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CAPITAL IDEAS UPCOMING EVENTS AUGUST 11: MARKETING SUMMER SCHOOL: GET ROLLING! FLICKING ON YOUR PROMOTIONAL SWITCH Marketing specialist Cidnee Stephen takes you through a series of four, hands-on workshops to help educate and inspire you ■ Where: The Commons Calgary (1900 11st S.E.) ■ When: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. ■ Admission: $69. More info at awebusiness.com/event
FINANCIAL POST
CA LG A RY H E R A L D
COMMUNITY QUESTION
HOW DOES NETWORKING BENEFIT YOUR BUSINESS? Entrepreneurs discuss how making connections has helped them along the way “Engaging with others within our business community is essential to our growth. One of the keys my business coach (Business Edge Coaching) taught early on is that building synergistic relationships or strategic partnerships is what can really make networking rewarding.
Noreen Ward, owner of The Gift Designers, thegiftdesigners.com
“We are just a brand new startup company. Networking is extremely important as we need as much awareness and visibility as possible. We are using every name in our phone books, every person we’ve had contact with to spread the word. Because of a limited budget, we are relying on word of mouth, vehicle wraps and select appearances to launch our product. We are accessing social media and old fashioned face to face to get the word out. In the month and half that we have had access to our product we have penned a deal for retail and have gotten exposure through festivals and events. In this city it’s never been what you know, it’s always been who you know.”
AUGUST 11: FAST-GROWTH CHAMPIONS: CA LG A RY ’ S R O C KSTA R ENTREPRENEURS Join Calgary Chamber for an after work beer as they welcome a panel of some of the most interesting and sought-after entrepreneurs in Calgary ■ Where: Commonwealth Bar & Stage (733 10th Avenue S.W.) ■ When: 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. ■ Admission: Member ticket: $15. Non-member ticket: $25. More info at calgarychamber.com/ events For more great events, visit capitalideascalgary.com/ calgaryevents.
C A P I TA L QUESTION
Pamula Sando, director of administration of Self Breathalyzer Ltd., selfbreathalyzer.ca
“For us, business networking is all about authenticity. We want our clients to know that we will always provide honest, reliable and friendly support. This is achieved through making personalized connections, remembering names and maintaining contact, not just attending events and sending blind emails. We get excited about mailing out coffee cards, calling simply to catch-up or purposefully making new friends at events. The biggest benefit for us is the authenticity that face-to-face networking offers.” Christina Bartlett, HR associate with Salopek & Associates Ltd., salopekconsulting.com
“Networking is critical for Nancy Lowery, lead people whisperer at The Natural Leader (TheNaturalLeader.ca). “Our programs are about relationship, communication and trust, so relationships are how I have built my business. Time is the main issue with networking and I am pretty careful about my time. I have learned there are hundreds of networking events so being strategic about the events I attend make it even more valuable. Being clear on your audience and attending events that will attract who you wish to reach makes networking effective.” PHOTO BY: LISA MERCER FOR THE CALGARY HERALD
Why do you think it’s important for businesses to give back to the community?
“Networking can be a very low cost and interesting way to share your story with people, but only if it is done properly. All too often people look at networking functions as a way to pounce on someone and try to sell to them. That’s not networking that’s cold calling. People need to develop a statement that encompasses what they do but in such a way that the person they are talking to is interested to hear more. This creates conversation, they find out about you and you find out about them.” Lynda Kavanagh, owner of WOW Communications & Training Corp., wowcommunications.ca
“Networking is the center of my marketing activities for my business. Not only is networking very helpful in generating leads, but I have met the most remarkable people through networking that I now can call my friends. I enjoy networking and it is my favourite marketing activity.”
Ave Peetri, owner of Confident Marketing Coach, confidentmarketing.com
“Meeting people at events is great, especially for those of us who work mostly solo. I’m not naturally promotional but I am persuasive in person so networking gives me a chance to be my own brand ambassador and tell my unusual 30 second ‘what do you do’ story. At a minimum, it is good for a laugh and maybe they’ll pass the message along to a potential customer. Being upfront about business needs and challenges and asking for help with something specific is a great way to be supported with introductions, referrals and suggestions from other entrepreneurs and professionals, whether I’m on the giving or the receiving end.” Melanie Love, CEO & founder of Front Room, morefrontroom.com
“Networking is a critical asset to our business. Meeting new people and sharing our story is a driving force behind a lot of our success. It can be as simple as spending time with our clients and their colleagues, and learning more about their business. If a client likes us socially, and we can provide a solution to their marketing challenges, it leaves us with a huge opportunity to exceed expectations. At the end of the day, people buy from people, so the ability to network is paramount.” Ryan Townend, CEO of William Joseph Communications, williamjoseph.com
“Networking for us is a chance to share info about our product, test ideas and collect different opinions. It is priceless for our business. We found new clients, employees, partners, and even investor through our wide network. It takes time to build personal network but it is worth it. I love networking because I can help other people to reach their goals.” Michael Maltsev, founder of RigER, riger.ca
These answers are in response to a question posed by There are many reasons entrepreneurs choose to support their community, ranging from very broad business goals to personal passions and connections, which is why Wellington Holbrook, executive vice-president of ATB Business, is curious to hear from you: Why does your business give back to the community? You can answer the question in two ways: Open today’s Capital Ideas email if you’re a member or visit capitalideascalgary.com. We’ll publish the best answers, along with your business name and website address, on August 6.
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Brad Celmainis, president of Brad Celmainis Consulting (bradcelmainis.com), here’s his take: Networking has been by far the most important business development and marketing tool at my disposal. I learned at a relatively early stage that it is the quality of networking I do, not the quantity that is most effective. I used to attend too many events and would often be disappointed to learn that the event was nothing
more than a promotional tool for the host and often a glorified infomercial. I now prefer to attend the events where I know the people in the room will not only support me in my efforts to succeed, but I want to help them too. Many of the attendees at these events have become more than fellow entrepreneurs
and business professionals, but friends. The best events are often those with an educational component to them as well. By carefully focusing my networking efforts, I have increased my brand awareness. Solid business leads often follow.
R O U N D U P : R E C E N T P O S T S F R O M C A P I TA L I D E A S M E M B E R S Find the full posts on these members’ LinkedIn profiles. We’ll curate a selection of blog posts every Friday in our LinkedIn group, Capital Ideas Alberta. To bring yours to our attention, email it to hello@capitalideascalgary.com or post to LinkedIn with the hashtag #capitalideas.
“Digital Strategy: Outsourcing vs InHousing” by Andrew Browne, business development manager at Pump Interactive (pumpinteractive.ca):
“Instead of asking for external advice about what you should do, we always recommend business owners analyze their own business to help them identify which approach will provide the most value for them.”
From “7 Habits of Spectacularly Unsuccessful People” by Bruce McGregor, business coach at WBRC Solutions (wbrcsolutions.com):
“It’s possible for people with these characteristics to turn things around! All it takes is the willingness to see that the behavior is injuring them in some way.”
From “Succession Planning...A Four-Letter Word?” by Wilma Slenders, founder at Transcend Management Advisors Inc. (transcendmgt.com):
“For years, little effort was expended on training and developing managers to become leaders. So what now? How do organizations plan for the next five to ten years?”
Calgary Herald
S I G N U P AT : capitalideascalgary.com
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