Better Business Blog

The Power of Helping Someone Else (and you too!)

Wonder what it would be like to go from two clients a year to over $40K a month without buying leads or working yourself to death?

Check this out: 

Debi Berndt, founder of Attract Love Coach.com and author of the best seller Let Love In, did just this…

She went from two clients to over $40K a month (with the same list and the same marketing) just by getting out of her own way and shifting her focus!

Even though she had a background in marketing, Debi was “lucky” enough to be stuck at 100K a year. It was a painful seven years, and she felt powerless to shatter her income ceiling. She decided to take a stand and raise her rates, only to watch her business crumble.

All but TWO clients abandoned her. 

Debi says, “I was ready to give it all up.” 

That’s when Million Dollar Income Acceleration Mentor, David Neagle, showed her how to get her ego out of her own way and “serve her clients.” 

What does “Get Out of Your Own Way” mean? Check out David’s video series More Than enough and find out for yourself.

 

Check out the video by clicking here: 
 

Some of the biggest names in our industry pay David the big bucks to help them break through the five-or-six-figure income ceiling into seven easy figures (and often in as little as twelve months). 

Here’s your chance to get coached by Million Dollar Income Acceleration Mentor David Neagle (for free).

P.S. If you desire more freedom than you have now—more cash flow, more clients, more opportunities— these More Than Enough videos will show you how to open the floodgates of abundance into your life.

Check out the video by clicking here: 

 

Announcing David Neagle's Free "More Than Enough" Video Series

For every entrepreneur wanting to ramp up their life and their business.

Enjoy Free access to The Law of Polarity case study and video exercise; video #1 in the four-part prelaunch video series.

This case study and exercise video tells the story of RJon Robins, the founder of HowToManageASmallLawFirm.com, and how he transformed his business from struggling at 7,000 to 10,000 dollars a month to over a million dollars a year.

WATCH THE FREE VIDEO AT: https://lifeisnow.infusionsoft.com/go/mtev/b3biz/

WHY WATCH? This More Than Enough video series is about BEING, DOING, and HAVING so much more than “just enough;” it’s about BEING and HAVING exceptional abundance. 

So often people are just getting by...Or stretching themselves only far enough to just pay their bills, with nothing left over. 

If you desire so much more freedom than you have now—more cash flow, more clients, more opportunities— these More Than Enough videos will show you how to pry open the floodgates of abundance into your life.

PRESENTER: David Neagle, Million Dollar Income Acceleration Mentor. Mentored / Mentoring Suzanne Evans, Baeth Davis, Blue Melnick, Fabienne Fredrickson, Bernadette Doyle, Christine Kloser, and Kendall Summerhawk, among others!

WATCH THE FREE VIDEO AT: https://lifeisnow.infusionsoft.com/go/mtev/b3biz/

 

QS World MBA Tour New York

To become a leader of tomorrow you continuously need to be ahead of the game, be creative, dynamic and innovative. Pursuing an MBA will definitely give you leverage to become a leader of tomorrow.

The QS World MBA Tour brings you over 120 of the world’s top business schools to New York on the February 2nd. This provides a fantastic opportunity to meet face-to-face with admissions officers and get the answers to all of your MBA questions in one day.

NOTE: Please RSVP on the TopMBA site. RSVPing Yes on our event page does not ensure your place at the event.


REGISTER HERE FOR NEW YORK MBA EVENT:
http://goo.gl/BGMGq


CLICK HERE FOR THE SCHEDULE OF THE DAY:

Attending B-Schools Include:

NYU Stern, Cornell, George Washington, London Business School, Cambridge Univ, Boston, Imperial College, Hult, IE, Northeastern, Univ. of Toronto - Rotman, Johns Hopkins Univ and many more...

During this one day event you can:

• Meet face-to-face with admission directors from top international and local B-Schools
• Attend a free GMAT seminar hosted by GMAC, the creators of the exam
• Meet with Ivy League MBA Alumni from Harvard, Stanford and Wharton
• Apply for $1.2M of exclusive MBA scholarships to help finance your MBA
• Get one to one advice on your MBA essay, application and MBA interview
• Executive MBA forum to find out suitable study options for professionals with six or more years of work experience
• Connect 1-2-1 forum to arrange personal interviews with a range of top business schools
• Inspirational Women in Leadership forum

CLICK HERE FOR THE SCHEDULE OF THE DAY:

REGISTER HERE FOR NEW YORK MBA EVENT:
http://goo.gl/BGMGq

We look forward to seeing you at the New York MBA event

 

NYCBNG Fall Networking Event

You’re invited to join members of The NYC Business Networking Group (NYCBNG) for our Fall Networking & Expo event. 

Meet business professionals and executives, business owners and entrepreneurs from a diverse group of industries. Network with members and interact with our sponsor companies who will showcase their business-related products and services. 

WHEN:   Wednesday, November 28, 2012, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

WHERE: Chelsea Manor, 138 West 25th St, Between 6 & 7 Ave

COST:    $10.00 prepaid (only 100 available) or $20 cash/door

RSVP:    http://www.meetup.com/The-NYC-Business-Networking-Group/events/90699582/

We look forward to seeing you at this event!

 

THIS MONTH'S VENDORS INCLUDE:

 

CLEVER CHOICE GROUP

Clever Choice is a multimedia web solution agency located in the fast-paced NYC area. We offer website development and design, marketing services, in-house development, business strategy and consultation and so much more. Our goal is to give the start-up community the resources to succeed in an extremely difficult business market. Our marketing services include SEO, social media and press releases. Our web development team is proficient in HTML 5, Java, J-Query, Flash, Photoshop, Visual Basic and more. Clever Choice specializes in modern development standards such as WordPress and BuddyPress. Visit Clever Choice Group at www.cleverchoicegroup.com/.

