The Art of Virtuoso Networking: Event Strategies

The Art of Virtuoso Networking: Event Strategies

These days networking has become a vital way to both build awareness for your business and find qualified leads. There are endless resources out there that tell business owners how to network, where to network and when to network, but it still seems that some people are missing bits and pieces of this vital information. At Biz Virtuoso, we’ve decided to break down some of the critical things about networking in our new writing series: The Art of Virtuoso Networking. Each time we discuss this topic, it will be focused on a location or the effective uses of certain networking strategies. Lets start with the biggest failures people have when it comes to networking and figuring out where to be and how to be most effective.

Event Networking Strategies

• Selecting Your Event – When selecting which event to attend, be sure you will be attending an event where the majority or a good amount of your potential clients will also be attendance. Many times, people select events that sound interesting and there are no real connections and leads to be made.

• Reach out to Coordinators or Hosts – Be sure to either introduce yourself via email or telephone to the hosts of the event to either learn more information about the event or to clarify what you can expect. By doing this, you will have a informal introduction of who you are and what you do, incase they can suggest certain people you should meet.

• Attire – This item is along with your branding of yourself and your business. For example: If you are selling yourself as a stylist or marketing consultant, make sure your prospects can perceive the same thing about you. Always be professional and conservative over trendy, to be safe. (more to come in future articles)

• During the Event – Walk the room, smile, introduce yourself and jump into the fun. Most times everyone is just as nervous as you to talk and meet, so you should not be nervous about being the aggressor in these situations. If your unsure who to approach or what to say, look for a personal connection that can break the ice before diving into business.

• Follow up- Always give yourself deadlines to either email, call or link to the contacts that you meet. Do your best to make a re-introduction within 1 week of the meeting, otherwise, you risk them forgetting you and the event.

Do you have any other tips on networking you could share with our readers???? Look out for our next “ The Art of Virtuoso Networking” installment…

Want to learn more about how we can help your business? Visit us at www.bizvirtuoso.com Or CALL US at 1-800-383-1148.

Cynthia G. Peacock

Brand Optimizations… The Virtuoso Way…

Brand Optimizations… The Virtuoso Way…

What is BRANDING? This word is used daily by many experts about businesses, but how many business owners and entrepreneurs understand exactly what it is and how it will affect your bottom line in business. According to Wikipedia: A brand is the identity of a specific product, service, or business. A brand can take many forms, including a name, sign, symbol, color combination or slogan.

But how does your brand relate to you and why is branding such a critical step in your business? At Biz Virtuoso, we believe your brand is your company story, whether visual or print, we believe your brand is a compilation of exactly what your company stands for and what you look forward to being to your customers. As business owners we all sometimes overlook the importance of strategically branding our companies and skip right to trying to sell our products or services. Industry and market research survey continue to remind us that customers generally having buying loyalties to brands they are familiar with or brands that stand out to them as individuals. So why not take the time to create your story and image to the outside world. Here are a few tips we think your should consider before finalizing your brand:

1. Identify you ideal customer profile: How can you brand your company before you know whom you are targeting and selling to. Completing and clarifying your ideal customer profile, will help you to make the branding decisions of style, tone, color and appeal that will speak to your target audience.

2. Definite the branding mission: What is the bigger picture of your company? Who do you want to become in the market and how do you want your customers to be influenced and affected. With clarity in this, your brand will begin to take shape.

3. Develop your creative visual representations of your brand: After the last 2 steps have been finalized. Work with a graphic designer that has the abilities to creatively develop examples of your brand that are complimentary or a visual portrayal of what your brand really stands for. If you take a look at our Biz Virtuoso brand… We decided to take the position of being “A Helping Hand In All Your Business Needs”. Tell us what you see?

4. You are your brand: Once the visual creatives are complete, the branding process is still not done. As the business owner, you must live your brand as naturally as you can. We are not telling you to change your name or your identity… Your brand should represent you already. However, you must take a closer look at people’s perceptions of you as an individual can affect their perceptions of your brand.

5. Sweeten up your brand: Last but certainly not least… SWEETEN it up. Add a twist, a pop, an edge to your overall brand that will make you unforgettable to your customers and prospect. This could be adding flare through your website, business cards, hosting an event, or the way people hear about your brand. A little “sweetness” can go a long way in the bitter task people have when dealing with many businesses similar to yours.

We hope this article really helps you to create, redefine or finalize your brand. For more useful information on branding and how the largest brands were created… Check out this great book on creating your brand: ZAG by Marty Neumeier.

