Coming up on October 30 in Lombard, Illinois . . . here’s a press release about an event that’s expected to draw over 500 people and 50 exhibitors. Need a business to business social networking or social media marketing strategies speaker? We released new about the expo via PRWeb.

Social Media Talks Buzz Up Lombard Chamber Business EXPO

Lombard, Illinois October 16, 2009 — Successful businesses know that one of the best places to network is a chamber of commerce business EXPO. ...]]>

Coming up on October 30 in Lombard, Illinois . . . here’s a press release about an event that’s expected to draw over 500 people and 50 exhibitors. Need a business to business social networking or social media marketing strategies speaker? We released new about the expo via PRWeb.

Social Media Talks Buzz Up Lombard Chamber Business EXPO

Lombard, Illinois October 16, 2009 — Successful businesses know that one of the best places to network is a chamber of commerce business EXPO. Even better? Add in presentations on how to build up social media buzz and then attend a networking reception. Thanks to the Lombard Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry, businesses can do all three at the 13th Annual Expo at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center in Lombard, Illinois. Social Media keynote speaker Barbara Rozgony of CoryWest Media, LLC – online at http:wiredPRworks.com – a virtual PR, social media and marketing consultancy will present three 20-minute social networking presentations: Facebook: Your Business or Your Life; Twitter 101: How to Tweet: Not for Birds, But for Business; and LinkedIn: 5 Power Strategies to Stand Out and Be Sought Out.

The “Wired PR Works” presentation is being sponsored by Chamber Gold Member Premier Payment Systems provider of Merchant Card Services. For more information visit: http://lombardchamber.com or call 630.637.5040.

Yvonne Invergo, Lombard Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry executive director, says exhibitors represent a wide variety of business sectors including banking, finance, insurance, marketing, computer, healthcare, senior living, education, publications, recreation, government and more. A social networking reception, at Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., follows the EXPO.

Sponsored by Premier Payment Systems, Barbara Rozgonyi’s social media keynote presentations will cover:

Facebook: Your Business or Your Life? | at noon
How to have it both ways and become friends with people you can do business with
Learn how to harmonize your business, life and branding into a unified, cohesive presence that compliments your business – and your life!

Twitter 101: How to Tweet: Not for Birds, but for Business | at 1:00 p.m.
How to fly into twitter and attract a flock of loyal followers and customers
Birds tweet, but should you? Find out if twitter is a time-waster or a tool worth turning on and powering up. Discover how to leverage twitter to attract prospects, connect with customers, personalize branding and respond to everyone, including the media.

LinkedIn: 5 Power Strategies to Stand Out and Be Sought Out | at 2:00 p.m.
Becoming an authority on LinkedIn is easier than you think. In this session, take a look at the top five strategies authorities use to get attention and claim their space on LinkedIn: profiles, recommendations, answers, company sites and networks.

About Premier Payment Systems, specializing in merchant accounts for credit card processing
Premier delivers a personalized hands-on approach to businesses that are looking for competitive merchant solutions. Managed by an expert team with a collective 50 plus years experience in the bankcard industry, Premier’s leadership’s extensive background in risk management, leadership and sales management drives the company’s service and its vision. Premier’s diverse client portfolio consists of thousands of businesses, some of whom process as little as $60,000 annually in credit card charges while others process in excess of $100 million annually. Headquartered in Chicago’s western suburbs, Premier’s client base includes internet, retail, wholesale, mail order, phone orders and home-based businesses. Partnerships and alliances with the most well respected financial institutions in the world include First Data, named by Inc as the #1 Fastest Growing Business in Financial Services Industry 2008. For more information, visit http://ppsbankcard.com.

###

Disclosure: Thanks to Premier Payment Systems for sponsoring my presentation and the event promotions.

What do women business owners really want to know about business, technology and communications? Listen in to a podcast and read twitter transcripts captured at a lively evening at the Apple Store.

Thanks to Theresa Carter, founder of Chicago’s “The Local Tourist” and Blagica Bottigliero [don’t we look like a fun trio?] for letting me speak to the group, “It’s Chic to be Geek,” I got to find out what women want to know about how to market their business online. ...]]>

What do women business owners really want to know about business, technology and communications? Listen in to a podcast and read twitter transcripts captured at a lively evening at the Apple Store.