 

COFFEE CUP DESIGN STUDIO

Coffee Cup Design Studio creates custom graphic designs and promotional material for business and personal use. Established in 1991, the small NYC shop offers eye-catching graphics, fine typography and quality printing at reasonable rates. Anything-you-need can be designed, printed, delivered to your door. Ads, brochures, invitations, logos, newsletters, catalogs, booklets, annual reports, letterheads, business cards, flyers, postcards, hangtags, tent cards, menus and wide-fomat posters. Need an art department? Visit Coffee Cup Design Studio at www.coffeecupdesign.com/.

 

ORGANO GOLD

Meisa Bonelli, President of Millennial Ventures endorses Organo Gold. We are so proud of the healthy innovation Organo Gold is bringing to the world. Currently in 33 countries, Organo Gold is expanding to Australia, Brazil and Africa in 2013. Poised to gross $375 million this year, Organo Gold is on track to become a $1 billion company in the next 24 months. Meisa is a finance professional, speaker and success coach.  Millennial Ventures is an innovative investment firm for niche Gen-Y projects. We sponsor seminars and workshops to educate entrepreneurs on aligning tax strategies within their business models. The underpinnings of Meisa’s well rounded perspective are her versed background in private equity and tax lien investing. Visit Meisa Bonelli at http://ogshow.organogold.com/

 

VENUE SPONSOR:

Enter Chelsea Manor! Your lounge, restaurant, and event space located in Chelsea, a few steps from the Flatiron area. Chelsea’s newest 3,500 sq ft lounge boasts a vintage Miami vibe with plush white couches, long glass bar, and crystal chandelier. Late nights are perfect for birthdays, bachelor/ette parties and girls’ night out. The venue is open for full dinner, late night partying, sporting events, and private corporate functions. There is a full DJ setup, 12 plasma TVs and an 84-inch projection screen. Definitely check out Chelsea Manor! Visit Chelsea Manor at www.chelseamanor.com. 

10 Practical Tips for Surviving and Thriving at Tech Events

Tech events can be lots of fun, very interesting and bring great business outcomes. Other times, they can be exhausting, overwhelming and result in negative ROI. Many times we choose to blame the venue, organizer, fellow participants and such, but the truth is that most times the reason for the difference between these two scenarios is in ourselves – the way we prepare and the attitude we bring to the event. Here are some tips to make sure you do make the most out of every tech event you attend. 

10. Wear comfortable sneakers and clothes, even if they're ugly. If you use your time like you’re supposed to, you’ll be standing all day.

9. Carry a portable charger. Even if you won’t need it, you might be able to help out an investor, a journalist or someone else attending the event . “Do you need a charger?” is a winning pick-up line in many cases ;-)

8. Wear something unique so people will easily identify and remember you.

7. Buy a local SIM card with a data plan. Don't count on the conference WiFi. Ever.

6. Don't be the first to arrive or the last to leave. Don't worry, you won't miss anything important and you should use the time for some good rest.

5. Use the time to meet and connect with interesting people. Most stage talks can be viewed online after the event is over, and usually are not the main reason you chose to attend in the first place.

4. Go out at night with the people whom you really want to connect with. This is where the real relationships are built.

3. Reach out to people without hesitation; you might not get a second chance. Like our motto in Bizzabo: Don't be shy - be social! Use Twitter, LinkedIn, Bizzabo or your own interpersonal charm.

2. Remember to follow up, preferably in less than 48 hours, when everything is still fresh in your mind.

1. Enjoy, relax, and project positive energy. It’s addictive! 

Do you have other event tips that create miracles? Do share in the comments – we’d love to hear them. Make sure you join the Bizzabo community on Twitter and Facebook for more events tips and best practices. 

Post by Alon Alroy, Co-Founder & CMO, Bizzabo

Visit Bizzabo Online by Clicking Here: 

 

NYCBNG Fall Business Networking Mixer

You're invited to join members of The NYC Business Networking Group (NYCBNG) for our Fall Networking & Expo event. 

Meet business professionals and executives, business owners and entrepreneurs from a diverse group of industries. Network with members and interact with our sponsor companies who will showcase their business-related products and services. 

We look forward to seeing you at this event!

VENDOR TABLES AVAILABLE:  
 

BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• Square-top vendor table for your marketing materials (flyers, brochures, etc.)
• Company promotional paragraph (100 words), logo & URL posted on our website
• Company promo sent to over 10,000 NYCBNG members until event date
• Company promoted on Social Media (Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter)
• Promoted on NYCBNG Business Blog

VENDOR TABLE SIZES & COSTS:

• 24 in. x 24 in. Square-top table: $200 + PayPal fees
• 48 in. x 24 in. Two connected square-top table: $350 + PayPal fees
• Booth Section: $400 + PayPal fees

 

Interested in a vendor table at our event? Please fill out the form by clicking here: 

WHEN: Wednesday, November 28, 2012, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

WHERE: Chelsea Manor, 138 West 25 St, Between 6t& 7 Ave 

COST: $10.00 per person prepaid (only 100 available) / $20 per person cash only at the door

RSVP:  Click Here to RSVP or for more info. 

 

THIS MONTH'S VENDORS INCLUDE: 

CLEVER CHOICE GROUP

Clever Choice is a multimedia web solution agency located in the fast-paced NYC area. We offer website development and design, marketing services, in-house development, business strategy and consultation and so much more. Our goal is to give the start-up community the resources to succeed in an extremely difficult business market. Our marketing services include SEO, social media and press releases. Our web development team is proficient in HTML 5, Java, J-Query, Flash, Photoshop, Visual Basic and more. Clever Choice specializes in modern development standards such as WordPress and BuddyPress.  Visit Clever Choice Group Website:

 

COFFEE CUP DESIGN STUDIO

Coffee Cup Design Studio creates custom graphic designs and promotional material for business and personal use. Established in 1991, the small NYC shop offers eye-catching graphics, fine typography and quality printing at reasonable rates. Anything-you-need can be designed, printed, delivered to your door. Ads, brochures, invitations, logos, newsletters, catalogs, booklets, annual reports, letterheads, business cards, flyers, postcards, hangtags, tent cards, menus and wide-fomat posters. Need an art department? Visit Coffee Cup Design Studio:

 

ORGANO GOLD

Meisa Bonelli, President of Millennial Ventures endorses Organo Gold. We are so proud of the healthy innovation Organo Gold is bringing to the world. Currently in 33 countries, Organo Gold is expanding to Australia, Brazil and Africa in 2013. Poised to gross $375 million this year, Organo Gold is on track to become a $1 billion company in the next 24 months. Meisa is a finance professional, speaker and success coach.  Millennial Ventures is an innovative investment firm for niche Gen-Y projects. We sponsor seminars and workshops to educate entrepreneurs on aligning tax strategies within their business models. The underpinnings of Meisa’s well rounded perspective are her versed background in private equity and tax lien investing. Visit the Website:

 

VENUE SPONSOR:

Enter Chelsea Manor! Your lounge, restaurant, and event space located in Chelsea, a few steps from the Flatiron area. Chelsea’s newest 3,500 sq ft lounge boasts a vintage Miami vibe with plush white couches, long glass bar, and crystal chandelier. Late nights are perfect for birthdays, bachelor/ette parties and girls’ night out. The venue is open for full dinner, late night partying, sporting events, and private corporate functions. There is a full DJ setup, 12 plasma TVs and an 84-inch projection screen. Definitely check out Chelsea Manor! Visit Chelsea Manor Website. 

Top Tech Events in November in Europe & the US

 

 

With most of 2012 behind us, the event industry is gearing up towards two of its most packed months of the year. November is one of those months, with a wide variety of fun social media and marketing events running alongside innovative tech and Internet conferences. We rounded up the most interesting events taking place this November across the US and Europe – all easily accessible from the mobile event networking app Bizzabo (iOS & Android).

Which of these events will you be attending? Would you like to add another event to our list? Please share the details in the comments section below or reach out on Twitter (@Bizzabo).

NOAH Conference London, Nov 6-7

NOAH Internet Conference is a gathering of the very best of Europe’s Internet CEOs, executives and investors. The conference offers you the chance to gain insights, network with top executives and establish new business relationships.

Internet Summit, Nov 6-8

Internet Summit offers you the latest in digital media and marketing. You can choose from various tracks including: Tech track, Startup Summit, Intensive Workshops, and the IS Rocks Music Festival.

How To Web, Bucharest, Nov 7-9

How to Web explores how tech innovation changes the world! With talks by leading experts on global web trends, product & business innovation and new technologies, this is a top event for European tech innovators. Don’t forget to check out the Startup Spotlight program and competition where you’ll catch a glimpse of the most progressive startups in Central and Eastern Europe!

Open Mobile Summit, SF, Nov 7-9

Now in its fifth year, the Open Mobile Summit hosts world class speakers ranging from eBay CEO John Donahoe to Foursquare CEO Dennis Crowley. Attend ‘Plus Appcelerate’ and learn from the hottest app developers around!

Global Social Business Summit, Vienna, Nov 8-10

This annual summit, now in its fourth year, assembles worldwide social business pioneers to generate groundbreaking ideas with the power to change the world. Using a combination of powerful technology and accessible communication tools this summit will empower you to make your cause heard. Key speakers include including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus.

INTV, Jerusalem, Nov 11-12

A first of its kind in Israel, INTV introduces a fast-paced two-day event with keynote talks, fire-side chats and interviews. Hosted by Nir Barkat, Mayor of Jerusalem and Keshet CEO Avi Nir, the audience will include international guests as well as Israel’s growing television and media community. Join global industry leaders in discovering the future of the screen!

The Market Research Event, Boca Raton, Nov 12-14

TMRE brings you more than 140 sessions and more than 175 speakers to explore the most critical issues in market research today.

WOMMA, Las Vegas, Nov 12-14

WOMMA Summit 2012 highlights the hottest trends in word of mouth and social media marketing. It’s a chance to network with and learn from the best and brightest brands, agencies, and marketers in the industry.

E2Innovate, Santa Clara, Nov 12-15

The E2 Innovate Conference unites strategic business professionals with industry influencers and next-gen enterprise technologies to explore the changes in enterprise applications. Come and learn how to build a smarter more agile enterprise.

Internet Week Europe, London, Nov 12-15

Internet Week Europe is five days of web-focused events taking place throughout London. Events are crowdsourced, which enables organizations of all sizes to host events ranging from breakfasts and conferences to parties and meetups throughout the week. There’s something for everyone!

Global Entrepreneurship Week, Worldwide, Nov 12-18

Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world’s largest celebration of innovators that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare. The week hosts more than 37,000 events in 115 countries. Find out what’s happening near you!

SIME, Stockholm, Nov 13-14

SIME Stockholm invites you to reimagine success! Learn what works from leading business leaders, entrepreneurs, and marketers.

UK Social Marketing Conference, London, Nov 14

The UK Social Marketing Conference is dedicated to promoting good practices and increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of methods in social marketing. The conference offers attendees a chance to learn about some of the best new case studies and projects being delivered and evaluated in the UK.

Defrag, Broomfield, Nov 14-15

Defrag offers a unique focus on tools and technologies that are taking advantage of the social aspect of software. Be a part of this growing community of software innovators.

Monaco Media Forum (MMF), Monte Carlo, Nov 14-16

MMF, now in its 7th year, is an invitation only event hosted by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. This conference brings together leaders of new and old media to discuss the future of online, broadcast and print communications.

Silicon Valley Comes to the UK, Nov 14-18

SVC2UK 2012 is a not-for profit series of events designed to improve the network and drive viable growth for free enterprise in the UK, Europe and beyond. This year’s conference moves beyond internet and mobile to highlight medical and educational technologies.

Social Gaming Summit, London, Nov 15

The Social Gaming Summit is where games meet the social mobile web. Here industry leaders will unite with emerging startups in the gaming industry for one day of engaging keynotes, panels, and discussions to acquire tactics that will drive game value, traffic, and scalability.

