How to Pitch Me

by "Get it Done Girl" on September 10, 2012 · 0 comments

in Free Agency,How To:

I love hearing about people’s businesses. I’ll take a meeting here or there to hear what people are up to. But there’s a right way and a wrong way to approach these meetings.

Don’t tell me about your health issues – Try to keep the conversation on the business at hand. Talking about your health issues during a first meeting is a real no-no when conducting business.

Don’t show corporate overview videos – After you spend a half hour telling me all about the product/service/business, don’t turn your laptop around and proceed to show me another half hour about the product//service/business…even if it IS the President of the company who is doing the telling. Make it available to me online so I can watch it on my own time if I so choose.

Practice good equipment hygiene – Remove the layer of laptop dust before you arrive instead of wetting a napkin in your beverage.

Know how to operate your equipment – If you’re bound and determined to show me that corporate overview video, be sure you know how to run it.

Don’t ask me to sign up for your product right now – With pen and paper being the only method. Maybe ask if you can follow-up with me within the next couple of weeks to see if you can answer any of my questions. And have more than one method of opting in or signing up for the product.

Learn a bit about me and my business before you pitch to determine if I’m your target market – If it’s not going to work, it’s not going to work and that’s just the end of it. There is the possibility that I might know someone or a business who is right for your product/service. That doesn’t mean you should ignore me or my business, however.

Avoid singing/humming to yourself while I’m speaking – Enough said…

Have you been on the receiving end of these faux pas? Do you have any that you could add?

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What are you doing on August 30th from 1-5pm? If you don’t already have something planned, you should attend this event. It is at the Science Center of Iowa. Tickets are $65 and they are still available – you get a discount if you pay with Dwolla. You can also buy tickets onsite before the event from 12-12:50pm.

Social: IRL returns to Des Moines with Social Media Explorer’s Jason Falls for an in-depth discussion on social media tools, tactics, content, planning, strategy and measurement. During two 90 minute sessions lead by Jason, attendees will learn how to use social media strategically, identify specific actionable goals, apply business discipline and proven best practices, stop fearing risks and start mitigating them, measure performance, and get results. Jason will also discuss social media techniques and metrics for building brands, strengthening awareness, improving service, and driving better leads, and will equip attendees with practical knowledge, supported by plenty of case studies and valuable takeaways.

The afternoon will also feature special guest presentations by two innovators based out of the Des Moines area and creating a national impact with their work. We’ll be hearing from Ben Milne, Founder and CEO of Dwolla, the cash-inspired payments network setting out to revolutionize the future of online and mobile payments. Ben will bring fresh perspectives on Dwolla, with a behind-the-scenes conversation about growing, maintaining and supporting communities, both on and offline. We’ll also be hearing from education and technology consultant Angela Maiers whose talk at TEDxDesMoines in August 2011, lead to the #YouMatter Manifesto, which quickly grew to become a social media-fueled international movement.

Will I see you there?

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Where do I Network?

by "Get it Done Girl" on August 12, 2012 · 0 comments

in Free Agency,freelance,Networking,small biz

I get asked this question a lot. Below are a few of my favorite hot spots:

Women Who Wine DSM – “WWW DSM is a group of interesting and intelligent women in the Des moines and surrounding areas looking to relax, make new friends, recruit volunteers, grow their professional network, and so much more. And of course, enjoy great wine!” This monthly event is held at various locations around the Des Moines Metro Area. $20 includes two glasses of wine and appetizers. Join their Meetup Group to be notified of events.

Chamber Regional Business After Hours – You’ll have to check out the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s website to find out when and where they are. The great thing is that this event is members of all Chambers are invited to attend AND it’s free for non-members to attend. The networking is GREAT!

Central Iowa Bloggers is a group of tech, social media,Des Moines and marketing enthusiasts who meet on the first Friday of every month at the Panera on University in West Des Moines. FREE to attend, but I’m sure you’ll want a cup of coffee!

