would help them to improve their business networking skills?Kevin Kelly: Believe it or not I am not an advocate of just knocking on more doors - Ibelieve the most effective networking strategy is to work on yourself.Stanford Business School Advisory Committee asserts that self awareness is the key attribute that leaders should develop - I believe self awareness is the key to attracting an effective network into your life. The more you develop yourself, the more you begin to attract the right type of people into your network.Josh: How important has networking been in your own professional life. Can you share an example or two of how it has made a difference?Kevin Kelly: Network members arrive in various guises - sometimes as students! At the start of this decade I was approached by a person who wanted to write a book. After an energetic exchange he asked me what he could do for me. I declined his offer initially highlighting that I was happy to help. He persisted - I accepted his help. It transpires that Michael was one of the top website designers around having worked on developing the site for one of the first banks and magazines online. He brought my site from absolute obscurity to the top of the rankings for some keywords... at zero cost!Beware the student may be the teacher!- Yours in networking success, Josh Hinds(Connect with me on Facebook or Twitter)*brought to you by BusinessNetworkingAdvice.com

outh” marketing. It’s a way to promote your services or what you do to others within your network, or circle of acquaintances. It’s the oldest form of marketing and the most reliable. First of all, the return on investment (ROI) is great because all it costs is your time. Second, no one can sell the value of the business better than you. Josh Hinds: Can you give a few ideas that someone could put into practice which would help them to improve their business networking skills? Dave Scott: Get out there and mingle. Every event you attend, from a networking event to a happy hour, has the opportunity to bring you business. I’ve found leads in the weirdest of places – alumni events, Cub Scout dinners, even the gym. Josh Hinds: Based on your experiences, which places and activities have you found best for meeting new people and expanding your professional network (either online or offline)? Dave Scott: The most important thing to realize is that, even if you don’t yet have the budget for a huge annual convention or trade show, there are still many great networking opportunities. Your local networking opportunities provide a perfect opportunity for finding clients and business partners right in your area. In Seattle, we have a Seattle Direct Marketing Association. This is a perfect place to get in touch with my target customer without having to weather a huge annual convention or trade show. Online opportunities provide equally great networking opportunities for businesses of all stripes. LinkedIn has many professional groups who have interesting discussions about your industry, as do Facebook and Yahoo Groups. Just dive in!Josh Hinds: Can you share a personal networking success story with us? Dave Scott: I belong in Rotary, the ultimate in business networking locations. At a meeting I sat next to a friendly gentlemen and started chatting about traveling, the weather, and service above self. When I explained that I wanted to start a company – Marketfish – he revealed that he was an angel investor and startup lawyer. It’s been a beautiful marriage ever since.- Yours in networking success, Josh Hinds(Connect with me on Facebook or Twitter)*brought to you by BusinessNetworkingAdvice.com