Digital Hollywood NYC, NYC, Nov 15-16

Digital Hollywood NYC is one of the foremost entertainment and technology conferences. Each day offers diverse tracks which attendees are free to explore. Tracks are diverse and range from the ‘Multi Screen Universe’ to ‘Digital Media Investing.’

SLUSH, Helsinki, Nov 21-22

SLUSH is the largest tech, design & startup conference serving Northern Europe and Russia. The conference seeks to help emerging startups in the region by using their network of companies, investors and media.

European Social Marketing Conference, Lisbon, Nov 27-28

The first ever European Social Marketing Conference, in Lisbon, will explore the value that social marketing adds to the development and delivery of social programs. Join academics, policy makers, and practitioners from the private, public and NGO sectors as they gather to explore how social marketing can be further developed in Europe.

Social Media Results for PR & Comms Conference, London, Nov 28

This one-day conference and networking event offers attendees a selection of sessions that will help PR and communication professionals optimize their social media communications. Topics range from increasing engagement to dealing with crises.

 

Go ahead and download the Bizzabo app to stay updated on tech events and conferences taking place around you.

Post by Alon Alroy, Co-Founder of Bizzabo

One Easy Trick To Increase Your Facebook Page Reach

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had several emails and messages from people wondering why their Facebook page exposure is so low.  Facebook has always used Edgerank to determine who to show posts to, but it appears a recent tinkering with the algorithm has left some pages feeling lonely as their reach drops to new lows.  Some people are speculating that it conveniently coincides with the addition of Facebook’s new paid Promoted Posts and Offers features.  Yes, it does sound convenient, but, as I’ve always said, Facebook is a free method for us to grow our businesses, so we have no room to complain.  How can we fault them for trying to make a buck or two?  After all, isn’t that what we’re all trying to do ourselves?  All we can do is take it for what it’s worth and work their system to the max.

In previous posts, we’ve discussed methods you can implement to increase your Edgerank and get your updates seen by more of your fans.  While those tricks are very helpful, one area they don’t particularly help you out with is when you post links.  Links are not heavily weighted in an Edgerank score, so when you have a link to your website, blog, sale, etc. to share, it won’t be shared as much as say a photo or a video.  This is a problem for many mompreneurs who want to share these types of things to get traffic to their sites and blog.  I know I’ve had that issue-until now.  I recently stumbled upon a trick that literally nearly tripled the exposure I received compared to an average linked post.  The best part….it’s super simple and something you can start doing RIGHT NOW!

Click Here to Read More:

5 Ways to Improve Networking at Events

 

 

Conferences, meet-ups, business networking events – They can all be lots of fun. Time off from the office, great food, interesting discussions and lots of booze, but we cannot forget what is really important about these events – Networking.

In order to be successful in business you need to be your own marketing agent and the best representative of your company. Socializing, talking about you and your company, building relationships is all part of marketing yourself and your business. Conferences and networking events provide the opportunity to get away from the work environment meet like-minded professionals in a casual atmosphere.

But why is it so important?

It is estimated that anywhere from 50-80% of business is generated from networking and word of mouth. This is quite a significant statistic.

Here are 5 easy ways to increase the effectiveness of your networking:

1. Be Genuine

While you should always prepare and practice answers to expected questions like “So what do you do?” you have to make sure they aren't cliché and fake. On the other end of the spectrum, you want to make sure that your answers don't sound pretentious – this is a huge turn off. Your goal is for every person you talk to, regardless of their industry, to understand and connect with what you’re saying.


2. Ask Open-Ended Questions

When doing sales, this is one of the first things you learn. In order to get the person talking, ask questions that cannot be answered by a simple yes or no; let the other person open up and talk about themselves – who doesn't like talking about themselves?

As a general rule of thumb, “why” questions generate the most interesting answers and conversations.

3. Don’t Appear Desperate

Just as in dating, neediness is an incredible turn off when it comes to networking.  So no matter how badly you need this partnership or strategic client, you’ve got to set that aside when interacting with others.


4. Don't Be Selfish

All too often, entrepreneurs, sales people and job seekers go into a networking event thinking it’s their one shot to get X, Y or Z. By setting the stakes so high, you suck all the fun out of the event and put an inordinate amount of pressure on your shoulders.

Remember that you are there to add to the event, help others or just learn what other people are doing in their fields. This slight adjustment in thinking will increase your sense of purpose and pride. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself having a good time, developing strong relationships and attracting loads of referrals.

5. Meeting the Right People

While all of these tips are well and good, the question remains, in the sea of faceless walking networking opportunities, how do you find the right ones in the short amount of time you have?

Networking at an event is no easy task. These types of events can number from 200 to 2,000 people, how are you supposed to find the right connections in the short period of time you are there?

Well, actually there is an app for that!

Bizzabo lets you discover interesting attendees and connects you with the right contacts for you. The app cross references your LinkedIn profile with other event attendees and suggests who will be the most beneficial contact for you; it truly socializes the event experience.

All you need to do is download the app and discover upcoming popular events in your area or use the search bar to find a specific event. Bizzabo will allow you to communicate with other attendees both before and during you events, but most of all Bizzabo will help you make the right connections with the right people, saving you time and helping you build a network of beneficial contacts from all over the world.

So download the app now and get started with your networking right away.

Post by Alon Alroy, Co-Founder of Bizzabo

 

Facebook is Fine, But Here Are 10 Ways to Network in the Real World

Linkedin, Facebook, and other social networking tools are fine, but they don’t do the work for you.

To put real value in your network (and stay connected to people who are not online) you also need to think about your network in the real world.

Getting comfortable

I am an introvert. People are often surprised by that because I regularly get up on stages to speak, and I am loud and expressive and Italian. But, I’m also an introvert.

One hazard of being an introvert is that we are not natural networkers — especially in the real world. I went through most of my career thinking that I was the only one who was bad at networking.

Over time, I have learned a few important things that make networking more doable and comfortable (even for introverts).

• Most people consider themselves bad at networking - so if you are struggling, know you are not alone.
  
