To be a good networker, it starts by being genuine and authentic to build trust and relationships. You can achieve this by being a valuable resource to others with suggestions, ideas and ability to send referrals to other people. This will enable you to not have to constantly chase clients for new business. A referral system needs to be solidly in place to receive high quality referrals regularly.

Why is this important? 98% of ALL businesses in Vancouver are small business, as defined with less than 100 employees. In 2010, “there were approximately 391,700 small businesses operating in British Columbia, accounting for 98 per cent of all businesses in the province. Micro-businesses, those with fewer than five employees, comprised about 82 per cent of all small businesses”. (Western Economic Diversification Canada.) Therefore, the need for an effective sales lead referral system cannot be understated for the survival of 98% of ALL businesses in Vancouver.

To develop successful referral partners, ask what will it take for someone to know, like and trust you enough to send you a gift of qualified referrals? To deepen these referral relationships, think about what you need to be more likeable and trustworthy. Trust factor is built by providing great service, having integrity and holding high business standards. You also need to be able to effectively communicate the benefits of why your business is better or different than your competition.

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Don’t politicians realize that a vibrant community is dependent on supporting the arts in Vancouver?

Social Networking in the Arts for Community Engagement

Equally disturbing is the recent findings published from the Vancouver Foundation: people from all walks of life see growing isolation in Metro Vancouver, within neighbours, neighbourhoods and communities. The result of a growing civic malaise and indifference to one another is less engagement in the life of our community. That beyond a handful of family and friends, the survey reveals that many Vancouverites feel a lack of connection to other people that make up our community. Here’s a link to the findings: www.vancouverfoundationstories.ca/story.php?recordID=327.

Just a thought. If more funding became available for the arts, would this help solve the growing isolation problem in Metro Vancouver?

As a social media experiment, we invited The Art Party Facebook Group Members to a live networking event at the Waldorf: http://www.facebook.com/events/326828254044348/ where we had nearly 100 yes. I received over 20 compliments from emails and Facebook comments about how much the guests loved The Art Party networking event at The Waldorf and wanting to attend future events. We  attracted over 50 attendees for our first event, even with the Canucks versus Kings hockey game on that night. However, a few guests were still able to keep up with the game on the giant Tiki-tron in the Tiki Room. I also heard repeatedly from attendees they believed The Art Party networking events will get even better over time. And the Waldorf staff welcomed The Art Party back for more events. Therefore, we’re planning the next Facebook Vancouver social networking event this summer. Stay tuned…

Meanwhile, here are a few of the reasons why Facebook can help you successfully promote your events too.

Social Networking and its Evolution  

Social networking leads to face-to-face networking as humans are by nature social creatures. I recently met well-known speaker Leonard Brody, Co-CEO of Now Public on the future state of the internet at his leadership talk at the Vancouver Hotel. He said the next evolution on social media is the need for “smaller spaces for social engagement”. I revealed to him that we created The Art Party Facebook Group to funnel our Facebook Friends who support the arts in Vancouver into a “smaller space” for social networking. And shortly after that meeting, I planned our first networking event for The Art Party.

In addition to the feedback from the first networking event, I also received a few positive emails about my new Timeline design on  www.Facebook.com/LJLCommunications. It’s a really nice and clean design that meets the strict rules about Facebook Fan pages, while making the most of branding. I will soon have a free report about Facebook timeline branding and how to leverage it for other online assets. Then, I can create an opt-in page for my Facebook Vancouver Page after visitors click on Like. This will help me grow my email subscribers. Finally, I will test out Facebook Ads to my friends and friends of friends on Facebook.

My latest interest in Facebook ads is the result of meeting Alfredo Tan, Head of Facebook Marketing Canada at an SMEI event for sales and marketing professionals at the Pan Pacific Hotel. Here’s what he had to say: ”Facebook Ads allows you to advertise to the right people based on their real interests.”

I also discovered you can even target people who are friends with people who already “Like” your Page. This social context will show up around the ad, as a type of “endorsement”. A study from Nielsen shows that on average, people are 68% more likely to remember seeing an ad with social context (endorsement) than without, twice as likely to remember the ad’s message and four times as likely to purchase.

