B6
Thursday, October 2, 2014
BUSINESS
calgaryherald.com
CAPITAL IDEAS CAPITAL QUESTION:
UPCOMING:
What is your No. 1 networking tip? 07 Business owners share tips for meeting new people like a pro OCT
Financials for Non-Financial Small Business Owners A Small Business Week webinar from ATB Business and BizLaunch When: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Admission: Free. Details at atb.com/businessweek2014
OCT
Small Business Week Panel
OCT
Small Business Week Awards and Expo
20 23
A panel discussion and open networking event featuring award-winning local businesses When: 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Where: Calgary Public Library (616 Macleod Tr. SE) Admission: Free. Search for “Small Business Week Panel” at eventbrite.ca
Attend breakout sessions and tradeshow during the day, then celebrate small business with the Calgary Chamber and ATB Business When: 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Where: TELUS Spark Science Centre (220 St Georges Dr. NE) Admission: $29 to $40. Details at smallbusinessweekcalgary.com/expo
Have an event that Capital Ideas should know about? Contact us at hello@capitalideascalgary.com.
Photo by Adrian Shellard/For Calgary Herald/Special Projects
Douglas Hagedorn, CEO of Tactalis (tactalis.com), says that when it comes to networking, you get what you give. “Making introductions between two people in your network who can provide value to each other, even just a quick email introduction, will always come back to help you down the road.” “Choose your networking groups wisely and take your time to pick the right ones. Remember that expensive doesn’t automatically mean it’s the best place for your particular business … so make sure you do your research, and if you can, try before you buy.” — Jackie Appleby, owner of Primp & Polish Beauty Boutique — primpandpolish.ca “I would say that one of the best ways to build new professional relationships is to offer nostrings-attached information, resources or introductions that provide value to someone’s goals or work. This way, you are building trust and camaraderie over time. Once trust is developed in a relationship, people will be more likely to buy into your idea, and be more open to provide assistance when they can.” — Danielle Carruthers, founder and CEO of theSedge.org “There is nothing worse than showing up to a networking event and having people shove business cards at me. I want to get to know the person a bit before I’ll consider doing business with them. Networking is like dating: Take your time, and there’s a great opportunity for a long-term relationship; come on too strong, and you’re going to turn off the other party, guaranteed.” — Brad Celmainis, founder of Brad Celmainis Consulting — bradcelmainis.com “Your best network could be the one you already have. Make a priority of reaching out and keeping current with the people you have already connected with. Schedule this time in your calendar, focusing on the connections from which you have received the most valuable information … It’s far easier, less expensive and more effective to retain current customers than it is to acquire new ones.” — Nicole Dixon, executive search consultant at BluEra — bluera.ca “Don’t be the guy who just hands out his card and moves on to the next person. Don’t just shake hands or collect business cards from everyone. No one likes to be sold to or treated that way ... Be there to make some good business contacts — a couple good conversations are better than 30 business cards [handed out].” — Devesh Dwivedi, business coach at Idea2Inception — idea2inception.com “When networking, make it all about the other person. Many people make the mistake of focusing on themselves and their business and forget that networking is really about making connections and building relationships. The best connections and relationships are built by taking a real interest in other people.” — Carmen Goss, president of Prominent Personnel — prominent-personnel.ca “When you are networking, it’s important to show you care about the other person. Be sure to get their business card, even if they do not ask for yours. Ask lots of questions about them and their business, and genuinely take an interest in what they are saying. People love to talk about themselves, and it’s great to actually get to know the people you’re networking with so that you can better work together in the future.” — Allison Keating, owner of Floss Dental Hygiene Care — flossdhc.com