  
• You can get good at networking if you are not good at it today. But you get good at it by doing it, not by reading about it. It gets easier and gets more comfortable with practice. The more you do it, the more sense it makes and the more valuable it gets.
  
  
• You can build a network without going to uncomfortable networking events and eating cheese cubes and collecting stacks of business cards. You can do it by meeting a few people you genuinely like each year — and then staying in touch with them.
  
  
• You build your network by giving genuine value and kindness to others. The more you do this, you will experience gratitude, fun, and benefits. People who are skeptical about reaching out to people for no other reason than to say hello or express kindness are always telling me how glad they are they tried it — and how surprised they are at the great response.
  
  
• Be the one to make the effort to stay in touch. Maintaining contact is a key form of giving to your network.

Your network only has as much value as you put into it.

Click Here to Read More:
 

Have you ever left a conference you attended feeling frustrated?

As technology professionals and entrepreneurs who frequently attend professional events, we experienced the following scenario way too often; you’re staring at nametags, looking for someone with an agenda, or talking about the weather. You spend 30 minutes small talking, only to find out neither could help the other, hence generally wasting valuable time and money. Many other professionals we met felt the same way. With so many people out there, how do I find the opportunities I’m looking for?

That was when the idea of Bizzabo came to our minds.

What is Bizzabo?

Bizzabo is a multi event networking app that helps professionals meet, mingle and form valuable relationships at meetings and conferences. Bizzabo is 100% free and available for both iPhone and Android.

How do we help you network?

• Discover new events and see who is planning to attend.
• Learn about other attendees and search for relevant leads.
• Instant-message with your leads and instantly connect on social networks.
• Stay updated on the event agenda, speakers, organizer announcements and social media buzz.
• Follow up and meet at future events. 

Meeting people at events shouldn’t be hard! If you’re looking to create valuable connections and enjoy doing so, here’s what you should do:

1. Download the Bizzabo app - http://www.bizzabo.com/download
2. Browse popular and upcoming local events, or search by location for domestic and international events.
3. Join an event community. Go over the list of attendees and mark potential contacts as “Leads” to get that extra edge for game-day.
4. Connect with your leads and set up face to face meetings using the in-app “Messages” feature.
5. Invite your friends and colleagues to share the wealth ;)
6. Don’t be shy, be social!

 

About Bizzabo:

Bizzabo was founded in 2011 and officially launched in late June 2012. We recently raised $1.5 million from known investors with a goal to become the standard app for networking at events. We were also lucky to receive great media coverage from Wall Street Journal, TechCrunch, and TheNextWeb among others. We continue to improve our product everyday with the hard work of our top-notch R&D team, while growing our user base and socializing some awesome events like European Pirate Summit 2012 and the Dublin Web Summit. Oh, we almost forgot to mention that we’re opening an office in New-York and would love to meet you! 

Since we’re all about networking, here are some cool networking events in NY we thought you might be interested in:  

NY Beta :: Social Media Edition

New York Entrepreneur Week

Golden Networking's China Happy Hour

Mashable Media Summit

 

CONNECT WITH US:

Stay in touch by liking our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter or read our blog about event tips and our startup life. Please feel free to Contact us at any time if you'd like to share your thoughts or feedback.

The Bizzabo Team

FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT BIZZABO, CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

The NYC Business Networking Expo & Mixer

You're invited to join members of The NYC Business Networking Group (NYCBNG) for our Summer Networking & Expo event.

Meet business professionals and executives, business owners and entrepreneurs from a diverse group of industries. Network with members and interact with our sponsor companies who will showcase their business-related products and services. We look forward to seeing you at this event!

WHEN: Wednesday, August 22, 2012, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM 

WHERE: Chelsea Manor, 138 West 25th Street, (btwn 6 & 7)

COST: $10.00 prepaid [ONLY 100 AVAILABLE] or $20 cash/door

RSVP: http://bit.ly/NbddNQ

 

VENDOR TABLE BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• Square-top vendor table for your marketing materials (flyers, brochures, etc.)
• Company promotional paragraph (100 words), logo & URL posted on our website
• Company promo sent to over 10,000 NYCBNG members until event date
• Company promoted on Social Media (Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter = 25K)
• Promoted on NYCBNG Business Blog

VENDOR TABLE SIZES & COSTS:

• 24 in. x 24 in. Square-top table: $200 + PayPal fees
• 48 in. x 24 in. Two square-top tableS: $350 + PayPal fees
• Booth Section: $400 + PayPal fees

Interested in a vendor table at our event? Fill out the form and we’ll get right back to you. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dE5qcEJSeXFNam1SS3ZPR3Y1dTJrSlE6MQ

THIS MONTH'S VENDORS INCLUDE:
(More Vendors to Come)

CLEVER CHOICE GROUP
Clever Choice is a multimedia web solution agency located in the fast-paced NYC area. We offer website development and design, marketing services, in-house development, business strategy and consultation and so much more. Our goal is to give the start-up community the resources to succeed in an extremely difficult business market. Our marketing services include SEO, social media and press releases. Our web development team is proficient in HTML 5, Java, J-Query, Flash, Photoshop, Visual Basic and more. Clever Choice specializes in modern development standards such as WordPress and BuddyPress. Visit The Website.

COFFEE CUP DESIGN STUDIO

Coffee Cup Design Studio creates custom graphic designs and promotional material for business and personal use. Established in 1991, the small NYC shop offers eye-catching graphics, fine typography and quality printing at reasonable rates. Anything-you-need can be designed, printed, delivered to your door. Ads, brochures, invitations, logos, newsletters, catalogs, booklets, annual reports, letterheads, business cards, flyers, postcards, hangtags, tent cards, menus and wide-fomat posters. Need an art department? Visit The Website.

ATLANTIC METRO COMMUNICATIONS
Atlantic Metro is an award winning, full-service IaaS provider with solutions for businesses that make technology simple, manageable, and affordable. The company's visionary network management team strives to exceed customers' expectations and foster long-standing relationships to help businesses succeed. We provide a comprehensive suite of customizable managed solutions that allow our customers to complement their existing IT infrastructure. Utilizing our cloud computing technology platform and nationwide network, we offer the most complete and advanced managed services to businesses of any size. Visit The Website.

