Did you know that Facebook and LinkedIN are 2 of the most searched online engines next to Google and Bing? What does that mean for you? It means that in today’s social society, if people cannot find you on LinkedIN or Facebook you do not exist. I could go on for days about optimizing your profiles, but today lets just start and make sure you have the basics down.

1. Make sure your profiles are public. Check your privacy settings. This does not mean all your posts have to be public, but make sure the ones regarding your business are. On each post you make you can use the drop down arrow and change if its public or not. (Note, if you’re posting stuff you don’t want your clients to see…should you really be posting it?)
2. List your contact information as public. Allow people to be able to reach out and contact you if they want. This includes your phone number, websites and email. Go into your About section and hover over each section, make changes to be public.
3. Have a CURRENT profile picture…of YOU! Not the dog, not your new car, not your logo. Clients want to see what you look like and want to verify they are contacting the right person.

I hope these tips help increase your online exposure this year!

For more tips visit http://www.networkingwizblog.com

To put it plain and simple, tracking our expenses is a pain in the butt! One of the hardest for me is my mileage. I’ve tried notebooks in the car to write on…then I lose them. I’ve tried recording it on my calendar and then I forget. I’ve spent years losing out on mileage write-offs.

But recently, I have discovered MileIQ. Its an app on your phone (Apple Store and Google Play) that tracks your mileage for you. And best part is… Its Simple!!!

The phone detects movement/acceleration and each time you stop, the app will pop up and ask you if your trip was for business or personal. You just swipe right or left to categorize it and Voila! You’re Done! The app will email you monthly with your totals in a downloadable spreadsheet. You can even go back in and re-categorize ones you may have missed.

It can even go into more depth and you can add expenses and notes to that trip… Its really a pretty awesome system.

The cost is also very affordable, especially when you consider how many headaches you’ll be saving! $59.99/year or $5.99/month. The free version only allows 40 trips/logs and we all know we drive way more than that! One warning I do have, is it runs constantly in the background so it will use your battery more than you may be used to, so when you’re on vacation or taking time off I suggest turning the notifications off…just don’t forget to turn them back on when you’re back at work.

I hope this helps you a little and saves you money with Uncle Sam in 2017!

Amy Dritley, Marketing Coordinator
http://www.networkingwizblog.com

Oh its the most wonderful time of the year! For most of us its a scramble of time management between handling family in town, kids out of school, crazy shopping malls and travel plans.

Its also a slower time in our business. You may think this means its a time to sit back, chill, relax and enjoy the down time. Ha! You’re wrong! Why would you stop your daily routines now? It should actually be EASIER to do the things you’re supposed to be doing now, when you’re not putting out fires. Now is the time to focus on all the relationship building and goal setting projects you’ve been doing or wanting to do this past year.

During this time, keep your routine running…maybe even kick it up a notch. This is the perfect time to engage your business partners more; set up double the amount of lunch and coffee dates than you normally do. Get out of your office and pop into others. Hand write your holiday cards with personal messages. Double or triple the amount of prospect calls you normally make. Take advantage of the “slow” time and build up your business. Everything you do today is feeding your pipeline for January and February…I’m sure you’d like a check those months, right?

Find an accountability partner and keep each other accountable! Make those calls, schedule those sit downs. Start your year off strong!

Happy Networking!

For more tips visit http://www.networkingwizblog.com

 

I can not believe it has been 1 year since switching careers to the real estate industry. This transition was one of the scariest times in my life. I was leaving an organization I had helped run for the last 5 years, I was becoming a full-time employee instead of a contract worker and I was entering an industry I knew very little about. All I knew was that I was ready for a change and was going to be working with some pretty awesome people.

Its been a pretty great year of lessons. Ones I’ve learned from mistakes, ones from mentors, a few from my son and even a few from my enemies. But all in all, its made the year fly by and I wouldn’t change a thing.

So I thought I would share a few of those lessons and maybe they will come in handy for you in 2017;

1. Ask questions. If you’re trying to see a situation from another person’s view. If you’re trying to get them to see your view. If you just don’t understand why someone would or would not do something. Repeat their answers back to them, people don’t always communicate what they are really trying to say.
2. Pick your battles. Those that want help will take it, those that don’t won’t. You can’t force yourself on others if they are not ready to allow you in. This includes 9 year old boys that just can’t seem to wrap their head around folding laundry the right way.
3. Be a resource. Be there for people in as many ways as possible. Even if their need is not income producing for you right now, help them find a solution and they will remember you.
4. Approach with caution. Its fun to jump right in and be a part of something, but it may not always be the right something. Do a little digging first and make sure its worth your time. This is helpful when looking at joining organizations, clubs, affiliations, volunteering and even PTOs.
5. Only wear one face. Be you, and only you. Don’t change your morals, opinions and character depending on who you’re trying to please at the time. People will respect you for this.
6. Trust is earned not given. Much like respect, you may have to do a little leg work and prove your loyalty. Even when you think its understood don’t assume. Prove.
7. Less is more. When typing an email. When responding to a situation. When leaving a voicemail. Leave out any words that may be questioned or turned around. Get to the point.
8. Momentum creates momentum. Keep going. Don’t give up. Set a goal…hit it and hit it again and again and again. Use time management systems to work on your goal every single day. Do little things that no one else is doing. Thank those that are helping you hit your goals. Create bigger goals.
9. Clean your sphere. Surround yourself with positive people. Duh, I know. But sometimes you don’t even see the negative blood suckers around you.  Keep out the ones that bring you down, or lie, or don’t add to your success.  Then…embrace your biggest cheerleaders. Lift each other up. Motivate one another. Build you’re own support system.
10. Have Fun. Whatever you do, however you’re doing it, if you’re not having fun its a waste of your short, sweet life. Make a change and move forward.

