On the morning of the live interview, with no advanced scripting or warning, I walked in to the DJ booth and the host, Chris Collins (shown right), immediately “came out” on the air as being an introvert. Love it!

So we chatted about how I might help him and others with their resistance to networking. It was not only fun, we covered many of my secrets in only 8 minutes.

Phew, for an introvert, being interviewed live without any conversation in advance, I was a bit nervous beforehand. And of course I said a few things I’d like to edit now but I bet I’m the only one who noticed that stuff. In the end, it was so fun that I felt like I wanted to go back every week. Hmm, radio ideas brewing.

Enough Stalling. Now You Can Listen…

[If you're reading this post via email or RSS, the audio player or link may not show up, so please click over to the live post to listen.]

You Should Get Interviewed Too!

By the time I walked the two blocks to my office after that interview, I had two email responses related to the interview.

And now I’ve been asked to do two more interviews, one local show and one for a national Internet radio show. (Of course I’ll post those too when ready.)

If you’re a Western Mass business, I highly recommend getting on Chris Collins’s morning show on WHMP. In addition to great interviewing, he made me a copy for my website. He’s smart because now I’m giving his show a plug!

And if you’re not local, I’m sure there’s a good radio opportunity where you live.

Introverts will love it, and others could stand to learn from her too. I wholeheartedly agree with her ideas.

Her networking steps are a perfect guide for job seekers and people who need to promote themselves to get more leads. Enjoy…

I’ll be leading networking workshops on similar ideas in Fall 2010 in the Northampton, MA, area. We’ll take similar ideas deeper and learn how to apply it to your specific situation.

Please leave comments about the presentation or about your networking secrets or questions.

I know, there are zillions of options for online business listings, with a wide range of prices. Many good ones are free but which ones are worth your time?

Here’s my cheat sheet for you, based on my years of real-life experience with many types of local businesses.

I’m giving you the ones that are known for making a difference for local businesses, for one or both of these reasons:

• Helping your website’s search engine rank (because getting more links to your website is golden for boosting your ranks).
• Sending direct referrals to you.

If you don’t yet have a website, I recommend getting a free Google profile or LinkedIn profile and link all your listings to that profile until your website is ready. For clarity, I do think all businesses need a custom website but don’t let not having one yet be an excuse for not going after new business now.

First, Get Listed in All the Right Places

This checklist of tasks is listed in priority order:

1. First and foremost, get in Google’s free local business directory. Back up the bus and do it right now. If you do nothing else, do this. I get at least 4 more calls a month as a result of my Google business listing.
2. Now do a search in Google for the most likely thing people would search for when needing your type of business. For example, if you are a summer camp owner, search “summer camps.” Then look for the first camp directory in the top 10 Google results. That directory is worth paying good money to get listed in. In most cases, if you get one new client (and you probably will), it will pay for itself.
3. Get listed in these other popular and free local business directories (or as many as you have time for; listed in priority order):
   • Superpages
   • Citysearch
   • Yahoo
   • Yelp (In May 2010, “over half a million calls were made to local businesses directly from Yelp’s iPhone App.”)
   • InsiderPages
   • YellowPages.com
   • Bing
   • Best of the Web (BOTW) Local
   • Angie’s List
   • LinkedIn
4. Find and join the most popular local trade organization if it includes a link on their website. As a coach, I joined the Western Mass Coaches Alliance and have gotten multiple good referrals from that web listing.
5. Find a top trade-specific directory or two to join. For example, I’ve known  health professionals who have boosted their Google ranks after getting listings in either The Health Professionals Directory or Healthcommunities.com.
6. If you have a blog for your business, submit your blog to these top blog directories.

Second, Optimize Your Listings with Ratings and Reviews

One of the main reasons some businesses show up higher in the free listings is because they have more positive ratings and reviews. It’s OK to ask your past and present clients to review you there. They are often happy to help. You can’t edit their reviews so it’s all legit.

There are other ways to optimize your listings, such as using good keywords in your business description, and adding images. Feel free to leave questions in the comments box below.

What If I Get a Bad Review?

Some people ask whether to worry about getting bad reviews in these directories where anyone can leave a review. If you’re spending time worrying about that, you might need to worry more about giving better service in the first place.

If someone reviews your business unfairly, you can report it to the directory publisher and they will listen. If it is a fair review, then respond to the person and make it right.

Consumers rule in today’s social media world, and that’s a good thing because good service wins! Embrace it. Work with the tide not against it.

More Resources

• How To Get Your Business Listed On Major Local Search Engines, Yellow Pages Sites and Social Local Networks
• Local Search Ranking Factors 2010

I’ll have to do it again soon. (Sign up here to be notified.)

