How to invite people to your event on linkedin

 Linkedin has changed the way you invite people to your event.  If you have a large amount of connections it is hard to know specifically who, what location, and what industry they are.  Here is a break down that I do to help invite your connections by location and or industry.  


1.  When you log into your account it will bring you to a screen that looks similar to this. 

 2.  Go to the tab to the far right that says More.  Scroll down and click Events

 3.  From here it will let you create an event, view other peoples events, or see events you are attending or created.

4.  Once you create your event or at the event you want to attend it will look something like this.  To grab the link to the event you can either copy and paste the long URL link above... or Linkedin gives the shorten URL version that you can copy.

5.  Once you have copied your URL go to the  top where you will see the tab and click INBOX.  from their go to COMPOSE MESSAGE.

 6.  From here it will prompt you to write out a message to the people you want to invite to the event.  It could be a specific industry and or location.  I would put at the bottom of the page "Click the link for more information." Then paste the link.  I would also un-check "Allow recipients to see each other’s names and email addresses"  This will make it look like you are sending it just to them.  More personable.  

 7.  Next you can choose what location you want to direct your invitation invites to.















8.  Now that you have chosen the location now you can be industry specific (If you choose).  This is good if you are trying to look for a specific industry to join your face to face networking group.  Or if you are doing a speaking engagement and you are targeting a specific industry.   You can only select 50 people at a time... so it may take awhile.  To look at peoples profiles go to the tab that says connections then click view connections.  From here you can do the same steps as location and industry.  You then can click individual profiles and send them a private invite if it is an event on more of a smaller level.

 

Your 2012 Marketing Plan

Are you ready for 2012?  Here are some ideas to help your company market in 2012.  

Your 2012 Action Plan

A. How do you plan to keep an eye on the competition?

1. Shop them- Go into their business and act as a potential client.  Call and see how they answer the phone.
2. Work with them- Sometimes your competitor could be an amazing referral partner. 
3. Research- Check out their Social Media and website.  See what they are doing. What works for them and what doesn’t.
4. Continuing Education- Staying current and ahead of the Game.
5. Attend workshops- Have brain storming sessions, ask them what works, build relationships.

B, Effectively Using Social Media in 2012

1. Linkedin-  Effectively using groups.  Starting discussions and participating in group discussions. 
2. Facebook Fan Page- promote things you do in the community.  Have theme days on your page.  Start off with a couple.  When they take off incorporate another one.  What’s going on Wednesday, Tuesday Tip day, Favorite thing Friday.
3. Email Marketing- Be consistent.  Have fun with it.  The topics don’t always have to be about your company. Put fun things that will make your readers want to read it. 
4. Utilize Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - Learn how it can draw more traffic to my website/ blog.
5. Workshops/ Classes-  Take more workshops and classes to be up to date on all the new things going on with Facebook, LInkedin, Twitter, Google+ etc.

C.  Events for your current clients-

1. Put on training events/ lunch and learns
2. Sponsor or co- Sponsor events/ charity events-
3. Bring in speakers
4. Have a in house client appreciation day- Family fun day, bring in spa services, wine tasting, etc.
5. Charity events- In house or at other locations. 

D.  Participate in your community-

1. Networking Events- Join business face to face networking groups.  Be active and go often.
2. Mentoring- Children/ Youth organizations,  colleges, networking organizations, charities, etc.
3. Non- Profits- volunteering, Board, Committees, Work in Kind, Sponsorships, Fundraising.
4. Sponsorship- Profits, non-profits, community events, business events.
5. Teach workshops/ classes- youth groups (Girl/ Boy Scouts), High Schools, companies that you are targeting the same clientele,  Trade Shows, Networking Groups. 

E.  Participating in Trade Shows-

1.      Business Card Drawing- Give away big prizes, bounce back promotion for everyone who participates. 

2.      Advertise Trade Show- Email your contacts, post on social media, invite connections on facebook and linkedin, post in your office.  Show value to you and the show by helping promote it.

3.      Give Tickets to the event- Have new/ current client promotion/ contest, Give tickets to your top clients in a nice hand written card.

4.      Guest Speaker- Along with having a booth. See if you can be a guest speaker.

5.      Sponsor- Sponsor the event or an award.

6.      Info- Make sure to have plenty of information to give the other vendors and people attending the event.

F. Face to Face Networking-

1. Attend Chamber Events- Good for meeting potential Referral partners/ sources.  Go with a game plan and meet new people.  Set up 1-on-1’s to learn more about them and their company. 
2. 1-on-1- Set up meetings with people in your networking groups.  Learn more about them and their company and see how you can help each other.  1-on-1’s are key to grow your company.
3. Join Networking Group- that the networking groups may have.
4. Set up workshops-
5. Attend more events- Charity, Business Mixers, Business Networking functions, etc.

G.Referral Programs-

1.      Clients- Bring a friend and receive_______.

2.      Employees- Sell a certain amount of product or services and receive.  Instead of having one big winner, it is good to have them be able to reach a goal.  Or top 5 people get________.

3.      Other Companies- Get with referral partners to do a referral program together.  It could be something were they have to visit both companies. Or the company gives you the prize for advertising them.

4.      Website- swap website banners.

5.      Social Media-  Refer a friend to our fan page, Share our page on your wall and enter to win, Refer the most fans and get_______, refer 10 friends and get_______.

What forms of marketing are you going to focus your energy?

Social Media                           Mobile Marketing

Blogging                                 Vlogging

Newsletters                             Newsprint

Email Marketing                     in house marketing

Newsprint                               Networking

QR Codes                               Sponsorships

Face to Face Networking        Referral Marketing

Social Media tools

Facebook                     Facebook Fan Pages               Twitter

Blogging                     Linkedin                                  BizMatchConnect

Google+                      Blogging                                 Youtube

Foursquare                 

2011 Young Professional of the Year

I was honored to be a Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce Sunrise Pinnacle Award Winner. I received the 2011 Young Professional of the Year Award.  Many people ask “What did you do to deserve this honor/ award.”  The first thing that comes to my head is “nothing” or I am just being me.  But I know that probably isn’t the most appropriate response.  I think “nothing” cause I don’t wake up in the morning and say  “what can I do to win this award.” 

I guess I would have to start from the beginning.  Growing up our weekends consisted of what I thought to be ‘normal’ to most.  My father would take us to area nursing homes to do art projects, bingo, or cookie decorating.  We would go to homeless shelters and help clean or serve food.  When I got older I would organize book, food, and clothing drives with my high school friends to help charities in need. 

In the past year…

• My company has done 2 charity basketball games that has raised over $40,000 for CoDA (Coalition for Dwarf Advocacy). 
• I started and host an event with the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce called Think Tank.  This event is a brainstorming session that introduces local businesses to connect in a new fun way with a high energy atmosphere.
• Organized a monthly networking event that raised funds for local charities in need bringing funds and awareness to their cause. 
• I carried out and organized a Rochester Food Drive that brought in thousands of bags of food for Oakland County. 
• Ran a Business Networking Group of 40 business professionals in Oakland County.

A truly a great way to help you and your company is to give back to the community.  Charitable Marketing is an amazing tool to brand, market and grow your business.  Plus an amazing networking tool.  My dad would often ask me how I want to be remembered.  What will they say at my eulogy?  I don’t want to be someone who is working to work… I want to work to make a difference.  

1. 

Get your facebook Friends E-mail address

Did you know you can download all your Facebook Friends emails? You can put them into an excel format so you can upload them to outlook, Constant Contact, Evite, and MailChimp to name a few. This is an amazing feature you can use to market to your friends for newsletter or events.

Tagging someone in your status update on facebook

Here is a short video I did about tagging people in notes/ status update.  This is a great way to grow awareness to your fanpage. 

Sports Teams incorporating Social Media

Detroit Pistons To Host Social Media Night 

The Detroit Pistons have always been on the cutting edge when it comes to their brand.  They were the first teams to have their own private plane and now they are reaching out to their fans in a new and exciting way. 

Fans that purchase tickets on Facebook (facebook.com/detroitpistons) or Twitter (twitter.com/detroitpistons) will have access to three exclusive ticket offers for the game on February 2. Option 1 includes a 100-level ticket, social media t-shirt, exclusive pre-game meet and greet opportunity with Pistons’ forward Jonas Jerebko and VIP Club access for $125. Option 2 includes a 100-level ticket, social media t-shirt and exclusive pre-game meet and greet opportunity with Jerebko for $35. Option 3 includes a 200-level ticket and social media t-shirt for only $10.

The Pistons will also give selected local bloggers the opportunity to cover the game and write about their experience at The Palace. Following an application and approval process, bloggers will receive a lower-level suite ticket and have access to an exclusive post-game media interview session with forward Charlie Villanueva. Any post-game coverage that is shared will receive recognition on Pistons.com. Bloggers can apply at http://www.pistons.com/social_app by January 26 to apply for this unique experience. The website location provided should include specific examples of your work in regards to Pistons or other sports coverage. 

Football + Foursquare= Fans

Most football games you get a hot dog, some beer, and a giant foam hand.  But Redskins fans can expect something different.  When you check into foursquare can unlock the Redskins badge.  They can do this by either checking in to FedExField or checking in on three separate occasions at featured Redskins bars in the Washington D.C. area. Fans that play the Foursquare game will also uncover tips from the team.

Fans not lured to Foursquare by the promise of a new badge may change their mind once they find about the grand prize — two loge tickets and pre-game field passes. Also included is a tailgate party with the GEICO Caveman. Who doesn’t want to party with that guy?

Looking at the bigger picture, it’s interesting to see professional sports  teams embrace new social platforms so quickly. The obvious benefits include social exposure and the chance to convert more fans into ticket buyers. It is refreshing to see teams thing outside the box and have fun with their fans.

Be Prepared in Business Networking

Do you feel that you are truly prepared when you are networking with your client or a business professional? I give you a couple things that have helped me be prepared when it comes to networking. I hope that these tips can help you business