Wednesday, July 30, 2008, 7:30pm - 9:00pm

The Blogging Project - Online Meeting - week 2

We will be meeting in the chat room to discuss:

Homework from our last meeting:

1. Did you get a chance to visit wordpress.com to view the backend of Wordpress and see how simple it is to use? Do you have any questions regarding how the blog works? 2. What is your goal for this blog? What do you want it to accomplish for you?

Our next phase:

3. Where to come up with content. What do you fill your blog with??

4. What action do you want your viewers to take? Are we putting ads on your blog or are we driving traffic to a direct sales webpage?

5. Blogging Schedules. You need to post regularly and plan to compile content regularly. A schedule helps you achieve your goals.

At this time we have a few people already in our blogging group. If you would like to join us, please contact Wendy and she will get you up to speed so you can be part of our blogging project.

More details on the website.

See you all there!!

Wednesday, July 30, 2008, 10:00am - 11:30am

New Port Richey Monthly Networking Meeting

Where: Panera Bread, Trinity (Rt. 54 & Little Rd.) Directions here.

Bring Business cards and Brochures (or whatever you have available to tell us about your business) and meet us for coffee! We’ll discuss goals and accomplishments as well as find out what everyone does.

It’s not your typical networking meeting! Our goal is to build relationships with people that you’ll be happy to refer people to, buy from, and spend time with.

More details here.

This week’s attendees…

_______________________________________________________

Elizabeth Piskothy
Arbonne
(no website yet but watch for it in the member list - username: Piskothy )
Arbonne is an all natural, organic 100% vegan certified beauty business. There are spa products, weight loss, makeup and all other facial and spa products.

Ideal Client: Everyone

_______________________________________________________

Cami Sepulveda
Multicolor Media
http://www.multicolormedia.com
Yahoo! IM: ppccents
AIM: multicolor

Since 1998, we do graphic design, printing, web design and development and web hosting. We are a “green” company, printing on recycled paper and using soy inks.

Ideal Client? New businesses, Businesses

_______________________________________________________

Mary Reynolds
YTB 4 Palms Travel
http://www.ytb.com/4Palmstravel

Referral travel agent, teach people to go into your own business full line online travel service

Ideal Clients: Baby Boomers, Families

_______________________________________________________

Michele Benard
Michele’s Arm Candy
http://www.michelesarmcandy.com

Purse parties! Purses, sunglasses, key finders, wallets.

Ideal Client: Anyone who loves purses

_______________________________________________________

Deanna Whitton
Mia Bella Candles
http://www.DeannasScentedCandles.com

Candles, Bath and Body Products, Air Fresheners

Ideal Client: Everyone

_______________________________________________________

Wendy Milonas
http://www.wendymilonas.com
Phone: 727-967-5970
AIM: wendymilonas
MSN: msn@affordablecreations.com
YahooIM!: spiritofahorse
ICQ: 461647907
irc:  irc://irc.qhost-services.com/designers

Graphic Arts and Illustration, Graphic Design, Web Development and Hosting.

Ideal Client: All businesses

_______________________________________________________

*please note, email addresses are NOT posted online but will be sent out in the email I send to all attendees.

Thanks again to everyone for joining us! I can’t wait until we meet again!

Outline is available here

I find it fascinating that one person read this and commented, “Oh good, so we’ll have some structure now.”

I honestly don’t see where it says that. Maybe I’m just too close to the whole thing to see it any way but how it is meant to be?

I think that some people are not quite understanding the whole purpose and some people are really trying to make the group into something it’s not. Letting go of the recent model for networking (which countless people claim just does not work) and getting back to networking to build relationships would benefit us so much more.

Our meetings do not have an agenda. We usually arrive in a staggered attempt to be on time. We introduce ourselves as we arrive and then we just start chatting. We do not spend time on the “three minute advertisement” from each member because it’s not really very effective. After belonging to over 40 networking groups via meetup.com over the last 5 years…that model is always the one that gives me a headache. It’s not worked for me, or for anyone that I’ve asked. There are a few slightly pushy people who claim it works, but no one I know will do business with them so I have to wonder if they aren’t being entirely honest.

