The Virtual Handshake

Learn more about the instructor, Scott Allen

6 weekly sessions beginning Wednesday, January 5

Each week, attend your choice of:

• Live web seminar 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 4pm GMT
• Live teleclass 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern
• Recorded webcast available the following day

Plus...

Weekly applied learning exercises that you can immediately put into action
• A private discussion forum for continuous learning
• A copy of The Five Keys to Building Business Relationships Online (view sample)
• A signed copy of The Virtual Handshake when it's published next spring
And much more!

System requirements, Policies, and other Frequently-Asked Questions

Contact Scott Allen for more information

Get connected! Learn how to leverage online social networks to grow your business!

Recent studies have shown that:

• Over 70% of new business for non-retail entrepreneurs and small businesses comes from personal contact — referrals and networking. (Bristol Business School)
• A relationship advantage is the most preferred advantage by salespeople in a competitive situation — more than 5-to-1 over pricing, timing, or features. (Spoke Software)
• Personal referrals are 50 times more effective than cold calls! And that jumps to 80% if the referrer participates in the call! (Sandler Sales Institute)

Face-to-face networking is great—as human beings we need that live interaction. But what if you could amplify your efforts ten-fold or even a hundred-fold? Spending just a few hours a week on focused online networking, you could identify dozens of highly targeted contacts every week, plus increase your visibility and credibility with thousands, or even tens of thousands! Online networking allows you to:

• Network across town, across the country, and across the globe. Even if your business is all local, the internet helps you connect with new contacts in your own back yard. And no matter what your business, having professional contacts around the world to share ideas and resources with will help your business, both new and in the future.
• Meet exactly who you want to meet. Who is your perfect customer? Your perfect vendor/supplier? Your perfect strategic partner? Now, try to pick them out at the next large networking event you go to. Not very practical, right? But online, you can search and connect with exactly the kind of people (or even the exact people) who can help you grow your business. Focused networking consistently produces better results faster.
• Network when it's convenient for you, not just whenever it's available. Instead of spending all that drive time and giving up large blocks of time to networking, do it in bits and pieces throughout the day, or even at two in the morning!
• Put your best foot forward every time. Rather than relying on someone else's impression of you, you get to put forth the image you want when an introduction is made, and you don't even have to be there in person to do so. Your professional image is always presented consistently.
• Network in your sleep and wake up every morning to new contacts. Online networking doesn't require your personal presence. Your networking profile pages, articles, and message board and weblog posts are there 24 x 7 x 365, increasing visibility, building credibility, and inviting new connections.
• Easily connect with like-minded individuals. Whether it's a professional interest, a hobby, or a cause, the Internet makes it easy to identify and attract others with your interests. You can launch a collaborative project or even an ongoing community with just a few minutes or hours of effort.
• Save time and money! Simply put, you can reach more people in less time, at less expense.

Could this help your business? Then the time to act is now! Online business networking is a relatively new practice, but will be mainstream in the next 12-24 months. Business 2.0 named "Social Networking Software" the Technology of the Year for 2004, and companies like Spoke, LinkedIn, Tribe, and others have raised millions in venture capital. The people who will stand the most to gain, both now and in the long run are the first movers. Start investing in your social capital now!

This course will give you a jump-start to becoming a world-class online networker by learning how to:

• Focus your effort by selecting the right online communities and tools for your business objectives
• Attract the kind of contacts you want by developing a profile that invites connections
• Establish a reputation as an expert on your topic, even without major media exposure
• Build the trust and credibility required for larger business deals through better online communication skills
• Maximize your exposure to targeted prospective customers and partners through online communities
• Minimize your time spent by learning how to effectively manage large volumes of email
• Protect your personal privacy while maximizing your business exposure
• Create value for your networking contacts and communities by becoming an information center

If you're looking for new and innovative ways to grow your business in 2004, this class is for you!

Topics covered include: