Patience in Your Approach

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I like to get in a daily dose of exercise. Last week I pushed myself a little more than I should have and pulled my calf muscle.

On Monday, it wasn’t that bad, and within a couple of hours after my morning routine the pain went away. I forgot about it, and on Tuesday I got back on the treadmill. The dull pain came back. Again, it subsided a short time after my routine. I got back on there on Wednesday and Thursday.

About ¼ of a mile through my run my body screamed for me to stop; though, I pushed myself through the pain. Once I set my mind to something a semi truck can’t stop me. Of course, that attitude has its up and down sides; though, I'll save that for another blog. I made it to the end of my run; but I paid for it, and I’m still paying for it.

For the first few days, I soaked in some Epsom salt, and over the last couple of days, I have been icing. I suppose I could combine the two, but I haven’t gotten that brave yet. Slowly but surely my calf is getting stronger.

When you want to connect with other people, there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it. Start off slow, feel the person(s) out, determine if you can be of value to one another, and approach that person(s) in the same way you would want to be approached.

And please remember that just as you always have to account for your daily physical activities, thanks to Web 2.0 you are also always accountable for how you conduct yourself with possible clients or business partners. If you injure your reputation, you could pay for it exponentially. Taking a few extra moments to assess the situation, determine the value of the relationship, and then move into it gradually will pay off dividends.

Patience in your approach will keep you from injuring your and your businesses reputation.

If you want to connect with me, you can follow me on Twitter or connect with me on Facebook

Erick

Social Networking and Business Partnerships

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This last week I received an e-mail from a lady who wanted advice about her social networking efforts. She had set up a Twitter account, and she wanted to take her two business international. For the past several years she has run a manufacturing company, and this year she started a counseling service.

On the site for her counseling business she advertised her services as a place where people who had no one else to talk to could come and talk to her privately. I found this kind of odd and responded that she advertised her counseling as a place where people could come and talk to her privately, as all counseling should be. Twitter was counter productive to her goal to remain private, because Twitter is a platform in which people follow other people publicly.

She did not have a site for her manufacturing business that I could find (she wrote to me on a business networking site); though, a site would give me no more information than I needed. She had said in her profile that she was seeking partners to take her business international.

Again, Twitter is not the platform for that. Twitter is a great way to connect with people; though, it is what it is—a virtual water cooler. If you run a blog, e-zine, or some other sort of news service that does not require people to go to a physical location, Twitter is great. If you own a restaurant, grocery store, or some other similar place of business, and you want to get word out about a sale or a coupon code, Twitter will help you do that. If you want to connect with people, you want to earn their trust, and Twitter is not good for that.

So, now the question is what is good for connecting with potential business partners? Good old fashion shaking people’s hands is the best way to look for business partners. Of course, that can start with social networking; though, as I said last week, the best social networking is followed up by actual smiles and hand shakes.

Start a conversation with people you befriend on Facebook, get to know them; if you’re in the same area or will be at some time, take that person out to lunch; get to know that person some more, develop a relationship with that person, and then go from there.

Neither Twitter, nor Facebook, nor any other social networking site can or should supplement a friendly smile or firm handshake. Of course, anything can happen, and anyone can connect in anyway; but when you set out to connect with people, think about how you would want them to connect with you.

If you want to start connecting with people today, take a look at my Website. I can help you with your social networking efforts. And come start a conversation with me on Facebook, Twitter, or my blog about the best of the Internet's Open Source sites.

Keep connecting,

Erick

A Green Business Model

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For those of you who went to Sandiego.readlocal.org, you went to a site with little content and some broken links. I announced it before the world was ready to know about it. On the one hand, this is a blog and not CNN. On the other hand, anyone can see it. With that said, the site is up, so peruse it, but it’s not finished. It should be ready in just a few days.

Yesterday, I had lunch with my sister, who is about 6 years my sr. and therefore (in all of her wisdom) knows better than me. During lunch, she asked me about an e-zine that I helped launch (SDgreenlife.com). I told her that we had taken a hit a few months ago, in that our publisher left without notice, bringing another key member of our team with her. In business, that happens.

Now, after the loss of four of the six people one our team, me and one other person are attempting to rebuild. For anyone whose followed that, you know that we were down for a couple of months. My sister asked why those two had left, and I told her that in their charade of appearing green they merely wanted to use the title ‘green’ to find investors. She rolled her eyes, and said, ‘That’s how business is done.’ Well, perhaps. But last I checked good business was not about deceiving your partners.

Then, she asked me how we planned to create revenue and grow. I tried to explain our economic model, which includes a more organic method of creating an audience and revenue, rather than just relying on a few investors. Rather than listening and asking questions, she (don’t get me wrong I love her with all of my heart, but she has the listening skills of an ear of corn) insisted “that’s not green.” Of course, if she would’ve asked questions, I would have been more than happy to explain that that was our economic model not our green business model.

Our method of creating revenue was no more or less greener than trying to find investors; though, at the same time, Laura (my business partner) and I feel that our idea for creating a steady stream of revenue will allow us to generate a client base and an audience of readers at the same time.

Part of connecting with people, and my sister is a savvy business person (just not when it comes to communicating with her younger Brother), is listening and asking questions. Had she asked me if that was our green business model or our economic model, I would have been more than happy to explain to her that we intended to use it to generate revenue.

Today, I encourage you, whether it’s dealing with a business partner, a sibling, or your competitor, to listen. And when you don’t understand something or you want more information, rather than cutting that person off mid sentence, listen and then ask questions. Active listening requires the listener not to think about his or her next point. If it’s really that important, write it down. I find it helpful to not only look that person in the eyes, which I’ve discovered throws most people off, but to repeat word after word what they say to yourself.

Seeing Needs

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Blog posting by Erick Pettersen of People Connect

For those of us who grew up with cartoons like G.I Joe and Duck Tales, we forever have mantras such as “And knowing is half the battle!” and “Work smarter, not harderer!” stuck in our heads. By now, many of you know that I am the guy who runs SEOBridges.com, and I have connected with many of you via Facebook or Twitter. A week after I launched my site, I am on the top of Google’s list, but I need to keep gaining knowledge in order to stay there.

Right now, I am gathering addresses of potential clients here in the San Diego area. After I gather all 560 or so of those address, I will research several of those companies. It doesn’t make sense to research an entire population, when a sample will do the job. Then, I will provide services to meet the needs of those companies. After that, I will send out letters of introduction to those companies. Yes, actual letters.

It’s important to slow down and take the time to development relationships with people. I have come to understand that people care what you know, as well as who you know, but they also care that you know their needs.

When I get ready to send out those letters of introduction, I will take the time, as best I can, to find out those companies’ needs. Running a business is about developing relationships, seeing needs, and letting your clients know you care about their well being.

Until next week,

Erick

What's in a name?

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Blog posting by Erick Pettersen of People Connect

About a month ago, I came to the painful conclusion that I was fighting an uphill battle by offering to write SEO content, yet offering it on erickpettersen.com.  I chose to name my site erickpettersen.com for two reasons.  The first was that I consider myself a man of many talents and the other was that I wanted to get my name out there before I got my product out there.  Now, that I have chosen which of my many talents I feel is the most financially lucrative, as well as I feel I have gotten my name out there, it is time for me to start marketing the service I offer.

So, yesterday I launch my new site (http://www.seobridges.com), which features a slightly new design and different services than before.  I chose this name because for the last few months the saying, “Building social bridges one word at a time” has appeared on almost every page of my site.  So, when I checked Godaddy and saw that that name was available, I snatched it up.  Then, for the next month, which has been for about the last month, I redesigned my site.

After a month of hard work, the work is not yet over.  The work is never over.  For anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit, we know that the work is never over.  Yet, for us, it’s almost like the ultimate chess game of the mind. 

When I lived in Boston I adopted the motto, “the approach is everything,” and that attitude landed me a pretty decent job in the hospitality industry.  When I started looking for a job, I had little money, but I knew if I didn’t look the part no one would take me seriously.  And if nothing else, I knew I wouldn’t take me seriously.  So, I shelled out some big bucks for a new suit and a nice pair of shoes.  I think I wore them three or four times, but that fourth time was the golden ticket.

During my tenure with that company, which required me to act ac liaison between our clients and other businesses, a client asked me why I chose to use a certain business over others.  (I can’t tell you much because they might be listening; though, the company was Circles, for those of you who might know of them).  Anyhow, I told my client that I chose that business for two reasons: when I looked at their website, it was very professionally done; and when I called and told them of the reason for my call, they were very polite and answered all of my questions.  In their case, the approach was everything.  The next day, my client called me back, after I had put her in contact with the business and she said she was very pleased that I had chosen them.

So, I am not wearing a suit.  I haven’t worn a suit for more than 6 months.  I dress nice when I go out, but a suite would be overkill.  The approach is everything.  Now that I’ve gotten my name out there, it’s time to start getting my business out there.  Erickpettersen.com was my way of introducing myself to the San Diego community.  Now that I feel I have done that, it’s time for the service I offer to take the lead.  In that sense, introducing myself, and now introducing my services is the approach. 

Check out my services.  I offer various packages and specials, especially for non-profits organizations; and you can hire me on Agentspayingforward.com.  In the future, I hope to offer my services as Green SEO content, but first I need to focus on what’s right in front of me.

Keep connecting,

Erick

 

Qualities of Leadership

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Blog posting by Erick Pettersen of People Connect.

This last weekend, a national audience viewed a great example of how not to connect.  At the end one of the greatest upsets in sports history, the leader of that team left the game without shaking the hands of the players on the other team.  The day after that event, that player faced accusations of his unsportsmanlike like conduct, excused his behavior rather than accepting responsibility.  In the same way that a player or coach walking off of a court without shaking the hands of their opponents shows something about their character, any business person who does not conduct him/herself in a team like manner reveals something about their character.

I played high school baseball, and my coach told us that we practice like we play.   Everyday we dressed in full uniform and practiced like we played.  Over a three year period (I transferred my sr. yr.) we went 29-1 during the regular seasons.  I believe ‘presentation is everything,’ and I surround myself with people who also follow that principle.

It is important that you practice like you play; though, it’s just important that you surround yourself with others who also practice like they play.  First, always dress in full uniform.  Everyday, I wake at 5, take a shower, get dressed, grab a cup of coffee, and read.  Everyday, I make sure I’m working in a clean room with a made bed.  I work at home, and my clients don’t care what I or my room looks like.  They only care that I get the job done.  The environment we create for ourselves begins at home.

Whether you are self-employed, an employer, or a co-worker, the people on your team are part of your environment just as much as your daily routine.  The clients you attract is evidenced by the team you create, and the team you create is evidenced by how you conduct yourself in all situations.   

Since that sports upset this past weekend, Sports analyst have begun to question the future of that one player and that team.  I suspect that like other teams that have experienced major upsets, how that one player conducts himself in the months and years to come will determine the future of that organization.  In the same way, if you are a leader of any type of organization,  how you conduct yourself in all circumstances will determine the future of your organization.

 

Until next week, Keep connecting.  And come join the growing list of people on People Connect and AgentsPayingForward.

 

Erick