The #1 way to grow your business in this economy

Just got off a conference call with Eric Lofholm and was impressed by his ideas about how to grow your business in this economy.

He said Collaboration is the #1 way and I totally agree.

The key is to look for strategic alliance partners - people who you can promote to your database, and who can promote you to their database. Then you create a win-win for each of you - and a win for the people on your list.

The cost? Zero.

The key to developing these relationships is to think like your prospective strategic alliances. What value can you bring tot hem to get access to their network?

Eric Lofholm calls collaboration his $250,000 Idea, and here's how he does it:
1) Make a list of all the people you would like to form strategic alliances with - his list was more than 120;
2)Decide how many relationships you can realistically keep going. For him it was 4 strategic alliances. I have heard 6-8 is the maximum;
3) From your list pick your top 4-8 potential strategic alliances; and
6) Take action to connect with them and create winning strategic alliances.

If you missed the call, there was lots of other great ideas about mindset, techniques and the importance of taking actions . . . on his website you can download 21 free sales training videos - just go to ERIC LOFHOLM FREE SALES TRAINING VIDEOS - it's on the right hand side.

POWE BUSINESS WINNERS

Congratulations to all of this year's winners of POWE 2010-2011 Awards.

POWE - Power of Women Exchange - is a large women's business networking group with chapters in Ontario and Alberta Canada.

Here are the networking winners:

MARKHAM CHAPTER WINNERS

POWE Member of the Year
Erika Stevenson - EK Fasteners / It Works

POWE Spirit of POWE Award
Linda Cattelan - Results Catalyst

POWE Helping Hand Award
Ingrid Wolfert - Fifth Avenue Collection


THORNHILL/RICHMOND HILL CHAPTER WINNERS
POWE Member of the Year
Vanessa Vance - Maple Tree Hill

POWE Spirit of POWE Award
Marlene Gardiner - Arbonne Internatinal

POWE Helping Hand Award
Alina Spektor - Re/Max Premier Inc.


MISSISSAUGA CHAPTER WINNERS
POWE Member of the Year
Sandi Laing - Travel Only

POWE Spirit of POWE Award
Marishka Glynne - Marishka

Find out more about POWE at http://www.POWE.ca

MEDIA OPP - GLOBE AND MAIL

The Globe and Mail will post photos of your business on its site no charge!

Email to: yourbusiness@globemail.com along with captions

Full details here: Click here for details

Win Business Package

Women's Post and Network Orange offer you a chance to win three months free to Network Orange’s Desker Package.



Package includes:

*Membership
*Up to 40 hours of desk space
*Up to 10 hours of meeting room space
*Access to Network Orange during normal business hours
*Member features and all-inclusive services
*Business newsletter
*Access to the member discount for networking programs and events
*Notification of events
*Access to the Network Orange mailing list

Contest closes Sunday April 17, 2011 at 11:59 PM.

Go to: http://womenspost.ca/node/10940

Aurora Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for their 2011 Business Achievement Awards. You can nominate someone deserving at http://www.aurorachamber.on.ca/business_achievement_awards

Nomination deadline is April 29 2011

Why Networking in Person still matters

With all the social media networking sites do you still need to meet in person?

Absolutely!

An article by Careerealism outlines why you need to invest face-to-face time with business people:

* The interaction will have you knowing more about someone in 10 minutes than six months online;
* You cannot beat a phone or in-person meeting to finding ways to work together - it's all in the energy that gets created in a verbal discussion; and
* Determining next steps can be done fast instead of through many emails or posts online where people may get distracted to something else and break the conversation.

Read more: http://www.ibtimes.com/blogs/articles/24678/20110310/why-networking-in-person-still-matters.htm#ixzz1GDBBmnE3