Follow us at www.twitter.com/bizvirtuoso; visit us at http://www.bizvirtuoso.com/ Or CALL US at 1-800-383-1148. Hope this was helpful!!!

Your Fellow Virtuosos!

Fundamentals of Virtuoso Planning

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail” ~ Benjamin Franklin

As many of you “Virtuosos” may already know, in order to have a successful business, planning is essential. You would be surprised to know how many business owners fail to have a plan before going into a new business and opening their doors for customers. At Biz Virtuoso, we are your plan “virtuosos” and we offer you a helping hand in all you business strategy and planning needs. To get you started, check out the following:

Three Planning Strategies

• Set goals and outline the critical steps that will get you there. Be clear and specific about what you want do, and why you want to do it? Learn how to effectively set and define your goals for future success will put you one step closer to becoming a “Virtuoso” in your business or industry. Learn how to effectively establish your goal with a clear healthy mindset. As the business owner, you are the visionary and you must help your team visualize the ultimate goal.

• Utilized expert tested planning templates and tools that can help you lay out the foundation of your business plan. Unless you are a natural writer and plan developer, these tools can help you fine tune current standards in your operational, marketing, management and financial growth strategies for your organization. This in turn, results in an effective realization for the organization goals in a shorter time frame, without all the wasted time staring at a blank screen to figure out where to begin.

• Be strategic and clear about your management and staffing strategies early. In order to grow your business to the levels you want to achieve, you must consider your business size now. Be clear about you the development of your management technique and style and implement those principles in your planning process. We always suggest that as business owners, you must focus less controlling every detail, but supporting capable employees who can execute for you. Management is a necessary and vital element we find as the cause of all successful organizations.

Are you using these tools and taking these steps in your fundamental planning process? Do you have any comments or more tips to share with our readers? Feel free to leave your comments below…

Want to learn more about how we can help your business. Visit us at http://www.bizvirtuoso.com or Call us at 800-383-1148. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Brenda Alexander

How to create a “Virtuoso” or Expert business and strategic plan

How to create a “Virtuoso” or Expert business and strategic plan
A virtuoso is an expert having special knowledge or skills in a particular field. He is an individual possessing outstanding ability in a designated field. In layman’s language, he can be said to be above the rest in his field of expertise.

Any expert however, is not born with skills that make him a Virtuoso. It requires a good understanding of what works and what not. The same is achieved to a huge extent with the right Strategy in place. A strategy is the blueprint for achieving your end purpose. It is a result of careful analysis and weighing in environmental changes. Through a strategic plan we lay out the means to achieve the future goals and the long term objectives of an organization.

To define the strategic plan of an organization we need to find out the Vision, Mission and the Goals of the organisation. The long term objectives are the current state and the very purpose of the organizations existence, all these need to be laid out before embarking on your Entrepreneurial journey. A strategic plan needs to take into consideration not only the internal factors but also the external factors that affect an organization. An organization needs to develop the Best and Worst case scenario it will operate in and accordingly have a contingency plan in place.

The external factors affecting the plans of an organization can be evaluated very well by using advanced models. Some of them are:

• SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat) Analysis
• PEST (Political, Economic, Social and Technological)
• STEER (Socio-cultural, Technological, Economic, Ecological, and Regulatory factors)

A method or a combination of these methods helps determine the factors affecting, hindering and promoting, the organizational strategies. It helps us introspect into the finer areas which require attention.

A Strategic Plan needs to be very concrete. It specifies the Goals in specific quantifiable terms. This helps set a benchmark against which the performance of the organization can be measured on a regular going basis. Competition is another area which needs to be looked into. One needs to factor in the influence of competitors decisions on our activities and vice versa. In a competitive environment, it is not possible for a firm to operate in isolation.

In short, a Strategic Plan is based upon innumerable factors which need to be evaluated. An IDEA might be excellent but poor planning and poor execution will result in complete failure. It will be a waste of a good idea if it is not matched with a Strong Plan of Action.

To get more insight on how to build your own Strategic Plan, contact www.bizvirtuoso.com
Do you have a strategy for your business???

Cynthia,
Biz Virtuoso, Inc.

Team Building methods that will increase productivity

An efficient team requires fairly less guidance to carry on with their job. All problems are taken care of in a creative manner. Meetings and debated are held where constructive comments are offered and workplace issues are openly discussed. To get the team to this stage, corporate entertainment can be used as team building techniques. Creative thinking is encouraged in an environment that is very motivational through good team building methods. Original team building activities can be recognized best by giving the staff limited resources and a progression of challenging problems.
With the help of effective team building methods, the stronger team members support the weaker ones thereby improving their performance to a great extent. These exercises promote time for reflection and review.

