Networking Navigation | An Interview with Ilana Eberson | Moxy ...

Ilana Eberson has cultivated The NYC Business Networking Group (NYCBNG) and watched it grow during one of the worst economic climates on record. An entrepreneur since the age of 16, Eberson is a business expert and networking genius. She has agreed to share her networking secrets with Moxy readers to ensure you are prepared to network in this exciting new business world.

Moxy Magazine: Tells us about who you are and what you do.

Ilana Eberson: I am an entrepreneur who is originally from Australia and has lived in NYC for 20 years. As President of The NYC Business Networking Group, I am currently expanding business around the United States.

MM: You use the term ?Queen Yenta of Business Matchmaking? in your Twitter profile. What exactly does that mean?

Eberson: Yenta is a Yiddish term for an old time ?Matchmaker.? Before running the business group, I ran 500 singles? events over five years. My friend coined the name Queen Yenta and the title stuck. Once I started running business events I went from Queen Yenta to Queen Yenta of Business Matchmaking.

MM: Tells us about the NYC Business Networking Group, how it came about and what it does.

Eberson: I was running singles events for Real Live People Party, which I founded in 2004, and had the opportunity to buy NYCBNG in 2007. When the economy tanked at the end of 2009 I decided to stop running singles events and concentrate on running business events. Businesses use down economies to grow, so 18 months ago we launched in Sydney and we are currently under expansion in the United States, hosting events in seven cities.

NYCBNG members are business professionals, executives, small and medium business owners, entrepreneurs and established startups. We provide B2B services through monthly events including networking functions, seminars and expos to help members grow and their businesses.

We provide B2C services for group sponsors and partners by hosting custom events with prescreened and targeted attendees. Our services also include providing casting and recruiting services for TV shows and media outlets via email and social media marketing.

NYCBNG is built on the pay-it-forward model so membership to our group is free. Our group is more about sharing and giving, than taking and talking.

MM: Everyone knows they should be networking but what are the specific benefits of networking?

Eberson: The most important benefit of networking is finding like-minded professionals to create ON GOING business relationships. You?re going to be in business for years. If you spend six months to a year establishing a community, the benefits will far outweigh the time factor.

Try to connect with quality connections rather than collecting stacks of business cards. If you collected cards and didn?t have 2 or 3 good conversations from a particular event you were in ?sell? mode instead of ?relate?? mode.

MM: How can our readers sniff out the best opportunities to network?

Eberson: Well I can?t let this question go without tooting my own horn?we host 2-4 networking events each month in NYC. To find other places to network, you could check the websites of local Chambers, Google ?networking events? in the city you work, join a local BNI group if you like morning networking and ask associates for recommendations to successful events. Check out NYCBNG?s calendar!

MM: What?s the best way to get prepared and organized before a networking event?

Eberson: Only go to events where your target market will likely show up. Find out who is attending?check them out before going. Eat before you go. You?re there for a purpose?focus on it.

Have a short framing, results-oriented statement or pitch that answers the proverbial question ?What do you do??

And remember, it?s net-work, not net-sit. No sitting allowed. Move around and keep your energy high during the event.

MM:?If you had to tell the readers to focus on one detail during the networking process, what would it be?

Eberson: The basis of any good relationship is a win/win for both parties. Allow other people to speak first; the important factor is not who talks?it?s who listens. You have two ears and only one mouth for a reason.

MM: Many young women have a problem deciding what to do after networking events. What would you suggest for follow-up?

Eberson: As you collect business cards, take a minute to jot some notes on the back so it jolts your memory when you follow up after the event. Allow two hours the next day for contacting people.

Social media is a great platform for accelerating the relationship building process. It doesn?t replace face-to-face meetings, it enhances the process. Connect with new contacts via LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Suggest a phone call or meeting. You can use the free service Tungle.me to get the ball rolling on a meeting time.

Also, if someone gives you a referral, treat it like gold and follow up straight away. It takes time to build relationships so don?t destroy trust by failing to take a referral seriously.

MM: Any suggestions on how to organize your contacts as you collect them? Do you have a system for storing business cards, contact information or notes?

Eberson: I use a Cardscan machine, which allows me to scan hundreds of cards in a short period of time. It doesn?t matter how you organize your contacts, as long as you figure out a system that works for you.

MM: What else should our readers know about the networking process?

Eberson: If you?re in business you MUST have a LinkedIn profile. Twitter and Facebook are important as marketing tools, but a good LinkedIn profile gives you and your business more authenticity.

You can buy leads and lists but they are not half as good as live contacts that you make in person.

For more information on Ilana Eberson visit twitter.com/#!/NYCBizNet and thenycbusinessnetworkinggroup.com.

Article written by Princess Jones for Moxy Magazine, July 2011; Images courtesy of Ilana Eberson.

Source: http://moxymag.com/2011/07/networking-navigation/

minka kelly neverwinter nights 2 harry harry dancing with the stars music videos andre agassi