With social networking sites being as popular and accessible as ever before, there is no doubt that parents need to use caution when letting their teenagers use these sites.  These popular social websites like Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter are excellent places for your teenagers to interact with other teenagers, make new friends and learn more about the larger world around them.  These sites can provide safe access for your teenager to meet people from all over the world and interact with teenagers on a whole new level.  But these sites can also be dangerous places where people are not always as they seem and could be looking to harm your child.  But if you follow these simple safety tips and exercise caution and common sense, you and your teenager will get the most out of safe, social networking.

Never List Personal Information
It is important that you teach your teenagers, before they ever touch a keyboard, to never list any personal information anywhere on the internet.  Information such as phone numbers, addresses, email accounts, schools or even neighborhoods should never be listed anywhere on the internet.  This information may allow others personal access to your child which is exactly what child predators and scam artists use to build trust with teenagers and garner private information.

Never Have Inappropriate Conversations
People often feel invulnerable online and feel they can say whatever they please without any repercussion.  This is a big misconception.  Every computer has tracing mechanisms in IP addresses and other software, that if you make a threat against someone, or violate a law in anyway, you will have to account for it.  Teach your teenager there are things that they just shouldn’t say online, like racial, sexist, or crude comments, and threats made towards other people.

Never Agree to Meet Anyone You Met Online Without Supervision
It is very important that if your child makes new friends online and wishes to meet with them in person that there is extensive supervision.  People may not always appear as they seem and you do not want to put your child in a possibly dangerous situation.  It is never smart to meet anyone that you met online, but if your child does, then make sure you know everything you can about this person, and that you are there to supervise.  It could just about save your child’s life.

Never Giveaway Passwords
A simple password to your child’s email or social web account may be a ticket to identify theft and other potential problems.  Others can use this information to divulge inappropriate messages, pictures, or other content that could be harmful to your child or family.  Remember that passwords are never requested in emails so teach your teenagers never to divulge this information.

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Seniors who may live alone, or may live far away from loved ones and close friends can benefit immensely from using social networking sites.  These social networking sites may offer a welcome connection to the outside world for seniors who may not be able to get out as much as they would like.  Social websites may be intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be surfing the web in no time, with the proficiency of any teenager on your block.  The first thing you must do is to get over your fear of computers and social networking sites and dive right in.

Social networking sites can be great places to meet people, keep in contact with friends and family, share pictures and videos, even to make new friends all over the world.  The first thing you’ll want to do is to spend some time on your computer, perhaps looking up interesting things in Google, to get a feel for your computer.  Many senior citizens after a few weeks become more proficient at using the computer than any teenager or young adult, because of their extensive life experience and high knowledge levels.

Many senior citizens may feel certain apprehensions about using social networking sites due to a multitude of reasons.  The truth is that the senior citizen age group is one of the fastest growing demographics on social networking sites, as more networking sites are starting to cater to an older, more sophisticated generation.  Popular sites like Facebook and Myspace have gone to great lengths to make their sites more accessible to senior citizens, as well as giving them more features specifically designed to an older demographic.

Social networking is not for kids anymore, just ask the Agewell Foundation who has recently announced plans to launch InteractWell, a social networking site specifically designed for senior citizens.  Not only is it a place for seniors to come together and interact, but a place for them to share their views regarding life experiences, all across the globe.  Sites like these offer senior citizens a way to interact with other seniors who may feel as apprehensive about social networking as they do.  It is a great place to meet other seniors who have similar interests, not to mention contact lost friends and family that may have grown out of touch.  With the support of other seniors learning to use social networking sites for the first time, it will help ease your mind about using these sites and open you up to a whole new world of interaction and communication.

Most social networks are free and only require an email address and password.  Once you go to the site and set up your free account you’re ready to upload pictures and start making friends as soon as possible.  You can set up your profile to express yourself in any way you see fit, and interact with people from all over the world, with the same passion and zest for life as you have.  All you have to do is sign up and sign on, and you’ll be an expert in social networking in no time.

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Starting a business networking group takes time, money, and a lot of effort, but the potential rewards can be staggering.  Having your own business networking group is a great way for you and your business associates to meet new people, meet new customers and share the invaluable experience you have obtained from your efforts.  You may be a business just starting out, or you may be a well established company looking to share your expertise in your field.  You may be a business looking to meet new and interesting contacts that could help your business, or maybe you’re looking to broaden your customer base.  No matter the case, starting a business networking group can have several advantages.

Before you start any business networking group you will want to have a clear purpose in mind.  What the basis is for this networking group, what it can offer my business as well as my associates, and how much it will cost.  You will also want to determine when and where you are going to have your meetings, whether they are at certain locations or even online.  You will want to take care of every detail in advance so that your group looks organized and professional.  Having a disorganized, poorly run networking group just shows other business professionals that you are a poor, unorganized business person, and this will turn them off from doing business with you.

Depending on the size of the group you may want to hire volunteers, or team up with like-minded people who share your vision.  They can help you to shape the direction of your new group, and help to broaden its purpose and goal, not to mention help out on the costs.  You will want to create a clear plan of what the group’s purpose is, when and where the meeting will take place, as well as define guidelines.  The guidelines will help to govern your group so that it runs smoothly and has a clear purpose.  Your guidelines will also establish the cost of membership, how you will choose your leaders, and how to manage the group’s funds.  By creating a thorough set of guidelines on the outset, you’re likely to have less confusion down the road.

You will want to try to come up with a plan for the whole year before you decide to launch your group. You will want to have certain events planned in advance, so that new members can see exactly what you have planned to make a better decision if they would like to become members or not.  Figure out the appropriate meeting time and meeting place and try to stick to that model throughout the year.  Being consistent is vital for any business networking group, as well as being professional and being well organized.  Create a group that people will want to join, not only for meeting people, but to help their businesses grow.  By following these practices, you will make sure that your business networking group doesn’t fizzle out and die within the first few weeks of its launch.

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Making a good impression in business is paramount to succeeding in business.  When you are about to meet new people or do some business networking, how you present yourself will often equate to how good you are at what you do in the eyes of both colleagues and bosses. Just like you learned as a youngster, there are certain “golden rules” to follow both in everyday life and business life.  Here are the top 10 rules of business etiquette that you will want to keep in mind.

1.     First and foremost, having good manners is a must.  Please and thank you never go out of style.  Common courtesy towards others should be second nature.

2.    Be on time, or better yet be a little bit early.  Be certain that you have allotted enough time for the meeting so you won’t be concerned about another place that you have to be.

3.    Dress appropriately.  If you are uncertain of what to wear, it is always better to err on the conservative side.  Business casual is generally the rule of thumb to follow.

4.    Prepare yourself ahead of time for both things that you may want to contribute to the meeting, and any information that was given to you ahead of time to read or make notes on.  Come prepared to participate in discussions and activities.

5.    Upon entering the meeting, glance around the room and acknowledge other attendees.  Familiarize yourself with colleagues and managers and make a note of the person who is chairing the meeting.  Try to put names to faces if you’ve met previously and try to remember names of people who have been newly introduced to you.

6.    Although it’s hard to live without text messages, cell calls and emails, you can do it for the duration of a meeting.  It is good etiquette to present the attitude that this meeting is the most important thing on your agenda right now.  Leave word ahead of time with the necessary contacts that you will be in a meeting and then switch everything off when you arrive.

7.    Don’t interrupt the chair when the meeting is in progress.  Take notes so you will be prepared to speak up when the time is right.

8.    When you do speak out, be clear, concise, and stay on topic.  Don’t be afraid to present your point of view, but always be respectful of the point of view of others.

9.    Information exchanged in a meeting is generally considered confidential among those attending the meeting.  Unless you are certain that the subject matter is common knowledge, it is best not to discuss issues with those that were not in attendance.

10.    Bring your positive attitude.  You’ll accomplish a lot more and gain a lot more respect than you will if you are negative and critical.

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Whether you are planning a meeting of your business networking group, or you are about to lead a group of colleagues in some type of discussion, a little planning will go a long way to making your meeting a success.

Few things are more frustrating than spending precious time in a meeting only to come away feeling as though the time was wasted.  We have meetings in order to move forward, accomplish tasks, set goals and make improvements. When none of these things happen, the purpose of the meeting is lost.  In order to have a successful, productive meeting, there are some simple, basic guidelines that should be followed.

1.    Have an Agenda
Except for initial meetings, the agenda should be drawn up at the previous meeting.  But for an initial meeting a clear agenda must be written in advance.  The agenda must include a list of the topics to be covered in the meeting.  If different people are speaking on the topics, be sure to list their names beside their topic.  List the order in which the topics are to be discussed.  Also schedule into the agenda time for warm up discussions, coffee breaks and post meeting evaluation time.  It’s a good idea to give a brief overview of the agenda first, before starting discussions of the individual topics.

2.    Have a Facilitator
Designating someone to be the facilitator helps to keep the meeting focused and forward moving.   The facilitator will also help redirect conversations if attendees start rambling off on tangents, and will also work at drawing quieter members into the meeting while toning down those that tend to dominate.  The facilitator will also be the person who will bring the meeting to a close.