For now, read on below on how you can plan and promote your own Facebook event with a few friends.

How to Plan Your Own Facebook Social Networking Event

You can plan your own social networking events by talking to a few of your trusted Facebook Friends to create a joint event. You would all agree to invite friends to the event and share in the work and costs. Then talk to a venue that can provide the space for free, as they can make money from the food and beverages.

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I co-founded www.TheArtParty.org Facebook Group with Bob Garlick, Kevan Seng, Jewel Tolentino and Auret Esselen in 2010. We actually “forgot” about the group for a couple years until March 2012. I wanted to keep in in touch with the hundreds of people I met along the way to become an internet marketer so I checked The Art Party Facebook Group and discovered there were over 700 Members. The Art Party Facebook Group allows us to funnel our Facebook Friends into a “smaller space” for social networking and promotions. These Members support the arts in Vancouver, including Kevan’s live painting entertainment events from www.GoldenBrushArt.com.

Important Tip for Your Networking Success

It’s important to remember that it is not necessarily the people from social networking or at a networking event that can provide you with direct opportunities. Relationships are at the center of social networking and networking events. To be a good networker, it starts by being genuine and authentic to build trust and relationships. You can achieve this by being a valuable resource to others with suggestions, ideas and ability to send referrals to other people. This will enable you to not have to constantly chase clients for new business.

The Art Party Facebook Vancouver First Networking Event Photos

www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.259818857447207.57583.100002572856992&type=3&l=9592758ba5

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Receive a Gift Card as Our Guest at The Art Party

Just a quick reminder, you’re invited to our first networking event for The Art Party on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 (8pm to 10pm) at the historic Tiki Room, Waldorf Hotel. Recently renovated, the room features Edgar “the father of black velvet” Leeteg paintings, palm trees and a delightful flickering “twilight sky” for a Polynesian evening atmosphere.

Over 90 RSVPs to Date

To support your networking success, we have put together a special gift card (value over $500) to be given to all attendees… We have over 90 RSVPs on Facebook and email to date and there is a good chance you could meet a few new contacts. And that can potentially lead to collaborations and referrals.

The Art Party Networking Event at the Waldorf

Date:  Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Time:  8pm to 10pm (Free cover)
Space:  Gorgeous Tiki Room, with night skies and palm trees
Costs:  Most appetizers are $7 each and drink specials are $4 each
Location: 1489 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC
Buses:  #135 SFU or the #20 Victoria bus
Driving:  Plenty of parking behind the Waldorf Hotel

Space is limited to 100 guests at the Tiki Room! First come, first serve.

RSVP@TheArtParty.org by April 15, 2012 if you’re going so we can let the hotel know.

Or you can also click on “going” on our Facebook Event:http://www.facebook.com/events/326828254044348/

See you at our first Facebook social networking event for The Art Party on April 18!

With warmest regards,

Liza Lee

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Although JWT is one of the largest ad agencies in North America, it only has a small regional office in Vancouver for a few clients with locations in Vancouver as Toronto is the main office for Canada. JWT and Blast Radius are part of the WPP conglomerate. JWT in Vancouver shares an office with another WPP owned agency, Hill & Knowlton for PR. WPP is the world’s largest communications services group, employing 158,000 people, working in 2,500 offices in 107 countries. WPP is Wire and Plastic Products plc founded in 1971 as a manufacturer of wire shopping baskets.

Volunteer in Your Industry for Networking Events for Contract Leads 

Many of the top agencies and media companies also support NABS (National Advertising Benevolent Society). When I was working on contract at JWT, I discovered NABS. Today, I volunteer for NABS West by promoting its fundraising events through Twitter and Facebook. Volunteering for an industry organization is a good source for potential sales leads.

Top Vancouver Ad Agencies and Digital Agencies:

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You’re Invite to Our First Networking Event 

You’re invited to our first networking event for The Art Party on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 (8pm to 10pm) at the historic Tiki Room, Waldorf Hotel. Recently renovated, the room features Edgar “the father of black velvet” Leeteg paintings, palm trees and a delightful flickering “twilight sky” for a Polynesian evening atmosphere.

What is The Art Party Facebook Group?

