NETWORKING WAHM

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We ALL have time management issues today. How do we improve our time management to create more time to network? How does improving our time management lead to networking opportunities more often? Implementing time management skills will ease up your with time to attend more meetings to meet more contacts.

By attending more meetings means more contacts in your network. Professional contacts are people who know and trust you! They are your best references and the “word of mouth” is still the most trusted from of advertising. Your contacts are your referral partners. A referral partner is simply a professional contact who will vouch for you. We all know of people who are great at what they do in our network often in conversations someone will say “I need to work on find someone who’s knows how to___”. We’ll say in reply ”I know of a guy who does___ ” Now how many times have we heard that phrase? Often by having a large referral base it will lead to more clients. Then end result is more income to your business! 

Part of time management is outsourcing when needed. As you grow with your business, you’ll learn we’re really better off hiring out some tasks…granted it’s hard to hand over control. We totally understand, it’s a necessary step to get to where you want to be in the end! For growth and expansion, even to look more polished and professional it’s necessity in some aspects of business.

It’s in the nature in our culture today, time management and networking are harder. It’s harder to find time for networking with so many devices to manage we’re all overwhelmed. With loads of social media sites to stay actively engaged on. Then we have loads of activities to attend for business/career and our family time to manage too.. we’re BUSY! Busier than we have ever been. How on earth can we find the time to network to build our contacts for our business or career growth?

We’re bombarded with emails and direct messages from everywhere today. From everyone from professional contacts to others who’d just like to get to know us a bit more. With all the job seekers out there reaching out, you may come across those messages also. You’ll have those who’d like to work for you reaching out. Many job seekers have taken to writing emails for leads.

All the messages are really overwhelming and hard to keep up with. Also, spammers are still able to make there way through the spam filters with very ingenious ways. They’re great at tricking the system. So how do you personally manage all of the messages and weed out the ones which are the most important? *TIP* - Personally I use lists everyday in my email accounts and in social media.

Suggestions to help :

1) Use folders in within your email!  Make folders and move your emails around. To utilize NEW folders it’s a step to stay organized. Prioritize how soon you need to reply to keep you organized ”High Priority”, “Reply A.S.A.P.”, “Answer Soon” “When I have time” for example are great folder titles.

2) Consider outsourcing for your email or other tasks! Outsourcing has grown tremendously over the last few years. Outsourcing is taking off! Outsourcing has grown, because our needs have changed and the way we do business has changed! The need for all of us is really to be out front and “the face” of your business! To become very diversified with our marketing campaigns! We all need to do it all! To be out front rather than on the backend of our businesses or careers. This is really why outsourcing has grown.

3) Consider hiring a Virtual Assistant! The VA community of professionals is a fantastic resource for anyone who would prefer to be networking over replying. There are many stay at home mothers who are former corporate women who today are top notch Virtual Assistants.

4) Prioritize importance of actions! Do what needs to be done now? Have a what I call a ”Priority Hit List” The 5 top priorities of the day are_____, ____,____,_____, and _____    All the rest for messages and actions can wait until later.

5) Delegate to others! As a business owner the hardest part is really finding people with strong work ethics to accomplish your mission! Who are those people you’d impeccably trust? Those who’d do a quality job at the tasks assigned? Those are the people you “MUST” have as employees. It’a not an option in hiring! To go the top, top people are must haves! If you’d like your company to go grow must start with quality people. Put enormous time into finding the right team of people! The return on investment is HUGE!

6) Consider hiring social media management or a consultant. Social media consultants are the way to go for better understanding how to effectively target your audience. Think of a target when it comes to social media marketing. Excellent marketing people understand how to find the center of the target, your prime clients you’ve been working so hard to locate yourself. I believe in working smarter not harder. I own a company which does exactly this! My NEW company Divas Social! You name it we do it when it come to social media! http://divassocial.com  On Twitter – http://twitter.com/divassm and  http://twitter.com/divassocial  On Facebook -  https://www.facebook.com/DivasSocialMedia 

7) Training your family for tasks you have been doing yourself. Aren’t we mothers all guiltly of doing too much ourselves? Children are great at helping once they feel rewarded for their actions. Laundry, Dishes, Cleaning, Emails etc. the list goes on. They’ll need these skills once they’re grown so why not start to mastering it now?