Thanks to Theresa Carter, founder of Chicago’s “The Local Tourist” and Blagica Bottigliero [don’t we look like a fun trio?] for letting me speak to the group, “It’s Chic to be Geek,” I got to find out what women want to know about how to market their business online. If you’re in Chicago, you’ll want check out “It’s Chic to be Geek.”

Heidi Miller  generously offered to record my presentation. Read Heidi’s review and highlights of our group discussion about how technology drives business online. I love these types of presentations that begin with a backdrop and then open up to an open forum. Thanks to Heidi for all the coverage, which included a post-talk video interview. 

Check out my Chic to Be Geek photos on flickr, all by Beth Rosen – thanks, Beth!

 Twitter Transcript: Barbara Rozgonyi on writing, business, communications and technology at It’s Chic to Be Geek

Copied directly from twitter search using chic2geek – comments in reverse order. Thanks so much to all of you who tweeted! You added another communications channel to the live event.

heidimiller: Photos and video from #chic2geek up in the Facebook group: http://is.gd/jjcV (expand)

heidimiller: Multitasking: conference call talking over contracts while uploading video from #chic2geek to Facebook.

heidimiller: @blagica Thanks! I’ve actually been abbreviating “chic2BG” in my notes, but #chic2geek is probably more clear. GREAT job organizing!

celikins: @thelocaltourist & @blagica thanks again for another wonderful and educational event #chic2geek

heidimiller: Fantastic event that @blagica and @thelocaltourist put on! Great geek girls, great info. #chic2geek

khw77: @dijana hi it’s Kim who met you on the way out. Congrats on the wedding. #chic2geek

gizmodesign: HA! RT: @bcbeatty @heidimiller: “Twitter is like sex: you don’t know what it’s going to be like until you try it” #chic2geek

bcbeatty: RT @heidimiller: “Twitter is like sex: you don’t know what it’s going to be like until you try it” #chic2geek

heidimiller: Talking about how cool and energetic @chrisbrogan is. #chic2geek

khw77: @heidimiller want to talk to you more about your business #chic2geek

gizmodesign: so sad i had to miss hacked sites require attention [take note all wordpress folks!] #chic2geek

thelocaltourist: Great, @Blagica. Now the windows are all steamed up #chic2geek

MaggieConv: Bummed about missing the #chic2geek event, but rest is much needed.

karitas: barbara rozgonyi did a nice presentation tonite at #chic2geek event

khw77: @windycitysocial hi I’m sitting right behind you and talking about your business with you. #chic2geek

amyseye: eNjoyed Barbara’s presentation at the #chic2geek event. Thanks @blagica for the visual presentations:)

stacyjill: Next event will probably be about Blogging #chic2geek

heidimiller: How do you pitch your release online: Pitch Engine and TwitPitch. #chic2geek

heidimiller: How do you use Facebook for business? A: join a related group and ask the admin how you can help #chic2geek

stacyjill: RT @heidimiller: Can’t keepip with @stacyjill ‘s #chic2geek Tweets.No fair! She’s got a laptop, and I’m just one-thumbed iPhoning! *giggle*

stacyjill: Btw… all of you wedding people in the crowd… get ahold of me please. #chic2geek

stacyjill: Get to know the admin of the event you are attending. (great way to network) #chic2geek

stacyjill: Q from crowd – what is the best way to use Facebook for Business? A. FB is great for events (not so much an expert for Biz) #chic2geek

heidimiller: Can’t keepip with @stacyjill ‘s #chic2geek Tweets. No fair! She’s got a laptop, and I’m just one-thumbed iPhoning!

heidimiller: “You’re not going tone able to predict what will be great content until you ask your readers” @wiredprworks #chic2geek

stacyjill: @mediabistro is a great site #chic2geek

stacyjill: 20somethings.ning.com is on the screen… #chic2geek

heidimiller: Anything Guy Kawasaki writes is good. #chic2geek

heidimiller: Recommending @shel ‘s Blogging for Business #chic2geek

stacyjill: @wiredprworks – surround yourself with great advisors #chic2geek

stacyjill: Shel Holtz books – @shel check out his books #chic2geek

stacyjill: Selling advertising space on your blog is good if you have the traffic #chic2geek

stacyjill: A. Check out Six-Figure Blogger….. #chic2geek

stacyjill: Q. from crowd: Is there a list of the best sites to use for blogging? #chic2geek

stacyjill: comment from crowd – newbie – blogger/typepad are good for people who might be intimidated by wordpress #chic2geek

momofteenstwit2: What if there was only one Doctor in the world?. There is room for you too in business.. #chic2geek @wiredprworks speaking

stacyjill: Comment from crowd- when you go to websites and check domains, buy it immediately so nobody else buys it up! #chic2geek

stacyjill: You may want to have a guest author #chic2geek

heidimiller: #chic2geek question: how do you let people know to come to your blog? A from @wiredprworks: SM press release, postcards, email

stacyjill: A. You may want at least 3 posts, etc #chic2geek

stacyjill: Q. How much content do you want on your blog before you send it out #chic2geek

stacyjill: A. Press Release – let people know your blog is up. Place your blog URL on every biz card you have. Create a postcard #chic2geek

stacyjill: Q. How is there a way to build up your followers – How do you let people know? #chic2geek

stacyjill: @blagica – there will be a sep. blogging event in the future #chic2geek

stacyjill: @blagica is picking out funny domain names online #chic2geek

8 days ago from TweetDeck · Reply · View Tweet · Thread Show ConversationHide

heidimiller: “Twitter is like sex: you don’t know what it’s going to be like until you try it”

joipodgorny: @blagica you keep going to every site I think would be a good background site #chic2geek

stacyjill: Some people say Twitter is like Sex – you won’t know until you try it @wiredprworks ( that should be a tagline…LOL) #chic2geek

heidimiller: What question would you like to ask @wiredprworks on getting new media to work for you/writing for social media? #chic2geek

stacyjill: Figure out who your audiences are #chic2geek

stacyjill: Q. How do you start a blog? A. Make the decision… read blogs… what do you like that people are talking about? #chic2geek

thelocaltourist: http://twitpic.com/1fwep – At #chic2geek, @wiredprworks presenting

stacyjill: Btw – @leahjones is curious if we are going anywhere afterwards??? Ladies?? #chic2geek

stacyjill: Opening up to questions #chic2geek

heidimiller: Strategizing content plans for Facebook, Twitter, blogging: decide who your audience is and what they need #chic2geek

tokissthecook: @Blagica Hello Ladies!! So sorry I’m still at the office but have fun!! #chic2geek

stacyjill: What are your audiences? What are your goals? #chic2geek

stacyjill: Windycitysocial.com is asking the question – #chic2geek

blagica: http://twitpic.com/1fwc1 – @wiredprworks at the #chic2geek event

heidimiller: @wiredprworks on 17 Ways to Enliven Your Message question: how can a blog drive traffic to the website?#chic2geek

stacyjill: Quick Q Does a blog talk away traffic from a website (can you put your blog within your website) – Yes, talk to your web designer #chic2geek

stacyjill: @wiredprworks – check out her blog post today called Wired Writing – 17 Ways to Enliven Your Message #chic2geek

stacyjill: @blagica is running through great twitter accounts on the screen… @comcast cares, @barackobama, @zappos #chic2geek

heidimiller: @blagica is blazing across the Twitterverse at #chic2geek

stacyjill: People like twitter because it is faster than google (in terms of info) (The Octo-Mommy, the Hudson River plane) #chic2geek

momofteenstwit2: @@Blagica thanks for a great event..love when the girls hang out #chic2geek in Chicago..go girls

stacyjill: Twitter is a great place to show people what you are working on. #chic2geek

stacyjill: Watch out – she is pimping out the single ladies @blagica #chic2geek

blagica: YO SAY hello to the LOVELY ladies at the #chic2geek event at the Apple Store…boys plenty of ladies in the house:) single, too,

stacyjill: Question – @blagica is tweeting! #chic2geek

stacyjill: @wiredprworks -businesses communicate with customers (email, PR, advertisements, telemarketing, twitter, facebook) #chic2geek

heidimiller: From @wiredprworks: Think of yourself as a content producer and a storyteller #chic2geek

stacyjill: Check out @wiredprworks blog for a creative work plan and how to liven your writing #chic2geek

stacyjill: If you take away one thing tonight,… How to become a content producer #chic2geek

stacyjill: @leahjones just got a shoutout at the event by @wiredprworks #chic2geek

stacyjill: @wiredprworks Back when she started a computer cost $2800… Ouch #chic2geek

stacyjill: @Blagica is introducing @wiredprworks #chic2geek

stacyjill: Ok – Heidi has a hashtag.. woo hoo #chic2geek

heidimiller: Wiring @wiredprworks for an impromptu Podcast of her #chic2geek talk

heidimiller: @wiredprworks is about to speak on business communications. Any questions for her? #chic2geek