3.    Have someone take minutes
Taking minutes merely involves having someone record everything of importance that happens at the meeting, for example, important points and concerns that were raised, what decisions were made, who is going to do what and when etc.  These recordings can be used for future reference to monitor progress.

4.    Have an agenda for the next meeting
Use the information gathered and points raised during this meeting to draft an agenda for the next one. This provides a starting point and a direction in order to get the next meeting off to a quick start with a focused direction.

5.    Have everyone evaluate the meeting
Take a few minutes at the close of the meeting to gather and record each person’s feelings about the meeting. Was it effective?  Was it too long…too short?  Was it focused?  Was it productive?  Use this information to make improvements for subsequent meetings.

6.    Have 100% of everyone’s attention
Make certain that your meeting is uninterrupted.  Ask members to refrain from making and receiving calls, messages or emails unless it is a real emergency.

Following these basic steps will help you plan and conduct productive, effective meetings.

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Business networking is more than just a clever tactic that most businesses use to draw in more clientele.  For many small businesses that rely upon word of mouth, proper networking skills are completely necessary for the continued success and even existence of the company.  Business networking is the fundamental act of referring business to other businesses, and in the process doing the same for you.  Understanding how to give quality referrals is an art form in itself, and something that is extremely important in business networking matters.  The old adage of, “I’ll scratch your back, if you scratch mine”, has never applied to anything more than to business networking.

Business networking, however, takes many forms, and you just might not realize how common it is.  Whether a business is cold calling some of its clients on the phone, or meeting other business professionals for dinner or lunch, the networking is always taking place.  Successful networking leads to referral business, new business ideas, and can help you to learn from other professionals in your field.  Many businesses choose to become part of networking organizations such as different local chambers of commerce in their selected area.  These organizations are excellent ways for business owners to participate in business advocacy and lobbying efforts, and offer a way for business owners to cooperate for their own protection.  They often have meet and greet sessions where business leaders can meet together to discuss certain business topics that might be affecting them, the current business climate in their area, and formulate collective plans for the future.

Some say that up to 70 % of new companies get their business through word of mouth.  Networking allows you the opportunity to formally introduce yourself and your business, to other business professionals in your area, to not only get to know them, but to get to know the services they offer as well.  If business leaders can meet you and can trust you, they will have no problem sending business your way, and no problem receiving some from you.  This is all part of the relationship building process that is so vital to successful business networking.  It is a relationship built on trust and mutual interest.

In today’s high tech world, business networking has never been so easy and available.  No longer do you need to live in the same area to network with business clients, or even in the same country. Due to popular online networking services, you can network with anybody all over the world.  You no longer have to be a big shot to talk to big shots, or even speak the same language.  Today you can have a dialogue, share ideas, and expand your business, all with the click of a mouse.

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No one can deny that in today’s economy – business is tougher than ever.   It just makes sense to expand your world in any way you can, in order to get the best possible exposure for your products and services.

What are some ways to do this?  Social networking has shrunk the world in many perceptible ways – and many websites are on the forefront of this trend.  On some sites, you can join any one of many different meetings held by others on a wide variety of topics.  Facebook and LinkedIn also offer great ways to gain exposure for you and your company.

Why is this important?  Simple – the number of contacts you have at any one given time will determine your probability of winning business.  The more people you know who may want your product or service, the better your chances of building a successful business with clientele that are ready and willing to buy!

A secondary benefit is the information that can be gleaned through social business networking.  In the “old days”, business people had to leave their offices, drive to a restaurant, and meet with one person who gave them a few tidbits of info or could possibly turn into a prospect some day, and then drive back.

With the advent of the web, now, an entire meeting room of people can be gathered together virtually for a meaningful and dynamic exchange of information with no driving, no dead time, and no delays!

Virtual meetings and social networking sites also allow you to showcase you or your company’s unique positioning, talents, and services in the most positive light possible.  In the past, your business dress and demeanor created lasting first impressions.  Now, a more realistic picture is formed through the web before any actual face-to-face meeting takes place.  This means height, weight, etc no longer play as important a role in business success as in yesteryear – and we are all on a more even playing field.

Sales, job hunting, and business building are all numbers games.   It makes sense to maximize the number of contacts you make every day.  Although technology hasn’t yet gotten us to the point where we can shake hands with thousands per day physically – it HAS gotten us to where we can make contact with them, discover key facts about them, and work together with them so that we ALL become successful.

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MeetingWave.com offers a unique value to members seeking to meet new clients or business contacts over coffee, lunch, golf, or other meeting activity. 

MeetingWave Features:
* Decide when and where you meet and whether the meeting occurs.
* Decide who you meet and when to disclose your identity.

Members can communicate with other members using double-blind messaging to confirm and facilitate meetings without disclosing their identify or contact information.

Members can post single date invites or recurring invites for proposed networking meetings (e.g., daily, weekdays, weekly, monthly).

Meetings are only confirmed if the member who posted the invite approves at least one acceptance from another member.  Otherwise, there’s no obligation to have the meeting.

Members can offer to pick up the tab in the posted invite for the potential client or split the costs.  MeetingWave is powerful in that you can develop personal relationships with new people through face-to-face meetings.

Taking a break from Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter, we’re starting to see invites for proposed networking meetings posted by those in the Internet services industry including:

Boulder, CO: Social Media Marketing

NYC: Advertising and Marketing Contacts

San Diego: Marketing Consultant Can Get You On Google Front Page

Malaga, Spain: Introduction – Web design & Marketing

Shreveport, LA: SEO Services that get Results

Mississauga, Canada: Are you looking to improve your Online Business Presence?

Westport, CT: Marketing your business on the internet

WebEx Meeting: SEO/Internet Marketing Educational Meeting for Web Designers

Los Angeles, CA: Social /Business Networking Coffee

Gulf Shores, AL: Kaiser Ecommerce Group

Bombay, India: Coffee-Let’s meet to talk about brand consulting and marketing

Webinar: Digital Enterprise Intelligence Marketing for Small Business

Chicago, IL: Social Networking & Jazz

As you can see from our Map, we are starting to gain traction throughout the country as we increase our promotional activities and make improvements to the site.  If you don’t see many near you, see MeetingWave Dilemma: Chicken or the Egg? We suggest you post one or more invites yourself, as well as set up a Meeting Alert on the Advanced Search page to be notified of new invites being posted near you.  Here are some additional tips for meeting new clients: MeetingWave Tips: How to meet your next client

Although most invites are for face-to-face meetings, you can post invites for virtual meetings (e.g., webinars, Skype calls, etc.). We plan to add more functionality relating virtual meetings in the future

Also, remember that members can import their contacts from LinkedIn, Gmail, Yahoo, and Hotmail and also forward MeetingWave invites of interest to friends.

As always, we wish you luck in finding your next client or customer.  Thanks again for your support.

Regards,

John, founder

MeetingWave.com

http://twitter.com/MeetingWave

Guest Post: Submitted by Jennifer Charlton, AE, DeVito/Verdi and Co-founder of Citizen Aid

Source: http://www.awny.org/module-Pagesetter-viewpub-tid-1-pid-56.html

The opposite of networking is NOT working. That’s how Andrea Nierenberg, founder and president of The Nierenberg Group, opened “The Networking Clinic” on March 24, the second session in AWNY’s four-part “Career Clinic Series.”

Nierenberg, who’s been called a “networking success story” by The Wall Street Journal, encouraged the 31 ‘networkers’ in attendance to discuss their ideas on how networking can help to enhance your career through building successful relationships.

The first topic of discussion focused on the definition of networking. According to Nierenberg, networking is the most misunderstood word in our language. The dictionary defines networking as “the developing of contacts or exchanging of information with others in an informal network, as to further a career.”

Nierenberg was quick to point out that successful networking is quite the opposite – it requires work beyond building a contact database, and in fact, calls for building personal relationships for purposes beyond just getting your next job. She pointed out that most of us network everyday – but that we just don’t call it networking. Making new friends, staying in touch with old ones, and following up with the people we want in our lives requires attentive nurturing, which in most cases, is a natural instinct we have when we meet people we like and want to know more about.

She went on to explain her “S Factor” model of networking– networking can be strategic/structured, serendipitous or subconscious. Aligning with the idea that “the opposite of networking is not working,” she offered insights into her own successful networking practices, discussing these key topics:

The 7 Rules of Networking

1. Smile

2. Make consistent eye contact with the person you are talking to

3. Listen, internalize and respond

4. Be aware of body language

5. Reach out and be proactive

6. Maintain a positive attitude and approach

7. Look for common interests

Your 20-Second Introduction

When you are meeting someone for the first time, whether in a work, social, business or personal situation, think about the ways you wish to be remembered. Focus on the important details, rotate the facts, make it relevant to your audience, deliver with passion, know when to stop and listen, and engage in the conversation so that the other person is left wanting to know more.

The 5 Drivers of Networking and Everyday Strategies

1. Meet people and nurture your connections and networks

2. Listen and Learn

3. Create advocates and spheres of influence as you build your personal brand

4. Follow up with a plan of action

5. Stay on people’s radar screen and keep in touch creatively

Preparing Your Networking Toolkits

Your tangible toolkit should include: business cards, card cases, pen/paper, and breath mints. Your intangible toolkit should include: great eye contact, intent listening, positive attitude, researching on the event/meeting, and being aware of current events while maintaining a general knowledge of your areas of expertise.