Break large projects into tasks. Always step and chunk your work into smaller pieces. It’s less overwhelming to look at smaller steps. It’s always easier with large projects to have phases or steps leading to a much bigger goal.

Toronto’s Metro News press coverage of Networking WAHM.  Mariana Ionova – Thank you for covering our site with your article !

http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/local/article/889951–sisterhood-of-tech-savvy-moms

Tips to make your life easier and manage your time.

1.  Crock Pots are not just for your mom! You can have dinner ready after getting home from the office. You can  eat before or after,  the after  school activities or games!

2.  Black pants and shoes are a must have for busy mornings. When you don’t have time to think about what to wear, it’s a good option. Just throw on a top, your good to go.

3.  Coordinate the colors in your closet, for easy mixing and matching in the morning.

4. Get organized by having a  calendar with everything in one place (use a highlighter for organization and reading speed)

5.  Use baskets at the door to catch items. Items  coming in like backpacks, sports equipment,  and shoes  should each have their own home.  The benefit is the  morning rush will be less chaotic.

6.  When looking for new appliances,  look for timers. So you can get work done when your not there.

7.  Check into a freeze ahead meal class or find cookbook on the topic.

8.  Try to store items close to where you use them. You will use less of your time walking to replace them.

9. Use your cellphone more effectively. Store numbers for just about everything. Store everyone from doctors to neighbors. Add in the  restaurants you frequent too.

10. Make a list of which restaurants have kids eat free nights.  Write down which the night of the week it is, at each. It may be less expensive than cooking for the nights your not in the mood for a big meal.
Don’t sweat the small stuff!

One of the hardest parts of trying to do it all is ….time management. Trying to juggle multiple things at once and the amount of time needed to complete it all is demanding at best some days.  Multitasking is key in trying to do it all. So I have decided to start including time management tools to my posts. We all seem to have less and less time these days. We are all adding in more and more activities and responsibilities to our lives with the same amount of time to accomplish it all in.

We all struggle with the conflict of time with family activities, verse work and one always wins out over the other.

Affiliate Programs – If you currently have a program and would like to advertise it. I’m making a list for the site for interested parties. I just had a friend ask me, if I knew of contacts for  affiliate programs. I thought it would help others if we keep a current list for all to see on the site. If you would like to list yours please comment or email me at networkingwahm@gmail.com and I’ll list your site on mine.

Hiring an online Business “Expert” – Many people in the world today are trying to make money in all different ways. Your trying to make money online or you may be interested in it, correct?

In my opinion, there are two types of business people in the world. The real ones and the  scam people.  The real business people are very honest and open about their business and they have selected goals.  Real business people select certain areas to excel in, develop them and become great in select areas. Often they work on a few projects at a time and  work till completion.

Real business people tell what their expertise is.  If they don’t know about a topic, they’ll tell you. When they are not familiar with a topic and don’t know an answer,  they’ll often research it for you, because they want to know the answer.  Often getting back with you with the answer. (A good Networking Tip for you : You can become a true friend and great contact by doing this for others)

The real ones will their build their knowledge base and share it with everyone. (A good Networking Tip, it builds real connections) Networking comes in by sharing your own knowledge base, you build a great network of like minded people to bounce ideas off of and share.  You both grow professionally. Exactly what I do everyday. I try to learn as much as I can to help others.

The scam people will say they’re an expert in everything to get your money. Scam people willl be an expert on everything from A to Z (E-commerce, Site Analysis,  SEO, Coaching, Affiliate Marketing, Social Networking, Direct Sales, Advertising, Shopping Carts, Virtual Assistants, etc)

Believe me when I say,  being on online is so complicated and complex, you can’t be an expert in it all. The fact is the trends change and the what people are doing online is always changing.  If someone is saying their an expert it all, STAY AWAY. Th fact is,  most of the people who I know who work with online businesses  specialize in a few areas of concentration. Having concentrated for years on the same thing and really building their knowledge base. Be it SEO, Affiliate Marketing, Virtual Assistant, Coaching, etc. To be truly great you need to really focus on a few topics, learn and watch constantly the changes which are happening.

You know the scam people want your money, just be smart.

I guess what I want to say is, be careful and educate yourself first.  Use good online resources or  go to the library or bookstore for a few hours and sit and read. Learn about certain topics. Start with the topics which you are in the most need of knowing about.

Money Saving Tip:  Educate yourself first on topics and you can spot the scam people and have your questions ready to interview potential consultants!

If  you want to learn about how to increase your  SEO. Start first by try to build up your own SEO number yourself. Free ways exist to increase your SEO number. If you want to improve  your SEO and what your are doing currently is not working, you have researched and try it all. Then find someone who is a SEO specialist.

I would talk to you local contacts first, ask them who they have used as a consultant. Ask about which books they have read on the topic. You may be able to do it yourself, if does take time. Blogging helps your numbers and there are SEO keywords. On topics to do with being online, there are “go to guys or girls”on it all. Your local contacts may know of someone in your area you can talk to or someone online they trust.

Be smart. Good luck. Please don’t get ripped off.

The large learning curve exists, but it can be overcome with baby steps and learning everyday.Invest the time, learn yourself and you’ll Thank me.

Hang in there and read, read, read.

Networking WAHM

A Networking Fundraiser is an event to help a nonprofit or charity organization.

I previously have taken part in a networking fundraiser and it was a wonderful event and worked well for all involved.  The goal in doing this type of event is many fold.  Everyone wins in some way.  The charity or nonprofit wins with increased revenues raised by the event.  You can donate or give a part of you earnings from the event to the charity or nonprofit. We each donated part of our earnings from the event, but you can set yours up how ever you like.

You win because your goal of networking with new customers and meeting new business contacts is achieved. You also win by meeting new people who may have never heard of your products or services before.  You are touching whole new market of people by having this one event.

To organize an event find a nonprofit group, suggest having one to them.  There are millions of  charities to choose from.  Find one near and dear to your heart.  Maybe someone in your family has an illness, start there you’ll be more vested in the success of the event.

We held ours in a local church for free.  The one which I was involved with had direct sales people, small businesses, and other non profits organizations.  I offered some products at a  greatly reduced price and the difference was given to the nonprofit, also.   We even held raffles at the event with the proceeds going to the nonprofit.  We offered some combination baskets with a mix of all of the vendors products.

Try it may help your business. Did  I mention the tax write off? I know you may really like that part as well.

Pick a charity or nonprofit and give it a try.

Shopping, deals, prizes and leftovers!

Sounds like a perfect day to me. Sitting at home, eating turkey sandwiches with a side of cranberries. MMM, can’t wait

The Holiday Wrap party kicks off Friday Nov. 27 (Black Friday) with vendors from 6 companies showing us some of their best gifts to give for the holidays. There are always special deals for attendees that aren’t posted on the the vendor pages. But it doesn’t stop there…

Our Holiday Shoppes have incredible specials for the entire weekend. If you can’t make it to our live event, you can still take advantage of some great deals. Many of our Holiday Shoppe Companies have Black Friday only deals or specials just for our Mom Chats visitors!

Why get up early and run around in the cold on Black Friday? Stay home, cuddle up with your computer and enjoy some great shopping and deals from home.

Yes we are work at home moms (WAHM) but that doesn’t mean that we can’t work our businesses locally.  Here are 7 great tips for jumping out of your comfort zone and really furthering your business.