Social networking online is a lot like driving in Chicago in winter. This time of year it’s difficult to drive down the street without dropping into a pothole. You know, a dip that jars your car. After a few potholes, you start to dodge the drop off. This post covers five ways to fill the biggest potholes and navigate your social network smoothly.

Here’s where the question originated . . .

Question

In preparing an online networking presentation for small ...]]>

Social networking online is a lot like driving in Chicago in winter. This time of year it’s difficult to drive down the street without dropping into a pothole. You know, a dip that jars your car. After a few potholes, you start to dodge the drop off. This post covers five ways to fill the biggest potholes and navigate your social network smoothly.

Here’s where the question originated . . .

Question

In preparing an online networking presentation for small business owners, I got a call from the meeting planner who asked me: “Can you talk about the icky stuff first? I know these questions will come up sometime in the presentation.”

Answer

As a former sales person, I know how important it is to overcome objections. And, I know that not every product or service is for everybody. If you’re one of the ones who sits on the sidelines and waits for people to invite you to join their social network – or you’re not participating at all, see if one of these possible potholes is holding you back. The two biggest concerns are privacy and time management.

1. PRIVACY Set social network privacy boundaries – shading the view 

How much do you want people to know about you? is not the question

This is: How much do people have to know about you before they make a decision to connect with you?

Meeting someone online is a first stopping point in what may or may not be a long-term relationship. The key here is to give people who want to follow enough information to make a decision to connect. It’s okay to turn off some people. Believe me, you don’t want to attract everybody.

Decide how much you want to reveal before you get started because once you put anything out online, it can be impossible to cancel it. For example, if you work from home, you don’t have to give your specific address or even the name of your village. I use Chicago because more people recognize this city than the name of my town. Will you post pictures of your family? Mention your hobbies?

2. TIME MANAGEMENT Manage your online social networking time as an investment in your business

Yes, social networking can be time consuming and distracting. But, most business owners aren’t used to spending much personal time on building their business. Typically, they’re more focused on delivering products or services. Traditionally, brochures, mailings and emails manage most of the marketing contact time. What do these strategies have in common?

To build your community online, think of treating your time as an investment in building your credibility and connecting in new ways. How do you find time to network online? Try checking email only once or twice a day and then schedule in 30 minutes to check in with your online networks. Start small and build up. The key here is frequent interaction, in small bites. It’s kind of like working out. You don’t run a marathon the first day you start training.

3. INVITATIONS Decide who you want to connect with

Be prepared for “invitations” that come from unlikely people on networks you aren’t on. Don’t join a network just because your friends are on it. Check out every person who invites you to connect before you accept. Have an invitation you don’t want to accept – like the one from your sister’s ex-husband? It’s up to you to decide. If you have 1500 connections, one isn’t likely to stand out. If you have 20, you want them all to be people you like.

4. PRIORITIES Strategize your system by identifying professional priorities

Why am I here? What do I want to get out of it?  Who do I want to talk to? Should I stay or should I go now? 

Join networks that you will participate in – check out the conversation first. Smaller networks within a larger site like LinkedIn offer more opportunity for connecting in a small group setting.

5. ETIQUETTE Be nice and act responsibly

You get what you give. If you’re nice, others will be, too. But, sometimes people are mean and nasty to those who are more successful than they are. And, your message might get misconstrued. Nuances drift into short messages. People read words the wrong way. Apologize and correct any misunderstandings immediately. Read your message out loud before you send it. And, if you don’t have anything nice to say . . . well you know  . . .

What do think?

What’s your biggest social networking pothole?

Solution: Promote ALL of YOU, including your social network

Read: 33 Ways to Get Social Networking to Work for You

Time: < 3 minutes to read

Action: Choose top 2 or 3 to implement

Inspiration: Chris Brogan’s post “Will Companies Value Your Personal Network?”

