We are looking forward to meeting you!
I wanted to take a moment to give you an idea or outline of what to expect at the next eWomenNetwork Accelerated Networking Event for the Greater Seattle/Bellevue Chapter.
Please read through this entire document. I know it is long, but it will help you to have an EXCELLENT experience at our Accelerated Networking Event (ANE).
I am so excited that you will be attending our Accelerated Networking Event which is held the 3rd Thursday of each month at Maggiano's Little Italy in Bellevue!
Maggiano's is at 10455 NE 8th Street - Bellevue, WA 98004 (at the corner of NE 8th and Bellevue Way) This is in the Lincoln Square which is across the street to the east of Bell Square Mall in downtown Bellevue.
Parking: Lincoln Square parking is accessed from Bellevue Way. This is the most convenient parking as it is closest to Maggiano's (underneath it to be exact). They are now charging to park at Lincoln Square during the week. You can bring in your parking ticket and get it validated at Maggiano's - however you will still pay about $7.00 because validation is only for 2 hours of parking. If you prefer to park for free, please allow extra time and park at Bell Square Mall across the street and you'll need extra time to walk over to Maggiano's. If you do park at Lincoln Square, come up through the parking garage elevator and you will find the entrance to Maggiano's just to the north of the elevators. If this is your first time to Lincoln Square, you might want to leave a few minutes early for your drive over until you are familiar with the area.
The Focus is on Giving
eWomenNetwork is a network founded on the principle of "Giving". Networking at eWomenNetwork is all about what we "give to" each other instead of what we "get from" each other.
Because we want many women to learn about you, I thought these few tips would be helpful to you as you prepare to attend our event.
First, you'll need to be able to communicate a clear and focused sixty second (:60) introduction on yourself. Think of your introduction just like one of those million dollar Super Bowl TV spots. Please keep your introduction to sixty seconds and remember to focus on the BENEFITS of what you have to offer so that your listeners will get the "what's in it for me?" or the "what you do that helps others" as they hear you talk. Try to think of it as that you are educating your audience about yourself rather than trying to sell yourself, your service, or your products.
Here is how you introduce yourself in 60 seconds. We want to know: Your name
What you have to offer
What you need in the next 30 days to improve or grow your business
And what you are planning to purchase in the next 30 - 60 days
The following is an example and you are welcome to use the format to come up with your own 60 second introduction:
Hello, I am Zita Gustin and I am the Managing Director for eWomenNetwork here in the Greater Seattle area. My company is dedicated to promoting women and their businesses by helping them make the right connections and find the perfect resources they need to succeed. I am looking for success-minded women who want more business and opportunities to come their way or are looking for great resources to assist them in reaching their goals. Additionally, I am looking for exceptional women that you may know who have provided you with excellent services because these are the women that we ALL want to get to know so that we can connect with them and support them in their businesses. And, finally, on a personal note, I am looking to hire a landscaper who specializes in evaluating and reworking my yard's landscaping.
The introduction above is just shy of 60 seconds. The best way to get your introduction down is to follow the example above and insert your personal information. Practice in front of a mirror so that you can get this down pat in your mind. And, don't be concerned if it's not perfect, mine has evolved over time and yours will too. Additionally, if you are more comfortable reading your introduction, please feel free to jot it down and bring it along with you. Because it is OK to do just that.
I want you to know that it is perfectly natural to come to an event like this with an expectation of getting new business for yourself. However, please understand the "getting" philosophy is not the approach that we use here at eWomenNetwork. At eWomenNetwork, the term "Accelerated Networking" means accelerate your "Giving."
The first way that we GIVE is by giving each woman our full attention while she is speaking. Each woman will have 60 seconds to give her introduction. As you hear the introductions of the other women, be fully present with her and ask yourself - "Can I use this service or product for myself? Do I know of someone who could use her service or product? Do I have a resource for her that may help her?" Remember that when you focus on giving to others first, they are doing the same for you! And, please, never interrupt to ask a question - you can connect with her later to get more details!
