You've heard it before: at least 80% of all the jobs are found through the "hidden" job market, also known as the "unpublished" job market. These are jobs typically landed through word of mouth and referrals as opposed to the hit-or-miss method of answering ads, posting your resume to internet databases, or other techniques meant to target the remaining 20% of all jobs in the published market.
It stands to reason that if the vast majority of the jobs are to be found in this hidden market, that you should spend the majority of your job search time working to crack it. But, as you may have reasoned already, accessing the hidden job market requires that you take charge of your search, reaching out and building strategic relationships, taking proactive initiative, and making yourself visible in the right circles.
That's right. It requires that you use networking strategies. And, the thought of networking leaves many people feeling nervous and unsure. For an introverted or shy person, the idea of networking can even cause serious anxiety and fear.
What is networking exactly? If you believe, like many people, that networking is simply approaching everyone you know to ask for a job, it is no wonder you feel uncomfortable! That isn't what networking is. True networking is about building strategic relationships that involve a win-win, reciprocal exchange of information, support, and/or referrals.
When defined in this way, networking ceases to be so scary. But, it also requires that you expand your view of networking. No longer is networking just something you do every now and then when you are conducting a job search; building and strengthening your network is something that you should be working at all the time. But, if you find yourself facing an immediate job search, and your networking skills are rusty, don't fret. Here are some tips to get you moving.
1) When you first start out to build your network, it will be helpful for you to think of networking as a research project. Networking isn't just about the quantity of contacts; it is about the quality. Don't be afraid to reach out to decision-makers and people "in the know" within companies and industries of interest to you. These are quality contacts. Explain your career plans and ask them if they would spend 15 minutes talking to you and answering some questions. Most people will be flattered and say yes. When you do get in front of them, NEVER ask for a job, but DO ask for advice and referrals. These meetings are traditionally known as informational interviews.
2) As mentioned above, your networking efforts should emphasize building quality relationships. But, don't discount the importance of quantity. As much as possible, you should also expand your network. Friends, relatives, people you went to college with, contacts you have made in your community, doctors, the salespeople you come into contact with...they are all part of your network. You won't want to spend a large amount of time on this, but at least make a comprehensive list and call or send a letter reestablishing a connection, informing people of your search, and asking for advice or referrals. Again, notice that it isn't about asking for a job. Just ask for advice and referrals.
3) Prepare, prepare, prepare for your networking meetings-especially those that take the format of an informational interview. Prepare lists of questions about the company or the industry. Do your research so that you know something about the person you are meeting with and the company they work for (you might be amazed at what a simple Google search will turn up). For some people, role playing is helpful. If you are working with a career coach, this is something they may be able to help with. But a friend or close family member could also help you. There is no better antidote for nervousness than being prepared.
4) Getting out from behind your desk and making yourself visible is crucial. Join and then take part in events held by professional associations and other groups. Attend workshops and trainings in your field or industry. Attend job fairs to meet directly with hiring decision-makers. Volunteer your career-related skills in your community. If you are an expert at something, offer to speak on the topic to various groups. Job searching can be a time of anxiety and diminished self-confidence for many people, but don't hide at home behind your computer. Get out and meet people.
5) Yes, I just told you not to hide behind your computer, but the internet will play a role in any comprehensive networking campaign. Creating and maintaining a blog on your area of career expertise is an extraordinary way to build your credibility and visibility. Social networking sites like LinkedIn, MySpace, and FaceBook are increasingly popular ways to expand your network. Consider writing articles on industry and profession-related topics and then offering them as free content to webmasters (make sure the article is credited to you and includes a way to contact you). You can also participate in online discussions on topics related to your career focus. Just remember that you shouldn't "hide" behind a fake name like many people do. Your purpose is to expand your visibility and credibility, so you must use your real name.
6) Finally, show your appreciation and follow up on every single contact with a thank you note. True networking is based on cultivating and nurturing long-term relationships, so you should always be thinking of nice things you can do to show your appreciation, or ways that you could return a favor. Besides being common courtesy, your efforts in this regard will pay you back by further strengthening your relationships and helping to keep you visible.
Happy networking! Even if it feels a little uncomfortable at first, just get out there and do it. Make networking a part of your daily routine and plan to spend the majority of your job search time on networking activities (approximately three-fourths of your time is a good estimate). The more you network, the faster your current job search will come to a successful conclusion and the faster and more successful any future job searches will be.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
What Is The Truth About Making Money In Network Marketing? (Part 1 of 3)
If you've never been involved in Network Marketing before you're probably are asking yourself this question right now. You've probably heard of the "fabricated stories" of people losing everything they own in a Network Marketing business. Or worse, someone spent the time and money to build up a huge monthly income to only have the company they represent go out of business. So, you're probably skeptical about the Network Marketing industry in general and want more information before you decide to step out and join an opportunity.
If you're currently in a Network Marketing business (or you were once before) and you're not making a profit, you're probably saying "When will I ever make money in Network Marketing?" Or, if you've been jumping from program to program looking for the "winner" you need this article.
Early on in my Network Marketing career I asked myself these same questions. And believe me, so did my wife! So, let me answer the question for you: "Yes, you can make money in Network Marketing!"
There isn't a week that goes by that I don't get a phone call from a new prospect that asks me "What Is The Truth About Making Money In Network Marketing?" I get asked this question all the time. Especially from the frustrated network marketer who just spent their last dime on a mailing or an advertisement that went very bad. My goal is that after reading this article, you will have an better answer to this question. My hope is that your answer is "YES, I really can make money in Network Marketing?"
I know you can make money in Network Marketing because I am living proof. I now make more money in a month than I used to in a year. For the first time in my life, I don't have to worry about paying my bills. In fact, I've paid off all of my bills! Now, when I buy something, I use the universal payment method-CASH! It's nice. I feel blessed. But, I also have to do a weekly maintenance to not only help direct my organizations, but also to continually bring in new people.
Now am I sitting back and getting wealthy in Network Marketing? Quite frankly, YES.. I spend every morning playing with my daughter and work with my business associates in the afternoon. Late afternoon I stroll into the office and return phone calls and stay in touch with my growing downline and new prospects. Most evenings are spent communicating with my International parts of my organizations, usually via a conference call or webinar.
So, how did I get from corporate-weenie to where I am today? I used the simple techniques and principles I will outline in my e-book "How the Responsible Network Marketer can Go to Market" due out summer 2008. Now I didn't just do them once and walk-away.
My secret was consistency. I never quit. Once I found out what worked I simply looked for someone in my downline who wanted success as bad as I did and would "listen" and follow my advice.
That sounds simple, but in the first 2 years of my Network Marketing experience I couldn't find anybody who was willing to work as hard as I was. That was quite depressing at first. I was afraid I was just working myself into another "job". But, in reality, I was laying the foundation of what would be a lifetime residual income. Was it worth all the hard work and frustration? You bet. Would I do it all over again? You bet. A quote made famous by billionaire J. Paul Getty, which I firmly believe describes my definition of Network Marketing success:
"I'd rather have 1% of 100 people's efforts than 100% of mine own!"
One thing I truly believe is if you're not happy with what you're currently doing, you must change and do something you've never done before. That usually means changing not only your work habits, but also your attitude. You might be thinking, "I just want to know what technique to use so I can get rich-so stop talking about attitude and philosophy and get on with the nuts and bolts of making money".
What you must realize is that you must attract wealth by being professional and knowing what you are doing. You must also create value for your prospects or they will come and go like a revolving door. People look to join a Network Marketing opportunity to make money.
If you can't help them do that in a relatively short period of time they will quit. It's that simple. But, if you can create some kind of positive relationship or an atmosphere of real value, then they'll stick with you through the months where they spend more than they make. If you get only one message from this article I would hope that it would be this one:
"Everybody joins a Network Marketing opportunity to make money. But, they stay in because you've created a valuable relationship and you've helped them to become financially successful"
Most Network Marketers I speak with today are looking for a Network Marketing opportunity where someone does all the work and all they do is fold their arms, sit on their butt and wait to become wealthy. It doesn't work that way, so get over it!
Sure, you can make a few hundred bucks a month using this "strategy", but you're not creating any kind of relationship between you and your downline.
Network Marketing was created with people in mind. When you take people out of the equation, you loose. If simply mailing out catalogs, post-cards and brochures were all it took to make money, why would the company need you? Think about it? If that was the case, technology today would make you obsolete before you woke up in the morning.
They could do the distributions themselves and save on all the commissions they pay out to their distributors-couldn't they? This is where I see the breakdown has occurred over the last 15 years in this industry-it's become too commercialized and impersonal. Network Marketing started out face to face-or what is now known as "warm marketing".
Going to university or college, getting your degree(s) and working for either a "big" corporation or the government hasn't set many people financially free as previously promised by our parents. Many of our friends have found the climb up the corporate latter is full of trap doors and heartache.
