I have had a few requests from bookkeepers lately for some strategic alliance ideas.

Book-keepers I meet typically fall into one of two categories. They are constantly wondering where the next client is coming from or they have so much business they can hardly keep up with it all. 

So for all those bookkeepers who are new in business and looking for clients,  AND for 13 different types of businesses that could have alliance strategies with bookkeepers, here's how one book-keeper teamed up with 13 other types of businesses to generate a constant stream of new clients and additional income for ALL of their businesses.  Are you one of them?

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It is well known that Networking is a critical marketing tool in today’s competitive market. Effective networking strategies can result in a steady stream of new leads and referrals to your business. Unfortunately for many small business owners their networking experiences are nothing more than an expensive waste of time and energy.

Here are five simple steps to ensure that your networking provides a positive return on investment.

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Today's rant comes from many of the networking group organisers that I talk to on a regular basis.  Their members tell them they want events but then they don't attend, or they attend once, say the event was fantastic and they will definitely come again, and then ….nothing.

Now we think business owners are looking for Networking events.. over 800 of you search the Networking World calendar of events every week. And it makes sense, networking is without a doubt the most important business growth strategy available to small business owners and entrepreneurs.

So I said I would ask Networking World subscribers to help by telling us what's going on.  

This is a completely open question.  Please put your comments, suggestions and ideas in the reply box at the bottom of this post.. 

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Thanks to Alan Marion from Trainex Systems for this handy networking tip.  Take a pad of Post It Notes with you to a networking event. Then when you promise to follow up with someone or send them some information you write a memory jogger of what you promised to do right there and then on the spot and attach the Post It Note to the person's business card. They'll be impressed that you care and you'll never forget what you promised to do again.

Do you have any handy networking tips or cool business tools that you would like to share with Networking World and SMART Business Networker Readers?  We'd love to hear from you.

I am asked at least once a week by someone or other.. "Which networking group should I join?"  or "What networking groups do you recommend?"  So I thought it was time to dig out an old article and answer the question in my Blog.

Successful networkers suggest that if networking is a key part of your marketing strategy then you should join at least three quality networking groups which are right for your networking goals. In addition you should attend at least one new networking opportunity every month. However one of the first problems facing new or growing businesses seeking Networking opportunities is “Where do I go?” or "Which group should I join?"

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Although I love meeting new people and making new friends the idea of walking into a room full of strangers and making polite conversation fills me with dread.  

So if you're like me and networking is something that you do for business rather than pleasure here are eight ideas to help make your networking less stressful and more productive.  

1. Select the right group 

All networking events are not the same.  They vary from cocktail style functions where you are expected to be able to mingle and work the room to speed networking where you have to be ready to talk to ten to twenty people in rapid succession. 

Select a facilitated networking group where everyone gets a chance to meet other attendees in a structured format, or a round table format where it's easy to talk to the people sitting next to you. 

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A few weeks ago I was talking to a good friend and alliance partner who was organising a networking event. He said to me.. it’s not going to be one of your kind of events Brenda, it’s going to be full of everyone shoving business cards at each other because that way we get the best attendances.

Then yesterday I received an invitation to another networking event (different organiser).. It said “make sure you have your 30 second elevator pitch ready and bring hundreds of business cards”. Now I know this was sent with the best of intentions, by someone who genuinely believes in the power of small business owners working together. so I asked him why he worded his promotion that way when he knew that attendees wouldn't get the best results if they spent the morning spruiking their elevator pitches and shoving business cards at each other.

This is what he said

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Today's Cool Tool is all about  improving website conversions. That's when people who visit your website sign up to receive your newsletter or ezine or whatever else you send them so that you can keep in touch, keep marketing to them and ideally sell your products and service to them.

The 5-Minute Conversion Health-Check Scorecard is a simple 20 question YES or NO Questionnaire that you can complete in 5 minutes or less that lets you know where your website landing page(s) may be letting you down.  

The great thing is that it comes with a simple, easy to follow 12 step rehab program for what to do about it.   I hope you enjoy the article and good luck with your website rehabilation program.  You can get the full article and questionnaire here. 

How does your website stack up?  We'd love to hear what you learn and how it improves your website effectiveness. 

I It was a busy week in the Networking World Office last week.  We launched our new 12 week social media implementation program. I'm really excited about this because we're not just teaching participants how to use particular social media platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Blogging etc). Far more important I'm going to be working with participants over a 12 week period (and beyond) to plan, implement and test and measure a social media strategy for their business.. If it sounds like something that you'd like to do there are still two spots left  for the program that starts on Wednesday.  you can check out the Social Media Implementation Program here

We also released 150 places in the pre-launch version of the new Strategic Alliance Success Good Karma Alliance. If you are a small business owner and you want to be part of a team of like minded people working together to help and support each other. Oor if  you are passionate about helping small business owners succeed then there could be a spot for you in the Alliance.  Check out the SAS Good Karma Alliance here.

Plus if you're in Melbourne and you want to spend a fun couple of hours with great company coming up with creative strategic alliance ideas for your business make sure you book into the next Business Mum's Dinner on 2nd September.

Finally here are my top 5 favourite  Blog posts and videos from last week.  Whether you are looking for networking tips, alliance ideas or how to find those elusive business connections using social media there's something for everyone.   ENJOY!

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This week's question came from Jessica and it's a VERY important question every business owner needs to know the answer to.

Jessica asks
"With a small business, I don't have time to constantly monitor twitter for what people are saying about my business. I. e. When someone twitters something negative about Vodaphone there is someone monitoring to counter the criticism all the time. I don't have these resources, so is there a risk in using twitter where being time poor means not having the time to address any negative comments and therefore no one to counter twitterers false or damaging comments (if they choose to make them)?"

 Unfortunately what many business owners don't realise is  that it doesn't matter whether you have a Twitter account or not, people can still make false or damaging comments about your business.  The good thing is that they can also rave about you, and they can ask their friends for recommendations that might be relevant to you.

The risk with not using Twitter is that you don't see the false or damaging comments, or the positive ones, or the ones that could bring you business. So you can't do anything about them.

And it takes less than 5 minutes a day to monitor what is being said on Twitter to see if people are talking about your business or about things that are important to your business.

 I ran a test through my demo account, which has no friends and no followers,  to show you what I mean. See what happened …

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