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Link In with Style and Class
How many of you are on LinkedIn? Looks like most
all of you. No wonder it’s the leading social networking site for building
business relationships, sharing information, and searching for jobs.
Beyond the obvious linking up with colleagues and
resume postings, there are hundreds of discussion groups you can join and
participate in. They range from alumni groups to shared interest groups to
hobby groups and everything in between. You can ask or respond to posted
questions or comment on hundreds of discussion threads. But you all know that
already.
What you may not know is how easily LinkedIn
allows you to make a poor first impression on people you just met or haven’t
even met yet.
(Full disclosure here: I’ve been an enthusiastic
networker since before we called it networking. Some colleagues even call me
the “Godfather of Networking.” I like that. I prefer high touch over high tech
and view social media as effective tools to enhance and expand relationships
generally started by face-to-face or voice-to-voice conversations. If you
consider that approach as old school or antiquated … I’m guilty as charged.)
That said, here are three simple best practices to
help you Link In with style and class.
1.
Don’t be a LinkedIn Loser: Do you know people who try to link in with anyone, even
people they don’t know? I do. They believe that it’s more important and
valuable to have a large number of superficial contacts than a smaller number
of solid and meaningful contacts. I don’t. Some call them LinkedIn LIONS …but
Loser works fine with me.
Be selective about whom you invite to connect with
you and whom you agree to connect with. A primary use of the site is to
ask others in your network to refer or recommend you and to do the same for
them. Pretty hard to do that when you don’t even know the person or where the
only connection you have is that you’re both in the same discussion group.
When strangers ask to link in with me, I politely
tell them that I prefer to link in with people after we’ve gotten better
acquainted and began discussing how we might be able to help each other. Then,
I observe how they respond and follow up and take it from there.
2.
Don’t be Generic: When you do invite someone to link in with you, avoid
the system-generated, generic, “I’d like to add you to my professional network
…” Comes off like junk mail sent to “Occupant.” Instead, take the extra
minute to craft a two-line personalized note, indicating why you want to
connect with them and what you hope to accomplish. When you accept invitations
from others, reply with a short note thanking them and suggesting some ways you
might help each other.
3.
Don’t be Superficial: When you ask people for a recommendation or referral,
also send a personalized note. Make sure they know your work well enough to
write a specific and meaningful testimonial. Indicate in that note which of
your qualities you’d like them to highlight. And, of course, offer to
reciprocate. When you agree to write a recommendation, check out their existing
ones first so you can give yours a different spin.
This all sounds like basic common sense and common
courtesy, doesn’t it? Well, our workplace culture killed off common sense years
ago and we allowed common courtesy to die off slowly from lack of use. So, if you
want to Link In with style and class, do it with uncommon sense and uncommon
courtesy. How’s that for old school?
By Phil Stella
Phil Stella runs Effective Training and Communication Inc. and works with business people who what to communicate confidently. He is the COSE MindSpring Networking Expert and a popular speaker on the topic. Contact Phil at HYPERLINK "mailto: etcpjs@aol.com " etcpjs@aol.com or (440) 449-0356.
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RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF INTERNET BUSINESS GROUP’S LAS VEGAS OFFICE.
Internet Business Group (IBG) is pleased to announce that it will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Las Vegas area offices from 5:30PM to 7:30PM on November 5, 2010. Notable leaders of the Las Vegas business community are expected to attend this catered event.
IBG is Las Vegas’ largest full service Internet Marketing and Reputation Management firm. IBG works with its clients to create a dynamic and evolving marketing message and executes it across multiple platforms giving a broad reach. IBG represents political campaigns, hotels, nightclubs, rehabilitation centers, mortgage brokers, lawyers, dentists and more. IBG is Las Vegas’ leading Reputation Management firm with over 80 successful clients serviced by Internet Business Group’s powerhouse SEO and Marketing team.
The Las Vegas office is thrilled to have the veteran high-tech leadership of Gene Burns. IBG currently has 33 employees and is growing rapidly. IBG also has offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Orange County.
ABOUT INTERNET BUSINESS GROUP
IBG - Internet Business Group, a MainStreetChamber National Partner, a leading provider of Internet Marketing, Visibility and Reputation Management Services, recognizes that who you are online is as important as who you are offline.
IBG is a comprehensive Internet Marketing firm specializing in Marketing and Visibility Solutions for individuals and businesses, PageOne™ Search Engine Optimization services, Social Network Marketing, Mobile Marketing, Web Strategy, Design and Development, as well as Online Marketing Consulting.
IBG is skilled at developing marketing strategies that deliver results for their clients. IBG is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.
For more information visit: http://www.internetbusinessgroup.com .
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We would like the opportunity to profile your company in an upcoming newsletter. Please provide content, logo, website links, etc.
Send info to newsletter@mainstreetchamber.org
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Dear Subscriber,
Around 200 small business owners braved the elements on a blustery October night last week to attend the Grand Opening for the Twin Cities chapter of MainStreetChamber™ at Jax Café. Attendees traveled from as far away as Rochester, Red Wing, St Cloud, Mankato and Duluth to enjoy the warm hospitality, delicious appetizers and the opportunity to connect with hundreds of potential customers and referral partners. As you can see from the short video below, the festive atmosphere at Jax was more like a party than a typical networking event!