And, for those who dare to dream big and start their own traditional business, they've experienced more heartache and hard work than they had anticipated. Neither our parents nor college can prepare someone for all that is necessary to start and maintain their own business.
If you're currently in a Network Marketing business (or you were once before) and you're not making a profit, you're probably saying "When will I ever make money in Network Marketing?" Or, if you've been jumping from program to program looking for the "winner" you need this article.
Early on in my Network Marketing career I asked myself these same questions. And believe me, so did my wife! So, let me answer the question for you: "Yes, you can make money in Network Marketing!"
There isn't a week that goes by that I don't get a phone call from a new prospect that asks me "What Is The Truth About Making Money In Network Marketing?" I get asked this question all the time. Especially from the frustrated network marketer who just spent their last dime on a mailing or an advertisement that went very bad. My goal is that after reading this article, you will have an better answer to this question. My hope is that your answer is "YES, I really can make money in Network Marketing?"
I know you can make money in Network Marketing because I am living proof. I now make more money in a month than I used to in a year. For the first time in my life, I don't have to worry about paying my bills. In fact, I've paid off all of my bills! Now, when I buy something, I use the universal payment method-CASH! It's nice. I feel blessed. But, I also have to do a weekly maintenance to not only help direct my organizations, but also to continually bring in new people.
Now am I sitting back and getting wealthy in Network Marketing? Quite frankly, YES.. I spend every morning playing with my daughter and work with my business associates in the afternoon. Late afternoon I stroll into the office and return phone calls and stay in touch with my growing downline and new prospects. Most evenings are spent communicating with my International parts of my organizations, usually via a conference call or webinar.
So, how did I get from corporate-weenie to where I am today? I used the simple techniques and principles I will outline in my e-book "How the Responsible Network Marketer can Go to Market" due out summer 2008. Now I didn't just do them once and walk-away.
My secret was consistency. I never quit. Once I found out what worked I simply looked for someone in my downline who wanted success as bad as I did and would "listen" and follow my advice.
That sounds simple, but in the first 2 years of my Network Marketing experience I couldn't find anybody who was willing to work as hard as I was. That was quite depressing at first. I was afraid I was just working myself into another "job". But, in reality, I was laying the foundation of what would be a lifetime residual income. Was it worth all the hard work and frustration? You bet. Would I do it all over again? You bet. A quote made famous by billionaire J. Paul Getty, which I firmly believe describes my definition of Network Marketing success:
"I'd rather have 1% of 100 people's efforts than 100% of mine own!"
One thing I truly believe is if you're not happy with what you're currently doing, you must change and do something you've never done before. That usually means changing not only your work habits, but also your attitude. You might be thinking, "I just want to know what technique to use so I can get rich-so stop talking about attitude and philosophy and get on with the nuts and bolts of making money".
What you must realize is that you must attract wealth by being professional and knowing what you are doing. You must also create value for your prospects or they will come and go like a revolving door. People look to join a Network Marketing opportunity to make money.
If you can't help them do that in a relatively short period of time they will quit. It's that simple. But, if you can create some kind of positive relationship or an atmosphere of real value, then they'll stick with you through the months where they spend more than they make. If you get only one message from this article I would hope that it would be this one:
"Everybody joins a Network Marketing opportunity to make money. But, they stay in because you've created a valuable relationship and you've helped them to become financially successful"
Most Network Marketers I speak with today are looking for a Network Marketing opportunity where someone does all the work and all they do is fold their arms, sit on their butt and wait to become wealthy. It doesn't work that way, so get over it!
Sure, you can make a few hundred bucks a month using this "strategy", but you're not creating any kind of relationship between you and your downline.
Network Marketing was created with people in mind. When you take people out of the equation, you loose. If simply mailing out catalogs, post-cards and brochures were all it took to make money, why would the company need you? Think about it? If that was the case, technology today would make you obsolete before you woke up in the morning.
They could do the distributions themselves and save on all the commissions they pay out to their distributors-couldn't they? This is where I see the breakdown has occurred over the last 15 years in this industry-it's become too commercialized and impersonal. Network Marketing started out face to face-or what is now known as "warm marketing".
Going to university or college, getting your degree(s) and working for either a "big" corporation or the government hasn't set many people financially free as previously promised by our parents. Many of our friends have found the climb up the corporate latter is full of trap doors and heartache.
And, for those who dare to dream big and start their own traditional business, they've experienced more heartache and hard work than they had anticipated. Neither our parents nor college can prepare someone for all that is necessary to start and maintain their own business.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
What I Learned From The Novice Networker - 5 Key Traits
More and more I've been facilitating progressive networking events where participants switch tables three times over the course of the evening to interact with three different groups of people.
It's one of my favorite events to lead, and attendees enjoy them as well because they really maximize the number of connections they can make in a very short amount of time and know exactly what to do next to follow up. And when the events are done well - and I always strive to go the extra mile - people also form deeper connections. Both breadth and depth in networking.
A few years ago, I led a particular event for the National Association of Women Business Owners that still sticks it out in my mind today. And it's all because of the novice networker who came off like a pro.
I met her during the second round of the event. She sat at my table along with several networking veterans I knew, and some I didn't. No one could tell by looking at her that she was completely new to networking. And had she not told us herself, we would never have guessed.
This was the first networking event she had ever attended, yet she handled herself beautifully and was an instant hit. Why? She did a number of things that sometimes even experienced networkers forget (or don't know) to do to make a lasting, positive impression.
If you're just getting started with networking or find yourself struggling with it, you'd be wise to take some of these lessons to heart:
• She admitted she was nervous. Just came right out and told the whole table. While this may seem like a risky move on the surface, in fact, she endeared herself to us immediately. She didn't quite know what she was supposed to do, and by saying so in an honest and heartfelt way, we all wanted to help her.
• She was friendly and enthusiastic. A smile goes a long way. No one wants to network with a sourpuss. You need to be approachable and show that you're open to learning and listening if you want to attract great people into your network.
• She showed a strong work ethic. During the group interaction she shared that she was working full-time at a bank, going to school for her degree and also working part-time in the music industry. Definitely no slouch. We were all impressed with her and felt that although she was young and didn't have a lot of experience, she could get any job done through hard work.
• She came prepared. Though the bank didn't give her her own business cards, she brought a stack with her boss's name and wrote her name and cell phone number on the back. A few people at the breakfast actually ran out of business cards. A rookie mistake that I've seen many veterans make, but that this newbie did not.
• She thanked me afterwards. I'm a sucker for politeness, what can I say? I always feel that it's a nice touch to thank the organizers of an event especially, and, to a lesser extent, the speakers. In addition to being a considerate gesture, it's an easy (and quick!) opportunity to get face time with some of the most influential people in the room. And since so few people do it, you'll be remembered.
While I've come to specialize in teaching networking from the ground up, giving networkers a progression of steps and tools to get motivated and get going, what I learned that day was networking from the inside out - how enthusiasm, authenticity and 'fessing up to your fears can be just as important to a successful start.
It's one of my favorite events to lead, and attendees enjoy them as well because they really maximize the number of connections they can make in a very short amount of time and know exactly what to do next to follow up. And when the events are done well - and I always strive to go the extra mile - people also form deeper connections. Both breadth and depth in networking.
A few years ago, I led a particular event for the National Association of Women Business Owners that still sticks it out in my mind today. And it's all because of the novice networker who came off like a pro.
I met her during the second round of the event. She sat at my table along with several networking veterans I knew, and some I didn't. No one could tell by looking at her that she was completely new to networking. And had she not told us herself, we would never have guessed.
This was the first networking event she had ever attended, yet she handled herself beautifully and was an instant hit. Why? She did a number of things that sometimes even experienced networkers forget (or don't know) to do to make a lasting, positive impression.
If you're just getting started with networking or find yourself struggling with it, you'd be wise to take some of these lessons to heart:
• She admitted she was nervous. Just came right out and told the whole table. While this may seem like a risky move on the surface, in fact, she endeared herself to us immediately. She didn't quite know what she was supposed to do, and by saying so in an honest and heartfelt way, we all wanted to help her.
• She was friendly and enthusiastic. A smile goes a long way. No one wants to network with a sourpuss. You need to be approachable and show that you're open to learning and listening if you want to attract great people into your network.
• She showed a strong work ethic. During the group interaction she shared that she was working full-time at a bank, going to school for her degree and also working part-time in the music industry. Definitely no slouch. We were all impressed with her and felt that although she was young and didn't have a lot of experience, she could get any job done through hard work.
• She came prepared. Though the bank didn't give her her own business cards, she brought a stack with her boss's name and wrote her name and cell phone number on the back. A few people at the breakfast actually ran out of business cards. A rookie mistake that I've seen many veterans make, but that this newbie did not.
• She thanked me afterwards. I'm a sucker for politeness, what can I say? I always feel that it's a nice touch to thank the organizers of an event especially, and, to a lesser extent, the speakers. In addition to being a considerate gesture, it's an easy (and quick!) opportunity to get face time with some of the most influential people in the room. And since so few people do it, you'll be remembered.
While I've come to specialize in teaching networking from the ground up, giving networkers a progression of steps and tools to get motivated and get going, what I learned that day was networking from the inside out - how enthusiasm, authenticity and 'fessing up to your fears can be just as important to a successful start.
Networking Is A Sexually Unbiased Skill
Building beneficial relationships knows no gender boundaries. It is equally beneficial for men and women, and the process can be equally daunting or equally easy Networking is a Sexually Unbiased Skillfor members of either sex.
There are, however, some differences that impact the networker's bottom line. Male chauvinists and radical feminists agree on one thing: Women, probably by nature or because they are the bearers of children, are more nurturing and tend to be more cooperative, empathic and understanding in a non-biased manner. After all, they share their love unselfishly as they rear boys and girls.
Most women are natural networkers. They, their mothers and their grandmothers have been recommending recipes, hairdressers and skincare products across kitchen tables for generations. Where the challenge for some women arises is in the business arena. The increased emphasis on teaching relationship building is helping women become more confident and competent about transferring their skills to the workplace.
Some "older" women were taught by their mothers (who thought them to be positive qualities) to be seen and not heard, not to exploit their personal relationships or to "brag" about themselves. Hopefully, fathers and mothers today are teaching their daughters that it is acceptable for women to be just as assertive as men, socially and in business, and, that as their daughters enter the business world, this issue will be largely non-existent.
As a reminder, assertive behavior is what all human beings strive for: to be concerned that the other person gets his/her needs met while you do the same. Passive behavior is when you are concerned only that the other person's gets his/her needs met while you don't put any emphasis on yours. Aggressive behavior is when you are concerned only about meeting your needs and pay little attention to the needs of the other person.
What does remain a challenge is that in business likes tend to want to work with likes, i.e. women with women and men with men. Because there are only a handful of women CEOs in the Fortune 500 companies, it's easy to understand why women may not have the same opportunities to build high-value business relationships. This will change only as more women rise to top jobs at major corporations and become more than token members of corporate and organizational boards of directors.
That's exactly what the ole boys' network was and in some cases still is: men at the top helping other men rise to the same levels. Women are not yet as privy to networking in these elite places so while their skills are top-notch, their results may be less impactive and powerful.
Women, however, are gaining in numbers what they lack in force. Because of the corporate glass ceilings (and, yes, they still exist), so many of them are starting businesses and becoming owners and presidents that they are beginning to gain clout through sheer numbers. This, in turn, adds clout to the relationships they are building. While they may not be managing the same number of people, they are learning important leadership skills.
Another positive force for women is the number of company-sponsored women's networks that are being formed within major corporations. Some of them, though, are still perfunctory.
A representative of a newly formed women's group at a Chicago professional services firm contacted me to present a program on relationship building. We agreed it would provide valuable skills for the women's professional development. When we started talking fees, she said there was no budget. Ironically, she continued to say how top management (all men) was so supportive of their initiative ... yet they wanted to get a speaker - a woman - to donate her time. It was even more pathetic that management wouldn't even agree to pay my travel expenses (simply gas mileage from a Chicago suburb)!
There are, however, some differences that impact the networker's bottom line. Male chauvinists and radical feminists agree on one thing: Women, probably by nature or because they are the bearers of children, are more nurturing and tend to be more cooperative, empathic and understanding in a non-biased manner. After all, they share their love unselfishly as they rear boys and girls.
Most women are natural networkers. They, their mothers and their grandmothers have been recommending recipes, hairdressers and skincare products across kitchen tables for generations. Where the challenge for some women arises is in the business arena. The increased emphasis on teaching relationship building is helping women become more confident and competent about transferring their skills to the workplace.
Some "older" women were taught by their mothers (who thought them to be positive qualities) to be seen and not heard, not to exploit their personal relationships or to "brag" about themselves. Hopefully, fathers and mothers today are teaching their daughters that it is acceptable for women to be just as assertive as men, socially and in business, and, that as their daughters enter the business world, this issue will be largely non-existent.
As a reminder, assertive behavior is what all human beings strive for: to be concerned that the other person gets his/her needs met while you do the same. Passive behavior is when you are concerned only that the other person's gets his/her needs met while you don't put any emphasis on yours. Aggressive behavior is when you are concerned only about meeting your needs and pay little attention to the needs of the other person.
What does remain a challenge is that in business likes tend to want to work with likes, i.e. women with women and men with men. Because there are only a handful of women CEOs in the Fortune 500 companies, it's easy to understand why women may not have the same opportunities to build high-value business relationships. This will change only as more women rise to top jobs at major corporations and become more than token members of corporate and organizational boards of directors.
That's exactly what the ole boys' network was and in some cases still is: men at the top helping other men rise to the same levels. Women are not yet as privy to networking in these elite places so while their skills are top-notch, their results may be less impactive and powerful.
Women, however, are gaining in numbers what they lack in force. Because of the corporate glass ceilings (and, yes, they still exist), so many of them are starting businesses and becoming owners and presidents that they are beginning to gain clout through sheer numbers. This, in turn, adds clout to the relationships they are building. While they may not be managing the same number of people, they are learning important leadership skills.
Another positive force for women is the number of company-sponsored women's networks that are being formed within major corporations. Some of them, though, are still perfunctory.
A representative of a newly formed women's group at a Chicago professional services firm contacted me to present a program on relationship building. We agreed it would provide valuable skills for the women's professional development. When we started talking fees, she said there was no budget. Ironically, she continued to say how top management (all men) was so supportive of their initiative ... yet they wanted to get a speaker - a woman - to donate her time. It was even more pathetic that management wouldn't even agree to pay my travel expenses (simply gas mileage from a Chicago suburb)!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Broadband - What Affects Your Speed?
Broadband providers have been under scrutiny recently, as it has come to light that broadband speeds advertised by ISP's (Internet Service Providers) are not matching actual broadband speeds that customers receive.
It's proving to be a frustrating time for many customers. Many have been promised speeds of up to 8 Meg, but they are finding themselves with connection speeds, that in some cases are only marginally better than dial-up.
So, what are the contributing factors that affect broadband speeds? There are in fact numerous conditions that exist that can hamper your connection, and unfortunately there are no quick fix solutions to any of the problems.
Conditions that can cause poor internet speeds include:
The distance from the exchange
This is probably the single biggest contributing factor to broadband speeds. The closer you are to the telephone exchange the better your chances are of getting faster internet speeds. Only those living close to an exchange will be able to get anywhere near the 8meg download speeds promised by many of the providers.
The number of computers on a network
If have a number of computers in your household hooked up to the same router, then this will affect your broadband speeds as each computer will be sharing the one connection.
Quality of cables
Your ISP should provide you with high capacity modem cables as part of their package. But, if they haven't then it's wise to check that the cabling you are using is up to the job intended. Also, poor quality internal telephone cabling can affect the quality of your service.
Weather Conditions
Severe weather conditions can cause problems with the ADSL signal which in turn affects internet speeds.
Viruses
Always use good virus protection software. A computer that is poorly protected from viruses and spyware will inevitably begin to lose performance. Virus programs running in the background hog your bandwidth.
Time of day
The peak times when people surf the internet are between 6pm - 11pm. During these peak times it's common to experience slower internet speeds.
It's proving to be a frustrating time for many customers. Many have been promised speeds of up to 8 Meg, but they are finding themselves with connection speeds, that in some cases are only marginally better than dial-up.
So, what are the contributing factors that affect broadband speeds? There are in fact numerous conditions that exist that can hamper your connection, and unfortunately there are no quick fix solutions to any of the problems.
Conditions that can cause poor internet speeds include:
The distance from the exchange
This is probably the single biggest contributing factor to broadband speeds. The closer you are to the telephone exchange the better your chances are of getting faster internet speeds. Only those living close to an exchange will be able to get anywhere near the 8meg download speeds promised by many of the providers.
The number of computers on a network
If have a number of computers in your household hooked up to the same router, then this will affect your broadband speeds as each computer will be sharing the one connection.
Quality of cables
Your ISP should provide you with high capacity modem cables as part of their package. But, if they haven't then it's wise to check that the cabling you are using is up to the job intended. Also, poor quality internal telephone cabling can affect the quality of your service.
Weather Conditions
Severe weather conditions can cause problems with the ADSL signal which in turn affects internet speeds.
Viruses
Always use good virus protection software. A computer that is poorly protected from viruses and spyware will inevitably begin to lose performance. Virus programs running in the background hog your bandwidth.
Time of day
The peak times when people surf the internet are between 6pm - 11pm. During these peak times it's common to experience slower internet speeds.
