7 Networking Questions to Ask Yourself

I get together with a couple dozen other business owners for lunch every Tuesday here in Birmingham 
– Community Business Builders of Birmingham – is what we named the group several years ago when it started…
 
Networking Questions To Ask 
 
We have a 60 minute meeting over lunch and we keep the meeting very structured in order to be respectful of everybody’s time.
 
Every person has 60 seconds to introduce themselves and their business.
 
The we have a 5 minute education segment and then 2 of our members have 7 minutes to talk about their business in a little detail…
 
If there is any time left at the end of the meeting we encourage anyone with referrals from any other member to give a little gratitude/feedback.
  
It’s a very “fast” hour so we constantly encourage members to have “one on one” meetings during the week. In other words get together for Coffee or lunch and get more in depth about what we do business wise and what kind of referrals are good for each other. I love it…
 
Today’s business education segment was handled by Joe Simons.
 
Joe is an architect who is focused on “building with integrity”. It’s his branding motto. Although he’s capable and proficient with just about any architectural work Joe especially works with a lot of churches.
 
It’s not just about drawing a plan for a building with an architect like Joe, it’s about guiding his clients through the “mine fields” of government red tape that can cost a client a lot of extra time/money.
 
Joe gets most of his business by networking so it was no surprise to me when his educational topic was “Questions to ask an influential leader”. Joe related how he had used this exact list of questions when he had lunch with a mayor of a New Mexico city recently…
 
Joe was quick to credit John Maxwell with 7 questions Joe likes to ask “Influential Leaders” but it occurred to me the list works well with anybody you or I are talking to (in person or over the phone) so I thought I’d share it.
 
Next time you are talking to someone and establishing “rapport” here are some questions that may help you help them help you & them…
 
  1. What is the greatest lesson you have learned?
  2. What are you focused on learning right now?
  3. How has failure shaped your future?
  4. Who do you know that I should know? (my favorite)
  5. What have you read that you’d recommend I read?
  6. What have you done that you’d recommend I do?
  7. How can I add some value to what you do?
 
That’s an easy 7 to jot down and try the next time you are meeting with someone. Let me know how it works for you if you do use them – that would be a great future post.
 
Steven Hodgkiss

Alan Zibluk Market Hive Founding Member

Four Ideas To Utilizing Discussion Board Marketing

Forum Boards have been a part of the internet community for a really lengthy time. It is an easy way for somebody to speak with different individuals all around the world about shared pursuits, questions, as well as answers. Online discussion board marketing is likely one of the best methods for a small business to promote their product or service in addition to socializing with doable buyers of your product. 
 
 
Forum Marketing with MarketHive 
 
In at the moment quick paced internet world you could find forums on nearly any topic that may be of curiosity to you. All you must do is go to your favorite search engine and sort in your favorite subject and add forums and you may be greeted with hundreds of thousands of results.  The chances are virtually countless on the forums that you’ve got the power to decide on from. When you get the results all you have to do is search by means of the links and find the forum that you feel might contribute to you or one which could possibly contribute to the forum. If you’re making an attempt to promote what you are promoting however, it’s essential click on on many of the forums and register. 
 
Upon getting registered in a number of of the more fashionable boards you have to to edit your profile. The profile is very important as it will be the one thing that will promote your product online. It’s possible you’ll consider on creating a brief bio that tells visitors about you and the business you might be promoting. Just be sure you embody your keywords to both the text and hyperlink to your blog. This can show you how to show up on the search engines. 
 
Now that you have completed your profile you are actually able to create a signature file. The signature file will help you increase traffic to your website in addition to increasing the backlink. This file will seem every time you put up in a forum.
 
Now that you have each of the most important steps finished, you are now prepared to use the discussion board to market your small business or product.  There are a few tips that it’s best to follow though to ensure that the forums to work for you.
 
1. Use the web forums to be able to be taught as much as you’ll be able to about your business. Nearly all the boards which are out there are free to make use of so it is a great approach to do research. Also some boards mean you can learn the posts without even joining which is nice as it permits you access to priceless data with out having to join. That you must you’ll want to take the time in studying these boards and asking any questions that you could be have. Studying is one of the most important steps to any web enterprise as issues are consistently changing.
 
2. You’ll want to use the forums to ask questions. Nearly everybody in the forum community is keen to assist others and reply questions as they can. When you never ask your query, you will never get the answers that you seek. The key although is to make sure that you ask the fitting questions as you do not want to spam the discussion board boards. Spamming the forum boards to get folks to click on on your signature link will only get your post deleted and presumably get you banned from the discussion board as well.
 
3. Once you’re feeling you might be ready you may begin to reply questions for different members of the forum in addition to assist them with their issues just as they did for you. It will help you to get your backlink to grow as your belief grows. This will also assist you to turn into generally known as an skilled on subject. 
 
4. Try to not submit any links in your initial publish this is what you will use your signature file for
 
Forum advertising is a great way to socialize and meet new potential clients of your product. If they’re used accurately, you possibly can have a really successful web business.
 
Steven Hodgkiss
Authorised Distributor for 2 Minute Miracle Gel

Alan Zibluk Market Hive Founding Member