The second way we GIVE is by giving respect to each woman's time. We'll each get 60 seconds but if you go over and take more than your 60 seconds, you will be taking away from another woman's time. We want to be sure that all the women at your table get their chance to be introduced. We want many women to learn about you and we want you to quickly learn about the other women here so you can follow-up later. We use these events to form the "interest" in connecting. Your follow up will establish the connection and build rapport, trust, and eventually - transactions!
The third way we GIVE is extremely important for you to understand. This has to do with giving business cards.
The person who gives away the most business cards at any networking event is not necessarily the winner! At eWomenNetwork, we give a business card ONLY when another woman has requested the card from us OR when we have a referral, or resource for a woman and we want to share that with her. So, when you meet someone you want to follow up with, by all means, request her business card. If someone wants your card, they will ask for it. We are about QUALITY connections and not Quantity connections.
Also, please be aware that you will not meet every person in the room. While our events average between 100 - 120+ women, our process is set up so that you will meet at least 14 - 16 other women at our Accelerated Networking Event. This is not a speed dating event. Again, our focus is on the QUALITY of connections rather than the Quantity of connections. Please consider that this is an introduction to the ladies in the room. The growth of relationships comes from the time you invest in follow up after the event. We provide the atmosphere for the introduction, you add your energy and follow up to stimulate interaction with those that you connect with and eventually all of that leads to relationships being built. Bring your good energy into the room and you'll be amazed at the contacts that you can establish!
At this point, you may be overwhelmed! I promise that getting to know us and helping us to get to know you is easier than it appears. We are eager to learn about your business and to see how we can help you.
Please know that I am here to help you and if you have any questions, please be sure to call me. At the event, if you need assistance or have any questions, be sure to see me and I will help you!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is the agenda so you'll know what to expect:
10:45AM Informal Networking: Pick a table/seat and put your things down if you wish. (Each table 2 assigned seats for the Table Leader and her Co Host AND 2 - 3 seats reserved for guests. The seats reserved for guests are marked by a red paper that says Reserved for a Guest. Please choose one of the GUEST seats and leave your business card face up at the place setting so that people know who is sitting where. Just please be aware if there is someone at the table who is in a similar business to what you do ... you may want to pick another table).
Whatever you do, please do not sit next to someone that you already know. The reason for this is that networking is about meeting new people. If you sit with those you already know, you will diminish the exposure for yourself and your product or service.
You will feel welcomed ... please trust me on this. Everyone is here to network and wants to meet you, so meet and greet as many women as you can.
Focus on learning about them. Ask them:
Their name
What they do
Who are the perfect kinds of customers for their business
How you might help them
(Maybe you are not a potential customer for them, but you might know someone who is!) Now is also a great time to visit with our members and guests who have sponsored this event with their marketing tables!
11:15AM Please be Seated - Program is about to begin
11:20AM Formal Program - Member Matchmaker Intro and Announcements
11:40AM First Round of Accelerated Networking
12:00PM Second Round of Accelerated Networking12:15PM Lunch is served (Lunch is served family style - please help yourself from the platters on your table when the platter is empty, the staff will bring more food - I promise!)
12:25PM Announcements and New Member Introductions during lunch Raffle Ticket Sales
12:45PM Speaker Introduced1:05PM Upcoming Events, and Other Announcements 1:15PM Committee Reports1:25PM Raffle1:35PM Closing Remarks1:45PM Business Showcase and After GlowIf you are not in a hurry, you are welcome to continue to network and visit the marketing tables.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you so much for your attention to this information. I look forward to seeing you at the next Accelerated Networking Event. Please remember that this event is at Maggiano's in Bellevue.
Please call me if you have any questions. 425-968-8375Warmly,
Zita Gustin
Executive Managing Director
Greater Seattle/Bellevue/Everett Chapter
www.eWomenNetwork.com
425-968-8375
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The #1 resource for connecting and promoting women and their businesses.