VENUE SPONSOR:

Enter Chelsea Manor! Your lounge, restaurant and event space located in Chelsea, a few steps from the Flatiron area. Chelsea’s newest 3,500 sq ft lounge boasts a vintage Miami vibe with plush white couches, long glass bar, and crystal chandelier. Late nights are perfect for birthdays, bachelor/ette parties and girls’ night out. The venue is open for full dinner, late night partying, sporting events, and private corporate functions. There is a full DJ setup, 12 plasma TVs and an 84-inch projection screen. Definitely check out Chelsea Manor!

Visit Chelsea Manor at www.chelseamanor.com.

 

 

 

Los Angeles & Orange County Summer Business Networking Mixer

Please join LABNG members for our summer event at Spaghettini Italian Grill and Jazz Club.

Each of our networking events is a unique opportunity to meet new people, create new relationships, and get new business. 

During the event, there will be informal networking to allow you to mix and mingle with other attendees. Swap business cards, refer business to other and get to know members in a relaxed, fun environment.

 

WHEN: Wednesday, August 22 2012

WHERE: Spaghettini Italian Grill and Jazz Club, 3005 Old Ranch Parkway, Seal Beach, CA 90740.  Valet ($3) or free self parking.  Self parking is available along the perimeter of the parking lot or across the street.

COST: $10.00 prepaid or $20 per person cash/door

RSVP:  http://www.meetup.com/TheLABusinessNetworkingGroup/

 

REFRESHMENTS:

Beer - $5 - $8

Select Red or White Wine - $9

Specialty Drinks - Pear Nectar or Guava Nectar Martini (Both $13.50 each); Skinny Margarita or Pomegranate Margarita (Both $12 each)

Well Drinks - $8.50

Food Menu Available

 

MAP: 

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108050931426222566183.00047f563070510c45e9d&ll=33.778059,-118.073845&spn=0.003121,0.005901&z=17&iwloc=00047f563df33d8186ba7&source=embed

 

VENUE SPONSOR:

Spaghettini Italian Grill and Jazz Club, Leading Southern California restaurateurs Laurie Sisneros and Cary Hardwick have created a meeting place for LA and Orange counties in their award winning restaurant – Spaghettini Italian Grill and Jazz Club. Located just off the 405 Freeway at Seal Beach Blvd., Spaghettini features exceptional Northern Italian cuisine and top name entertainment. http://www.spaghettini.com/

 

 

 

NYC Summer Networking & Expo – Vendor Tables Available!

The NYC Business Networking Expo & Mixer: Vendor Tables Available

You're invited to join members of The NYC Business Networking Group (NYCBNG) for our Summer Networking & Expo event.

Meet business professionals and executives, business owners and entrepreneurs from a diverse group of industries. Network with members and interact with our sponsor companies who will showcase their business-related products and services. We look forward to seeing you at this event!

WHEN: Wednesday, August 22, 2012, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

WHERE: Chelsea Manor, 138 West 25th Street, (btwn 6 & 7)

COST: $10.00 prepaid [ONLY 100 AVAILABLE] or $20 cash/door

RSVP: http://bit.ly/NbddNQ

 

VENDOR TABLE BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• Square-top vendor table for your marketing materials (flyers, brochures, etc.)
• Company promotional paragraph (100 words), logo & URL posted on our website
• Company promo sent to over 10,000 NYCBNG members until event date
• Company promoted on Social Media (Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter = 25K)
• Promoted on NYCBNG Business Blog

VENDOR TABLE SIZES & COSTS:

• 24 in. x 24 in. Square-top table: $200 + PayPal fees
• 48 in. x 24 in. Two square-top tableS: $350 + PayPal fees
• Booth Section: $400 + PayPal fees

Interested in a vendor table at our event? Fill out the form and we’ll get right back to you. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dE5qcEJSeXFNam1SS3ZPR3Y1dTJrSlE6MQ

THIS MONTH'S VENDORS INCLUDE:
(More Vendors to Come)

CLEVER CHOICE GROUP
Clever Choice is a multimedia web solution agency located in the fast-paced NYC area. We offer website development and design, marketing services, in-house development, business strategy and consultation and so much more. Our goal is to give the start-up community the resources to succeed in an extremely difficult business market. Our marketing services include SEO, social media and press releases. Our web development team is proficient in HTML 5, Java, J-Query, Flash, Photoshop, Visual Basic and more. Clever Choice specializes in modern development standards such as WordPress and BuddyPress. Visit The Website.

COFFEE CUP DESIGN STUDIO

Coffee Cup Design Studio creates custom graphic designs and promotional material for business and personal use. Established in 1991, the small NYC shop offers eye-catching graphics, fine typography and quality printing at reasonable rates. Anything-you-need can be designed, printed, delivered to your door. Ads, brochures, invitations, logos, newsletters, catalogs, booklets, annual reports, letterheads, business cards, flyers, postcards, hangtags, tent cards, menus and wide-fomat posters. Need an art department? Visit The Website.

ATLANTIC METRO COMMUNICATIONS
Atlantic Metro is an award winning, full-service IaaS provider with solutions for businesses that make technology simple, manageable, and affordable. The company's visionary network management team strives to exceed customers' expectations and foster long-standing relationships to help businesses succeed. We provide a comprehensive suite of customizable managed solutions that allow our customers to complement their existing IT infrastructure. Utilizing our cloud computing technology platform and nationwide network, we offer the most complete and advanced managed services to businesses of any size. Visit The Website.

VENUE SPONSOR:

Enter Chelsea Manor! Your lounge, restaurant and event space located in Chelsea, a few steps from the Flatiron area. Chelsea’s newest 3,500 sq ft lounge boasts a vintage Miami vibe with plush white couches, long glass bar, and crystal chandelier. Late nights are perfect for birthdays, bachelor/ette parties and girls’ night out. The venue is open for full dinner, late night partying, sporting events, and private corporate functions. There is a full DJ setup, 12 plasma TVs and an 84-inch projection screen. Definitely check out Chelsea Manor! Visit Chelsea Manor at www.chelseamanor.com.

