1. Who in your network will play to your strengths?
2. Who will cover your weaknesses?
3. What one person would you like to meet if you could network with anyone in the world? What qualities does that person have? List them and then look for people who have similar qualities.
4. What top three industry leaders does your network listen to the most?
5. What top three leaders in all other industries do they most admire?
6. What if the network you had comprised of only top performers? What qualities would they have? What qualities do you have to would complement theirs?
7. How can you listen better every day? Top-performing networkers are top listeners.
8. Who is one person you know who helps others in the organization above and beyond his or her own work responsibilities?
9. What one thing would you like to be doing or do differently that you are not doing now. (e.g. have great meetings that lead to new business or design a program that comes in under budget and on time).
10. What would it look, sound, feel like to be successful in networking?

Social media and social networking still start with one simple ingredient–people.

But it’s easy to say it all starts with people. To most social media zealots that means LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of people.

But would you rather have one Oprah in your network or one million John Smiths. Now I don’t mean anything against the John Smiths of the world. I use John Smith as a metaphor for people who are not great promoters like Oprah.

For example, let’s say you are in the financial services world. How many industry influencers would it take to get the kind of influence one Oprah would make? Sometimes it might be 100 or 1000 but there is a number, as Gladwell would say, a Tipping Point.

Want more interesting news? Remember Lois Weisberg? She was the muse for Gladwell’s  foray into the world of networks. Well I’ve been within 600 feet of her office at The Cultural Center in Chicago for more than a year. She has long been someone I highly admire but I did not take the time (shame on me) to reach out and connect with her. I recently referred someone to her and she is meeting with them. Next, I plan to put Lois and her journey since The Tipping Point  into our new Networlding 4.0 book (coming out January 2010)  in a chapter called “Revisiting 6 Degrees of Lois Weisberg.”

I often say in my talks, “It’s ‘The Law of the Few’ and if you did not get it the first time, it’s ‘The Law of the Few.’ Who are your few that leverage the vast majority of your connections? Make them priorities. Understand the 80/20 Rule that just like 20% of your efforts yield an 80% return, so do 20% of your connections. What do you think? What experiences have you had that validate this idea? Do you see things differently?

Want more of an overview on The Tipping Point? Check out what Wikipedia has to say.

So who is your Lois Weisberg or Oprah? How many others like them are in your top circle of connection or as we call it in Networlding, your “Power-of-Ten?”

Fast Insights: Don’t you think it’s strange that Gladwell did not recognize that someone could have all three traits: Mavens, Salesmen (should be sales people) and Connectors? Why can’t people be all three?

Other recent articles

• Social Media and Socially Popular
• Social Media and Graduate to LinkedIn Excerpt
• If You Had One Million to Spend on Social Media How Would You Spend It?
• Last Chance for Early Registration for eBook Book Camp in Chicago

Here is a great alternative!

MA Consulting Presents – The Networlding Masterclass Event

“I generated over $100,000 of potential revenue in 90 days”

Discover How You Can Use This 7 Step Process To Power Your Social Networking

Wednesday, 20 October 2010 – Stratford-Upon-Avon

Are you a director, business owner or entrepreneur? Do you want to:

• Stop feeling overwhelmed by social media?
• Access the hidden power of your network?
• Develop productive relationships?
• Make the right connections, build referrals and increase leads?
• Leverage new business opportunities faster?

Yes!

Then you can’t afford to miss this opportunity to increase your business results NOW!

Social networking is not all about getting the largest number of followers, fans, friends or connections. Networlding’s Seven Steps process is the key to successful networking by making the right connections and leveraging those connections to build productive relationships.

And this is just the start…………

You’ll discover how to create an entire support system using the tried, tested and proven Seven Steps of Networlding. Find out how to make the right connections, how to access and leverage the hidden power of your network, and how to start doing it RIGHT NOW.

RESERVE YOUR PLACE NOW at www.macintnetworlding.com

Date:         Wednesday 20 October 2010 – starting with dinner and evening introduction session on Tuesday 19 October

Venue:         Holiday Inn, Stratford-Upon-Avon

Cost:                  £550.00 +VAT – includes dinner and accommodation on Tuesday 19 October

plus all training materials

PLUS Here’s What You Get:

Join an Exclusive “Meet the Author” Session. Meet for dinner with Melissa Giovagnoli Wilson, author of Networlding for a unique opportunity to hear behind-the-scenes secrets direct from Melissa.

How often do you go to a training session, learn great ‘stuff’ but fail to put it into place? Get a personal one-on-one telephone or Skype follow-up to maximize your investment and develop your own individual Networlding Action Plan.

