building relationships takes time and can only be accomplished when you can get together with the other members to learn what is going on with them and share your experiences too.

Host:     Janel Kughler, Bryan Rutt

Start Time:    Thursday, June 18 at 6:00pm

End Time:    Thursday, June 18 at 9:30pm

Where:    Ichiban – Fruitville Pk – See details/directions  in the RSVP Link

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=87237611537&mid=98b717G2683a74fG20a8ed8G7

This is a great chance to get out and meet some new Lancaster people!

Have fun and make some great connections – Remember to come back and “friend” them on FaceBook after the event.  If  you have questions on how to do that, let me know and I’ll be happy to help.

I wanted to start off by thanking each and every one of you for being such a valuable addition to the RUN Groups.  Without your participation, my dream of a networking/mastermind group would not be coming true.  I truly appreciate each of us and thank you for inviting guests to attend and for helping to spread the word about RUN.  In case I have not said anything about it lately – YOU ALL ROCK!  You are superstars in my book!  Thanks so much!

On Thursday, June 11, 2009 our presentation will be by Jeff Williams.  Since he is in such a tightly regulated field, it is difficult for us to come up with business building ideas for him on the spot.  So I thought I would give you all a “heads up” so that you can be thinking about what to suggest to Jeff during our mastermind session featuring him.

Just so you know, this type of promo will be published regularly on the RUN blog – starting almost immediately, for each of the groups weekly presentations!  I keep giving myself more work to do – what’s the deal with that?   LOL!  Anyway,  make it a point to check in regularly on the blog – http://www.runlancaster.com/blog

Go there, right now, and sign up for email notices for new blog posts – it’s on the right-hand column.  That way you will always know when something is posted there.  I’m going to start posting this promos, ideas and articles that I share with you and updates from the meetings there.  I will stop sending “group emails” effective June 15^th.  So be sure to get there and sign up.

The other thing I would like  you all to do is to go to http://www.twitter.com and set up a Twitter account – it takes 2 seconds to do – make sure you use a username that brands YOU since tweeting is a form of marketing and branding.  All you need to do for now is to set up your account, then go to the blog and post a comment there – telling us what  your twitter id is.  For example, mine is http://twitter.com/caroldeckert We want to be sure to follow each other on this platform and we will begin to develop additional skills in marketing online with twitter during some of our special classes coming up.

All in all, there are lots of good things happening with RUN, so stay tuned!

See you all at the meeting!

To Your Networking Success!

Carol

P.S.  Members in the other RUN groups, if you have suggestions for ANY member, in ANY group, don’t be afraid to speak up.  Contact the member directly or give the info to me and I will pass it along.  Soon, very soon, the Members Directory will be available for all contact info to be posted.

P.P.S.  Don’t forget – I definitely need your 50 words (approx.) blurb about how you want to be promoted.  Remember – this is something you can use as your intro.  Only  a few have provided this for me, so I need it ASAP!

I’m very happy to talk about this as I wear Crocs every day, no matter what the weather, no matter what the occasion is!  Several years ago I had both knees replaced (one at a time, second one two years later) and I accidentally found out about the comfort of Crocs!  Sure they are ugly shoes, but I’ve never had a pair of shoes that made walking so much easier and more comfortable.  During physical therapy, the therapists couldn’t believe I decided to wear Crocs!

I am such a fan of Crocs. Their shoes last forever, they fit beautifully, they’re SO comfortable, and their customer service is excellent. It’s a great company.

And guess what this great company is going to do?

Crocs is giving 10 Simple Mom readers – that’s T-E-N – any pair of Crocs worth up to $50. You can choose any kind you like. Even for your kids. And even better – Crocs is giving you five chances to win. Here’s how.

Get all the details here:  http://simplemom.net/crocs/

Are you rushing over to SimpleMom.net yet?  I sure am – I would LOVE to win a pair of Crocs!  I’m finally ready to buy another new pair – the last pair lasted me more than two years, in all kinds of weather and I could never rave about a shoe more than this.   My friends think I’m wacky for loving my Crocs and for wearing them for every occasion.

Why not comment below AND on SimpleMom.net’s blog and tell us about your experience with Crocs?