So What Is A Wireless Bridge Anyway?
So what is a wireless bridge anyway?
In simple terms a wireless bridge is a device that allows two or more complete networks of users to transparently communicate to one another over long distances without wires. These networks can be in the same building but are normally in either adjacent buildings or with the proper antennas and line of sight bridges can even connect networks up to 30 miles apart. Wireless bridges connect to the wired network through the Ethernet port and replicate that data to a remote network bridge or access point via 802.11a/b/g wireless (Wi-Fi) protocol.
Point to Point (ptp) Bridging:
A point to point topology is the simplest to configure and connects two networks in two separate locations, normally a remote building or warehouse, via one wireless bridge in each location.
Point to Multi-point (point to multipoint, ptmp) bridging:
A point to Multipoint topology wirelessly connects multiple locations together allowing them to share the same network resources. The bridge at the main, central, location is called the root bridge or base station bridge and all data passing between the wireless bridge clients must pass through the root bridge first. These point-to-multipoint networks are used in wireless internet service providers (WISP), large corporate campuses, distribution facilities, school districts, public safety applications and many others...
What do I need to build a Point to Point Bridge Link?
Line of sight between the two locations. You may need to install a pole or tower on your roof top in order to achieve this. A site survey is recommended before installation. Select a wireless bridge: Here are some things to consider when selecting a wireless bridge.
Distance: Distance will determine what gain antenna will be required and if you need an external antenna or if an integrated antenna will be sufficient.
Wireless protocol: Do you want to use a bridge base on 802.11 standards so that you have interoperability with other bridge manufacturers or would you like something with a protocol proprietary to a particular vendor? There are some added security benefits when using a proprietary over a standard protocol.
Frequency: Do you want to use a licensed or unlicensed (2.4, 5-5.8 GHz) band?
Indoor or Outdoor: Indoor wireless bridges are less expensive but you will have to buy quite a bit of LMR-400 cable to connect to the outdoor antenna. This adds a great deal of signal loss and in the end you will need a higher gain antenna to compensate. An outdoor bridge can be placed right next to the antenna and therefore cuts down on the amount of cable you need to buy as well as the amount of signal loss.
Select a wireless antenna: If the bridge you selected does not already have an integrated antenna you will need to choose one now. For point to point links we suggest a directional panel, grid or solid parabolic dish antennas.
Peripherals: You will need to select the appropriate lightning arrestors and RF antenna cables to get you connected and protected.
Double it: Now double the amount of hardware you selected so that you have the identical setup on both sides.
Installation:
Finally, select a professional installer in your area to run the appropriate cables, install any required poles or towers, align the antennas and configure the radios. If you have any questions about this let us know and we will assist you in finding a quality installer. If you want to try it out yourself go for it but DON'T FORGET to bench test the bridges before actually installing them in the field.
In simple terms a wireless bridge is a device that allows two or more complete networks of users to transparently communicate to one another over long distances without wires. These networks can be in the same building but are normally in either adjacent buildings or with the proper antennas and line of sight bridges can even connect networks up to 30 miles apart. Wireless bridges connect to the wired network through the Ethernet port and replicate that data to a remote network bridge or access point via 802.11a/b/g wireless (Wi-Fi) protocol.
Point to Point (ptp) Bridging:
A point to point topology is the simplest to configure and connects two networks in two separate locations, normally a remote building or warehouse, via one wireless bridge in each location.
Point to Multi-point (point to multipoint, ptmp) bridging:
A point to Multipoint topology wirelessly connects multiple locations together allowing them to share the same network resources. The bridge at the main, central, location is called the root bridge or base station bridge and all data passing between the wireless bridge clients must pass through the root bridge first. These point-to-multipoint networks are used in wireless internet service providers (WISP), large corporate campuses, distribution facilities, school districts, public safety applications and many others...
What do I need to build a Point to Point Bridge Link?
Line of sight between the two locations. You may need to install a pole or tower on your roof top in order to achieve this. A site survey is recommended before installation. Select a wireless bridge: Here are some things to consider when selecting a wireless bridge.
Distance: Distance will determine what gain antenna will be required and if you need an external antenna or if an integrated antenna will be sufficient.
Wireless protocol: Do you want to use a bridge base on 802.11 standards so that you have interoperability with other bridge manufacturers or would you like something with a protocol proprietary to a particular vendor? There are some added security benefits when using a proprietary over a standard protocol.
Frequency: Do you want to use a licensed or unlicensed (2.4, 5-5.8 GHz) band?
Indoor or Outdoor: Indoor wireless bridges are less expensive but you will have to buy quite a bit of LMR-400 cable to connect to the outdoor antenna. This adds a great deal of signal loss and in the end you will need a higher gain antenna to compensate. An outdoor bridge can be placed right next to the antenna and therefore cuts down on the amount of cable you need to buy as well as the amount of signal loss.
Select a wireless antenna: If the bridge you selected does not already have an integrated antenna you will need to choose one now. For point to point links we suggest a directional panel, grid or solid parabolic dish antennas.
Peripherals: You will need to select the appropriate lightning arrestors and RF antenna cables to get you connected and protected.
Double it: Now double the amount of hardware you selected so that you have the identical setup on both sides.
Installation:
Finally, select a professional installer in your area to run the appropriate cables, install any required poles or towers, align the antennas and configure the radios. If you have any questions about this let us know and we will assist you in finding a quality installer. If you want to try it out yourself go for it but DON'T FORGET to bench test the bridges before actually installing them in the field.
Broadband - What Affects Your Speed?
Broadband providers have been under scrutiny recently, as it has come to light that broadband speeds advertised by ISP's (Internet Service Providers) are not matching actual broadband speeds that customers receive.
It's proving to be a frustrating time for many customers. Many have been promised speeds of up to 8 Meg, but they are finding themselves with connection speeds, that in some cases are only marginally better than dial-up.
So, what are the contributing factors that affect broadband speeds? There are in fact numerous conditions that exist that can hamper your connection, and unfortunately there are no quick fix solutions to any of the problems.
Conditions that can cause poor internet speeds include:
The distance from the exchange
This is probably the single biggest contributing factor to broadband speeds. The closer you are to the telephone exchange the better your chances are of getting faster internet speeds. Only those living close to an exchange will be able to get anywhere near the 8meg download speeds promised by many of the providers.
The number of computers on a network
If have a number of computers in your household hooked up to the same router, then this will affect your broadband speeds as each computer will be sharing the one connection.
Quality of cables
Your ISP should provide you with high capacity modem cables as part of their package. But, if they haven't then it's wise to check that the cabling you are using is up to the job intended. Also, poor quality internal telephone cabling can affect the quality of your service.
Weather Conditions
Severe weather conditions can cause problems with the ADSL signal which in turn affects internet speeds.
Viruses
Always use good virus protection software. A computer that is poorly protected from viruses and spyware will inevitably begin to lose performance. Virus programs running in the background hog your bandwidth.
Time of day
The peak times when people surf the internet are between 6pm - 11pm. During these peak times it's common to experience slower internet speeds.
It's proving to be a frustrating time for many customers. Many have been promised speeds of up to 8 Meg, but they are finding themselves with connection speeds, that in some cases are only marginally better than dial-up.
So, what are the contributing factors that affect broadband speeds? There are in fact numerous conditions that exist that can hamper your connection, and unfortunately there are no quick fix solutions to any of the problems.
Conditions that can cause poor internet speeds include:
The distance from the exchange
This is probably the single biggest contributing factor to broadband speeds. The closer you are to the telephone exchange the better your chances are of getting faster internet speeds. Only those living close to an exchange will be able to get anywhere near the 8meg download speeds promised by many of the providers.
The number of computers on a network
If have a number of computers in your household hooked up to the same router, then this will affect your broadband speeds as each computer will be sharing the one connection.
Quality of cables
Your ISP should provide you with high capacity modem cables as part of their package. But, if they haven't then it's wise to check that the cabling you are using is up to the job intended. Also, poor quality internal telephone cabling can affect the quality of your service.
Weather Conditions
Severe weather conditions can cause problems with the ADSL signal which in turn affects internet speeds.
Viruses
Always use good virus protection software. A computer that is poorly protected from viruses and spyware will inevitably begin to lose performance. Virus programs running in the background hog your bandwidth.
Time of day
The peak times when people surf the internet are between 6pm - 11pm. During these peak times it's common to experience slower internet speeds.
So What Is A Wireless Bridge Anyway?
So what is a wireless bridge anyway?
In simple terms a wireless bridge is a device that allows two or more complete networks of users to transparently communicate to one another over long distances without wires. These networks can be in the same building but are normally in either adjacent buildings or with the proper antennas and line of sight bridges can even connect networks up to 30 miles apart. Wireless bridges connect to the wired network through the Ethernet port and replicate that data to a remote network bridge or access point via 802.11a/b/g wireless (Wi-Fi) protocol.