Join the Networlding Leadership Circles. Expand your network immediately with like-minded people already in tune with Networlding principles and ready-and-waiting to share opportunities.

“….generated +$100,000 potential in 90 days” : “    accomplished more with a greater ROI”

Hear what American Express and others say at www.macintnetworlding.com

Don’t Get Left Behind!

Transform your relationships: Harness the Power of Social Networking

RESERVE YOUR PLACE and START Networlding NOW

www.macintnetworlding.com



An Interview with Author, Janet Thaeler

Looking for more social media help? I had the opportunity to meet Janet Thaeler, another LinkedIn success story in the making. While talking with other online experts in a group on LinkedIn I got a chance to connect with her. I was intrigued with her book and took the time to get to know her, her unique edge in online pr and her generosity. Want to know more? Following is an interview Janet recently agreed to doing, one I know you will appreciate.

1. Tell us about your book.

I Need a Killer Press Release, Now What??? is about using press releases as online promotion tools. Using my background in internet marketing and SEO I talk about how a press release can get online visibility and leads – even if your story is not picked up by the media.

The book idea came from seeing results I’ve had writing press releases for clients. It started when I took a press release from a PR firm, added keywords and distributed it online. I watched it bring traffic to our web site for over 5 months. Bottomline: press releases are not the same as they once were. PR pros and small businesses can leverage news to get to the top of search engines and to get more customers.

2. How did you get started as a writer?

I wrote in college for two newspapers and then as a freelancer for the local newspaper and also online at Citysearch. I wanted to be an environmental journalist but the hours and pay were terrible – and I didn’t stand much of a chance of getting a decent job in Utah. So I fell into web site development and wrote on the side.

I love the creativity and self-expression of writing. It’s rewarding to see my name in print, but what is most rewarding is hearing and telling stories of people and their businesses. I started blogging in 2005 and wrote my first book this past November. I plan to co-write another book about social media with a friend of mine this year.

3. What does a typical day look like for you?

Most days I write or submit a press release. I tweet and I blog. Since writing the book I’ve been asked to speak at conferences and be a guest on radio shows and webinars. I work for OrangeSoda twice a week and the rest of the time work on developing online PR products. For example, I’m working on my set of press release templates that integrate my philosophies on press releases.

4. Describe your desk/workspace.

I work at home in the office that faces a large window. While the rest of my home is clean and organized my desk, no so much. I’m a piler. I have a calendar, a picture of my husband and son and various piles of papers and things I’m reading.

5. Favorite books (especially for writers)

This is a tough question, but here goes: Never Eat Alone. The New Rules of Marketing and PR. The Likeability Factor.

6. Tell us 3 interesting/crazy things about you.

1. I’m prone to hero worship and can be very forgiving of whomever I admire and their faults.

2. I adore these 3 bloggers for what they have accomplished and overcome. I’m always inspired and moved by them: Stephanie Nielsen, Jeremy Schoemaker and Josh Hanagarne. I’ve met all but one – Stephanie – even though we live within an hour of each other.

3. I once convinced someone to hire me for a job even though we had been on a horrible blind date several years before the interview. He said it was the worst date of his life. I didn’t like it either (we could’ve been arrested). I really needed the job and I got it – despite the stiff competition. One of my friends says I get jobs faster than anyone he knows but it’s mostly because I really am fascinated by business. Plus I’m just a curious person. If I like what I see and hear I’m pretty good at convincing someone to hire me.

7. Favorite quote?

This took a long time for me and the reason why I didn’t finish this interview sooner. It’s so hard to choose between quotes by Oscar Wilde, Annie Dillard, Gordon B. Hinckley and Ghandi. But I settled on this one because it speaks to some lies we tell ourselves. We think that others have what we want, that their lives are constant streams of happiness when really most of life is ordinary (but beautiful.) Somehow we cannot always appreciate that until it’s somehow threatened.

Jenkin Lloyd Jones wrote: “Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just like people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is just like an old time rail journey … delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”

8. Best and worst part of being a writer.

The best part is that after the aloneness of writing your book gives you a reason to get out from the desk and talk to people. Once I wrote my book lots of other opportunities have followed. Of course I love reading how my book has impacted people’s business. The worst part to me is the editing and I really need to hire a strong editor next time around. I skim information and am slightly ADD so it’s tough to focus on the small details.

9. Advice for other writers.

Finish even if it’s not perfect. You can always write an update.

10. Tell us a story about your writing experience. Can be funny, embarrassing, inspirational, etc. (“I once pitched an agent at a urinal. It did not go well.”).