Does your Referral Network have current business cards, brochures, website information, email information, and your offline contact information?  Do they know you are on Twitter, FaceBook or LinkedIn?  Are they aware that you are involved in any online social networking?  Your referral partners need to be informed so that they may educate those in their networks and refer the perfect prospects for your business. 

BUT . . . Referral marketing is a two-way street.  Do you make sure your referral partners know that you are interested in what THEY do, rather than just worry about how interested they are in what you do?  Remember, it’s always about What’s In It For Them (WIIFT) not What’s In It For You (WIIFY).  Do you know if they are involved in online social marketing?  If so, are  you connected to them and sharing your connections with them? How about their products/services – are you keeping up-to-date on what they are doing so that you can appropriately refer them? Are you genuinely interested in their business? Or are you just interested in what they can do for you?  Do you know how to properly refer them? Are you referring them? Are you following up with each other on a regular basis?

 It IS your responsibility to inform your referral partners on what a good referral is for you AND to make sure you know what a good referral is for them!  . Responsibility is something people are sometimes reluctant to accept. Actions taken on your behalf by other individuals is YOUR responsibility, so be sure to choose the people that are the right ones to work with.  People who can readily understand what you do and how you do it AND are able to properly communicate to you what they do and how they do it for reciprocal referrals! Demonstrate your competence and integrity, maintain the effectiveness and strength of your referral relationships and make this process work . . . for both of you!  

 How are YOU training your referral partners?  What are you doing to maintain these relationships?  Without maintenance, everything breaks down – just like your car – without regular maintenance, things stop working.  Do you want that to happen to your referral partners?

Share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comments section – how can I be of help to you?

To  Your Networking Success!

Carol

It was a lot of fun and very inspiring and I want to thank you for your support.

The referrals made for some good reading and John Jantsch plans to sprinkle them throughout a book he is currently writing on the subject of referrals.

I do have one favor to ask, I would like your opinion on doing something like this ongoing with a “Referral Friday” kind of thing?     John has  had several requests and I just thought I would see if others thought it was a good idea.

You can let me know any ideas you might have about keeping the referral energy burning by posting your comments below!

Again, thanks so much for supporting this international event!  Let’s keep the referral fires burning!

To Your Networking Success!
Carol

Thanks for participating in Make a Referral Week

As of this writing we are at 600 referrals made – that’s an awesome number but there is still a lot of work to do to get to 1000.

* *  Here’s today’s tip for those who have made referrals – contact the folks you referred – tell them about what’s going on and suggest that they visit http://www.makeareferralweek.com  and play in the game as well.

Visit http://www.makeareferralweek.com  and just tell us about a business you would like to tell others about. That’s it.

Why not “tweet” about this as well – please help us spread the word and make quality referrals?

Be sure to post your referral info here in the Comments Section as well – I’d love to hear what you have been up to!

Let’s face it, in the world of business – any business, it’s not who you know, it’s who knows you.

Ask any successful business owner how they got to be so successful and right up there at the top is effective networking.

Networking is the ability to expand your circle of influence – to get you and your business to become the business of choice in your niche market.

But as you’ve already probably discovered, honing your networking skills is as much art as it is science and not easy to master.

Mastering the art of networking can have a profound effect on both your personal and professional life.

That’s why I am so excited to introduce to you…The Networking Masters Tele-Summit hosted by a ton of networking experts, authors and speakers.

That’s right, I literally went all over the world looking for the best of the best…and I found them!

From March 9 – 13, 2009 you’ll have the unique opportunity to listen to these networking gurus reveal tips, tactics and techniques that you can immediately start using to increase your referrals through more effective networking.

The cost? About the price of a medium sized pizza…but without all the calories!

Want to learn more? Just click here ==> http://www.networkingtelesummit.com/?aff_id=124

Trust me, this is one event you DO NOT want to miss. From Chamber of Commerce mixers to industry events, cocktail parties and other business or social gatherings, the information you’ll learn from this one-time event will profoundly change your network skills.

Have you pledged to Make a Referral This Week? Did you sign up to listen to the speakers that will be sharing awesome information with us this week?

Why not tell us in the Comments section below how you plan to use Make A Referral Week to improve your business?