33 Ways to Get Social Networking to Work for You

Share your ideas – let’s see if we can get the list to 50!

A friend and I asked if we could join a group of people waiting for a table. They said yes. When we were seated, I started passing out business cards. ...]]> It happens. Sometimes I can be overly friendly. I love meeting people and finding out what they do. Reality hit me recently in the face at a conference lunch: I don’t need to know everybody and they don’t need to know me. Here’s how it happened . . .

A friend and I asked if we could join a group of people waiting for a table. They said yes. When we were seated, I started passing out business cards. “Whose card is this?” one person demanded.

“It’s mine.” I said.

“Why do I have it? I don’t even know if I need to know you,” the first person remarked.

Another person chimed in, “We need to meet each other first before we give out cards.”

So, the table rules were set.

I’m so used to going to friendly lunches and passing out cards that I forgot my networking manners: find out if there’s a match and then ask for the other person’s card first.

One of my motivational speaker friends is the nicest guy in the world. Yet, he only brings two cards to every event. And, he only brings them out if he feels there’s someone he wants to talk with later. He doesn’t even give out his email or phone number to the table. At first, I thought his approach conflicted with his brand of being approachable, enthusiastic and entertaining. But, it doesn’t.

What if the person you’re having lunch with is someone you never care to see again?

Think about it, they may a wonderful person, maybe you share some hobbies or you’re both parents of adorable kids – how does this contact fit into your professional network? How do you feel when you give your card to someone and they automatically add you to their email list or invite you to join their LinkedIn network? Do you think it’s better to give your twitter id or your URL than hand over a business card with your address, phone number and email contact information?

Thanks to Martin Wales, creator of Customer Catcher, for the inspiration and to Christina Hills, Shopping Cart Queen, who invited me to join them for dinner. We talked about this incident and Martin came up with the term “analog spam.”

Technorati Tags: Business cards,networking,Barbara Rozgonyi,Wired PR Works

When you’re looking for a story to tell about twitter, you can use this one – at least that’s what I’m going to tell my friend I’m having lunch with tomorrow. Because she’s writing a book about networking, she needs stories. So far, no one’s contributed one about twitter – until now.

That’s me with Alina Popescu, blogger at Words of a Broken Mirror and PR director for Axigen in Bucharest, Romania. Like most of my online connections, I can’t pinpoint ...]]>

When you’re looking for a story to tell about twitter, you can use this one – at least that’s what I’m going to tell my friend I’m having lunch with tomorrow. Because she’s writing a book about networking, she needs stories. So far, no one’s contributed one about twitter – until now.

That’s me with Alina Popescu, blogger at Words of a Broken Mirror and PR director for Axigen in Bucharest, Romania. Like most of my online connections, I can’t pinpoint the exact moment I met Alina, but I recall thinking, “Wow – I know someone who lives in Romania. How cool is that?”

As a second generation Hungarian whose family name, Rozgonyi, is mentioned as a founding influence in a Hungarian village, it’s really exciting for me to meet someone from the “old country.” It’s even more intriguing when that someone represents a new technology company’s public relations efforts. Here’s how we got together.

When I saw Alina’s twitter update saying she was in Chicago, I sent a tweet welcoming her. She replied wanting to know how close I was to O’Hare: 40 minutes. We compared schedules and found that we could meet for lunch. So we did. Hearing about technology PR and the European market fascinated me. Alina shared what works for her company [hint: personal connections and free offers].

We each had a bowl of chicken soup. Somewhere up there, I think the Rozgonyi clan smiled down on us.

Alina’s also a photographer; she suggested I go to Istanbul for some fantastic photo opps. About an hour later, we said so long. Today, Alina mentioned our meet up in her story about her first trip to America.

Thanks, Alina, for your friendship and for your kind words about my real life image. It’s easy to smile when you’re at lunch with a friend. Follow Alina on twitter @alina_popescu. I’m at http://www.twitter.com/wiredprworks.

What’s your twitter [or networking] story? Maybe you can be in the book, too!

Update 05.28.08

Turns out Vickie Austin of Choices Worldwide has enough stories to fill a book. Read Vickie’s latest ezine to find out how to get your copy of her ebook, “The Golden Rolodex: How to Network for Results.”

Need twitter resources? Here’s your guide.

Technorati Tags: twitter,Alina Popescu,public relations,technology,Barbara Rozgonyi,Wired PR Works

one of my many messages to someone I met at a networking event. It took a collective 21 emails to schedule a phone conversation.

How easily do you give up on networking follow up?

If you’re like me, you send out a “great meeting you” message after you meet someone at a networking event. Rarely do I call, but I should.

At one Internet marketing event, I sat next to a guy ...]]> “If you’re not in sales, you should be. Your persistence is impressive.”

one of my many messages to someone I met at a networking event. It took a collective 21 emails to schedule a phone conversation.

How easily do you give up on networking follow up?

If you’re like me, you send out a “great meeting you” message after you meet someone at a networking event. Rarely do I call, but I should.

At one Internet marketing event, I sat next to a guy who told me my card didn’t look like me. It needed to be more lively and expressive. He impressed me as being a bit strange, but likable. A few days after the conference he called to say he was calling everyone he met there to find out what they thought of the meetings and what information they planned to use. He also interviewed me about my Internet marketing experience. And then he asked for feedback on his business. What a friendly way to reach out.

Last month I met at a networking expert at an industry breakfast. I send an email, he sent an email. We exchanged, in all, 21 emails before our first phone call. Each message carried a micro update. It took three weeks to find a time to talk. When we did, I felt like we knew each other and I felt good about being valued as someone to connect with. I asked him about his personal networking style. He told me limits events because he wants to allow time for follow up afterwards. Good advice if you want to get to know the people you met.

Another networking expert I met at a luncheon followed up with two emails to her table mates. Each publicized her business. I’d rather personalize the interaction. Next time I might even add a line about setting up a time to talk.

Two questions kept coming up as I write this post:

Do you know who your contacts are and how they got there?

Where do your connections come from and where do you keep them?

My contacts fall into these areas:

LinkedIn – professional connections

twitter- you follow me, I follow you

CardScan – you give your card, I scan it in

Facebook – we make friends

Networking – we shook hands, talked and probably attended an event together

What do you think?

How do these relationships differ in regards to approach, connection and follow up?

Technorati Tags: networking,relationships,PR,Barbara Rozgonyi,Wired PR Works

The inventor of the personal networking tool kit, Jeff is also the author of The Pulver Report. I got my first issue a few minutes ago. Packed with information about technology and social media, this is one report I’ll open and read right away.  

After years of networking with other creative types and Chamber groups, the tech scene ...]]> Thanks to Liz Strauss for forwarding me an invitation to Jeff Pulver’s social networking breakfast in Chicago this morning.

The inventor of the personal networking tool kit, Jeff is also the author of The Pulver Report. I got my first issue a few minutes ago. Packed with information about technology and social media, this is one report I’ll open and read right away.  

After years of networking with other creative types and Chamber groups, the tech scene is new to me. And, this is only my second tech networking event – ever, but it won’t be my last. I told Jeff this morning I’ll see him when comes back to Chicago for breakfast in July. To see how much fun we had, check out this Jeff Pulver breakfast video that aired live this morning - you’ll see me walking in.

As soon as we arrived, we each got a personal networking tool kit. We used stickers as tags for others and Post-its to write on people’s walls [aka a blank nametag]. In addition to our name, we also needed to write a personal tagline.

My personal tagline

Communications pioneer, exploring new frontiers

A few of tags others wrote about me

PR galore, authentic

People I met who gave me their cards

If you’re reading this and we met each other – or not – please feel free to introduce yourself in the comment box.

Kara Carrell, Interfaith Youth Core

Mark Carter, ONE80

Randy Lawrence, TechnoTribe

Leah Jones, Leah in Chicago-Accidentally Jewish

Larry Pyrz, Simple Tel, Inc. 

Ryan Rasmussen, Levenger

Amy Ravit, Alloy

Daliah Saper, Saper Law

Jeff Pulver, Pulver.com

Event Videos 

Tell Us What You Think

What do you think of the personal networking tool kit concept? Do networking events work for you – how? 

03.05.08 Update

The next Chicago social networking breakfast is set for 05.07.08. Find the event on Facebook.

Overjoyed with my new crowd of contacts, I invited a new neighbor to join us. “Thanks, but I have enough friends,” Colleen said.