Des Moines Startup Drinks is for existing or aspiring entrepreneurs of all types and ages. Their concept: “…startup culture in cities around the world gathers around a bar to have a pint and discuss what they are working on, what they need help with and what they can do for each other.” This group meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month from 6-8pm. Check their website or Facebook page for location. Sponsors: Saturday Mfg, Startup Weekend, Palisade, Spindustry, Business Innovation Zone and Kerber Technology Solutions. FREE to attend

Chocolate Connection Networking “Chocolate Connection Networking (CCN) is stylish networking for women in business that encourages the exchange of shared interests and innovative ideas with the help of chocolate and wine! Occurring every month, CCN brings together fun, successful women just like you for a fabulous evening devoted to sharing ideas, building connections and making new friends.” This group meets monthly at Chocolaterie Stam. Check out their Facebook page for event announcements. Once you’ve attended an event, you’ll begin receiving the Eventbrite announcements via email. $8 to attend. Includes snacks provided by In the Bag and wine tastes by Van Wijk Winery.

Multicultural Reception – Another great event organized by the Greater Des Moines Partnership occuring on a quarterly basis and held at various locations throughout the Des Moines area. FREE to attend and usually includes appetizers and GREAT networking!

Central Iowa Business Breakfast and More – The Small Business Administration hosts this quarterly breakfast at various locations throughout the Des Moines Metro Area. Sponsors: Small Business Administration, SCORE, Iowa Econonomic Development Authority – Targeted Small Business. $12 for the breakfast – think eggs, bacon, hashbrowns and fruit!!!

TechBrew – organized on a monthly basis by the Technology Association of Iowa. Held from 5-7pm at Dos Rios. “…an informal gathering of entrepreneurs, technologists, business people and funders getting together to talk over a beer (social lubrication).” FREE to attend.

In addition to the online calendars I’ve hyperlinked to in this post, below are other online calendars I sift through for networking events:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com
http://www.desmoinesmetro.com/events/
http://ypcdsm.rainsongpro.com/index.cfm?fa=events.home
http://www.businessrecord.com/main.asp?SectionID=12&SubSectionID=29
http://www.technologyiowa.org/en/calendar/
http://www.iowaabi.org/en/events_calendar/
http://www.iowalifechanging.com/calendar/displaycalendar.aspx?id=117
http://www.siliconprairienews.com/events
http://calendar.startupia.org/

If I missed any, let me know in the comments below:

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“Four guys, spending four months traveling across America to put on events that encourage people to bring to life their ideas.”
 

And they’re going to be in Des Moines on Tuesday, August 7th, from 6-9pm at Jasper Winery.

These four guys are traveling through 48 states to help people bring their ideas to life. Ideas are great – we all have them – but we all struggle with turning them into something tangible, actionable. A select group of notable Iowans have been invited to share with the audience their ideas and how they brought them to life. Take a look at the line up…They get 10 minutes and then the audience gets 10 minutes to ask them questions.

If you’re interested in attending IdeaMensch and money is tight, just let me know; I’ve got four free tickets. I also have a coupon code for $5 off the ticket price. Tickets are $10 if purchased by August 6th; $15 at the door on August 7th.

Take a look at where they’ve been so far and where they’ll travel to after Des Moines.

Follow their journey on Facebook and Twitter.

Take a look at their sponsorship opportunities.

I’ll see you there…

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TEDxDesMoines

by "Get it Done Girl" on July 18, 2012 · 0 comments

in Networking

This past Sunday, I was one of approximately 300 attendees of the third TEDxDesMoines held at the Science Center of Iowa. Here’s a description of this all-day event:

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group.

These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.

I could write a recap of the presentations made by the live speakers, but why reinvent the wheel? Justin Wise attended the event and was writing his TEDxDesMoines – The Ultimate Recap LIVE! I was sitting one seat away from him!

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