There is Room for All

Well I am sitting here in shock right now. I had sent out an email this morning to a business acquaintance who runs a very successful networking group asking if they would like to list their group on the new networking site I had recently created, NetworkNorthGeorgia.com. I received a reply saying that they were confused because there were some other sites with similar names and wasn't I a member of the some of the other sites.

Well I guess great minds think alike. Yes there are some other sites for the area with similar names and I think the creator has done an excellent job with the sites. I just now tried to log into the ones I belonged to, only to find out I have been banned.

I recently created www.NetworkNorthGeorgia.com for the purpose of listing networking groups and events. I have had a list of networking opportunities on my website for a number of years and just wanted to give people a central location for this type of information. It certainly was not my intention to do anything that would jeopardize any membership or relationship I had with any other site.

It seems because this is a NING site and my identity is for most all my Ning sites, that perhaps other sites see my universal posts as being solicitations which was not my intention.

I did not even know some of these other sites existed until a few days ago. And with the receipt of the email from my acquaintance, I checked to see which ones I was a member of, only to find out I had been banned. I feel that these sites are different, in that the goal of NetworkNorthGeorgia.com is for the purpose of listing networking groups and events not news, not public affairs, not music, fishing reports, politics, lake levels, etc.

I hope that we can come to a mutual agreement that we can both co-exist and perhaps help each other.

I'm very sorry if I did something I wasn't suppose to. So folks, if you want to see NNG grow with serious networkers and like minded business people in the North Georgia area, join yourself, list your networking groups, events, and invite others to join.

In gratitude,
Annette
Painted Lady Enterprises
"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"

Twitter on Steroids

Image via CrunchBase

I attended a Social Media class today. It was great to learn all about the neat tools that helps to automate social media, Twitter in particular. It helped to have someone to explain all the different tools and how that would enhance your Twittering. This is not to take away from the personal touch of online networking, but it is the extender of Twitter. The advantage of using these tools is that it saves time. It's like having a personal assistant helping you. Being a busy person, like most everyone else, I just don't have the time to be on the computer all day long. Like any other tools, they help make work easier. I believe these are going to help me tremendously.

Here is a list of some of the Twitter Tools to check out:

- TwitBack - To Personalize and Brand your Twitter back ground.
- HootSuite - Integrates Twitter accounts
- HootLet - Shortens URLs
- TweetLater - Productivity Tools
- TwitterFeed - RSS feed from Blog to Twitter
- BubbleTweet - Video
- TweetGrid - Search Tweets for specific topics
- Monitter - Customize search by geography
- Zemanta - Tool to assist in blog writing


Wow, I'm amazed at all of these wonderful tools. I look forward to using them. Do you have some that you use and find useful? Would love to hear about them.

Thanks to MultiTasking Moms for hosting the event. Thanks Bill Reichart for the wonderful instruction. Thanks Blonde Affliate for your wonderful support and encouragement.

In gratitude,
Annette
Painted Lady Enterprises
"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"

R.S.V.P.....Regrets Only??!!

The term R.S.V.P comes from the French expression "répondez s'il vous plaît", meaning "please respond". If RSVP is written on an invitation it means the invited guest must tell the host or hostess whether or not they plan to attend the party or event. It does not mean to respond only if you're coming, and it does not mean respond only if you're not coming (the term "regrets only" is reserved for that instance). It means the host/hostess needs a definite head count for the planned event, and needs it by the date specified on the invitation. Or if a date is not specified, then the invitee needs to respond with a yes or no answer ASAP. Exert from About.com: Entertaining

I think most people think that RSVP means, 'I'm suppose to let you know if I plan to attend.' That would be nice, especially if there is a date stating to please respond by such and such a date.

Have you ever planned or hosted an event, party, dinner, etc.? Is it me or are people just oblivious to the terms, R.S.V.P, Regrets Only, or even more directive, 'Please let me know you are coming OR NOT.'

I started musings about this a few weeks ago and wrote out my thoughts and said OK, let me come back to this later. The next evening I showed up at a networking event and got busted because guess who had not responded!? You guessed it, Me! I swear I thought I did. So I guess the moral of the story, (as the old saying goes), 'don't point the finger at anyone, because you have three pointing back at you.'

In today's busy busy world, we forget, we procrastinate, we get busy, etc. I think we all have good intentions. We need to put ourselves in the person's shoes who is hosting the event. Think about the last time you hosted an event. Let them know yes, no, or maybe, and follow up as soon as you know the maybe turns into a yes or no. And try not to wait until the last minute unless it is just unavoidable. The hostess has to plan. If food is involved, they have to plan for the number of guests, prepare the food, etc., not to mention every thing else that's involved.

Get yourself organized. Plan ahead. Does living in a 'spur of the moment,' 'flying by the seat of your pants,' 'Let's see if the stars and the moon align just right I might go' work for you? This is not being very respective or courteous to the hostess. And I love it when someone says, Well you know I'll probably be there.' No folks, the hostess doesn't know. She is probably like me, she failed 'Crystal Ball 101' and 'Basic Mind Reading.'

One more thing.....If you need directions or want to ask a question, call a day or two ahead of time. Don't wait until you're walking out the door. Another one of my other pet peeve, waiting until the day of the event and especially a few hours before hand to call and ask for directions (which were included in the invitation), ask if they can bring anything, or to call to say why they can't come and keep you the phone for an hour. For several years we hosted a huge summer party and I always put my significant other's cell phone number on the invitation as the number to call the day of the event. When you're trying to get ready for 50 to 100 people to show up, you just have got some stuff to do and you just don't have time to shoot the sX%!)... I'm mean breeze.

So the next time you receive an invitation and it says R.S.V.P., put yourself in that host/hostesses situation and give them a courtesy answer, even if you may not know until closer to the date. They need some sort of idea of a headcount for planning purposes.

I would love to hear any of your ideas on ensuring your guests reply to your invitations and R.S.V.P.

May your next event or party be a smashing success.

In gratitude,
Annette
Painted Lady Enterprises
"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"

Don't go Naked on the internet!

Yes, you read the title right. And what does that mean you ask. I heard the term from a friend of mine and she was referring to the signature field when you send an email and not using this area to include your contact information, business name, and maybe your tagline.

There are several reasons to do this. Below are some that I thought of and I've also listed some other information about general posting to the internet. If you have others, please share.

1. Include a phone number. Don't assume the person you are communicating with has your number at their finger tips or programed in their speed dial. Many times I have had the need to call someone back and one of the places I look for their number is a recent email. I did this the other day when I was suppose to meet with someone for coffee. Yes, shame on me for not asking for and writing their number down. Anyway I checked the last several emails we had exchanged about our meeting and no phone number, so I resorted to sending an email to confirm our meeting. Luckily the person received it and it all worked out well.

2. List your company information, i.e. website, tagline, etc.. Someone might be interested in your products or services. That's how I found the greeting card business. I was surfacing the web looking for information on 'The Laws of Attraction' and read a post that had a signature line about sending a greeting card. So I did, now it's part of my business.

3. Post a photo, not a cute avatar, company logo, etc. especially on social networks. How can someone warm up to you or get to know you when they have no face to relate to. And make it a recent photo. Everyone now a days has a digital camera or camera on their phone. Take a few minutes and have someone take your photo and post it. I have a business associate who has a massive following on Twitter, but she will not follow anyone that doesn't have a photo. And what about Facebook! Have you ever searched for someone on FB? You might get several of the same names and with no photo, how are you suppose to know which one is the right person! What do you have to hide?

4. When you join a social website, put some information out there. Let people know who you are, what you do, what your interests are, etc. Again it's a
S O C I A L network. If you don't have any info out there, then you're just a lurker or stalker.

5. Participate. It doesn't take hours, but it can become addictive. Post a status, a comment, an opinion, a compliment, say happy birthday, congratulations, etc. Just like you would if you were at any other social gathering. Don't be a wall flower.

So if you want to get to know people, whether it's for personal or business reasons let them know something about you, The REAL You. Don't go naked on the internet.

Happy Networking!
Annette
Painted Lady Enterprises
"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"