At the time I thought: ...]]> When we moved from Chicago to Oak Park, it didn’t take me long to discover The Newcomers Club. With no friends but neighbors, I eagerly eased into a new community of moms that met for lunch, took the kids on the road and dressed up for nights out on the town with our husbands.

Overjoyed with my new crowd of contacts, I invited a new neighbor to join us. “Thanks, but I have enough friends,” Colleen said.

At the time I thought: Who can ever have enough friends?

That was before Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace.

While it’s okay to flood your databanks and profiles with friends and connections, how do you make the most of these virtual and personal relationships?

Every January and September, I find myself setting off in search of new friends and connections. So far, I’ve regrouped with two groups, had lunch a bunch and made plans for more fun things to do in February.

Today I stopped to wonder- before I decided to attend yet another group’s meeting . . . Where is this all going?

What’s the purpose? How many business cards or surface friends do you need? How do you manage your connections, stay in touch and contribute to nurturing the relationship? Who do you care about? Clients, prospects, friends, professional peers?

Like it or not, your friends and contacts reflect who you are. Seeing who you’re linked to online reveals your networking profile. Hundreds of contacts means that you’re worth seeking out or maybe that you’re not too discerning about who you’re friends with. For most of us, it’s easy to ignore MySpace friend requests from Elvis impersonators – any friend you accept becomes part of your virtual brand identity.

In thinking about how to manage your online and personal personas, I came up with these thoughts:

- Take inventory of your LinkedIn, Facebook and MySpace connections to see who stands out as someone you’d like to get to know better

- Respond right away when a request comes in and think twice about accepting anyone – send a message to them first to see how they found you – if they don’t respond, then don’t accept

- Have an opt-in email list? What would happen if you called every new subscriber to welcome them? You might shock them! And, your relationship would be much warmer.

- Categorize your contacts into personal, collaborative, prospect, client

- Connect with each category via phone calls, emails, direct mail, updates and messages on their site/blog

- Regroup your list and look for areas to fill in: additional industry connections, people you admire and joint venture partners

- Set goals for your contact circle: it’s not about 50 versus 500 or 5,000, it’s about how you want to interface and with who

- Prioritize your personal connections: when a friend called to ask about how to fill out college funding applications, we realized we hadn’t seen each other for over a year. That’s too long. One of my 2008 goals is to make a list of friends/family I’d like to talk to – with their phone numbers – and then call one a week. Sometimes we’ll get together and sometimes we’ll talk, but it won’t take a year to get an update.

How do you manage your personal and professional relationships?

Contact Barbara about advertising, a creative project or a speaking opportunity.

Technorati Tags: Professional Business Development,Networking,Barbara Rozgonyi,PR

When you talk to Doug, you can tell he’s a former seasoned journalist now PR pro/blogger.

“You want me to answer that!?!” was my answer to Doug’s question about how I want to make money in 2008. If you know me, you know my game’s more about fun ...]]> A few weeks ago, Collin Canright asked Douglass Davidoff, who blogs at Straight Talk PR, to interview me about online PR in 2008. How flattering to get that kind of attention!

When you talk to Doug, you can tell he’s a former seasoned journalist now PR pro/blogger.

“You want me to answer that!?!” was my answer to Doug’s question about how I want to make money in 2008. If you know me, you know my game’s more about fun than money. That was before I knew I would be launching a product in January. Thanks for the kick in the keyboard, Doug.

Find out more about what’s to come in online PR 2008.

Start working on your 2008 online PR agenda.

The story behind the interview . . .

Does networking work 15 years later? Surprisingly, networking ages not only gracefully, but exponentially.

In April, I ran into Collin Canright of Canright Communications at Ken McCarthy’s The System Seminar. I first met Collin and his wife, Christina, about 15 years ago when he was president of the Independent Writers of Chicago.

If you would’ve asked me to pick Collin out of a room, I’m not sure I could’ve done it. But, I’m a stickler for remembering names. When I saw his nametag at The System Seminar, I recognized him.

Fifteen years later finds you at a different, more mature, place in life. While I was just warming up to writing after a career as a sales rep, Collin and Christina were well on their way. It’s almost better to take a break and reconnect at a new common places. This time it’s marketing online, not independent writing.

Who do know that you haven’t talked to in years? Why not search LinkedIn, Google and Facebook to see what they’re up to and surprise them with a voice from the past?