Point to Point (ptp) Bridging:
A point to point topology is the simplest to configure and connects two networks in two separate locations, normally a remote building or warehouse, via one wireless bridge in each location.
Point to Multi-point (point to multipoint, ptmp) bridging:
A point to Multipoint topology wirelessly connects multiple locations together allowing them to share the same network resources. The bridge at the main, central, location is called the root bridge or base station bridge and all data passing between the wireless bridge clients must pass through the root bridge first. These point-to-multipoint networks are used in wireless internet service providers (WISP), large corporate campuses, distribution facilities, school districts, public safety applications and many others...
What do I need to build a Point to Point Bridge Link?
Line of sight between the two locations. You may need to install a pole or tower on your roof top in order to achieve this. A site survey is recommended before installation. Select a wireless bridge: Here are some things to consider when selecting a wireless bridge.
Distance: Distance will determine what gain antenna will be required and if you need an external antenna or if an integrated antenna will be sufficient.
Wireless protocol: Do you want to use a bridge base on 802.11 standards so that you have interoperability with other bridge manufacturers or would you like something with a protocol proprietary to a particular vendor? There are some added security benefits when using a proprietary over a standard protocol.
Frequency: Do you want to use a licensed or unlicensed (2.4, 5-5.8 GHz) band?
Indoor or Outdoor: Indoor wireless bridges are less expensive but you will have to buy quite a bit of LMR-400 cable to connect to the outdoor antenna. This adds a great deal of signal loss and in the end you will need a higher gain antenna to compensate. An outdoor bridge can be placed right next to the antenna and therefore cuts down on the amount of cable you need to buy as well as the amount of signal loss.
Select a wireless antenna: If the bridge you selected does not already have an integrated antenna you will need to choose one now. For point to point links we suggest a directional panel, grid or solid parabolic dish antennas.
Peripherals: You will need to select the appropriate lightning arrestors and RF antenna cables to get you connected and protected.
Double it: Now double the amount of hardware you selected so that you have the identical setup on both sides.
Installation:
Finally, select a professional installer in your area to run the appropriate cables, install any required poles or towers, align the antennas and configure the radios. If you have any questions about this let us know and we will assist you in finding a quality installer. If you want to try it out yourself go for it but DON'T FORGET to bench test the bridges before actually installing them in the field.
In simple terms a wireless bridge is a device that allows two or more complete networks of users to transparently communicate to one another over long distances without wires. These networks can be in the same building but are normally in either adjacent buildings or with the proper antennas and line of sight bridges can even connect networks up to 30 miles apart. Wireless bridges connect to the wired network through the Ethernet port and replicate that data to a remote network bridge or access point via 802.11a/b/g wireless (Wi-Fi) protocol.
Point to Point (ptp) Bridging:
A point to point topology is the simplest to configure and connects two networks in two separate locations, normally a remote building or warehouse, via one wireless bridge in each location.
Point to Multi-point (point to multipoint, ptmp) bridging:
A point to Multipoint topology wirelessly connects multiple locations together allowing them to share the same network resources. The bridge at the main, central, location is called the root bridge or base station bridge and all data passing between the wireless bridge clients must pass through the root bridge first. These point-to-multipoint networks are used in wireless internet service providers (WISP), large corporate campuses, distribution facilities, school districts, public safety applications and many others...
What do I need to build a Point to Point Bridge Link?
Line of sight between the two locations. You may need to install a pole or tower on your roof top in order to achieve this. A site survey is recommended before installation. Select a wireless bridge: Here are some things to consider when selecting a wireless bridge.
Distance: Distance will determine what gain antenna will be required and if you need an external antenna or if an integrated antenna will be sufficient.
Wireless protocol: Do you want to use a bridge base on 802.11 standards so that you have interoperability with other bridge manufacturers or would you like something with a protocol proprietary to a particular vendor? There are some added security benefits when using a proprietary over a standard protocol.
Frequency: Do you want to use a licensed or unlicensed (2.4, 5-5.8 GHz) band?
Indoor or Outdoor: Indoor wireless bridges are less expensive but you will have to buy quite a bit of LMR-400 cable to connect to the outdoor antenna. This adds a great deal of signal loss and in the end you will need a higher gain antenna to compensate. An outdoor bridge can be placed right next to the antenna and therefore cuts down on the amount of cable you need to buy as well as the amount of signal loss.
Select a wireless antenna: If the bridge you selected does not already have an integrated antenna you will need to choose one now. For point to point links we suggest a directional panel, grid or solid parabolic dish antennas.
Peripherals: You will need to select the appropriate lightning arrestors and RF antenna cables to get you connected and protected.
Double it: Now double the amount of hardware you selected so that you have the identical setup on both sides.
Installation:
Finally, select a professional installer in your area to run the appropriate cables, install any required poles or towers, align the antennas and configure the radios. If you have any questions about this let us know and we will assist you in finding a quality installer. If you want to try it out yourself go for it but DON'T FORGET to bench test the bridges before actually installing them in the field.
WiMax - Will it Change How You Receive Broadband Internet Service
What is WiMax you ask? Well simply put is a telecommunications technology aimed at providing wireless data over long distances developed on the IEEE 802.16 wireless standard. For those that don't speak geekeeze, it's something like WiFi or wireless internet on steroids. It's been quite the buzz in the wireless internet community for 4 or 5 years now. WiMax speculatively will give customers wired like broadband performance in a wireless platform.
What it is, or is supposed to be is a new long range high capacity (very fast) wireless communications technology. A large share of the technology is being manipulated by Sprint and its partners of collaboration such as Sony Ericsson, Samsung Motorola, Alcatel Lucent and many others.
Specifically branded under the Trade name of Xohm WiMAX, Sprint announced early this year their intent to move ahead with the development and deployment of a new 4G wireless network which will reside within its existing 2.5 gigahertz network that Sprint and partner Clearwire already have in place.
WiFi because of where it resides in the radio spectrum is mandated to low power signals so as not to overrun other networks. Sprint and Clearwire by virtue of owning the parts of the 2.5gigahertz band that they intend to use for the new WiMax network, gives them the ability to use much stronger signals that will make greater distances possible without the fear of interference from other networks.
What will the range of WiMax Be? The range of WiMax is for the most part speculative at this point. But those familiar with the technology estimate it to be able to give good service in a non-line of site situation such as in dense urban areas of 4 to 5 miles from its source point, traveling through buildings, trees and other objects. With line of site or point to point applications, speculation is that it will work well up to 10 miles or more, giving it a clear advantage in the wireless broadband market.
How soon will it be available? Sprint speculated that it would have the first commercially available WiMax system launched later this year. Plagued with all manner of obstacles that have had to be over come, including a completely new business model that sprint has not as of yet given full detail of, the company has fallen behind its earlier projected start up dates. If WiMax becomes a viable communications tool, it is expected that sprint will begin deployment with its top 100 market areas in the United States, and expand as time and resources allow to other areas and round the world.
Don't expect the change to take place over night. New technology takes time to implement. New network devices will need to acquired by those who will be using the new system. Although Sprints partners have been trying to keep pace with the new WiMax technology it probably will be some time before the appliances are in adequate supply should the new communications platform take off.
How much will it cost? This is the big question that no one seems willing to answer yet. Because it's new and supposedly better, it most probably will cost more. How much more is anyone's guess and Sprint has not said, only that it should fall in line with the service that will be provided. Sprint as well as everyone else knows that to be commercially successful internet technology has to also affordable to use. It is estimated that the price tag for Sprints development of its new WiMax network systems and marketing plan have exceeded $5 billion, quite a hefty price tag to recoup and see a net profit from. But if it can deliver what it claims and offers wired like broadband speed it might be the next big rage.
What it is, or is supposed to be is a new long range high capacity (very fast) wireless communications technology. A large share of the technology is being manipulated by Sprint and its partners of collaboration such as Sony Ericsson, Samsung Motorola, Alcatel Lucent and many others.
Specifically branded under the Trade name of Xohm WiMAX, Sprint announced early this year their intent to move ahead with the development and deployment of a new 4G wireless network which will reside within its existing 2.5 gigahertz network that Sprint and partner Clearwire already have in place.
WiFi because of where it resides in the radio spectrum is mandated to low power signals so as not to overrun other networks. Sprint and Clearwire by virtue of owning the parts of the 2.5gigahertz band that they intend to use for the new WiMax network, gives them the ability to use much stronger signals that will make greater distances possible without the fear of interference from other networks.
What will the range of WiMax Be? The range of WiMax is for the most part speculative at this point. But those familiar with the technology estimate it to be able to give good service in a non-line of site situation such as in dense urban areas of 4 to 5 miles from its source point, traveling through buildings, trees and other objects. With line of site or point to point applications, speculation is that it will work well up to 10 miles or more, giving it a clear advantage in the wireless broadband market.
How soon will it be available? Sprint speculated that it would have the first commercially available WiMax system launched later this year. Plagued with all manner of obstacles that have had to be over come, including a completely new business model that sprint has not as of yet given full detail of, the company has fallen behind its earlier projected start up dates. If WiMax becomes a viable communications tool, it is expected that sprint will begin deployment with its top 100 market areas in the United States, and expand as time and resources allow to other areas and round the world.
Don't expect the change to take place over night. New technology takes time to implement. New network devices will need to acquired by those who will be using the new system. Although Sprints partners have been trying to keep pace with the new WiMax technology it probably will be some time before the appliances are in adequate supply should the new communications platform take off.
How much will it cost? This is the big question that no one seems willing to answer yet. Because it's new and supposedly better, it most probably will cost more. How much more is anyone's guess and Sprint has not said, only that it should fall in line with the service that will be provided. Sprint as well as everyone else knows that to be commercially successful internet technology has to also affordable to use. It is estimated that the price tag for Sprints development of its new WiMax network systems and marketing plan have exceeded $5 billion, quite a hefty price tag to recoup and see a net profit from. But if it can deliver what it claims and offers wired like broadband speed it might be the next big rage.
Satellite Internet
Satellite Internet is a technology that provides high-speed Internet services to consumers using telecommunications satellites that are in orbit above the earth. This type of internet connection is simply system in which the upstream (outgoing) and the downstream (incoming) data are sent from a satellite and arrive at either a desktop or laptop computer A subscriber for this type of internet service needs a satellite dish antenna and a transceiver (Modem) that operates in the microwave portion of the radio spectrum. The subscriber's computer, broadcasts requests to a satellite dish antenna via the modem. The dish antenna then sends and receives signals from the satellites in orbit above the equator. The satellite dish must maintain a clear view of the southern sky if it is locates in the United States.
People that live in rural areas where Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and cable modem connections are not available are candidates for satellite service. It has also become an increasingly feasible alternative for urban subscribers also that are in needs of high speed Internet due to technological advances. A satellite installation will work even where the most basic utilities such as electricity are lacking. As long as the user has a generator or battery power supply that can produce the electricity required for a desktop computer system to function, two-way satellite service will be successful. The two-way Satellite Internet option bypasses the dial-up process resembling a cable modem Internet connection. In this case a firewall is a necessity to protect against hack attempts.
Satellite internet connection for the web is great for web browsing and for downloading various types of files. It can successfully download images, sound files and video clips. It can also be used in conjunction with online computer games. For web developers, satellite service can be used for uploading files to the servers that host the websites. This type of internet connection offers enough bandwidth to allow a subscriber to engage in multiple activities on the internet without having connectivity issues.
People that live in rural areas where Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and cable modem connections are not available are candidates for satellite service. It has also become an increasingly feasible alternative for urban subscribers also that are in needs of high speed Internet due to technological advances. A satellite installation will work even where the most basic utilities such as electricity are lacking. As long as the user has a generator or battery power supply that can produce the electricity required for a desktop computer system to function, two-way satellite service will be successful. The two-way Satellite Internet option bypasses the dial-up process resembling a cable modem Internet connection. In this case a firewall is a necessity to protect against hack attempts.
Satellite internet connection for the web is great for web browsing and for downloading various types of files. It can successfully download images, sound files and video clips. It can also be used in conjunction with online computer games. For web developers, satellite service can be used for uploading files to the servers that host the websites. This type of internet connection offers enough bandwidth to allow a subscriber to engage in multiple activities on the internet without having connectivity issues.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Your Network is Your Net Worth - Learn How To Increase Your Bank Balance Today!
Your friends and colleagues can significantly impact how successful you are, and ultimately how healthy your bank balance is!
Someone once said to me "your network is your net worth" and they were absolutely right. Are you hanging onto old 'friendships' that don't serve and support you, or are you getting out of your comfort zone to meet new people and increase your net worth?
Friend or Foe?
To truly excel in life it's important to surround yourself with excellent people, and sometimes that means pushing the boundaries and looking for new individuals to join your personal and professional networks. Ask yourself:-
* Do your friends challenge you intellectually?
* Can you learn from the people you spend time with?
* Do you socialise with positive and upbeat people?
* Do you spend time with people who are as smart, if not smarter, than you?
If you answered 'No' to a number of those questions then it's time to start increasing your network.
Who are you hanging out with?
Who we become is a reflection of the people we hang out with. Here are some ideas on how to increase your network and become the person you truly want to be:-
* Join your company's social club, and if they don't have one - start one!
* Take up a new sport and join your local team - it's good for your body & your wallet
* Have a BBQ and get everyone to bring along someone new to your social circle
* Volunteer for charity work
* Join a networking group - see below for some excellent networking groups in Australia
Networking groups in Australia
BNI
BNI (Business Network International) is a business referral organisation whose primary purpose is to assist it's members to find and exchange qualified business referrals for each other and develop word-of-mouth marketing techniques. Great if you have a business and want to increase your revenue and referrals!
Network Central
A first class business networking group. For people who have lives ....
Australian Businesswoman's Network
A fantastic resource and networking group for women in business.
Business Chicks
A professional yet funky group that brings together hundreds of women who want to expand their network, both personally and professionally.
The Last Thursday Club
A monthly networking event for creative business people - entrepreneurs, innovators, business leaders, idea-makers and thought-leaders. A great opportunity to meet new people who think outside the square!
Someone once said to me "your network is your net worth" and they were absolutely right. Are you hanging onto old 'friendships' that don't serve and support you, or are you getting out of your comfort zone to meet new people and increase your net worth?
Friend or Foe?
To truly excel in life it's important to surround yourself with excellent people, and sometimes that means pushing the boundaries and looking for new individuals to join your personal and professional networks. Ask yourself:-
* Do your friends challenge you intellectually?
* Can you learn from the people you spend time with?
* Do you socialise with positive and upbeat people?
* Do you spend time with people who are as smart, if not smarter, than you?
If you answered 'No' to a number of those questions then it's time to start increasing your network.
Who are you hanging out with?
Who we become is a reflection of the people we hang out with. Here are some ideas on how to increase your network and become the person you truly want to be:-
* Join your company's social club, and if they don't have one - start one!
* Take up a new sport and join your local team - it's good for your body & your wallet
* Have a BBQ and get everyone to bring along someone new to your social circle
* Volunteer for charity work
* Join a networking group - see below for some excellent networking groups in Australia
Networking groups in Australia
BNI
BNI (Business Network International) is a business referral organisation whose primary purpose is to assist it's members to find and exchange qualified business referrals for each other and develop word-of-mouth marketing techniques. Great if you have a business and want to increase your revenue and referrals!
Network Central
A first class business networking group. For people who have lives ....
Australian Businesswoman's Network
A fantastic resource and networking group for women in business.
Business Chicks
A professional yet funky group that brings together hundreds of women who want to expand their network, both personally and professionally.
The Last Thursday Club
A monthly networking event for creative business people - entrepreneurs, innovators, business leaders, idea-makers and thought-leaders. A great opportunity to meet new people who think outside the square!
Small Talk for Networking - 7 Tips to Help You Connect Instantly
Business networking events are ideal places to meet new clients. But it's not enough to just show up. If you park yourself at a table, or gossip with your business partner, you won't make any new connections.
The problem often lies in knowing what to say. For most people, it's intimidating to approach a stranger, introduce yourself, and start a conversation.
Chances are, before heading out to a business or social event, you think about what you will wear, how you will get to the event, and even where you will park. How often do you plan what you will say once you get there?
This article gives you 7 tips to help you prepare for a networking event, so you never feel tong-tied or at a loss for words.
Before the event, use these ideas to plan three or four conversation topics :
1. At a business event, know what's happening in your industry. Read professional journals and newsletters in your field to keep up-to-date.
2. If you are in a new city, find out about local events. Learn about the home team, movie releases, and books and cultural events in the news.
3. Be up on current events. Read the local and national newspapers. Skim the headlines and top stories for topics of interest.
4. Watch the local and national news. You don't want to be in the dark about recent developments.
5. Look at the three main types of magazines: News magazines, business magazines, and general interest magazines. This will give you plenty of conversation starters.
6. Use a funny story from the newspaper, or a personal anecdote to start a conversation. Humor brings people together
7. The best way to start the conversation is to begin with your shared experience, the event you are attending. Start by asking about the person's relationship to the event or group. For example:
• Have you been to (name of event) before?
• Have you been to (this city/location) before?
• What did you think of the keynote speaker?
• How do you like the event so far?
• What's the most interesting thing you've learned so far?
• How do you know (name of host or hostess)?
Any of these questions give you an instant connection because you've had the same experience.
You are invited to use these tips to connect at networking events.