In today’s world, everyone expects something that is a little more sophisticated added on with a unique element of competition that will truly make them slightly more motivated to do their job with perfection. The element of competition for team building is very important as the business would need to compete for the purpose of survival. To support this, the team building organizations devise interesting contexts like themed events for the challenges. A series of challenges which require very good creative thinking, communication skills and team work are completed by the delegates for them to succeed. The basic element of motivation is derived from the surveillance context, the need to acquire recognition and a short span of time for completing the tasks. Another pioneering team building idea could be the corporate entertainment event. Nothing can be worse for team building exercises than standing idly and watching. So when you are choosing a team building event, think carefully. In spite of the sustained efforts, if the team fails to improve, the reason can be the lack in the correct steps that are made towards the efforts.

For the team to understand where, they lack the following should be kept in mind. They should have clear performance expectations, the context of the work should be understood, and that is, they should know the reason as to why they are participating in any of the team works. A sense of commitment needs to be present so that they feel responsible for their deeds. A team without the feel of competition would be incomplete. They should have a good network of communication, creative innovation and a sense of control. Coordination is the key to success for any team, where the team should get accustomed to any kind of cultural change and should also be aware of the good or bad consequences. Thus, people in every workplace talk about team
building and working as a team but only a few are able to understand the methods to create the experience of team work or the ways to develop an effective team.

Does your team work effectively??? Visit me @ www.bizvirtuoso.com

The Twittering Class – How this can help your business?

The Twittering Class – How this can help your business?

Twitter is a very popular microblogging site. It is not only used individually but also in the corporate establishments. As this platform connects people from various walks of life, it proves to be the most widespread knowledge sharing zone. The following methods explain how it can help your business.

Network development
There are many businesses and people on Twitter who share similar interests as you do. Use can use tools available on the net to find out business and people located nearby or within your geographical area. Use Twitter search to find out the ‘n’ number of people and businesses who you can connect to. The more people you follow, the more followers you get. With increasing followings and friends, your network spreads and so does your business.

Networking with contacts
In business, you come across various clients and customers. Why not develop a network with them? You sure will get connected to more and more people; friends and friends of friends.

Use it to spread the word
You may have announcements, important notifications, on new launches, among various other things. Any content, be it on your website or on your blog, can be easily redistributed on Twitter. Customize your tweets manually to keep it fresh and interesting.

Share links
What you think or read might draw general interest. Share some great links, from your blog or a great article or news that you have come across. People love reading. For example, if you have submitted any story on Reddit, Digg or StumbleUpon, simply share the link on Twitter.

Pitching journalists
If you have journalists following you, pitch a story idea to them.

Communicate
Live Tweeting is important as that makes your presence felt. You also come to know about events very relevant to your business vertical.

Hire people
Let your followers know that you need someone for a particular job. Twitter assures great response.

Do you network through Twitter??? Visit us on our website @ www.bizvirtuoso.com
A helping hand in all your business needs

Biz Virutoso, Inc.

A Helping Hand In All Your Business Needs!!!!

PR and your business –Is it worth the investment?

PR and your business –Is it worth the investment?

When you start a business you need the help of “P R” (public relation) take your product to your customer, make your business known and heard of. Unlike big business small business owners cannot effort to spend a chunk of his investment on PR solely. Again publicity cannot be ignored as it is bolster for business.

So first identify the objectivity of your enterprise, then your goal. Having set the goal, form strategies to accomplish your objectivity and the tactics needed to implement them. You can do PR by yourself by way of interview in print and electronic media, articles in newspapers, community participation. Now, to bolster your biz volume take the treaded way along with the newer mode of communication i.e. utilize the power of the Web, particularly social networks which are inexpensive. Create web site, utilize social networking.

Judy Spencer, Emerald Director with Amway joined the company as a registered consumer, where as a home maker, she would buy goods for her home at a discounted rate. But soon she plunged completely into the network business. Today she has more then 6,000 down line and a steady income. Describing her success story she said she made people aware about the benefit they would get though the company, held community meetings. Her business rose by leap and bound from work of mouth and recommendation.