7 Ways to Build Strong Networking Relationships

By Kim Isley
1) Go out of your way to welcome new members and visitors

We all know how difficult it can be to walk into a room full of people we don’t know, and we all know how comforting it can be to have a friendly person welcome us right away and put us at ease. Remember that as a member of a networking group you are not only representing yourself, but you are also representing the group. It benefits all of us to promote the group in a positive way and attract new members. If you make an extra effort to welcome new members and visitors you will be encouraging new membership, creating goodwill, and making a special connection with a person who will probably remember you for being so kind when they joined.

2) Come early and stay late

When you plan some time before and after a meeting to mingle and visit, you open space up for good things to happen and deep conversations to take place. Conversely, when you feel rushed people will sense your stress and will be less likely to approach you. The 20 minutes before and after a meeting is the perfect time to further build relationships with people you already know, and make new connections with people you don’t.

3) Support other members’ events and workshops

A lot of time and energy goes into planning an event or workshop, and supporting other members by attending one is sure to build your relationship with them. Many events like open houses and seasonal parties are free, and some members are willing to trade for the admission to their workshops that have a fee. When you go out of your way to attend the events and workshops of other members, it gives you a better understanding of what that member offers, gives you an opportunity to meet new people, and the member giving the event or workshop will be more likely to support you in the same way in the future.

4) Make coffee dates

Inviting a group member to coffee is the perfect opportunity to build a new relationship. Approach the date with the goal of finding out a lot about them rather than just promoting yourself and your business. You never know what you will discover about someone, and chances are you will find some way you can help each other in your business or personal lives.

5) Refer, refer, refer

Each of us has an extensive network of friends, family, co-workers, business associates, and community members we know and talk with on a regular basis. Chances are, during any given day one of those people in your network needs something a group member offers. When you are talking to people, always carry your mental rolodex of members with you, and think of that list first when you sense the opportunity to make a referral.

6) When in doubt, ask questions

Networking with strangers often feels difficult and awkward for many people. When you feel weird about approaching someone new at a networking meeting, a really great way to build a relationship almost instantly is to ask questions about the person you are approaching. People generally like to talk about themselves, and they will think of you in a positive light because you expressed interest in them first. And, often you will find out something interesting that can help you continue the conversation.

7)Volunteer

Networking groups are sometimes member supported and member run, creating a need for many jobs to be filled by volunteers. Volunteering for a board position or greeter at a meeting not only supports the group as a whole and makes you more visible to other members, it also creates a bond between you and the other members who donate their time.

Kim Isley is the founder and director of Trees for a Change an organization that plants trees as gifts in U.S. National Forests that have been destroyed by wildfire. Find out more about Kim by clicking here.

Networking on My WAHM Space: The Basics

“My WAHM Space” is a great new way for women who have businesses to network with each other! Each week, registered members (registration is free) of this fantastic community get together on the web forums, live chats and other fun events designed to help women showcase their businesses and talk about the challenges of owning a business. Each member gets their very own profile page where they may include information about their business including links to their personal blogs and business website(s). Then at different times throughout the week, members can hold online chats to sell their products and they offer some great deals!

Of course, there are web discussion forums and chats where Mom’s can ask questions, talk with each other, vent if needed and find a social outlet that encourages and educates all. My WAHM Space is better than other social networking sites out there because here you can find other Mom’s who can relate to and understand the unique challenges of being both a Mom and a busy business-person. Where else can you find true friends who share the same experiences, trials and successes as you?

Not only can you share ideas with other Mom’s, but you can build a blog and use the power of the Internet to write about your life, your business and any other interests you may have. Use this tool to post pictures about yourself, the products or services you offer and how other Mom’s can benefit from learning more about you. You can add a group of favorite members and get to know them through the weekly activities available, plus save time and money in your advertising efforts. Send email reminders out to your friends and family and other members to come check out what’s new. My WAHM Space is full of opportunities to use social networking to build your business and make friends at the same time, so I encourage you to check it out today.