10 Tips for Successful Business Networking

Effective business networking is the linking together of individuals who, through trust and relationship building, become walking, talking advertisements for one another.

1. Keep in mind that networking is about being genuine and authentic, building trust and relationships, and seeing how you can help others.

2. Ask yourself what your goals are in participating in networking meetings so that you will pick groups that will help you get what you are looking for. Some meetings are based more on learning, making contacts, and/or volunteering rather than on strictly making business connections.

3. Visit as many groups as possible that spark your interest. Notice the tone and attitude of the group. Do the people sound supportive of one another? Does the leadership appear competent? Many groups will allow you to visit two times before joining.

4. Hold volunteer positions in organizations. This is a great way to stay visible and give back to groups that have helped you

5. Ask open-ended questions in networking conversations. This means questions that ask who, what, where, when, and how as opposed to those that can be answered with a simple yes or no. This form of questioning opens up the discussion and shows listeners that you are interested in them.

6. Become known as a powerful resource for others. When you are known as a strong resource, people remember to turn to you for suggestions, ideas, names of other people, etc. This keeps you visible to them.

7. Have a clear understanding of what you do and why, for whom, and what makes your doing it special or different from others doing the same thing. In order to get referrals, you must first have a clear understanding of what you do that you can easily articulate to others.

8. Be able to articulate what you are looking for and how others may help you. Too often people in conversations ask, “How may I help you?” and no immediate answer comes to mind.

9. Follow through quickly and efficiently on referrals you are given. When people give you referrals, your actions are a reflection on them. Respect and honor that and your referrals will grow.

10. Call those you meet who may benefit from what you do and vice versa. Express that you enjoyed meeting them, and ask if you could get together and share ideas.

20 hot spots—from Malaysia to Martinique—that fuse style, authenticity, and affordability.

You’re kicking back in a landscape of rolling vineyards and castle-topped towns. The days are filled with beautiful drives and visits to local vintners, where you sample the fruit of their labors. You might swing by a rustic wine bar for a tasting. Nights you bed down at a small hotel with cabin-like rooms and a blue-walled restaurant that blends harmoniously with the hotel’s collection of glass aquariums.

Is this Tuscany? Burgundy, perhaps? No, this is the Moravia region of the Czech Republic, home to 94 percent of the country’s fast-growing wine production. The surprising regional capital, Brno, is dotted with Modernist houses designed by Adolf Loos and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. And that stylish lodging? It’s the Noem Arch Hotel, and doubles start at a very reasonable $141 a night.

An under-the-radar province like Moravia is a real find, because it offers similar attractions to better-known destinations, but tends to be much easier on the wallet. Whether it’s a charming European hideaway, an undiscovered beach resort, or the latest food mecca, T+L spanned the globe in search of destinations like these that offer style and local flavor—and won’t cost a fortune.

Take Langkawi, a cluster of islands off Malaysia’s northwestern coast. Most of the main island is swathed in mangrove and tropical rainforests, and it was recently designated a UNESCO Geopark—the first in Southeast Asia. On the southwestern coast of the main isle you’ll find Pantai Cenang beach, lined with guesthouses and bars under coconut palms. The nearby Bon Ton Resort, is a small village of formerly dilapidated Malay wooden houses transformed into sleek lodgings by hotelier Narelle McMurtrie. The cost: just $150 a night.

For a more urban—but also exotic—experience, head south to the capital of Colombia, Bogotá, which some say is poised to become the next Buenos Aires. The culinary and nightlife scenes are flourishing, and in the historic city center, the recently reopened Museo Del Oro showcases a 6,500-piece collection of pre-Columbian gold coins and other works of art. Another formerly gritty city that’s newly dressed up is Marseilles, France, which has spruced up its waterfront and is attracting a more sophisticated crowd from Paris. Open-air cafés line the Vieux Port, and in the newly posh district of St.-Victor, travelers can stay at the artsy Casa Honore, which has a tapas bar and a shop that sells furniture designed by owner Annick Lestrohan. It’s a slice of real France that most tourists haven’t seen.

Read on for more amazing, untrammeled places where the dollar still goes far.

Why Network

Searching out a networking site, building a profile and collecting contacts can be time-consuming tasks. You’re a business professional, so why would you take the time to do all of this when you’ve already got a job to do? Why bother with networking at all? In one word, marketing.

Unless you’re willing to spend extra time searching, you probably won’t get a bevy of contacts through having a professional networking profile alone. But even if you do nothing else but fill out a profile, you are getting your name out there in a very tangible and meaningful way. You’re self-promoting, and in the world of business self promotion is extremely important and necessary. By simply putting your name on a professionally-toned networking site, you’re distinguishing yourself. In business, sometimes that’s all it takes to get the ball rolling and get yourself recognized.

Having a professional profile online means you have a link which you can pass out to other professionals to let them know more about you. It means your name is part of the online world, so you can be searched on Google and other popular search engines. A professional networking profile means exposure and opportunity. What could be better for business than that?