When I was writing the book, I wanted it to be titled “Superhighway Road Trip.” I didn’t know it was supposed to be part a series. The title was inspired by someone who created a very successful PR campaign around a roadtrip. The example is in the book and it got him over $90k worth of publicity without an agent and while it took work, it also looked like a lot of fun. Ultimately, I hope that applying what people learn in this book will not only be an adventure but that it will be fun. Though I work hard a lot of my “work” is something so enjoyable that I forget that I’m working and it’s tough to stop.

============

Wondering where to get Janet’s book? Check it out on Amazon. Consider doing a review. Let me know your thoughts. Let me know what other kind of books you would like me to review or other authors you admire. We’re all in this together. Hope this helps!

So what did he do to create trust so  quickly. Here is an overview of his philosophy:

1. Talk more about “who” you are and “what” you stand for rather than “what you do” Christian began by very quickly telling me what matters most to him–his children, helping kids who are disadvantaged getting books and learning to read, getting healthy (he wants to keep to his established exercise schedule and forming an alliance network of people who have similar and complementary values and skills
2. Asked what mattered most to me. In Networlding we call it “The Exchange.” It’s not about just giving. Givers end up actually with less than they intended usually. It’s also certainly not just about taking. Takers end up with lots of connections but poor or mediocre opportunities on an ongoing basis. Exchangers get the most out of their work by spending time exploring “mutually beneficial” opportunities. It’s not an easy thing to do but the results are so much more effective. So when Christian asked me what my five top goals are this year, we were then able to talk about our mutual synergies–where we could work together and where we might refer or introduce one another.
3. Deliver a “WOW” offer. I will never forget our first meeting as Christian’s “WOW” offer was to give back what he calls his 10X. Take a look at his social networking article on this offer that he has now turned into a signature offer of his that differentiates him greatly from thousands of others I have met.

What signature offer have you created to differentiate yourself from others? How can you both make a living AND make a difference? Who do you know who has made a WOW gift to you like Christian did?

A colleague just sent me a promotional piece for yet another social media expert. I took the time to look at his promo and I was impressed . . . until I went over to look at his following on Twitter and, even more specifically, his grade on http://grader.com/ which is a product that HubSpot created.  The score for his site was a 16 out of 100. HubSpot offers a variety of graders, and, not that I am bragging, but this will give you an idea of how it works:

• Networlding Website – (HubSpot Grader Page) – Grade: 95.5 out of 100

  The website www.networlding.com ranks 85,748 of the 1,916,503 websites that have been ranked so far.

  A website grade of 95.5/100 for www.networlding.com means that means that of the millions of websites that have previously been evaluated, our algorithm has calculated that this site scores higher than 95.5% of them in terms of its marketing effectiveness. The algorithm uses a proprietary blend of over 50 different variables, including search engine data , website structure, approximate traffic, site performance, and others.

• Networlding Blog – Grade: 94 out of 100
• Networlding on Twitter – (HubSpot Twitter Grader Page) – Grade: 98.5 out of 100

  I am close to the top where Chris Brogan and Guy

For those wondering. Here are the Algorithm Factors:

The Grade Calculation: So, those are the factors that go into the calculation of a score.  This score is then used to compare a user against all other users that also have a score.  The grade is calculated as the approximate percentage of other users that have an equal or lower score.  So, a Twitter Grade of 80 means that about 80% of the other users got a lower score.  At the time this article is being written, over 2.1 million users have been graded. To get the whole scoop (which you should), go to this great Twitter article.

“What’s one thing in your career you haven’t done that you would like to do?”

She  responded, “I would like to write a book.”

That was 12 years ago. That was the moment I asked her to co-author Networlding with me.

Networlding: Building Relationships and Opportunities for Success is now in it’s 12th year and enjoyed a spot on Amazon’s best seller list for an entire  year.  We keep hearing from others, including our publisher, “You were really ahead of your time with the whole social media/social networking movement 10 years ago.”

In the past decade because of the Networlding brand I have generated over $2 million in revenue from book sales, training, license agreements, speaking engagements and consulting contracts.

I’m Melissa Giovagnoli Wilson or Melissa G Wilson as I am coming to be known. I am Founder and President of Networlding, a firm specializing in helping individuals and organizations harness the power of publishing combined with both traditional and new marketing that includes social media and pr. Why? Because after writing 12 books, I realized that the one thing thought leaders need wen they are writing a book is a one-stop place that will leverage marketing and pr with publishing for without great marketing and pr, you can’t achieve success with your book and without a wonderful, well-written book, all the marketing in the world won’t help.

