Networking with other internet marketers and bloggers is one of the most important things you can do to increase your chances of online success.
Internet marketing events are the best opportunities to network with your peers and expert internet marketers.
Another way to network is to comment on other blogs and to use social media.
Commenting is an excellent way to start and build relationships with other people who blog in your field or niche and on related subjects.
If you haven’t read it yet, please check out my post on getting traffic through commenting Get Blog Traffic With Comments.
Now let’s get back to
Internet Marketing Events, Networking
Networking at live internet marketing events is by far the most effective way to get to know and to get connected to people who are working on their online success as well as those who are hugely successful already and to build relationships with them.
Nothing can replace meeting people face to face, shaking their hands and having a chat eyeball to eyeball. It is by far the best way to get connected.
Having a lunch, dinner or a drink together with another marketer or blogger has a lasting impact and can lead to future cooperation or joint ventures.
It can do more for your business than just about anything else.
The lessons learned from the formal speeches and lectures at internet marketing live events are very good indeed and taking notes from them and reviewing them later can serve you well.
But the impact of meeting with people like Alex Jeffreys, John Chow, