Connect 70

10/05/2021

Dear Friends!

This year I will be running a 10K in Boise, Idaho. All donations go to Housing Works, whose dual mission is to end homelessness and AIDS. In the past I have run 5 half-marathons for Housing Works, so this is my 6th race with them! And my first race in 3 years! WOAH! Any and every donation helps. Donating only takes 2 minutes. Click the link below. Thanks so much for your support!

Any amount helps! Takes 2 minutes to donate! Thank you! 

02/09/2021

Powerful interview this Thursday at 1pm with the one and only Christina Singh of Neighbors Together, to discuss fighting hunger and poverty in our communities!

Ask An Expert is a weekly live webinar with industry leaders.

10/04/2020

Come join us for VIRTUAL Visitors’ Day this Tuesday, Oct. 6th at 7 AM! Link to sign up in comments. All roles welcome, and it’s FREE. Come meet some professionals who are still going strong despite a global pandemic. We’re friendly and we like to help our visitors connect with the things and people they need. Hope to see you then.

07/14/2020

💭Imagine for a moment that your company is a cereal brand, sitting on a shelf in a supermarket.

✅What would your brand name be?
✅Would you pop off the shelf and be desirable to customers who are perusing the aisles?
✅Or would you sink back behind the others, hiding, out of sight?

🤪I know it sounds crazy, but what drives consumers like you and me to purchase one cereal brand over another is the same decision-making process that your potential clients are making about your company, no matter what your type of business.

🧐So...let’s examine three key variables that drive retail choices in choosing a cereal that we can contrast to you and your business:

❤️Brand appeal. What makes one cereal brand more desirable than another? It could be a brand that you know or it could be the visuals or the color that draws you in. But, if you’re a newcomer or small brand where you don’t have name recognition, your brand needs to be unique or have an appeal to a specific audience that the big brands may not have. SO… ask yourself what is unique about you or your brand, what do you do differently, and laser focus on getting that message out. Does your brand cut through the clutter or blend in? Work on how you portray your brand and messaging. Are you bold enough to get attention?

💲Price. There may be a sale on one cereal or another every now and then but that doesn’t mean a consumer will keep buying it—there has to be more to it—it has to taste great, the flakes stay crisp in milk, or do something better than the others. So…. if you are running a special on services, make sure that there is much more “meat on the bone” to ensure that they stay sticky after the special is over to get a repeat sale or referral. Your customers need to remember the amazing experience you provide, exceeding their expectations.

👍Quality. One cereal brand may promise the highest quality flavor or crunch experience over another, which can drive value as well as build brand reputation. Maybe you'll pay a higher price for a better experience. How does your business convey quality in its expertise? Thought leadership? Webinars? How do you transition from a person in your field to being called a trusted expert? Ensure you are providing your customers with a quality experience from start to finish. And if something gets fouled up along the way, take it as an OPPORTUNITY to show them how you right a wrong. It could even wind up being a great “save the day” story too...

💡So, the next time you’re looking to buy a cereal brand, think about the choices your mind subconsciously makes to narrow it down, and how those choices might relate to the way customers pick YOU and your business. That—and NOT being “flaky”—could make the difference between landing a new client...or not.

07/09/2020

07/06/2020

No meeting tomorrow morning for Connect 70. See you next week!

06/16/2020

Sign up TODAY for this webinar!

Let's talk cash — how to stretch it, protect it and control it to sustain your business as we in a new economy.

This is for:
👉 or of established -based businesses.
👉 owners who want to gain control over their financials and need to strategize with a financial expert.
👉 Anyone currently using a loan, loan or other type of credit to fund their business.

Tickets are so invite your fellow business owners!

REGISTER HERE: http://ow.ly/XXWQ50A4iSV
__

06/10/2020

Check out this Facebook LIVE chat with Stephanie and Alex, both members of Connect 70, on how to get out of pandemic mode and make 2020 the best year yet! Link to register below.

Ask An Expert is a weekly live webinar with industry leaders.

06/09/2020

Our very own Stephanie Virchaux and Alex Mahgoub - New York Real Estate Broker will be the featured speakers on this Thursday’s FB Live panel on Wading Out of the Pandemic and Making It Your Best Year yet! Details and registration info below.

https://facebook.com/events/s/ask-an-expert-series/755098295026695/?ti=icl

06/09/2020

❓Have you been on an emotional rollercoaster this week?

We sure have.

We’ve all been having difficult conversations about very important social injustice issues while keeping ourselves and loved ones safe AND making sure our businesses remain strong through the pandemic. It's a lot to deal with.

As we think about our businesses, they too have been on a rollercoaster these last three months in terms of finding new revenue channels, managing cash flow, and ensuring they are strong or at least stabilized. Some businesses are getting back to normal, some are thriving, and some will need more time to recover. Nonetheless, as business owners, it’s our job to brainstorm strategies to stabilize the rollercoaster and use the tools available to us, like this networking group and other business networks we're part of, to return to normalcy.

I talked about this same topic 16 weeks ago when we were meeting in person and it’s still relevant today:

💡No matter what your path to normalcy looks like, developing strong business relationships will net higher repeat business through warm leads or referrals versus cold leads or cold calls.💡

A warm lead from a trusted business relationship is usually from someone that has engaged you and understands what it’s like to work with you, can speak to the quality of your work product, and can talk about the experience of working with you from start to finish. I always tell my staff: “It’s not only the end result but it’s the journey. The client-agency relationship needs to be enjoyable—even memorable!”

My suggestions are:

📌Think about who you’ve worked with over the years that fall into the category of a strong business relationship;

📌Make a list of those people;

📌Prepare personalized emails or Linkedin messages asking if they can provide warm referrals if you ask them for it. If you have someone in mind on LinkedIn for them to introduce you to, include that in your personalized message.

The good news is this pandemic will pass, and you’ll have built strong relationships that will power your business into the future in spite of it all.

06/02/2020

05/21/2020

Three months ago, it was business as usual: eating eggs and networking around a long table. Right now, it’s Zoom meetings and virtual working from home.

❓As we all try to get comfy with this new normal, have you thought about how to set yourself up for networking in the future?

Now, I’m no Oracle from The Matrix but a little bit foresight dictates the following:

📌Think of Zoom or Teams or Webex video calls as a regular part of your mix as we phase-in post-quarantine. It’ll be an essential way to cultivate and retain relationships and essential to retain as part of your networking mix.

📌A lot of people (even in our group) have put a thought leadership stake in the ground and are showing what they know by holding meetings, starting shows, doing live streams, and just putting it out there. Don't abandon that when we start to recover - that is your platform to build out from and cultivate your expertise. It’ll increase your perceived expertise and quantify your value.

📌This virus is shaping the future of networking. This is the biggest single thing that has forced change on all. Be flexible, open to new ideas, and find the best way forward or you may be left behind.

The point is simple: Readjust your thinking NOW for how you can be the most effective LATER in this new workstyle and set yourself up for success in the future.