Get The Networking Buzz!

LinkedIn Groups: South African Business Network in Sydney

• Subject: You are what you negotiate!

• July Meeting (Monday 25th July 2011) – First meeting of FY12!

It has been said that you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate! Come along and hear international speaker Mark Bernberg and learn how to engage and activate your 5 senses … and a practical hands on session as well for all who want to participate!!!!

This will be an event to remember! An inspirational presenter, great lucky draw prizes, 100 seconds of Fame and informal networking – bring your fellow Saffers and some friends and enjoy a fun filled evening combining business, recreation and networking! The theme of the evening is “Engage your senses to create innovative change in your business”.

Venue: Level 47, MLC Centre, 19 Martin Place, Sydney
Time: 5:30pm for 6pm (Monday 25th July 2011)

Please confirm your attendance (and number of people attending with you) by not later than Monday 25 July 2011 10am for venue and catering arrangements.

Please use our online booking & payments system (save time, no need to pay on arrival, $20 payment in advance, $25/$30 at the door) http://www.trybooking.com/QFA  and RSVP via LinkedIn Events. http://events.linkedin.com/South-African-Business-Network-Sydney/pub/724125 or email Gary (gfoweraker@hotmail.com)

Save the date – Ignite Sydney is back once more! 

At the Oxford Art Factory on Tuesday, 11th October.

Registrations will open soon, but for now please save the date in your diaries.

They want to hear from you

Right now they’re taking presentation proposals. You can talk about anything you like, as long as it’s interesting and you can tell in 20 slides and 5 minutes.

Head to the Proposals page and share your ideas!

Videos from Ignite Sydney 6

The videos from previous Ignite Sydney shows are available on the Ignite Show portal, where you can also catch talks from around the world.

Stay in touch

Follow Ignite Sydney on Twitter, join their Facebook page.

Thanks from
The Ignite Sydney team

We Have Been Nominated for the 2011 Sydney Business Awards!

Win $1,500 in cash – by voting for the Cavalletti Communications team.

Vote & Win at http://bit.ly/jbmoe4, or simply SMS “Words” to 0447 447 070.

Thank you for your support,

Daniela
daniela@cavacom.biz

Cavalletti Communications -
Copywriters Nominated for 2011 Sydney Business Award

Please Vote For Us – at http://bit.ly/jbmoe4 or SMS / Text “Words” to 0447 447 070.

Our clients know us as copywriters and consultants who really understand and care about each client’s business – and true long-term partners that deliver outstanding results for them ever time.

Now, we are proud to announce that this commitment and quality of work has earned us a nomination for the 2011 Sydney Business Awards. A big thank you to those who nominated us for this year’s City of Sydney Business Award.

Go into the draw to win $1,500 in cash – by voting for Daniela and the Cavalletti Communications team.

Vote & Win at http://bit.ly/jbmoe4 or SMS / Text “Words” to 0447 447 070.

Thank you for your ongoing support!
Daniela

Use our Networking Tips to Increase Your Visibility, Credibility – and Profitability.

Work Your Networking Muscles – And They Will Get You Work in Return

Our Networking Tips:

1. Arrive early – and leave late
2. Work the room – spot the connectors, open groups and “lost” people. Don’t barge into closed groups deep in conversation
3. Sit next to or talk to someone you don’t know
4. Bring a lot of business cards, and any marketing materials. If you think you are taking enough, take 20% more
5. Act like the host and not the guest – welcome new people, be warm and open
6. Book a meeting at your meeting, if you get the opportunity
7. Listen – givers do gain, hard sellers that talk only about themselves are perceived as rude and pushy
8. Have focus and an objective – what are you networking for?
   
9. Be visible, build trust – and reap the rewards. Trust takes time to develop: network regularily
   
10. Follow up, Follow Up, Follow Up after your networking event

These networking tips are of course not all there is to successful, profitable and fun networking. But with practice these first steps will get you a long way in establishing a good network and building trust – essential to getting referrals, making lasting connections and growing your business.

Best of Luck and Success,
Daniela

daniela@cavacom.biz
www.cavacom.biz
We Take Care of All Your Business Writing

We Are All Social Creatures With Needs

Much has been written about what to do when starting your own business -
and much valuable advice has been given.

One of my favourite books is “The Ten Truths for Raising a Healthy Bouncy Business” by Roland Hanekroot (www.thetentruths.com.au).  It’s straightforward talk, no tome, yet gives many great insights, resources and examples.  In short, it’s extremely useful. In places, Roland touches on the human element which often is a no-no in a society where not being busy is poo-pooed.

But without taking the needs of the small business owner as a human being into consideration, new starters and old hands alike are prone to exhaustion, lack of creativity and even overall business failure.

So, here are my own tips for small business owners, anyone employed – and any other hard working people.