Clearly there’s a big unmet need for help with networking, especially among introverts who often say they feel like they have to put on an extrovert mask to network. Not true!

In the workshop, I focused on helping introverts bring their authentic selves to networking so they can have more fun, ease, and success with it. I saw lots of aha moments as the participants learned what networking is and isn’t and how it can work for them.

Take-Home Lessons

The best way to capture some of the workshop lessons is to quote some of the participants.  (Only used if they gave me permission.)

1. “It is helpful understanding what networking is. I do like a lot of networking activities and will focus on those.” ~Kim
2. “I don’t have to be someone I’m not. I can work with who I am.” ~Anonymous
3. “Find networking opportunities among the things you already enjoy.” ~Anonymous
4. “Oh right, do what I already enjoy! Duh. I’m going to host a lunch for ladies I like.” ~Lisa
5. “I’m already networking. I just didn’t realize it!” ~Victoria
6. “Networking does not = pain and suffering!” ~Mary
7. “Don’t be pushy. It doesn’t work — what a relief!” ~Anonymous
8. “One secret to networking is starting in your comfort zone.” ~Christopher
9. “Networking is just making new friends.” ~Anonymous
10. “Having lunch with friends is networking!” ~Lori
11. “I need to articulate why I love what I do in my opening.” ~Carol

Oh, it was so fun reading what everyone learned. Thank you. And thanks for attending and being so engaged in it. You made it fun.

More Resources

These other posts I’ve written also capture some of the key points:

• Be Heart-Centered in Business…Out Loud
• Being Introverted Is a Good Thing!
• If You Hate Promoting Your Services, Stop
• Good Marketers Give First
• Take the First Step in Faith

I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below. Thanks!

Introversion is not a judgment. It simply refers to a preferred style (like being left-handed or right-handed). And it’s a style that can be used to an advantage, once it’s understood. So what is it exactly?

What Is an Introvert?

Simply put, introversion is a preference for recharging alone or with a trusted circle. For instance, they tend to think through their ideas internally or with a significant other before expressing themselves to a larger group.

Whereas, extroverts recharge around others and tend to prefer thinking while speaking with others. As a result, they are often quicker to speak up in groups.

For a fun metaphor to define the two types, I will borrow from the psychologist who wrote The Introvert Advantage:

Introverts are like a rechargeable battery. They need to stop expending energy and rest in order to recharge. Extroverts are like solar panels that need the sun to recharge. Extroverts need to be out and about to refuel.  ~Marti Olsen Laney

Social anxiety or shyness are not the same as introversion. They are fear-based traits that can be overcome. Introversion is a preference or a temperament, not a problem. Introverts might be more prone to shyness but it’s not the same thing.

Prejudice Against Introverts

Notice there is no judgment in these definitions. Each type has their own strengths and preferences.

Nevertheless, many introverts feel “less than” in our Western culture. (Not true in all cultures.)

This “less than” idea is a misconception. You don’t have to wear an extrovert mask in order to thrive! (I think it’s time for an Introvert Pride movement. Care to join me?)

Unfortunately, the different styles that introverts and extroverts display in groups lead to a lot of misunderstanding and frustration. Extroverts tend to mistake introverts for being quiet or disinterested because the introverts aren’t jumping in as fast. Sometimes the topic has moved on before an introvert is ready to speak.

I can hear the introverts out there thinking (to themselves), “Yeh! Tell those extroverts to slow down and shut up!” Obviously, the frustration can go both ways.

When I held a series of introvert discussion groups, some of my extroverted friends made jokes that it would be a quiet meeting. In fact, they were lively discussions, and everyone got to participate.

Take Advantage of Your Strengths

I used to be shy, and now I am a proud introvert who loves being social. When I learned about introversion, I finally saw it for what it was and stopped apologizing. And that freed me up to expand on the strengths of being an introvert.

I even enjoy networking now and have a few secrets to share about that. (See Networking Workshop for Introverts.)

I enjoy helping people tap into their unique strengths (what I like to call superpowers). Whether it’s social anxiety and/or introversion, the coaching work that I do helps people rise above fears and self-judgment so they can thrive as their true selves.

I encourage you to take a little time to learn about the much-maligned introverts, let go of the prejudice, and learn about their strengths. I’ve selected some excellent starting places below.

Online Resources for Introverts

Are You an Introvert? (by the author of Introvert Advantage)

Extroversion or Introversion (Myers & Briggs Foundation)

Self-Promotion for Introverts (blog at Psychology Today)

The Introvert’s Corner (blog at Psychology Today)

Caring for Your Introvert (The Atlantic, 2003 – remains one of their most popular articles ever)

An Introvert’s Lexicon: a humorous look at the world from an Introvert’s point of view (New Reflections Counseling)