 

 

2012 Small Business Influencers Award Champions: Please Vote For Me!

The search is on … for the Small Business Influencer 2012 champions

The 2012 Small Business Influencer Awards recognize those who are influential to small businesses and entrepreneurs in North America.

Benefits of entering

Get recognition from your peers and the industry. Raise your profile online and off. Motivate employees. Get publicity, and impress clients and customers.

Voting is Now Open!

Voting for the 2012 Small Business Influencer Awards is open through August 5, 2012. See who's been nominated and show your support by voting.

Awards Gala in New York

Once nominations and votes are in, the news media, friends, clients and the industry are invited to celebrate with the Champions at the Awards Gala, October 17, 2012. Last year's was a blast!

 

PLEASE VOTE FOR ME AT http://influencers.smallbiztrends.com/small-business-experts-2012/eberson-ilana-1/

 

 

5 Tips For Marketing Yourself & Your Team At A Networking Event

During the summer months it seems that there is always so much to do.  By the time the work day is done, meeting strangers and discussing what you do may be the farthest thing from your mind.  However, local networking events present a plethora of opportunities for individuals and organizations as a whole.

As of May 2012 Facebook had approximately 901 million active users on a monthly basis.  Think of your own Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn connections.  Of those connections how many of them are local?  On my own personal LinkedIn network for example roughly 65% of my contacts are local connections.  Many of which I hadn’t met in person until I started attending more local marketing events.

My hope is that this post will provide you the framework you need to get the most out of networking events as an individual and as a team.

Read More:

NYC Summer Sizzler: Business Networking Mixer

Join NYCBNG members for our summer event at Duo Lounge. 

Each of our networking events is a unique opportunity to meet new people, create new relationships, and get new business. 

During the event, there will be informal networking to allow you to mix and mingle with other attendees. Swap business cards, refer business to other and get to know members in a relaxed, fun environment. 

 

HAPPY HOUR DRINK SPECIALS: 

Specials available until 8:00 PM

Beer - $6

Select Red or White Wine - $8

Featured Cocktail - $9

 

 

WHEN: Tuesday, July 24, 2012

WHERE: DUO Restaurant & Lounge, 72 Madison Ave, between East 27^th/28^th 

COST: $10.00 per person prepaid on the event site/$20 per person cash only at the door

RSVP: Click Here

 

VENUE SPONSOR:

DUO Restaurant & Lounge, owned by sisters Sabina and Lorraine Belkin, is the newest restaurant to make its home in the burgeoning NoMad neighborhood in Manhattan. DUO's menu features a variety of show stopping contemporary American dishes that incorporate an abundance of fresh seasonal ingredients, utilized in an approachable yet sophisticated manner. Visit Duo Restaurant & Lounge at http://www.duonewyork.com/

 

 

5 reasons email marketing makes smart business sense for you

Constant Contact's Email Marketing tool is the perfect fit for a small business like yours. It doesn't cost much. It doesn't take a lot of time. And it's effective. That's why 300,000 plus small businesses, nonprofits, and associations are using Email Marketing to drive repeat business... get more referrals... and boost their business success. Here's why Email Marketing makes smart sense for your business, too:

	It's Affordable
	With plans as low as $15 a month, Constant Contact's Email Marketing is sure to fit your budget, and stretch your precious marketing dollars. Compared to your other promotional options, Email Marketing really measures up.

	It's Effective
	With Email Marketing, you can communicate with your customers regularly, making it easy to stay in touch, stay connected, and build your business. And because it's permission-based, your customers will look forward to, and really read your email communications.

	It's Easy
	A wide selection email templates and step-by-step, point-and-click Email Wizard makes it easy to create high-impact, professional-looking emails in no time, and with no technical expertise.

	It's Measurable
	Thanks to our information-packed, easy-to-read reports, you can see, and learn from your email results - who opened your email, what links they clicked on, and more.

	It builds brand
	Your emails will reflect your business's logo, colors, and messaging - reinforcing your brand look and feel with your customers Try Email Marketing FREE for 60 days! Click here. http://nycbiznet.constantcontact.com/index.jsp

Recruiting Group Leaders Nationally & Internationally

We produce exclusive upscale professional networking events that bring highly qualified individuals together to create ongoing professional relationships and potential business opportunities.

We are actively seeking new Group Leaders around the USA and Internationally. We currently operate in several cities in the USA and in Sydney, Australia.

Group Leader Benefits

• Increased exposure and visibility in your local business community
  
  
• Partnership in your own business and working for yourself.
  
  
• The ability to earn a lucrative and generous commission with bonuses
  
  
• Meeting local movers and shakers in your business community
  
  
• Interacting with high end corporations and clientele
  
  
• Invitations and free entry into local events, seminars, conferences

Group Leader’s Role

The Group Leader's role is to produce networking events, seminars, expos and partner events for the local Group community. The role is compensated with a generous pay-for-performance commission structure. We actively seek professionals interested in building their own business, in partnership with us.

The Group Leader’s role includes the ability to:

• Create a supportive and relaxed business environment for members, sponsors and partners at our events.
  
  
• Cultivate new strategic business relationships with a high end corporations, and individual clientele who are interested in collaboration opportunities.
  
  
• Help develop a marketing plan for each local event series to maximize attendance of highly qualified professionals. Utilize Social Media Channels to represent our brand and help raise awareness about our group and events.
  
  
• Develop a content strategy to identify potential speakers, assemble panel discussions, and develop relationships with other content providers.
  
  
• Act as “Host” at events to welcome attendees. This includes actively starting conversations with new members and facilitating introductions among attendees.
  
  
• Comfort speaking before small groups of people when introducing speakers and hosting interactive events.
  
  
• Enjoy an enhanced reputation as a mover and shaker in your local business community. This visibility establishes the Group leader with more business credibility.
  