I co-founded The Art Party Facebook Group in 2010 and it has grown to over 750 members. The other original members include Bob Garlick, Kevan Seng, Jewel Tolentino and Auret Esselen. Jewel and Auret of EssetinoConnexions.com redesigned my site Lizajlee.com as a WordPress blog, making it easier and faster for me to post and to optimize fresh content for search engines, including our upcoming event.

The Facebook Group The Art Party allows us to funnel our Facebook Friends into a “smaller space” for social networking and promotions as Members who support the arts in Vancouver.

The next few years of social networking will be about increased interaction and engagement with prospects and customers, including promotions and face-to-face networking. Relationships are at the centre of social networking and networking events.

The Art Party Networking Event at the Waldorf

Date:  Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Time:  8pm to 10pm (Free cover)
Space:  Gorgeous Tiki Room, with night skies and palm trees
Costs:  Most appetizers are $7 each and drink specials are $4 each
Location: 1489 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC
Buses:  #135 SFU or the #20 Victoria bus
Driving:  Plenty of parking behind the Waldorf Hotel

Space is limited to 100 guests at the Tiki Room! First come, first serve.

RSVP@TheArtParty.org by April 15, 2012 if you’re going so we can let the hotel know.

Or you can also click on “going” on our Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/events/326828254044348/

We hope to see you networking at The Art Party on April 18!

With warmest regards,

Liza Lee

Here’s the screenshot of the results so you can see that the open rate is 39%:

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Networking is about meeting new contacts and building long-term relationships with people who can give you referrals for your business. It’s important to remember that it is not necessarily the people at a networking event that can provide you with direct opportunities, but the people they may know. Relationships are at the centre of social networking and networking events. Here’s an example of how you can hold your own networking event by leveraging social networking:

How to Use a Free Facebook Event to Promote Your Business 

I co-founded The Art Party Facebook Group in 2010 and it has grown to over 750 members after two years. The other original members include Bob Garlick, Kevan Seng, Jewel Tolentino and Auret Esselen. The Facebook Group allowed us to funnel Facebook Friends into a “smaller space” for social networking and promotions as Members who support the arts in Vancouver.

We’re holding our first networking event for The Art Party on Wednesday, April 18 8pm to 10pm at the Tiki Room, Waldorf Hotel. The Facebook Event is:

http://www.facebook.com/events/326828254044348/

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Free Audits are Highly Effective for Businesses with Recurring Services

One example I have is IT companies with managed services. The IT firm offered a free technology audit and report for identifying systems risk for viruses, downtime, spam, spyware, pop-ups. I was asked to improve the copywriting. I included a clearly stated value to ensure their offer would be taken seriously: “Try Out a Free IT Security Audit – Value $1,000”. An IT company can afford to offer a $1000 free audit as their business model is based on recurring monthly service fees. Also the offer had a time-limited end date to create urgency for the prospect to take action.

You can use traditional cold-calling to a targeted prospect list to promote your free offer. Or use the latest social media to promote your free audits on your Facebook welcome page as a banner ad. By emailing your contacts or asking your Facebook friends to Like your Facebook Page, this will help grow your Facebook fans too.

I also recommended the owner of the IT company to include terms and conditions to weed out non-prospects with the following: “For businesses with 25 to 100 employees in Metro Vancouver”. By adding the pre-qualifying statement in their free audit offer, this reduced his client acquisition cost significantly. But that’s not all…

How to Transform Free Audits into a Continuous Referral System 

You’re probably curious about the headline “Turn Silver into Gold with a Sales Lead System”. I suggested the free audit offers be professionally designed and printed as “expensive-looking” certificates, signed by the President and numbered. These printed certificates were handed out to targeted prospects at networking events and to referral partners. The numbering ensured accurate tracking and commission payouts to referral partners. The owner was thrilled to implement this lead generation advice. Recently, I discovered his business has tripled in size in two years!

This system of promoting free audits through referrals can work for many different  service industries: from marketing, bookkeeping, building maintenance, financial planning, SEO to onsite corporate massage days – for any business with recurring service fees. First, you need to remove the risk of switching services for your prospects with a free audit so they can sample your service. Then increase your prospecting reach by leveraging an affiliate system for ongoing referrals. To learn more about social networking to find referral partners, opt-in below to get access now.

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