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Why WIB

Do you want to your advance your career, increase your business opportunities and improve your visibility in the community? Would you like to serve on a non-profit or corporate board and no one knows it? Or are you looking for potential board members? Does the media approach you as a source about your area of expertise? Do you play a mean game of golf and are never invited to play with the “bidness boys”?

Focus groups and surveys conducted by the Fort Worth Chamber identified that women-owned and operated businesses are sometimes overlooked. With more than 50 percent of local businesses currently owned and/or operated by women, the Women Influencing Business Steering Committee was formed to plan and implement new initiatives and programs to increase their visibility and bring everyone to the same table of opportunity.

Events

WIB Texas Hold 'Em Party
Thursday, September 25, 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Fort Worth Club, 12th Floor, 306 W. Seventh St.
Play begins at 6:15 p.m.

$50 per person includes $10,000 in chips,
heavy hors d’ouevres and two drinks. BIG prizes to the
final table winners and a traveling trophy to the top player.
Gaming assistance at every table, so come play, socialize
and - just like in Vegas - maybe even win!

Additional drinks can be purchased at cash bar - no credit cards accepted.

For more information contact Dugan at
ddugan@fortworthchamber.com or 817-336-2491, x258.

CHECK OUT SOME OF THE PRIZES!!!
Names will be pulled from the prize bowl all evening! You don’t even have to play poker or blackjack to go home with a great prize. You could win…Dinner for 2 at Bonnells, Café Aspen, Winslows, Texas de Brazil, Chadra just to name a few. Or how ‘bout room nights at the Granbury Hilton, Embassy Suites, Etta’s Place, Hyatt Place, or tickets to the Stars, w/parking, $100 and $50 gift cards or $100 cash! Then there’s the poker set, the wind chimes, the facials, the spa gift cards, museum tickets. And all of this and much, much more without out even competing for the BIG prizes for Texas Hold ‘em and Black Jack. You all come!

PIT BOSSES
Women Influencing Business

GOLD SPONSOR
Sanford, Baumeister & Frazier, PC

Video of last year’s WIB Texas Hold ‘em Poker Party

Mark your calendar for these upcoming WIB events...

WIB Events 2008-2009
September 25	TEXAS HOLD 'EM POKER PARTY click here to see video of last year's event	Fort Worth Club 5:30 - 9:30 p.m.
October 28	SEMINAR	Cancer & Blood Disorder Center 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
November 6	AFTER HOURS EVENT	Frank Kent 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
December 4	SEMINAR	Cancer & Blood Disorder Center 11:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m.
January 22	TABLE TALK LUNCHEON	Fort Worth Club 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
February 26	SEMINAR	Cancer & Blood Disorder Center 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
March 24	AFTER HOURS EVENT	Park Place Motors 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

For more WIB event information contact:

Diana Dugan
Membership Program Manager
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
817-336-2491 Ext. 258
ddugan@fortworthchamber.com

News & Resources

NEWS

The ROI of business social networks

BY D RIEFENSTAHL December 15, 2008

Conventional wisdom in times such as these is that businesses must continue to invest in sales, advertising and marketing. Mike Roundtree, CEO of Fort Worth-based Roundtree Advertising, shared a McGraw Hill Research study that backed up this assertion. It found that “aggressive recession advertisers” increased market share 2 1/2 times the average for all post-recession businesses. Credible advice, but for many small business owners in today’s environment – cash is king.

In this month’s TAB Tips, I want to share a marketing and business development investment that is cash flow friendly – business social networking. Below are the tips for small business owners to leverage this channel. I am right there with you having begun to explore this channel vigorously.

Background

Most readers have heard of MySpace and Facebook. Each site has its distinct online communities and features; however, the pre-eminent networking site for business professionals in the United States is LinkedIn.

Launched in May 2003, in 2008 Sequoia Capital, Greylock Partners, and other venture capital firms purchased a 5 percent stake in LinkedIn for $53 million, giving the company a post-money valuation of about $1 billion. As of October, it had more than 30 million registered users, spanning 150 industries.

How to leverage your relationships and business on LinkedIn

At a recent presentation for business owner members of The Alternative Board, TAB, the questions were about potential benefits in the following areas:

1. Lead Generation: This involves both being found and finding others. LinkedIn is a powerful method to search for ideal prospect companies, however, knowing how to get yourself introduced is key. Being seen as an expert in your field by engaging in the Question and Answer feature of LinkedIn which can help you see and be seen.

2. Sales Acceleration: You likely won't have direct access to C-level people, but you may have the opportunity to access someone currently or formerly in an organization who can champion or coach you.

Researching the profiles of the individuals found on LinkedIn provides a context for starting focused conversations. You may get insight into current and past roles, interests and accomplishments. As such, your conversations are more relevant and focused.

3. Finding Strategic Partners: In order to meet the needs of a new client prospect, or to search for a strategic partner, use the LinkedIn Advanced Search feature to find other small business partners with skills that augment your offering.

4. Marketing and Brand Positioning and Image: Your company profile on LinkedIn must match the content contained on your Web site, as well as other materials and media carrying your marketing message.

5. Generation Gap Communication Closer: In a January, CSO Insights article, Barry Trailer surfaced this observation: “A major trend impacting sales is the span of three or even four generations within a single sales force. Managing and facilitating communications across these generational gaps may be eased with social networking technologies. While my [baby] boomer compatriots think e-mail is big magic, instant messaging and text messaging now are estimated to outnumber e-mails on a daily basis.

“A presenter at an analyst conference shared a conversation he had with a younger co-worker. He asked this 20-something if he used e-mail. The younger worker’s response –and the presenter assured us he detected no sarcasm when the young person said it – was, ‘Yeah, but only when I’m talking to some old guy.’”

How to get a handle on business social networks

A Denver-based firm, Integrated Alliances, is positioning itself as the international, one-stop source to help business organizations effectively and efficiently leverage business social networking sites, starting with LinkedIn. The firm offers the following training and services: International webinars, local public workshops, custom training and services.

The local source for these services is Janee Harrell. To find out more, or to register for upcoming webinars and workshops, go to: www.linkedforroi-ignite.com

LinkedIn and the expanding Online Business Social Networking relevancy of Facebook and Twitter will grow in importance to small business owners. Taking advantage of this channel is a must. To leverage it effectively, find firms, like Integrated Alliances, which are focused on this space to assist you. n

Ed Riefenstahl is the Fort Worth area managing director of The Alternative Board. He also founded and leads Neeley & Associates at the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University.

RESOURCES

WIB in your InBox
Chamber members be sure to add WIB to your list of e-Communications subscriptions. You will be in the know for upcoming events and information for the Chamber's new women's program.

How to Add a Chamber e-Communications

Go to Members Only
(located on the navigation bar on the left)

Login with your Chamber username and password
(If you don't know your login information click "forgot username" under the "Submit" button and it will be emailed to your primary email address.)

After logging in, select "My Email Lists" button in the navigation menu. Decide which communications you want to receive, then click the box next to each item. After you have finished making your selections, be sure to click "Submit" to save your changes.

You will receive an email confirmation detailing your change.

For more information about WIB contact:

Diana Dugan
Membership Program Manager
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
817-336-2491 Ext. 258
ddugan@fortworthchamber.com

777 Taylor Street, Suite 900

Fort Worth, TX 76102-4997

817.336.2491