We are working on ways to make sure we each have more information about who we met with at the meetings. We discussed goodie bags today. I think this might be a good way to let people review what you do in their own time. Goodie bags could also include samples of products so you know that everyone understands what you do.

I also wonder if people who join the group understand what is involved with starting a networking group of this nature. I know of a few people who have undergone such a venture and they also have commented on the subject. This is not an idea that just sort of became a site that sort of became a project that sort of got really big. This is a planned out project. It has a series of goals. It has a business plan.. It’s been researched, changed, researched, changed…you get the idea. I, personally, have spent hundreds of hours on just getting this started. Jessica and I have spent tons of money and countless hours at Starbucks for our brainstorming and weekly business meetings. This is a well thought out plan, and we are sure it will work.

So, please give the group a chance before you decide it’s not for you. You don’t have to stick around if you don’t want to, but it’s not going to cost you anything if you do. We are getting a new member every other day at this point. I would say that by the end of July, we will be getting at least 2 new members a day. We are also adding 4 new cities in the near future.

We are expanding at a healthy rate, and we will keep going until we make it.

So, hang on and enjoy the ride! We are bound for some great destinations!!

Description: Try various sea source spa products, drawn from the finest European spa therapies that support beauty from the inside out. The spa therapies destress and detox the body, using all natural, 100% vegan certified products. There will be food, fun, and time to relax.

Where: Brooksville, Florida

RSVP for directions and details: Elizabeth Piskothy (NoWiB member) 352-848-0093

Website: discoverhealthybeauty.com

Discuss this article on the forums. (1 posts)

Thanks to everyone who attended!!

I’ll be listing everyone who joined below so that you can have everyone’s contact information (just in case you didn’t get it)

In response to the messages left on meetup.com regarding this meeting, I’ll answer here in case anyone else has similar concerns (and since they were posted publicly, I’ll answer them publicly to be fair).

I apologize if anyone feels that they were misled about the group and where it is located. This is not a Spring Hill only group, but it does have a Spring Hill coordinator (Deanna) who will be working with me to have more meetings and expos in your area. All meetings are listed on the site, you go to whatever ones work for you.

I also apologize if I didn’t get everyone to order before introductions were made. People arrived late, we were chatting, we ordered when everyone was finally ready.

I’d like to point something out that I’ve already mentioned a few times, but that some new people might not have heard.

This is NOT a typical networking group. The focus here is on building relationships, not on trying to sell your products to the people attending the meetings. We want people to refer others to our members with 100% confidence that they will be treated right. Chatting and getting to know someone are the only way to build a relationship that is going to last well past the point when you walk out the door of the meeting venue.

We are in this for the duration and plan on being around for a very very long time. We are also expanding to a national level. This means potential for recruiting and clients across the entire nation.

And one last note: this is a free group. I put a lot of time and resources into this group. It is a new group and is going to go through normal growing pains. I appreciate comments and criticisms that will help grow the group, but I would rather someone come to me with them and not post it on a public website. Negative comments keep people from joining and that hurts everyone in the group.

And now…our attendees…

_______________________________________________________

Julie Stack
CPR RESQ Training Center
http://www.cprresq.com

Life saving training. CPR/First Aid, Sale of Defibrillators (AEDs)

Ideal Client? Everyone!!

_______________________________________________________

Jean Ann Guinther
Lia Sophia Advisor
http://www.liasophia.com/JeanAnnGuinther

We offer high quality jewelry (purchase in a home setting) that comes with a lifetime guarantee

Ideal Client? Adult ladies 18 - ? Also, those ladies that like to keep up with all the fashion trends.

_______________________________________________________

Elizabeth Piskothy
Arbonne
(no website yet but watch for it in the member list - username: Piskothy )
Arbonne is an all natural, organic 100% vegan certified beauty business. There are spa products, weight loss, makeup and all other facial and spa products.

Ideal Client: Everyone

_______________________________________________________

Cami Sepulveda
Multicolor Media
http://www.multicolormedia.com
Yahoo! IM: ppccents
AIM: multicolor

Since 1998, we do graphic design, printing, web design and development and web hosting. We are a “green” company, printing on recycled paper and using soy inks.