Successful Professional Networking

There’s no point in participating in professional networking if you aren’t going to do it well. You should treat professional networking the same way you would treat any other business venture — the objective is success. But what defines success when it comes to professional networking?

Are you a business success if you have a huge list of professional networking contacts? Have you found success if you’ve found a way to build a huge base of online friends and connections? While having lots of contacts is all well and good, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are reaching a sought-after business goal.

If you want to meet new people, business professionals like yourself, professional networking is a great way to go about getting it done. You can build up a base of career-oriented people, the uses of which may be limitless. Simply having a network of working professionals from a variety of different fields can be useful. You can contact these people perhaps for services, tips, advice and a bevy of other uses. But even when you have no real interest in networking or meeting people, a professional social network can serve a purpose.

Once again, the answer is marketing. There is no price you can put on the value of self-promotion in the business world. Getting your name out there, leaving a mark and making yourself available are the hallmarks of business success. Achieve this and you’re bound to do well.

Safety Advice for 9 Top Cities

No one knows better than the police which tricks criminals are using to prey on unsuspecting tourists.

BARCELONA You’re pretty safe walking anywhere in the main tourist areas, but be wary of strangers who are a little too friendly, says a police spokeswoman who was not authorized to give her name. If someone asks how you like Barcelona or tries to hug you, hold on to your valuables tightly: Pickpockets use techniques like these to throw people off guard. The police department has a special unit that roams crowded areas like La Rambla disguised as tourists, right down to the maps and cameras, to watch for thieves in action.

CANCÚN The vendors selling jewelry on the beach will say just about anything to get you to buy their merchandise. Police say you should be skeptical of their claims. Jewelry sellers often tell tourists that their wares are made of real silver and then quote prices starting at around $20, says Verónica Fajardo, a spokeswoman for the Cancún police. But she points out that the jewelry is almost always made from cheap metal that will turn yellow or lose its sheen within weeks. “Tourists from the U.S. and Canada are always looking for a bargain,” Fajardo says. “They might get a cheaper price [on the beach], but the jewelry is definitely not of the highest quality.”

LAS VEGAS If your cab ride from the airport to the Strip takes more than 20 minutes, you’ve probably been the victim of a “long haul,” in which the driver chooses a circuitous route to jack up the fare, says police officer José Montoya. The state taxi authority says reports of long hauling are on the rise. Police urge anyone who believes he’s been taken for a ride to file a complaint at taxi.state.nv.us.

LONDON Always take the city’s old-fashioned black cabs, which are licensed by the city, rather than the so-called “minicabs” that sometimes wait outside theaters, restaurants, and bars at night, says Scotland Yard spokes­man Alan Crockford. In 2006, an average of 10 women a month were assaulted by the drivers of minicabs, according to the most recent data available from the London Metropolitan Police. Minicabs belonging to a car service are licensed, but even those cars are only legally permitted to pick up passengers who have called to make a reservation¿they can’t stop for people on the street. Contact the Transport for London office (011-44/20-7222-1234, tfl.gov.uk) if you want a list of licensed minicab company numbers, Crockford says.

MONTREAL Police commander Alain Simoneau says the theft of stereos, laptops, iPods, and GPS devices from unlocked cars is a huge problem. Cars in Old Montreal are often targeted, and Simoneau says you should put your belongings in the trunk when you park there. Police officers have begun placing pamphlets on car windshields and in restaurants in the area as a reminder for tourists to lock up. Not doing so could even cost you money. Leaving your doors unlocked is against the law in the province of Quebec and punishable by a fine of at least $30.

Cabo San Lucas. An amazing destination

The jewel of the Baja Peninsula, Cabo San Lucas has something for everyone. Whatever your price range, whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it here.The heart of Cabo is the hospitality, found everywhere from the all-inclusive resorts like Riu Palace and Villa La Estancia to smaller hotels and even intimate beachfront villas perfect for a honeymoon couple looking for the ultimate romantic getaway.

Speaking of honeymoons, a wedding in Cabo San Lucas is one “destination” wedding that both the guests and the wedding party will be talking about for years to come. Plan it yourself or let one of the hotels or resorts do the wedding planning for you. Either way, you’ll get your life together off to a wonderful start.

Like to golf? Several world-class courses will provide fun, challenge and breathtaking scenery for the novice duffer or the scratch golfer alike. The desert mountain terrain combined with the ocean vistas and course designers like Tom Weiskopf and Robert Trent Jones II guarantee a links experience you won’t forget.

Anglers of all skill levels will find some of the greatest sport fishing in the world off the Pacific coast, with everything from private charters to huge party boats that stay out several days. Whether you like pulling out game fish for the table or big sport fish for the mantel, you’ll find plenty to wet a hook for. Cabo San Lucas is famous for its marlin sportfishing,.

For family vacations, Cabo San Lucas is a fantastic choice. Build a sand castle, go parasailing, swim, surf or just relax and catch some warm Baja rays. The sports enthusiasts in the family will find plenty to do, too, with scuba diving, snorkeling, rock climbing and many other ways to work up an appetite before enjoying some of the many gourmet dining options available.

