The 3 Golden Rules of Planning a Business Event

Remember the one Golden rule? Many of us have taken it to heart and practice it faithfully.  Other “Golden rules” exist as guidelines, to inspire better actions, to frame your mindset. Regardless of your objective, “rules” exist and can be quite practical. The following are 3 of the very best Golden Rules for planning a business event.

Golden Rule # 1. Know How You Will Measure the Event’s Success

The reasoning for doing this is two-fold: Have the goal in mind from the start so that you are conscious of how to make that happen. Defining a specific outcome should apply to even the smallest business event.

Golden Rule # 2. Direct the details specifically to your target attendees.

Once you know who you want to attend, many options will be up for grabs. Choose the venue that appeals to the audience…. the agenda (panel discussion, roundtable, speed-anything, structured presentations, should please them as well as anything served.  If you don’t intend to invite the entire free world, focus on  who your target audience member is.

Golden Rule # 3. Research the date and time before announcing.

Make sure you check the date on many holiday schedules- school, general, religious. What will be most convenient for your attendees?  Know what their general schedules might be. For example; is it easiest for the event to occur during work hours, lunch, after work, before the work day, or over the weekend?

Trust these Golden Rules to make your business event successful. These are tried and true and found to work. Follow them and then your ultimate success will be more likely and the results far more satisfying.

Introducing “40+ Women to Network with Today on LinkedIn”

I'm one of forty plus women selected by the Women's News Bureau!

I’m proud to be one of forty plus women selected by the Women’s News Bureau to follow on LinkedIn today.

The Women’s News Bureau (http://womenpartner.org) has gathered over 40 women for you to network with today on LinkedIn to help you maximize your membership.  Read their news snippets and invite them to connect.  Then strike up a conversation about collaborating to introduce each other to your respective clients.

Recipe for Seduction

by Samantha von Sperling of Polished Social Image

Seduction, it makes the world go around. Sex, food, money, power, fame, glamour, glitter, it’s all seductive. It’s what pulls at our egos and into our ears whispers our deepest desires.

Seduction is about attracting someone to you by offering the promise of what they want. Any advertising expert will tell you to sell the dream, not the product.

Recipe for seduction:

Start with a specimen that caught your eye at the market. Add flirting to make it interesting. Fold in spontaneity to make it come alive. Next, pour on playfulness, a bit of intrigue, a dash of dramatic flourish, a sprinkle of glamour, a heaping spoonful of kindness, stir in some generosity and let simmer. Now blend in food, wine and spirits to make it especially delicious. Whisk in interesting ensembles that beckon to be touched for texture. A dab of fragrance to awaken the senses, candle light for glow and music to suite your taste. A bit of dancing if you dare! Now turn up the heat! Presentation is crucial, serve warm with imagination. Garnish with a sense of adventure. Enjoy!

Now that Fashion Societé is going Co-Ed….

Networking opportunities between the sexes abound so here are 5 spot-on points we love about exchanging business cards from Bags to Riches’s Linda Hollander:

5 Pet Peeves about Business Cards

NAFE member Linda Hollander, the Wealthy Bag Lady, is a 20-year entrepreneur and author of the best-seller, Bags to Riches: 7 Success Secrets for Women in Business. She teaches entrepreneurial women about small business success and is the founder of the Women’s Small Business Expo. Here are her suggestions for creating a professional and effective business card.

Business cards are your chance to make a brilliant first impression that will either lead to profits or frustration. When a person views your business card, you want them to know immediately about what you do, if you can help them, and how they can contact you. Sounds simple, right? Here are some of the most common mistakes:

1. CROSS-OUTS WRITTEN OVER IN PEN. The most egregious mistake! If your phone number or email has changed, please print new business cards. Don’t use a pen to cross out and write the current information.

2. CONTACT INFORMATION IS MISSING. A card with no physical address brands you as a teeny tiny micro-business. If you’re a home-based business, I don’t recommend giving the address of your house – but there are alternatives. Private mailbox rental locations are great because they also accept packages. You can get a post office box, or use a friend’s office as a physical address. When I read your business card, I also want your phone number, fax, web site and email address. Without your email, you look like a dinosaur. If you have a web site, don’t just list it – give people a reason to go there (free report, articles, tips, etc.)

3. MORE THAN 3 PHONE NUMBERS. Too Much Information. Choose the best phone numbers to reach you. I don’t list my cell; I forward my calls to my cell phone if I’m out of the office. If you’ve read my book, Bags to Riches, you know that I’m not a fan of the combination phone/fax. If you’re serious about your business, invest in a dedicated fax line.

4. FONTS THAT ARE HARD TO READ. Fancy fonts for your logo are great, but please choose a standard font for the contact information on your business card. Arial and Times Roman are clean and convey credibility. Another common mistake is colored type too light to read. I’ve seen yellow type on a white background too many times to count. One more point: the difference between a professional designer and a hack is the use of negative space. A beginner crams too much information on the card, creating clutter.

5. NICKNAMES. The name on the top of the card says Elizabeth “Betty” Jones. I have no idea what name to use. Am I crossing the line if I use your nickname? Is Betty only for your close friends? Which name do you prefer? Please pick one name and use it on your business card.

ALWAYS carry your business cards. Your business cards won’t work unless you do. (If you meet people who don’t have their business cards, ask them to write their contact information on the back of yours.) Now, go out there and network!