Throughout the evening, Nierenberg engaged participants and encouraged conversation. The clinic concluded with a networking exercise, in which all were instructed to meet someone new and make a plan of action to stay in touch and build a relationship. She also collected everyone’s contact information for a raffle for three winners to receive a signed copy of one of her books. In all, it was a successful event, and attendees left with the knowledge that they had met at least one more person with whom they could build a personal relationship, putting them on the way to strengthening their network.

Some of the questions asked during the session were:

Q: How do you network without seeming like you’re just out to network?  Meaning, how do you meet people and get their contact information without “schmoozing” or giving off the impression that you’re just using their info to get a job?

A: Approach people you meet confidently, genuinely, and enthusiastically. Instead of viewing it as ‘networking’ think of ‘relationship building’ or approach the situation as if you’re making a new friend. If you would like to follow up with the person after a conversation, ask permission to contact them. If someone gives you a business card, you do not have to automatically give out yours; whoever receives the card is responsible for following up. Don’t offer your card unless you’ve been asked to, and don’t ask for someone else’s card unless you’ve asked for permission to contact them in the future.

Q: How do I know the best method of communication for contacting someone I just met?

A: After you’ve met the person and have asked for their permission to follow up with them, ask how they preferred to be contacted. Some people prefer phone calls, others emails, some even texts, LinkedIn or Facebook – so, it’s better to ask than to guess which way you should reach out to them.

Q: How do you end a conversation politely without seeming rude?

A: If you’re at an event/party, politely tell someone that it’s been a pleasure speaking with them, but that you would like to say hi to some other people you just noticed in the room. If you use the excuse that you ‘must get a drink’ they will likely join you, even if you don’t want them too; similarly, if you use the excuse that you ‘have to use the restroom’ they might be waiting for you to return. It’s best to end the conversation instead of leaving the person with the assumption that you want to continue talking. If possible, when you finish a conversation, recommend the person talk to one of your friends or introduce them to someone you know whom they haven’t yet met.

Q: What should I do with all the business cards I’ve collected?

A: Create an organized system for collecting cards. When you’re out at an event, carry two business card cases: one filled with your cards, and another to fill with cards you collect. After you’ve had a conversation with someone and they’ve given you their card, write a quick note on what you two discussed. When you get home, file your cards in a way that keeps you organized. It helps to create an electronic database, using a tool such as an excel spreadsheet to list contact information, the date/place you met the person, relevant information you learned (such as their birthday or hometown), the last conversation you had with them (topic, and date), etc…

Q: If I haven’t spoken to someone in my contact database in a while, how do I reconnect?

A: Approach the conversation with a reason for reconnecting, such as: “I know it’s been a while since we last spoke, but I was thinking of you the other day, and was hoping we could catch up soon over coffee or a phone call.” Or, if you come across some information (such as an article) that you think the person might find interesting, send it to them with a note. Don’t be pushy or too persistent but stay in touch enough so that the relationship can grow organically. The important thing to remember for all relationships – new, forgotten, or old – is to nurture and respect.

Some comments attendees had about the “Networking Clinic”:

“It was really informative, and I learned a lot of tips and strategies that I’ll be implementing – overall, the session gave me a fresh outlook on how to network better.” – Cezanne Albright

“The most powerful thing she said was that ‘knowledge is power but only with execution.’ We know what we need to be doing to network better, but we don’t always remember to do it.” – Christine Pencosky

“Andrea Nierenberg doesn’t just “know” her stuff – she “is” her stuff… great, informative, smart stuff!” – Carole Bolger

Thanks.

MeetingWave.com

We all know times are tough in the real estate market. However, on our site, we are seeing some resourceful people using MeetingWave for professional networking and lead generation. Some of the invites that have been posted by real estate professionals are below:

Georgetown Saturday Tour of Homes

Rockland County Real Estate

Social Media Web 2.0 and Real Estate Tech

Real Estate Referrals Wanted

North Georgia Mountain Real Estate

Who wants to learn Real Estate from the Best

Realtor Needs Buyers or Sellers

Westchester Real Estate Investors Association

Real Estate Agent

Real Estate Investment Meeting

How to add to your business and to your bottom line

Real Estate Investment Opportunities in Brazil

In view of some recent real estate firm layoffs, MeetingWave may also help realtors find their next opportunity (See, Find the Right Job or Opportunity Using MeetingWave).

Regards,

John

Founder, MeetingWave.com