I’ve had five major, traditional publishers. I have also self published four books and now am working with a hybrid publisher on my next book. So I decided now to take all my experience and passion for helping others and five years of new author workshops and commit to helping 10 authors a year write, publish and market their own books.

Our Unique Difference

Our exclusive, seven-step proven process, Networlding, adds a developed network of thousands of value-based leaders–market influencers with a network of top publishing, design, book marketing and online experts enable myself and my team to provide ten thought leaders as year who want to publish, choose either traditional publishing through an agent or self or hybrid publishing. Following is an overview of our offerings:

1. Creating a mind-map of your book, assisting with a powerful title and chapter-by-chapter outline. This step also includes helping with extensive research of 100 similar booksto determine just the right positioning for your book, setting you up for better results with reviews on your book as well as sales.

2. Either interviewing chapter by chapter to pull out your own unique, rich thought leader content or pulling in a ghostwriter to write your book from your special content.

3. Editing each chapter not once but three times or more.

4. Creating a top-quality design for your front and back book cover and interior.

5. Creating compelling marketing copy for your back book cover.

6. Creating a blog, Twitter and Facebook page for you to augment your book content and to start growing reader engagement and fans who look forward to reading your book. This also includes coaching you as to how to blog effectively and helping you develop an initial editorial calendar for your blog.

7. Developing and designing a tailored social media campaign that further leverages your book and your thought leadership.

8. Providing PR and social media implementation coaching.

In 4 months with weekly coaching and integrated support from our team of experts who will analyze your target market and make sure you are positioned for success.

We work in two ways with thought leaders and authors:

1. Coaching them monthly with two month minimum.
2. Working with them to complete and pre-market their books.with a variety of optional avenues to take, such as:

• Traditional book publishing process.
• Hybrid strategy of organizational books and some individual ones.
• Produce a series of internal e-books for your organization.
• Create a electronic buzz about a single book

Whatever your goals, we can help.

Networlding success include:

• Acquiring more than $2 million in revenue from book sales, training, licensing agreements, speaking and consulting contracts.
• Networlding was a top ten book  on Amazon for a year.
• Authored and co-authored 14 books, and have been on industry bestseller lists.
• Networlding has been licensed by Motorola and universities like Yale.
• Authoring  books with the first Chief Marketing Officer of Motorola and other C-Level executives from UBS, Accenture and Mercer Management Consulting.
• Helped over 130 thought leaders work on their own authored books.

The Bottomline

We help you get your book written, designed, published, printed and distributed in the manner and with the integrated support I would like to have had when I was getting published traditionally over the past fifteen years by five major publishers.

We want to share what we know:  Half day and full day semniars are offered for your people that explains the process and options for creating and selling books, or we can meet with representatives (often from the marketing group) to establish goals and options of doing so.

Contact us for more information here and connect with me on LinkedIn.

Relevant Experience

For those of you who appreciate bullet points, following is an overview of my past accomplishments:

• Won an “Outstanding Woman of the Decade” award by The University of Chicago Women’s Business Advisory Group
• Taught networking since 1987 when I wrote my first networking book, Make Your Connections Count.
• Wrote Networlding, my seventh book and in the first year with The Chicagoland Chamber as a partner, took 1000 professionals through Networlding bootcamps.
• Worked as a VP writing whitepapers on networks for a company called Participate.com where we worked on AT&T’s worldnet, Arthur Andersen’s KnowledgeSpace and The Ace Hardware Dealer network (to name a few).
• Gifted an innovation center for a year  at 401 N. Michigan Ave. in the heart of Chicago’s retail Magnificent Mile in 2006 focused on helping entrepreneurs.
• Hosted a revitalization event for the city of Chicago during the recession in October 2002 with 350 top leaders in the city who volunteered their time to help revitalize the economy.
• Formed The Networlding Partner Alliance with one of  my co-authors, Steve Benton (on internal social networks)
• Assisted top thought leaders such as Andres Tapia, Chief Diversity Officer of Hewitt in the creation of his first, ground breaking book called The Inclusion Paradox.
• Hosted hundreds of interactive networking events and delivering, on average, fifty presentations a year on the science and art of social networking.
• Coached over 4000 people on the use of social networking tools–specifically LinkedIn.
• Received a six-figure fee for acting as a spokesperson for a Fortune 500 tele-communications company with the goal of networking in communities, starting with Chicago, to grow brand loyalty.

Speaking

If you’re looking for a speaker visit my speaking page.