Well there you go, I narrowed it down to 10. I could go on and on. But looking back now, what I have truly learned is that if you stop learning and having life experiences you may as well roll over and give up. Cuz ain’t no body got time for that.

Happy Networking!

Have you ever looked back on situations/relationships/jobs/friendships in your life and  come to the realization that YOU were the common denominator? Its a harsh concept to accept when you narrow down all the moving parts and pieces to a situation and come to the awakening that YOU are the reason a plan failed, or a friendship ended, or a relationship changed.

Taking that long look in the mirror sometimes sucks. I personally have a really hard time with looking myself in the eyes. It may be insecurities, it may be humility, it may be shame. But no matter what I do, I’m always there. Same goes for you. We will always be our own worst enemy, our own shadow, our own critic, but most of all our own cheerleader!

That’s right…YOU are your own worst enemy AND your own best cheerleader. If you don’t believe in yourself who will?

With 2017 fast approaching, it may be time to gaze a little longer into that mirror. Are you who you want to be? Could you be friendlier to the barista? Could you give a little more at church? Could you be more task oriented? Could you make more time for your family? Could you buckle down and make those 10 cold calls a day? Could you be better at returning emails? Could you be ‘that girl’ that runs all the 5ks? Just because you’ve told yourself “I’m just not that type of person” doesn’t mean you can’t ever be THAT person.

What do you want people to think of when they think of you? Do they smile? Do they cringe? Do they even know who you are?

I challenge you to think of 3 things you want to change about yourself and make that change. This isn’t a resolution. This is a change. A permanent change in YOU. For YOU. Because let’s face it, Everywhere You Go, There You Are.

 

Prospecting and cold calling; two of the most hated terms in the sales industry. Let’s be honest, most of us will make ourselves “busy being busy” just to avoid making cold calls. Myself included. But guess what? Its a necessary evil. Really. Truly. No matter how successful you are, if you don’t spend time prospecting your pipeline will soon dwindle. Its just a part of the business.

So here’s a few tips that may help you buckle down and make prospecting a regular part of your business plan:

• Time blocking. Write it down. Pencil PEN it in. Make it a part of your daily schedule
  • Call for 2 hours, handle work, call for 2 hours, handle work
  • Ask a mentor what their schedule for prospecting is
    • You don’t have to reinvent the wheel
  • Eliminate all other distractions. Close your email. Close Facebook.
• Give yourself a quota. How many calls are you going to make before you can leave your office. And then HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE
• Stand up when you make your calls
  • This automatically raises your adrenaline and gives you energy
  • Don’t forget to smile
• How many “no’s” can you get?
  • Make a game out of it. You know you are going to receive some no’s, so don’t stop until you’ve received X# of no’s
• Have a partner make calls at the same time
  • Check in with one another after every 10 calls and compare conversations, responses and results. You’ll learn a lot
• Have your call list printed and in front of you
  • There’s something thrilling about physically crossing off an item on a list
  • Cross off each call after you make it
  • Use colored highlighters and make a game; each color means a different response. See how many yellow you can get, how many pink etc…
• Call your warm leads first
  • This will (hopefully) give you a confidence boost and get the ball rolling.
• Shut your door
  • Distractions are the #1 reason you’ll quit
  • Isolate yourself for an hour
  • Put a sign on your door asking for no disruptions
  • I’ve also seen people go sit in their car and make calls
  • Whatever it takes, create the atmosphere you need to be successful
• JUST DO IT
  • Tell yourself whatever you need to tell yourself to just get it done.

Hope this helps your business today.

Happy Networking!
For more tips visit http://www.networkingwizblog.com

Do me a favor, stop, think back about how you got to where you are today. Who connected you to your current situation? How did you meet that person? Was it a connection you made years ago because of a random introduction? Who has played roles in your life that may have seemed insignificant yet now seem so crucial?

Example: I am in my role today because of an introduction to a fabulous loan officer I met at a referral group that I was literally drug to by a business affiliate I barely knew 6 years ago!