To Your Networking Success!
Carol

If they DO respond, I code their contact information with a #1 – this means that they have responded to my question and could possibly be interested in building a relationship.  If they answer my question AND tell me what they are looking for as a referral, I then code their data with a #2 – this is now a connection to me.  When we begin to have conversations back and forth, and I mean more than 3 or 4 different emails – but several emails and potentially an opportunity to talk on the telephone, I then code them a #3.  Their request info is also updated with each and every “touch” I have with them so that my records are current.  If I have all their information, their birthdays and what I feel is enough personal information, I then code them a #4 in my data records.

Follow-up is done depending on what number they are coded.  #1’s I try to send something to at least once a year.  #2  gets information from me based upon what time of information is being shared – potentially be added to my newsletter or ezine.  #3 are added to my newsletter list and #4 usually hear from me in some form or another every week or nearly every week.  I share tips, refer articles, ask them to comment on my blog posts, I comment on their blog posts, etc. and continue to work on building our relationships.

#5  – the most coveted number in my database is limited to people I have a good, strong solid relationship with.  Someone who has gone the extra mile to send me new contacts, send me information that would be helpful in my business, those who comment on my blog with the intention of helping me build readership – not just to get the backlinks, etc.  Those types of people I am going to keep in touch with as often as possible.

It is possible that the numbers can change on the contacts, again it is based on how much we interact.  Follow me on Twitter will get you a minimum #3; become my friend of FaceBook could realistically be any number, again depending on info being shared between us. 

Networking is work, it is work to keep track of your contacts and even more work to keep track of referrals you make and receive.  Please be sure to mark in  your contact management system a date you receive a referral and be sure to thank that person within the next 24 hours.  Referrals you make to others, don’t wait for them to follow-up with you, contact them – I’d give them no more than a week and I’d be asking what the status was of the referral I made for them.

Now it’s your turn, tell us about what  YOU use for your contact management and please share how you develop your database.  I’d love to see your comment(s) listed below for my readers to share!

DO I accept all invitations to connect?  Yes, I do. I attempt to start a conversation with my new contact and if there is no response, I either disconnect or add them to the lowest level of my contact management software. If a response appears, I attempt to continue a conversation by asking for an appointment – a convenient time to chat and for their phone number so I can call them – another step in getting to know them.

Now for the other side of the coin . . . if I did NOT accept all invitations, there is a possibility that a potentially wonderful connection will be overlooked. You never know how great a connection will be until you take the time to try to find out.

I totally agree with not asking “add me to your network” in forum discussions. To me, that’s plain rude. I also hate the phrase that asks if I am unwilling to connect, please don’t IDK me as it hurts my reputation. That to me, is the sign of a newbie networker who has a lot to learn in this networking world.

Being a Netweaver, learning to Pay It Forward, helping others, is what I’m all about. I love to meet new people and welcome invitations to connect. As a result of my LinkedIn Networking, I am approaching the 7,000 mark of first-line connections – look at the opportunity that exists for me to make friends all over the world! If not for those connections, I would not even begin to know a small percentage of these people.

If I can be of any help, please don’t hesitate to find me and ask. 

This is a great topic for discussion and I welcome your comments.  Please do comment in the section below and if we are not already connected, let’s connect!

http://www.linkedin.com/in/caroldeckert (use the email of caroldeckert@comcast.net) for invitations.

http://twitter.com/caroldeckert

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=646162255&ref=profile

Make a Referral Week is an entrepreneurial approach to stimulating the small business economy one referred business at a time. The goal for the week is to generate 1000 referred leads to 1000 deserving small businesses in an effort to highlight the impact of a simple action that could blossom into millions of dollars in new business. Small business is the lifeblood and job-creating engine of the economy and merits the positive attention so often saved for corporate bailout stories.

The week long event also features a killer list of referral experts providing valuable marketing advice.

I’m pledging to make a referral to a business I want to help as part of a national campaign to make 1000 referrals March 9-13. What a great small business stimulus plan – won’t you join me? http://www.makeareferralweek.com/pledge

Do your part to stimulate the economy by telling your world about making referrals and Make a Referral Week – you’ll be in good company.

Your Comments Are Welcome!  Use the comment section below and tell us about the type of referral you are making during this week.  Be specific . . . what kind of business did you refer?  Was this the first time you were able to make a referral to this person?