Point Pleasant Upcomming Events
Networking is Heating Up
The weather outside has certainly been frigid, inside your Point Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Networking Committee has been working hard to amp up your networking opportunities. Point Pleasant Chiropractors and Atlantic Medical Imaging will be sponsoring business card exchanges at their locations during the months of January and February. What is networking and why do I need it? This is a common question that we hear from our members, let us try to give you a quick take on networking value and what it means to you and your business. Networking can be any activity designed to create, maintain and utilize interpersonal connections - is an essential business skill. But not all business people take the time to truly master this valuable tool. However, without a solid understanding of how to network effectively and efficiently, no business can make the vital connections that it needs to survive and prosper in today's super-connected economy. Here are some tips you can use to increase your networking - and business – success.
Go with a goal. One of the first and most common mistakes that people make when entering a networking situation (planned or otherwise) is to fail to have a firm goal in mind. Are you looking to acquire new prospects, meet colleagues for possible collaborations, create a mutual referral partnership, create name recognition for you and your business, find funding or just "shop around" for interesting news and trends you can use? If you haven't taken the time to determine what your goals are for the encounters ahead, you will have a hard time meeting them.
Hone your message. When someone asks you what you do, can you articulate not only your business but it's benefit to them in a clear and concise manner? How about your "elevator speech" or 15-second intro - is it crisp, to the point and compelling, or do people's eyes glaze over before you get to the end? This is not the time to give a dry and deadly-dull job description. Save that for your resume. When someone asks about you and your business, you are being given a golden, but brief, opportunity to knock his or her socks off and to persuade them that you are the best thing to happen to them since sliced bread. Make sure you do so.
Check your gear. Make sure that you have everything you need to make a great impression. Are your business cards or other hand-outs up to date, and as professional-looking as you can make them? And don't forget to double-check the time, date and venue.
Educate your audience. Are you seeking a collaborative partner for a project? Then make sure everyone knows what the project is and what sort of partner you are looking for (and the general parameters of the partnership they'll be investing their time into). If you're looking for referrals, then do your potential referral sources know what constitutes a good referral for you?
Follow through. The most important part of networking happens after the initial contact. The best impression, the snappiest laser marketing message and the deepest desire to work together will all come to naught if they don't hear from you in a timely manner - or even worse, never hear from you at all. No matter who said what about calling whom, always follow up promptly and in a manner designed to strengthen the relationship and add value for the other person.
Mastering the art of effective networking, like any other business activity, requires time, dedication and attention. But in the end, the dividends it pays are well worth the time it took to cultivate them. Take the time to master these five tips and you will be amply rewarded with the prodigious fruits of your networking labor in 2010.
RSVP TO THESE EVENTS
(732) 295 – 8850 or by e-mail to info@pointpleasantchamber.com
WINTER NETWORKING
Sponsored by
Point Pleasant Chiropractors
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
5:30 – 7:30 PM
2612 Route 88
Point Pleasant, NJ 08742
*
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
$15
GRAZIANO’s RESTAURANT
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Special Theme Night
Pizza and Brew
(includes Salad, Pizza, Dessert, Wine, Beer and Soft Drinks)
*
BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE WITH BRIELLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Sponsored by
Atlantic Medical Imaging
Tuesday, February 10, 2010
5:30 – 7:30 PM
2300 Highway 34, Unit B
Manasquan, NJ 08736
Adopt a Hydrant whenever it snows
Please help Point Pleasant become more "Storm Ready". If everyone would clear snow from a hydrant and Senior Citizens walkways,valuable time would be saved by our Emergency Services.
Respectfully:
Jeff Smith
Chief
Point Pleasant Borough Fire Department
Do you really need a bag?
Plastic bags are made of petroleum - Americans use 380 billion plastic bags a year wasting precious energy resources and at the same time pollute the earth. Plastic bags can take up to 100 years to bio-degrade and toxic waste seeps into the earth.
The
Point Pleasant Climate Action Committee and The Point Pleasant Chamber of Commerce are asking Point Pleasant Businesses to put the earth bag sign in their doorway to remind people to use them. We strongly encourage residents to consider this whenever they shop, “Do you really need a bag?”
Thanks for your support!
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