See full blog click HERE
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Federal agents rose before dawn on a muggy morning last summer, donning bulletproof vests as they prepared to surprise and arrest an established Miami physician. Armed with guns and heavy flashlights, they scaled a high stucco wall to enter the grounds of his sprawling two-story home, fanned out around the pool and house and waited; then several agents pounded on the door, shouting, “This is the FBI!” The 56-year old doctor, Jorge J. Dieppa, was wanted on charges of taking bribes to provide hundreds of patient referrals to home health care agencies that then submitted about $19 million in phony claims to Medicare. The program paid almost $12 million to his alleged ring of scam-mers: six nurses, two patient recruiters and a Medicare beneficiary who received kickbacks. Nothing out of the ordinary for Miami, the nation 's capital of Medicare fraud, where medical equipment, physical therapy and other scams overseen by doctors, nurses and health company CEOs have been rampant for the past decade. But outside Miami, dozens of other people also were charged with Medicare crimes that same summer day—in Brooklyn, N.Y.; Baton Rouge, La.; Detroit; and Houston—all part of the largest health care fraud takedown in the nation's history. More than 350 law enforcement officers arrested 94 suspects accused of trying to bilk Medicare of $251 million by billing the program for medical services and equipment that were either unnecessary or never provided. News cameras caught the suspects as officials marched them off to jail. Some hung their heads or tried to cover their faces with jackets. One woman spit defiantly at the camera. Among other crimes, they were accused of charging Medicare for physical and occupational therapy never performed and HIV infusions—a treatment outdated for the last decade—that patients never received. Court documents revealed 3,700 claims for one woman during a six-year period. For the Obama administration, the sweeping arrests were a “shock and awe” show of force designed to send a message that it means business about Medicare fraud. The day of the arrests, the administration held its first healthcare fraud prevention summit in Miami, where U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder declared the government 's goal is to “hammer people” who steal from the $500 billion program for older and disabled Americans. But that 's a tough job. Medicare is now a magnet, not only for unscrupulous health care workers, but also for violent felons and mobsters, who consider cheating the system safer, easier and more lucrative than drug dealing. And the estimated cost of their fraud each year? $60 billion. To read full article click HERE
Just what you need – one more administrative task put on the backs
of small business owners.
Starting in 2011, any vendor or independent contractor payment
that aggregates to more than $600 in a year gets a Form 1099-MISC.
In the past, we’ve only had to give Form 1099s for services and to
unincorporated entities. Now everybody gets a Form 1099, corporations included,
and for all payments – services AND goods.
If you buy office supplies at Office Depot, better be prepared to give
a Form 1099-MISC to them if the aggregate is over $600 in a year.
Putting This Into Place
If you, like me, reimburse workers for business purchases for my
company, I think it will be safer to be prepared to give a Form 1099-MISC to
the company if it’s an employee. Or if your worker is an independent
contractor, include the reimbursements on the Form 1099-MISC.
Get a W-9 at the beginning of the year for every single person or
business you pay. If you’re not sure if the total will aggregate to $600 or more,
get the Form W-9 anyway. Hold payment until you get the Form W-9 back. It seems
to be much easier to collect them when they’re expecting a check. Click HERE to read full article _________________________________________
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Meet Our Leadership
Dave Brodwolf East San Diego County Chapter - President
Dave Brodwolf was born and raised in east county San Diego.
Owner of a plumbing company for 15 years and then working for the union after
that, Dave saw the economy slow with very little work to sustain his lifestyle.
The entrepreneurial spirit in Dave came to the forefront earlier this year. Dave saw an opportunity to start his own
company specializing in digital and mobile media advertising.
“I was first introduced to MainStreetChamber through Lucas
Salles-Cunha, our chapter president in north county San Diego. After attending
a few events, I knew I wanted to start my own chapter” stated Mr. Brodwolf. Dave went on to say “my vision is to be able
to help business owners in my community by bringing them together for the good
of all. Helping our members face challenges and turn them into opportunities
while giving back to local charities is
a win – win for everyone involved”.
Dave is married to his lovely wife ,Carlene for 29 years and
has two great kids, Dustin and Krista.
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Minnie Foxx
Henderson, NV Chapter - Vice President
Ms. Foxx, is a well rounded
professional, loving mother, respected by her peers and has a sensitivity to
cultural diversity. Her Community Outreach, is bringing awareness to
Domestic Violence, and Mentoring Our Youth! Ms. Foxx, is the power of
voice as a Motivational Speaker, and has inspired many men, women, and children
by motivating, training and lecturing on enrichment and self empowerment
throughout the California schools, churches, personal and community
organizations.
Ms.
Foxx, has been recognized for her community efforts by many
organizations namely, LA City Mayor Villaraigosa, Women Working Together Inc.,
and Dr. Cecil Murray, having received “The Woman Of Courage, The
Perseverance Awards”, Community/Mentoring Awards from Regional Black Chamber of
Commerce and the 26th District Senate ~among many
others!
Ms.
Foxx, is a Multi-Talented, Award Winning Actress, Model, Singer and was
nominated in two
categories for “The BMA Music Awards” and Winner “Best Overall Musical Performance
In A Stage Play. In addition, to
producing, directing, coaching and writing countless productions, special
events and kid’s summits!
She, believes Hope, Faith Prayer and
Patience ~ is Power With In!
Mind Body Spirit!
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