Again, Kenny Dale in Kansas City had a roofing business 30 years ago. An unusually violent tornado hit Kansas City a few years ago. It left thousands of shake shingle roofs in wreck. Demand for roof repairs far exceeded local contractors' abilities to meet them. Kenny realized here was a long-term opportunity for him. The day after the storm Kenny called all the local television news programs. He described his operations and credentials, and expertly instructed desperate viewers how to use plastic sheeting, heavy wood staples and plywood to create an effective temporary roof. Kenny became his own very effective public relations consultant. Kenny and Judy are a prime example of a small business owner's inborn ability to combine their own resources with basic public relations techniques to achieve excellent result.

So whatever may be the way but PR is the right step to public relation for small entrepreneurs as it is a must to bolster your enterprise and hence worth the investment.

Do you use tools to bolster your business??? Visit our website @ www.bizvirtuoso.com we are your helping hand.

Cynthia
Biz Virtuoso, Inc.

The Entrepreneur The Employee and The Dreamer…

The Entrepreneur, Employee, and the Dreamer- these three personalities are just like the three vertices of a triangle. Each one is related to the other directly and effectsyoyr decisions and behaviors. This may sound a bit odd bt that's the TRUTH. From birth to death wee all dreamof something big. Wheather it your personal life, your dinances, your relationships, ect... Are you one of these people who cannot settle for something less?.. You cannot and will not stop the synthetic process of dreaming. Well this mat be a bigger benefit than you think.~~


For an organization to survive and strive it is very necessary for its employer and employees to dream otherwise both the organization and employee is bound to suffer. If you are a dreamer what sometimes happens is you try to come up with your own business to fulfill those dreams make you happiest.~~


So dreaming for just dreaming and believing in the dreams are poles apart. Wharever signficance may be found in the dreams, dreams bring us new potintials for growth and may help us to heal and become happier human beings. But happiest are the people who dream not to be successful as employees or entrepreneurs but to just spend their life dreaming and become the successful dreamers.~~


Where do you stand???


~~Signed with passion and poise~~


Cynthia~~


Read more about this in the E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber. Take a moment to check out our page

www.bizvirtuoso.com to learn more about what makes us your business expers and why we strive to be

"A Helping In All Your Business Needs."

Becoming A "Virtuoso" Business Weekly

What is a "Virtuoso"?

Why should you be insistent on becoming one in your business, to your customers, and to your peers? By Webster's dictionary's assessment, a "Virtuoso" is a person who has great skill at some endeavor or an expert in an art or skill. For example: At Biz Virtuoso, our goal is to strive and become your business expert. "Biz" Your business and "Virtuoso". We strive to take the time and truly learn each of our customers businesses inside and out, so that we can offer the best possible advice and strategies to grow their businesses.

In saying this, we want to support you in becoming a "Virtuoso" in your business, industry and to your customer. Although each of our customers are put through the "Creating A Virtuoso Business" Program to achieve this, we want to support all of you in doing this as well. Therefore, we've put together an online daily training and information program called "Becoming A Virtuoso Business Weekly." This program will have a daily update of topics, tips, articles, questionnaires and action plans to help you re-brand and strategically position yourself and your business in 2010.

Schedule is as follows:

Planning Mondays
Branding Tuesdays
Networking Wednesday
Marketing Thursdays
Growth Fridays

Look out for our daily tips and strategies on our blog: http://www.virtuosobusiness.blogspot.com/or via our Facebook at www.facebook.com/bizvirtuoso

Your Business Virtuoso & Coach,

Cynthia
info@bizvirtusoso.com
http://www.bizvirtuoso.com/

So you want to be a Millionaire.. What are you waiting for?

On a daily basis, I am confronted with the 5 pivotal questions that I need to answer in order to continue on the path of being an success entrepreneur. What are those?

1. Do I love what I am doing?
2. Am I making money or creating value?
3. Am I happy or working towards my happiness?
4. Where will my next client coming from? Am I prospecting strategically?
5. Can I actually see myself working for someone else, ever again?


When you start your day by answering these questions and reminding your self, why you wake up everyday... You will find yourself striving higher and pushing harder to make things happen.

So YOU WANT TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? What kind of business do you want to start? Or do you have no idea where to start and how to get into a business that fits you. At Biz Virtuoso, we feel a great first step is taking a look at our “ Biz Virtuoso Guide: Creating A Virtuoso Business™ in 2010”

Interested in your own copy of this start up manual?
Email us at plans@bizvirtuoso.com
Check out our website at www.bizvirtuoso.com
To learn more about what makes us your business experts and why we strive to be
“A Helping Hand In ALL Your Business Needs”