Whatever you’re looking for, from an adrenaline-packed “extreme” vacation to a relaxing sojourn under the sun, you’ll find what you want in Cabo San Lucas! You can search for the best travel deals at www.NetTravler.com

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Is it Possible to Find Love Online?

Are you looking to meet someone “on the Internet?” If so, there are a few important things that you should know.

In the past, relationships were largely developed through chance meetings, setups from friends, or from friendships that flourished into love and eventually marriage. More and more people rely on the internet when it comes to finding romance.

When many individuals go in search for love online, they head to online dating websites. Did you know that online dating websites are actually social networking websites? What sets online dating websites apart from traditional social networking sites is that all the members in a dating website community are generally looking for a relationship. Social networking websites focus on many different aspects of life, which makes it easier to find and make connections with other people who share common goals and interests, including love.

When you join a traditional social networking site, one that allows almost anyone to join, it’s hard to tell what a person may actually be looking for. A large number of network users are looking to fall in love, while others are looking for friendships. Online dating websites help to eliminate confusion and awkward moments because they are created and maintained for a specific audience – people who are looking to actually meet, date and make a life-long commitment.

Most online dating websites allow a
limited number of views of its member’s photographs with a condensed version of their personal profile. Paying for a membership then allows you to read the entire biography and learn more about the person and whether you want to contact them or not. The first point of contact will probably be through email exhange. The second would be phone conversations or texting where a more personal exchange of information occurs and then then deciding to arrange a first date. Some site members call them meetings rather than a date and ask if the other has any objections to going dutch.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that internet dating is not one hundred percent safe – although it’s important to note that, depending on the circumstances, no form of dating is truly 100% safe because that fine-looking person you met at the local bistro or dance hall could be just as weird or as dangerous as the man or woman you met online. Take a few precautionary measures when surfing for dating sites; don’t be too quick to give out a lot of personal information. Take it slow. . . verrry slow.

Naturally, you’ll want to be cautious because first dates can be scary, reeally scary. . . especially with someone you’ve never met before. Just because someone says they are who they are doesn’t necessarily mean that they are telling the truth. If at any point during your conversations you feel that you are speaking with someone who is making you feel uncomfortable or not telling the truth, end the conversation.

For many individuals it is enough to chat with others online, but for some it is not enough. Whether you are asked to meet with an online friend or if you initiated the meeting yourself, you are advised to be cautious. For safety reasons, it is advised that you speak with one of your online friends at least one month before agreeing to meet with them. If and when that meeting does take place, have it in a public place, like Starbuck’s. And offer to go dutch so that neither feels pressured to pay for a meal. If your meeting does not go as planned, you can ensure your safety by having others around you while you finish your coffee and politely leave.

There are plenty of social networking website choices as they have expanded significantly over the past few years with membership numbers ranging in the millions. This would definitely put the odds of finding someone in your favor. In fact, you could probably find more than one!

By understanding the importance of being careful with your life and being aware of your surroundings there’s no reason why

What is Social Networking

Social Networking – perhaps you’ve heard of it before, but are not quite sure what it means.

Social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like small rural communities or a neighborhood subdivision, if you will. Although social networking is possible in person, especially in the workplace, universities, and high schools, it is most popular online. This is because unlike most high schools, colleges, or workplaces, the internet is filled with millions of individuals who are looking to meet other internet users, to gather and share first-hand information or experiences about any number of topics, from golfing to gardening developing friendships, or to start a professional relationship

When it comes to online social networking, websites are commonly used. These websites are known as social sites. Social networking websites function like an online community of internet users. Depending on the website in question, many of these online community members share a common interest such as hobbies, religion, or politics. Once you are granted access to a social networking website you can begin to socialize. This socialization may include reading the profile pages of other members and possibly even contacting them.

The friends that you can make are just one of the many benefits to social networking online. Another one of those benefits includes diversity because the internet gives individuals from all around the world access to social networking sites. This means that although you are in the United States, you could develop an online friendship with someone in Denmark. Not only will you make new friends, but you just might learn a thing or two about new cultures or new languages and learning is always a good thing.

As mentioned, social networking often involves grouping specific individuals or organizations together. While there are a number of social networking websites that focus on particular interests, there are others that do not. The websites without a main focus are often referred to as “traditional” social networking websites and usually have open memberships. This means that anyone can become a member, no matter what their hobbies, beliefs, or views are. However, once you are inside this online community, you can begin to create your own network of friends and eliminate members that do not share common interests or goals.

As I’m sure you’re aware, there are dangers associated with social networking: data theft and viruses are on the rise. The most prevalent danger though often involves online predators or individuals who claim to be someone that they are not. Although danger does exist with networking online, it also exists with networking out in the real world, too. Just like you’re advised when meeting strangers at clubs and bars, school, or work — you are also advised to proceed with caution online. By being aware of your surroundings and who you are talking to, you should be able to safely enjoy social networking online. Just use common sense and listen to your inner voice; it will tell you when something doesn’t feel right.