The problem often lies in knowing what to say. For most people, it's intimidating to approach a stranger, introduce yourself, and start a conversation.
Chances are, before heading out to a business or social event, you think about what you will wear, how you will get to the event, and even where you will park. How often do you plan what you will say once you get there?
This article gives you 7 tips to help you prepare for a networking event, so you never feel tong-tied or at a loss for words.
Before the event, use these ideas to plan three or four conversation topics :
1. At a business event, know what's happening in your industry. Read professional journals and newsletters in your field to keep up-to-date.
2. If you are in a new city, find out about local events. Learn about the home team, movie releases, and books and cultural events in the news.
3. Be up on current events. Read the local and national newspapers. Skim the headlines and top stories for topics of interest.
4. Watch the local and national news. You don't want to be in the dark about recent developments.
5. Look at the three main types of magazines: News magazines, business magazines, and general interest magazines. This will give you plenty of conversation starters.
6. Use a funny story from the newspaper, or a personal anecdote to start a conversation. Humor brings people together
7. The best way to start the conversation is to begin with your shared experience, the event you are attending. Start by asking about the person's relationship to the event or group. For example:
• Have you been to (name of event) before?
• Have you been to (this city/location) before?
• What did you think of the keynote speaker?
• How do you like the event so far?
• What's the most interesting thing you've learned so far?
• How do you know (name of host or hostess)?
Any of these questions give you an instant connection because you've had the same experience.
You are invited to use these tips to connect at networking events.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Virtual Private Network For Small Business
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) provides remote users with secure Internet access to their network. It is especially suitable for environments where secure communications are required between remote locations of an enterprise. It does not matter if the user is located at the office or at home. The data sent through VPN environment is scrambled at the user’s end before being sent over the Internet. On reaching the destination, it is decrypted. There is no risk of any interception since only the authorized users have access to the data.
The data is carried over the network through the process of ‘Tunneling.’ A package is placed within another package before it is encrypted and sent to destination through tunnel path. A firewall can also be set up between the network and the Internet to reject unwanted data. However, this must be done before the VPN is put in place.
Trade-offs of a VPN: As is the case with any technology, there are both pros and cons of using a VPN. You must understand the implication of these while deciding on setting up a VPN.
Benefits: A VPN increases security, productivity and opportunities to reach out to a large clientele. It has low operational cost and uses a simplified network topology. Besides, it reduces costs for companies by lowering the cost of long distance telephone charges, as clients need only to land up at the service providers nearest access point. However, you need to consider the following while installing a VPN.
• Requirement of specially trained staff with a good knowledge of network security is necessary to ensure that your system functions smoothly.
• Varieties of technologies are in use for VPN. This could lead to incompatibility amongst networks.
Essential Capabilities of a VPN:
With the maturing of VPN capabilities and the development of encryption technology, it is now becoming feasible to match companies’ expectations of high-speed performance and high security. The capabilities you demand of your VPN solution provider are considered below.
• Speed: This is the most important criterion while choosing a VPN. Speeds up to 2 gigabits per second are available. The speed you opt for will depend on the volume of data to be handled by your network.
• Security: In addition to providing high end-to-end security and firewall to control access to information, you may consider integrating additional applications such as digital certificate support, client authentication and intrusion detection.
• Scalability: The VPN infrastructure equipment should be scalable to evolve with your business. The appliances should have multiple network interfaces, network management module and be interoperable with existing equipment. The system should provide fail over provisioning, so that another port takes over in the event of port failure.
A VPN has almost become a necessity for a company to exploit its competitive advantage. The system chosen for installation must have the capabilities to meet the company’s functional requirements.
The data is carried over the network through the process of ‘Tunneling.’ A package is placed within another package before it is encrypted and sent to destination through tunnel path. A firewall can also be set up between the network and the Internet to reject unwanted data. However, this must be done before the VPN is put in place.
Trade-offs of a VPN: As is the case with any technology, there are both pros and cons of using a VPN. You must understand the implication of these while deciding on setting up a VPN.
Benefits: A VPN increases security, productivity and opportunities to reach out to a large clientele. It has low operational cost and uses a simplified network topology. Besides, it reduces costs for companies by lowering the cost of long distance telephone charges, as clients need only to land up at the service providers nearest access point. However, you need to consider the following while installing a VPN.
• Requirement of specially trained staff with a good knowledge of network security is necessary to ensure that your system functions smoothly.
• Varieties of technologies are in use for VPN. This could lead to incompatibility amongst networks.
Essential Capabilities of a VPN:
With the maturing of VPN capabilities and the development of encryption technology, it is now becoming feasible to match companies’ expectations of high-speed performance and high security. The capabilities you demand of your VPN solution provider are considered below.
• Speed: This is the most important criterion while choosing a VPN. Speeds up to 2 gigabits per second are available. The speed you opt for will depend on the volume of data to be handled by your network.
• Security: In addition to providing high end-to-end security and firewall to control access to information, you may consider integrating additional applications such as digital certificate support, client authentication and intrusion detection.
• Scalability: The VPN infrastructure equipment should be scalable to evolve with your business. The appliances should have multiple network interfaces, network management module and be interoperable with existing equipment. The system should provide fail over provisioning, so that another port takes over in the event of port failure.
A VPN has almost become a necessity for a company to exploit its competitive advantage. The system chosen for installation must have the capabilities to meet the company’s functional requirements.
A Complete Overview of Satellite TV
As it currently stands at this present time there are three separate satellite TV service providers serving the public in the U.S. and they are Sky Angel, DirecTV and Dish Network. While Sky Angel broadcasts only Christian oriented programming for their viewers, DirecTV and Dish Network cover a broad variety of genres of programming that is marketed for the general public. While Dish Network and DirecTV do have their similarities they also have many unique feature that separate their styles of programming and marketing.
DirecTV General Information:
When DirecTV made its debut in 1994 it was in completely digital format which was a first for TV viewers. This was all made possible by their having the first digital broadcast satellite ever made and launched into orbit. DirecTV is a subsidiary of Hughes Electronics, which is why they only feature Hughes Electronics satellite TV systems and components.. With a 15 million viewer customer base DirecTV is currently the largest satellite TV provider in the U.S.
General Programming Info:
Currently DirecTV offers a total of 250 channels of a mixed blend of programming genres that are available in a total of three standard programming packages although they do have a wide choice of foreign programming packages as well. Their smallest package is called Total Choice and it contains 155 programming channels, three movie channels and 60 XM satellite radio music programming channels. Their Total choice plus package contains 185 standard programming channels, three movie channels and the 60 music channels. Their top package is called Total Choice Premier and contains 250 channels with three movie and 60 radio channels as well.
DirecTV components:
DirecTV gives you all that you need to get started watching satellite TV when you sign up for an extended programming agreement and this includes a free satellite TV system. You have your choice of several receivers that have a number of feature options including DVR.
Dish Network General Info:
Dish Network made its debut in 1996 and is a subsidiary of Echo Star Corp. They are the second largest satellite TV service provider with over 12 million viewers. They also hold the distinction of being highest ranked in over all customer satisfaction by J.D. Power and associates.
General Programming Info:
Dish Network currently carries a total of 350 programming channels that are available in five seperate packages of verying size. They offer an entry level budget package that can start a viewer out with just 40 channels if they are on a tight budget. Their largest package the Americas everything pak contains 350 programming channels, 67 Sirius satellite radio channels, 52 music channels and four premium movie channels. Dish Network also carries a wide selection foreign language channels and packages.
Dish Network Components:
Just like direcTV dish network also give you an entire satellite TV system free of charge when you sign up for and extended programming agreement. They have a broad choice of receivers and also give you several choices in feature options in your receiver, including DVR. They also have a free installation policy that covers the entire system and three rooms and all work and hardware is guaranteed.
DirecTV General Information:
When DirecTV made its debut in 1994 it was in completely digital format which was a first for TV viewers. This was all made possible by their having the first digital broadcast satellite ever made and launched into orbit. DirecTV is a subsidiary of Hughes Electronics, which is why they only feature Hughes Electronics satellite TV systems and components.. With a 15 million viewer customer base DirecTV is currently the largest satellite TV provider in the U.S.
General Programming Info:
Currently DirecTV offers a total of 250 channels of a mixed blend of programming genres that are available in a total of three standard programming packages although they do have a wide choice of foreign programming packages as well. Their smallest package is called Total Choice and it contains 155 programming channels, three movie channels and 60 XM satellite radio music programming channels. Their Total choice plus package contains 185 standard programming channels, three movie channels and the 60 music channels. Their top package is called Total Choice Premier and contains 250 channels with three movie and 60 radio channels as well.
DirecTV components:
DirecTV gives you all that you need to get started watching satellite TV when you sign up for an extended programming agreement and this includes a free satellite TV system. You have your choice of several receivers that have a number of feature options including DVR.
Dish Network General Info:
Dish Network made its debut in 1996 and is a subsidiary of Echo Star Corp. They are the second largest satellite TV service provider with over 12 million viewers. They also hold the distinction of being highest ranked in over all customer satisfaction by J.D. Power and associates.
General Programming Info:
Dish Network currently carries a total of 350 programming channels that are available in five seperate packages of verying size. They offer an entry level budget package that can start a viewer out with just 40 channels if they are on a tight budget. Their largest package the Americas everything pak contains 350 programming channels, 67 Sirius satellite radio channels, 52 music channels and four premium movie channels. Dish Network also carries a wide selection foreign language channels and packages.
Dish Network Components:
Just like direcTV dish network also give you an entire satellite TV system free of charge when you sign up for and extended programming agreement. They have a broad choice of receivers and also give you several choices in feature options in your receiver, including DVR. They also have a free installation policy that covers the entire system and three rooms and all work and hardware is guaranteed.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Networking Your Way To Greater Success
Networking is the ability to know people, who know people, who know people, who know people who can help you succeed. Networking is your personal and professional success tool. But there's a catch - networking is as much about giving as it is about receiving.
True and lasting success comes from helping as many people as possible achieve their goals. It's based on what is called the Law of Reciprocity. The more people you help succeed, the more you succeed.
Networking is much more about giving than it is about receiving. Many people join a networking group with the attitude, "What can I get out of this relationship." A true networker asks, "How many ways can I help the other person achieve her/his goals?"
The Law of Reciprocity states that the more you give, the more you get. Give of yourself and time wisely. Give wisely, but not selfishly. Give of time, intelligence and experience without expecting something in return. The giver will end up the winner.
With that said - Start your networking with friends, family and associates. Ask yourself, "Do my friends, relatives and social contacts really know what I do for a living or what my goals are?"
Prepare a one-minute infomercial about yourself, your career and how your network can help you succeed. When you meet someone new, you'll have a minute infomercial ready to help get your point across effectively. If you can't condense what you do into a one-minute infomercial, you may not be clear about what you want or how your network can help.
Sit down right now, and make a list of twenty people who can help you go forward with living your life's mission. If they can't help you directly, they may know someone who can.
Be sure to keep your network posted about all your career moves and changes. When your goals change, professionally and personally, let your network know.
Remember too, that you are a part of network too. That's a responsibility that shouldn't be taken lightly. Actively help make contacts, referrals, and connections for your network. Not only will you feel personally satisfied, but also you're building a foundation of mutual respect, benefit and support.
True and lasting success comes from helping as many people as possible achieve their goals. It's based on what is called the Law of Reciprocity. The more people you help succeed, the more you succeed.
Networking is much more about giving than it is about receiving. Many people join a networking group with the attitude, "What can I get out of this relationship." A true networker asks, "How many ways can I help the other person achieve her/his goals?"
The Law of Reciprocity states that the more you give, the more you get. Give of yourself and time wisely. Give wisely, but not selfishly. Give of time, intelligence and experience without expecting something in return. The giver will end up the winner.
With that said - Start your networking with friends, family and associates. Ask yourself, "Do my friends, relatives and social contacts really know what I do for a living or what my goals are?"
Prepare a one-minute infomercial about yourself, your career and how your network can help you succeed. When you meet someone new, you'll have a minute infomercial ready to help get your point across effectively. If you can't condense what you do into a one-minute infomercial, you may not be clear about what you want or how your network can help.
Sit down right now, and make a list of twenty people who can help you go forward with living your life's mission. If they can't help you directly, they may know someone who can.
Be sure to keep your network posted about all your career moves and changes. When your goals change, professionally and personally, let your network know.
Remember too, that you are a part of network too. That's a responsibility that shouldn't be taken lightly. Actively help make contacts, referrals, and connections for your network. Not only will you feel personally satisfied, but also you're building a foundation of mutual respect, benefit and support.
Financial Success or Environmental Mission? Now You Can Have Both
Have you ever wished you could create a financially secure future doing something that helps the environment? Usually we have to choose between what we do for money and what we do to support the environment. Now, at least one opportunity provides both.
Imagine having a service you can offer over the internet, from the comfort of your home, that people have been waiting for at least 30 years. Imagine your prospects forwarding your marketing materials to people they know because they feel good about referring your service and are motivated to do so by a bigger mission.
It may sound like a dream opportunity, but wait...it gets better.
Now you can offer people solar power for their home. They can pay less for clean, renewable electricity from the sun than they pay now for dirty electricity from nuclear and coal plants. Who wouldn't want to do that?
With global warming being given top priority and all the talk of building more nuclear and coal plants, people are looking for a better solution. Now you can offer them a solution that supports the environment and saves them money.
As an Ecopreneur (ecological entrepreneur) you get paid for educating people about solar power for their home. In fact, you can get paid three ways.
You can earn a substantial installation and retention bonus when their solar power system is installed and at their first anniversary for providing great customer service (from the comfort of your home).
You receive 5% of your customers' monthly electricity bill every month for the life of their contract. If you ever wanted a commodity your customers would continue buying every month, year after year, this is it.
The third way you can get paid is by supporting a team of other Ecopreneurs doing the same thing. When you invite, train, and support other Ecopreneurs to make the same offer and build their team, you receive a percentage of your team's sales including a 50% matching bonus on those you personally invite and 25% matching bonus on those they invite.
Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, it does. There's no cost or obligation to participate as an Ecopreneur. That's right...no start up fees, no annual fees, no quotas, no website fees, and no purchase required. You don't even have to be a customer yourself. The company even provides professional marketing materials free to download and create yourself.
Okay, I know you've probably been waiting for the "other shoe to drop." Well, here it is. This opportunity is so ground floor that, as of this writing in December 2007, we are still in the pre-launch phase of our development. We are scheduled to officially launch in the Spring and we already have over 25,000 customers.
Getting involved while this solar wave is still just beginning to swell will position you to ride this enormous wave of grateful customers all the way to the bank, the beach, and beyond.
Some may choose to wait and see how we do. I personally am thrilled to be part of such an enormous grassroots movement to upgrade America to solar power.
I can't imagine being better positioned for what will prove to be a service everyone will have. Remember not so many years ago no one had cell phones and now it's hard to imagine life without them. Going back a bit further, when the refrigerator was introduced, everyone was still buying ice for their icebox and now it's hard to imagine life without a refrigerator. The same will be true for solar power and we're positioned to provide it for the masses.
Imagine having a service you can offer over the internet, from the comfort of your home, that people have been waiting for at least 30 years. Imagine your prospects forwarding your marketing materials to people they know because they feel good about referring your service and are motivated to do so by a bigger mission.
It may sound like a dream opportunity, but wait...it gets better.
Now you can offer people solar power for their home. They can pay less for clean, renewable electricity from the sun than they pay now for dirty electricity from nuclear and coal plants. Who wouldn't want to do that?
With global warming being given top priority and all the talk of building more nuclear and coal plants, people are looking for a better solution. Now you can offer them a solution that supports the environment and saves them money.
As an Ecopreneur (ecological entrepreneur) you get paid for educating people about solar power for their home. In fact, you can get paid three ways.
You can earn a substantial installation and retention bonus when their solar power system is installed and at their first anniversary for providing great customer service (from the comfort of your home).
You receive 5% of your customers' monthly electricity bill every month for the life of their contract. If you ever wanted a commodity your customers would continue buying every month, year after year, this is it.
The third way you can get paid is by supporting a team of other Ecopreneurs doing the same thing. When you invite, train, and support other Ecopreneurs to make the same offer and build their team, you receive a percentage of your team's sales including a 50% matching bonus on those you personally invite and 25% matching bonus on those they invite.
Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, it does. There's no cost or obligation to participate as an Ecopreneur. That's right...no start up fees, no annual fees, no quotas, no website fees, and no purchase required. You don't even have to be a customer yourself. The company even provides professional marketing materials free to download and create yourself.
Okay, I know you've probably been waiting for the "other shoe to drop." Well, here it is. This opportunity is so ground floor that, as of this writing in December 2007, we are still in the pre-launch phase of our development. We are scheduled to officially launch in the Spring and we already have over 25,000 customers.
Getting involved while this solar wave is still just beginning to swell will position you to ride this enormous wave of grateful customers all the way to the bank, the beach, and beyond.
Some may choose to wait and see how we do. I personally am thrilled to be part of such an enormous grassroots movement to upgrade America to solar power.
I can't imagine being better positioned for what will prove to be a service everyone will have. Remember not so many years ago no one had cell phones and now it's hard to imagine life without them. Going back a bit further, when the refrigerator was introduced, everyone was still buying ice for their icebox and now it's hard to imagine life without a refrigerator. The same will be true for solar power and we're positioned to provide it for the masses.
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