Don’t forget where you came from. Whether that person is still in your life or not, or maybe has changed roles, they still helped you get to where you came from. Don’t forget to stop and be grateful for people who have come into your life, for whatever reasons.

This goes too for your clients. How did you get that last deal? Was it a referral? Was it a connection from a connection? Make sure to reach out and thank people for making that connection for you…even years later. It will mean a lot and could mean even more with them sending you more connections.

Think about it… wouldn’t you LOVE knowing that something you did made a difference in someones’ life? (even years later)

Happy Networking!

For more tips visit http://www.networkingwizblog.com

 

So this week’s post is a little bias, its coming from a gal once known as ‘The Networking Queen’. From someone who built her reputation and business as  the girl who was ‘everywhere’. And someone who LOVES networking. But really people, networking is a necessary evil in today’s business.

The words that make me cringe the most are “I’m too busy to network”. You know why you’re too busy…because you were networking 6 months ago to get that business! If you don’t network today you won’t stay busy 6 months from now. Networking is not about getting a referral today, its about building relationships with those that bring you referrals tomorrow, and next month and next year.

Networking should be a large part of your business plan. No matter how ‘busy’ you get. Keep it up. Its okay to limit it, and focus on your best ROI networking events, but don’t stop or your paychecks will too.

So stay busy to keep staying busy my friends!

Happy Networking

For more networking tips visit http://www.networkingwizblog.com

 

For those of you that know me, you know I’m pretty much an open book. And if you really know me, you know that just a few hours ago I crossed an item off my bucket list!

Tonight I rode the Taco Ride. Its a 20 mile bike ride. People do it every week. To most its not a big deal, but to me it was a huge step. I had been wanting to do the Taco Ride for years but was terrified. I could barely ride 3.5 miles without huffing and puffing and once I started training I could not go farther than 9 miles.

But you want to know my secret to actually crossing that item off my list? I TOLD PEOPLE! I made sure everyone around me knew it was a goal of mine. I recruited people to to go with me. I told people I would document my journey online. And before I knew it, I had people coming up and asking me about when I was doing it and how training was going. Now I HAD to do it. I couldn’t back down because everyone would know if I did. And I did it!

So to get down to it…today’s tip is to SPEAK UP! Share your goals with those around you. Create a circle of motivating, inspiring, encouraging people that got your back and can’t wait to see you succeed.

Do you have a goal of closing 30 loans next quarter? Tell your sphere and ask them to help you reach your goal. Do you have a goal of hiring an amazing team member? Tell those around you and ask who they know.

Whatever your goal…let others know. People want to see you succeed. I almost quit. I almost quit several times. I had every good excuse ready to not even start tonight. Then I almost quit a few times on the trail. I was even given a free way out to not have to ride back. But I had an amazing colleague riding with me who pushed me and encouraged me and I could not have made it without her. Why was she there? Because I had told her my goal and she offered to help. She wanted to see me succeed.

So to recap…Talk To Me Baby! Talk to everyone! Share your goals with your mentors, your sphere of influence, your family and whoever else is willing to listen!

Happy Networking!
For More Tips follow http://www.networkingwizblog.com

I’ve been learning a lot lately about self worth and believing in myself and my abilities. Sometimes we don’t give ourselves enough credit. Sometimes we forget the power that our experience and connections have. Sometimes we forget to give ourselves kudos for even the small accomplishments we’ve achieved. And sometimes, we let those around us minimize our value and we just sit there and accept it.

Do you know what you bring to the table? Do you really know your value? Why did your boss hire you? She obviously saw value in you. Why did your spouse marry you? He saw something very valuable in you. Why do people join and stay within your networking sphere? Because they know the value you can bring to them.

Value is not always something tangible. Sometimes its knowledge and power. Like helping those around you find new careers through your connections. Or being a reference on a job to help someone advance to their new role. Maybe giving a testimonial solidifying someone else’s value. Maybe connecting two professionals to create a powerful referral network.

Maybe your value is the fact that you’ve been in the industry for 13 years and you have all (or most) of the answers. Maybe you’re the one that comes in the office smiling everyday and brightens up the room. Maybe your value is the fact that your reputation always proceeds you (in a good way) and people want to get to know you. Maybe your value is the way you communicate and build trust with your clients.

Whatever your value is, KNOW IT! Write it down. Look at the list in your mirror every day. Don’t let others knock it down because they don’t understand or don’t value it themselves. Don’t let others dismiss your value and make you feel worth less, even if they don’t realize they are doing it. Walk the fine line between confident and cocky. Hold your head high. Know that because of you 5 people found new careers last year, that because of you 2 business connections have flourished, that because of you a deal was able to be made when no one else thought it could be, that because of a referral you passed someone hit their goal this month, that you were put in the position you are today because of the value you bring the company you represent.

Know what you bring to the table and most importantly, believe it yourself.

Happy Networking!
For more tips visit http://www.networkingwizblog.com