“Be prepared. Too many entrepreneurs network for the sake of networking, then are disappointed with the results. Go where your customers hang out. Be clear on your objectives, as well as your key messages. Set realistic goals around meeting and connecting with people … Not following up is the biggest downfall of most networkers.” — Brenda Mahoney, co-owner of Vin Gogh Paint and Sip Studio — vingogh.ca “With so many networking groups as possibilities, narrow it down to the best personality fit. Try groups referred by colleagues and friends, and attend a few times before joining. For some, the traditional handshake and business card exchange is the fit. For others, a casual environment that creates good, in-depth conversation is better.” — Kim Page Gluckie, owner of Truth & Tonic — truthandtonic.com “Set aside time every six months to make a list of businesses that you respect and that share your target audience. Contact them with an idea or two that will mutually benefit the two of you. With this personal networking approach, both of you can discover an expanded clientele, a partner to share inspiring ideas with, and some yet-to-be-unveiled opportunities.” — Janet Pliszka, owner of Visual Hues Photography — visualhues.com — and Kids Photography Academy — kidsphotographyacademy.com “There is no such thing as a bad contact. Even a contact that doesn’t pan out directly has the opportunity to reap dividends second- or thirdhand. Therefore, get out and meet as many people as possible, and tell them about you and your business — nothing bad can come of that!” — Mike Scott, vice-president of business development at Care to Share Senior Services Inc. — caretoshare.ca “Whether it’s a corporation, women’s group, non-profit or whoever you want to build a relationship with, start at the top. If you have something of value to add, there is no better person to discern that than the one in charge … They are the ones who set the tone with their group, so connecting with them first is the best strategy I’ve found.” — Sue Styles, founder of Maximized Results Consulting — suestyles.com “Have a balanced approach to meeting people, and don’t be afraid to strut your stuff. For instance, at an event or gathering, the worst thing you can do is park yourself in a corner and never make eye contact. Then again, being too confident or pushy can be a turnoff. A fine balance and easygoing nature is key!” — David Wald, owner of Social Sesame Inc. — socialsesame.com “Networking is a key ingredient in successfully building your business. Aside from being prepared with your elevator pitch and having a strong grasp of your unique selling point, my No. 1 networking tip would be to keep your focus on building relationships rather than signing new clients ... Be attentive, be authentic and enjoy the experience.” — Jaime Wedholm, founder of Jaime Wedholm Graphic Design Solutions — jaimewedholm.ca
“Don’t try to sell; instead, try spending the time asking questions and getting to know the people around you. Getting to know someone and their business will help you identify any possible partnerships, which you can grow from that first connection. Set goals for the event and plan to meet a set number of new people; this will help you walk away knowing you have accomplished what you went there to do.” — Wayne Weskin, CEO of Premium Bookkeeping Services — premiumbooks.ca “Listen. A lot of people go into networking events ready to give their elevator speech and talk about themselves or their [business]. Instead, go in and get ready to learn about other people — their line of work, the challenges they face, and any needs you might be able to address. This builds a better connection and gives you the crucial information you need to determine if you do have services they require.” — Kamea Zelisko, partner of Red Queen Creative — redqueencreative.com These answers were collected from Capital Ideas members. For your weekly opportunity to share your business advice the way these members have, join us at capitalideascalgary.com.
CAPITAL QUESTION: What can be done to protect your business from fraud? We have invited Wellington Holbrook, executive vice-president of ATB Business, to pose this week’s Capital Question: What can be done to protect your business from fraud? Visit capitalideascalgary. com to answer this question. We’ll publish your answer, along with your name and your business’s name and website, on Oct. 9. This is the first of a series of questions Wellington will be asking as part of a new partnership between Capital Ideas Calgary and ATB Business. We are excited to work with ATB Business over the next 12 months to add more value to Calgary’s entrepreneurial community. Through its support of Capital Ideas Edmonton, ATB has shown a deep interest in studying, celebrating and supporting entrepreneurship in Alberta, and we’re happy to continue that collaboration in Calgary. This question was inspired by the latest ATB Business Beat survey, which showed that a quarter of small and mediumsized businesses in Alberta had experienced attempted fraud or fraud itself in the past year. Read more Business Beat findings at atb.com/businessbeat.
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