  
• Become a local go-to business resource to actively attract press/media attention for story ideas and interviews.
  
  

What Makes a Successful Group Leader?

We seek self-motivated established professionals with local business knowledge and expertise. Passionate about business networking, and enjoys connecting potential members, partners and sponsors. And it’s a plus if you’re a strategic thinker who enjoys challenges.

How Do We Help Group Leaders Become Successful?

We seek professionals who relish the idea of Leadership. There are certain character traits leaders have innately. The rest, we can teach you, as long as you’d like to learn. We will match the effort you put into making your local Group successful.

We provide ongoing weekly Skype and phone support for your first 3 months as a Group Leader. After that, every 2 weeks. We want you to be as successful as possible so we are also available on an as-needed basis for advice or strategy.
 

If you're interested in participating, please send an email to nycbiznet@yahoo.com with your Linkedin profile and tell us in your own words why you would be a good fit as a Group Organizer and what skills you bring to the table. Feel free to be creative. 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Build Your Small Business Customer Base

As a business owner, you should always be on the hunt for new customers and seeking methods to bring them to your door. If you are not consistently looking for opportunities to build your customer base, your business could fall off of the growth track. There are lots of ways to reach your prospects. I offer you these tips that will help you keep your business out in front of your target customers:

Start using one new social media site. If you have been spending all of your time on Facebook, it might be time to branch out to Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ or LinkedIn. It all depends on whom you are targeting for business. Figure out where your best target customers spend time online, and go become part of the conversation, too. Share generously and remember content is your currency. Go for the relationship, not the sale right away.

Do more face-to-face networking. It might be surprising, but old fashioned in-person networking still works well. Why? Because people do business with people they know. Your goal at any networking event should be to develop five quality contacts. Don't be one of those drive-by networkers trying to give your business card to everyone. Arrive at the event on time for the reception, and have a plan for who you want to meet. Keep in mind, everyone is worth your time. If you build a relationship with someone, you can quite possibly turn them into a customer or a referral. You never know who they know or who their brother is in business.

Read More:

6 Ways To Nourish Your Network

There are numerous ways to continually build networks. Make it a point to meet a new person every day. Look for community activities that link people. Join professional associations. Volunteer to become part of the membership committee. Pass out name tags at events, which ensures that you meet everyone attending. Meet people who know people, and let them introduce you to others. When Barack Obama first moved to Chicago in the 1980s, he was befriended by Abner Mivka, an old and well-connected Windy City politician. Mikva says Obama knew how to network. "I remember our first few meetings. He would say, 'Do you know So-and so?' and I’d say yes. 'How well do you know him? I'd really like to meet him.' I would set up some lunches."

Here are six further keys to cultivate relationships the right way: 

Read More:

 

7 social media lies the gurus want you to swallow

By {grow} Community Member Gregory Pouy

Every time a new marketing “technique” appears, it’s seems like the next revolution. Everything is suddenly going to be easier, faster and cheaper, right? Social media is unfortunately no exception to the rule and there will always be people (often those who claim to be experts or “gurus”) to sell you the newest bells and whistles.

It seems important to me to describe some of the lies that you may confront.

1. The social web is free 

Starting around 2006, viral marketing was announced as the end-all be-all to getting a low cost audience. Today we realize that it’s far from reality.  When there are more than 100 hours of videos uploaded on YouTube every minute, you’d better ante up.

It’s the same with the social web. Since it is actually free to post items on the web, the shortcut to “free” is easily sold. As you know by now, success on the social web comes at a cost in terms of time and the expense to produce content that gets noticed.

With the flood of attention on Facebook, it is not easy cutting through the Edge Rank formula to get noticed without being ready to open your wallet!

Read More:

 

48 Significant Social Media Facts, Figures and Statistics Plus 7 Infographics

I came across some interesting statistics that has me quite concerned about the dental hygiene levels on this planet.

Apparently there are 600 million more people that own a mobile phone compared to those who own a toothbrush.

Some research reveals that there are 4.8 billion mobile users but only 4.2 billion people with a toothbrush.

Does that mean that every mobile should be sold with a free toothbrush or should you need to produce your toothbrush before you are given possession of your new mobile phone to ensure that future personal close encounters are engaging and pleasant?

Another interpretation of those statistic is that toothbrushes are too expensive.

The Importance of Statistics

Statistics are used to make important decisions and social media statistics, facts and figures are often used to justify new media marketing strategies and tactics to the CEO.

The social media landscape changes rapidly and keeping up with the latest numbers is an essential part of continuing to make your marketing relevant and focused.

Here are the latest facts, figures and statistics for seven major social networks that marketers need to take notice of.

I have also embedded an infographic for each social media network.

Read More

7 Tips for Networking

Networking goes hand in hand with running a successful business.

But many of us dread walking into a room and introducing ourselves to a bunch of strangers.

I've been asked to share my best networking tips at a meeting today of the National Association of Women Business Owners in Philadelphia. Here are the most valuable tips I've come across – and put to work myself – over the years:

1. Resist the urge to arrive late. It's almost counter-intuitive, but showing up early at a networking event is a much better strategy than getting there on the later side. As a first attendee, you'll notice that it's calmer and quieter – and people won't have settled into groups yet. It's easier to find other people who don't have conversation partners yet.

Read More

 

10 Tips For Keeping Your LinkedIn And Business Connections Fresh

Keeping connections fresh is entirely about giving. You are giving someone attention, and you are not asking for anything. It is a pleasant contact for them. And it makes a huge difference. If someone hears from you, even once a year in an email when you don’t need anything, then when you ultimately do need something, it is very comfortable for both parties. But if you haven’t connected with them at all in five years and suddenly, out of nowhere, ask them for something, it becomes very uncomfortable for you and potentially annoying or easy to ignore for them. You may recognize this situation from having been on one or both sides of the exchange.

If you have kept the connection fresh and updated, not only will it be much more natural and comfortable when you need to reach out, but the other party will be much more inclined to actually help you!

Read More