From a perspective of the owner/worker as a human being.

1. Balance:

Look after yourself – if you are mentally and physically exhausted you cannot function, and get overwhelmed or frustrated too easily.  And being a new business owner may suddenly seem too daunting.  Good food, rest, exercise and, very importantly, regularly connecting with what you love (a hobby, the outdoors, etc.) and people close to you, as well making new contacts, is important. You will feel less pressured and isolated.

2. Flexibility / Openness:

If you started out with one idea, but it does not work out as you hoped or you are not happy with it in the real world – that’s ok.  No need for guilt or feeling of failure.  Business, as life, is constantly evolving and changing.  Be agile, adapt, and you will grow that way (your business and personally).  Too many new starters (and long term owners) have battled with one fixed idea, trying to make it work against all instincts and odds, to the detriment of the new business.  Only flexibility, and the will and ability to adapt, be creative and to trust your gut will keep you going as a happy business owner  in the long run.

3. Networking:

Getting out there to network serves many a purpose, and is good for both the owner and the business: You can exchange ideas, get referrals, find affiliates, grow your knowledge, stimulate the mind with new impressions, develop new angles and ideas, evolve your “elevator pitch” short description of what you do, how, and – most importantly – why.  People buy the emotive “why” of your service, your passion and your conviction that you are offering something unique and worth having.  For more on this topic check out http://thetentruths.com.au/resources/purpose/, especially the Simon Sinek video on “why”.

What are your 3 Tips to a successful and healthy relationship with your work?

Leave your comment below – looking forward to reading your ideas!

Until soon,
Daniela
daniela@cavacom.biz
www.cavacom.biz

We Take Care of All Your Business Words

A great resource, book and website for all Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs (SMEs)

The Ten Truths… For Raising a Healthy Bouncy Business:

http://thetentruths.com.au/

DYI Copywriting: How to Write a Headline

http://tinyurl.com/3v2h32s

 
Until soon,
Daniela
+61 (0)415 273 272
daniela@cavacom.biz
www.cavacom.biz

We Take Care of All Your Business Words

10 Top Tips for Delivering a Power Presentation

An excerpt from Never Get a “Real” Job by Scott Gerber,
as published by the BNI Network

Nothing is worse than a long, drawn-out meeting that feels like a trip to the dentist. The last place you want to find yourself is leading a snooze fest or a presentation that has people checking their watches every other minute. To be an effective salesperson, it’s important to master your presentation skills and learn to engage your audience effectively with highly targeted information that gets results in the shortest period of time.

1. Be prepared. Always be ready for the people you’re meeting. Never make anyone wait for you.

2. Sell the jockey before the horse. Every sale begins with your first impression. Demeanor matters. Be likeable, down-to-earth, and confident. Attract people with your enthusiasm, energy, and passion.

3. Say it in 30 seconds or less. Get to the point. Your prospects and potential partners have other things to do, so get them to say yes as quickly as possible. The more you say, the more you’re giving people to consider. Make it easy for them: Say what needs to be said, and not a single word more.

4. Fit the pitch to the person. Create the right presentation, not “your” presentation. Do research before any pitch to customize applicable portions and ensure that you have all of the necessary and correct information as it pertains to the person sitting across the table—or on the other side of the Internet.

5. Show, don’t tell. Whenever possible, keep your presentations interactive. Demonstrate your product or service firsthand to show off your results rather than just talk about them.

6. Make it visual. Don’t kill people with excessive text. Keep slides or videos simple and clean. Focus on creating visually appealing presentations using photos, videos, audio, and graphics with minimal body text.

7. The best presentations are conversations. Talk with prospects; never lecture them, put forth mandates, or tout ultimatums. Engage and interact with the people in the room. Always encourage discussion and questions as you go.

8. Speak plainly. You’re speaking to people, not robots. Don’t use jargon or clichés to make your points. Eliminate terms such as these from your vocabulary: innovative or innovate, out of the box, Web 2.0, next generation, original, and world’s greatest. Use the tools on gobbledygook.grader.com to keep your pitches in check and jargon-free.

9. Back up or shut up. You are asking someone else to invest his or her time and money into your product or service. Show them that you deserve it by supporting your expertise with relevant experience and real results. Avoid hypothetical arguments or unsubstantiated claims. If you can’t do or promise something, then find another way to sell your services until you can.

10. Know what you are talking about. Don’t say things to try to look smart or claim anything that sounds too good to be true to close a sale. Less is not only more—it also keeps you out of trouble. Remember, you’re accountable for every word that comes from your company. The smartest thing to do when you don’t know something is to admit that you don’t know—then figure it out within 24 hours and get back to the individual with an answer.

An excerpt from Never Get a “Real” Job by Scott Gerber,
as published by the BNI Network