Ideal Client? New businesses, Businesses

_______________________________________________________

Kelly Salvatore
Kelly’s Health and Wellness
http://www.MarketAmerica.com/KellyS

We are a product brokerage and internet marketing company. I specialize in Health and Nutrition. I help people achieve optimal health naturally. I also help people with a variety of health issues who don’t want to rely on pre_script_ion drugs.

Ideal Client? Anyone who has health issues or is seeking alternatives to pre_script_ion drugs.

_______________________________________________________

Mary Reynolds
YTB 4 Palms Travel
http://www.ytb.com/4Palmstravel

Referral travel agent, teach people to go into your own business full line online travel service

Ideal Clients: Baby Boomers, Families

_______________________________________________________

Michele Benard
Michele’s Arm Candy
http://www.michelesarmcandy.com

Purse parties! Purses, sunglasses, key finders, wallets.

Ideal Client: Anyone who loves purses

_______________________________________________________

Shandelle Johnson
Two Sisters Gourmet
http://www.twosistersgourmet.net/web/Shandelle

In home interactive cooking classes, home parties, fund raisers.

Ideal Client: Everyone

_______________________________________________________

Wendy Milonas
http://www.wendymilonas.com

Graphic Arts and Illustration, Graphic Design, Web Development and Hosting.

Ideal Client: All businesses

_______________________________________________________

*please note, email addresses are NOT posted online but will be sent out in the email I send to all attendees.

Thanks again to everyone for joining us today! I can’t wait until we meet again!

Thanks to everyone who attended today!  As promised, here is a list of everyone who attended, with their info.

Please join us again next week, we will have a topic for the chat next week, it will be posted as soon as we get that set up.

Thanks again!!

Attendees (site username in parenthesis):

Wendy Milonas (WendyMilonas)
http://www.wendymilonas.com
Graphic Design / Web Development / Illustration
*Founding Coordinator of Network of Women in Business

Michele (armcandy)
Michele’s Arm Candy
www.michelesarmcandy.com
Designer Inspired Purses
352-442-8659

Leigh Ann Stanton (ls1037)
Primerica Financial Services
http://www.primerica.com/stanton
http://www.womeninprimerica.com/
2630 West Bay Drive, Suite 101
Belleair Bluffs, FL 33770

Christine Eisenmann (SignatureCards1)
Send Out Cards
http://www.sendoutcards.com/christine
Real greeting cards you send right from your computer!  They even have gifts that they can send out too!
727-452-5463

Jennifer B (JenniferB)
Vitamark International
Www.jenbirdhealthystore.com
www.weight-loss-cookies.com

Thanks to everyone who attended tonight!! As promised, here is a list of everyone who attended, with their info.

Please join us again next week, we will have a topic for the chat next week, it will be posted as soon as we get that set up.

Thanks again!!

Attendees (site username in parenthesis):

Wendy Milonas (WendyMilonas)
http://www.wendymilonas.com
Graphic Design / Web Development / Illustration
*Founding Coordinator of Network of Women in Business

Jessica Croghan-Ingraham (JessicaCroghan)
http://www.greencleantoday.com
http://www.HealthyHappyHumans.com
Shaklee Distributor (3rd Generation!)
natural nutrition and green cleaners
*Founding Coordinator of Network of Women in Business

Deanna (rsangel64)
YTB and Mia Bella Candles
www.DeannasScentedCandles.com
*Spring Hill Coordinator for Network of Women in Business

Michele (armcandy)
Michele’s Arm Candy
www.michelesarmcandy.com
Designer Inspired Purses

Jean Ann (JeanAnn)
Lia Sophia
http://www.liasophia.com/sites/JeanAnnGuinther
Quality fashion jewelry with a Lifetime Guarantee!

Shellie (smallworld24)
http://www.myzumbaparty.com
Zumba Instructor

Andrea (atsconsulting)
ATS Consulting
www.ATSConsultingFL.com
Advertising Agency

Catherine (cbaehr)
Baehr Insurance Services
(no site yet)

Click here to join the discussion!

Wednesday, March 12 @ 11:30 am 

I’ve added this event to the calendar and I’ve added a thread in the message board for any questions you might have.  You can also RSVP via the contact info on the calendar.