Network Solutions - Small business conversations and working together for small business success

Like A Kid In A Comic Book Store

Instead of trying to create tactics and plans that brings clients to you, try getting out and going to them. Seriously, go where your future long term customers will be. Market like you would to a kid…be where the eyes are.

Just Because You Give It Away…

The campaign was clear, very honorable in its intentions, and was giving something away a gift thanks. And this wasn’t just a cheap give away item. It had value both financially and use. The campaign had all the makings of a successful campaign if the appropriate effort was put into it, but what happened?

Interview with Robert Neelbauer of Social Matchbox

As I mentioned in my Social Matchbox DC event review, I was able to grab a few minutes with founder Robert Neelbauer to talk a little bit about the evolution of Social Matchbox DC (unofficial motto: “Speed Dating for Geeks”) and how it fits in with (and sits apart from) other DC tech networking events. [...]

Event Review: Social Matchbox DC

Thursday, April 2, at the Tenley Campus of American University in DC, saw another sold-out edition of the successful Social Matchbox DC networking event, headed up by Robert and Juliana Neelbauer. (See Shashi’s event preview blog post.)

Washington Post tech columnist Kim Hart has a good event writeup, which features a photo from our own Shashi [...]

Contxts, Quasi-Contacts, and Slush Pile People

My friend Stephanie posted a Tweet about a Mashable item profiling Contxts, a startup that lets people use SMS text messages to swap contact information.
I’ve just started playing with the service, so this isn’t going to be a full review, but I thought I’d revisit the ever-relevant topic of business cards and contact management in [...]

Solutions Out Loud Podcast Episode #12 - The “Business Launching and Business Crashing” Episode

 

 Solutions Out Loud Podcast Episode #12 - The “Business Launching and Business Crashing” Episode: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (197)

Welcome to Solutions Out Loud, the podcast for the Network Solutions community of blogs including Solutions Are Power and Women Grow Business, this is Episode #12, the Business Launching and Business Crashing episode. I am your host Steven Fisher, Community and Blog Manager here at Network Solutions. Joining me today is Joe Loong and Jill [...]

Solutions Out Loud Podcast Episode #11 - The “Business Growth and Schmoozing” episode

 

 Solutions Out Loud Podcast Episode #10 - The "Business Growth and Schmoozing" episode: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (179)

Welcome to Solutions Out Loud, the podcast for the Network Solutions community of blogs including Solutions Are Power and Women Grow Business, this is Episode #11, the Business Growth and Schmoozing episode. I am your host Steven Fisher, Community and Blog Manager here at Network Solutions. Joining me today is Joe Loong and Jill Fosters, [...]

How to Be a More Effective Schmoozer Using Social Media

In this week’s podcast, I mention some tips on how to improve your schmooze at social media networking events, so I thought I would lay out a few more pointers in preparation for Tech Cocktail DC 4 (the most recent edition of Frank Gruber and Eric Olson’s successful regional tech networking events).
Honestly, how to schmooze, [...]

Attending Local Tech Events for Fun and Profit

As I’ve no doubt gracelessly hammered the point time and time again in this blog, I’m a pretty strong believer in the power of networking and participating in your local social media community– specifically, hanging around people who understand and use social media better than you, so you can figure out ways to adapt it [...]

Becoming a power networker - Best Practices from Hank Dearden of Capital Cabal

The Capital Cabal is the brainchild of Hank Dearden. Hank has been active in Washington, D.C.’s Internet and New Media scene since 1994, and enjoys producing networking events and professional seminars. The focus is typically, but not always, on Internet commerce and communications technology, how it is being used, and its effect on business, government [...]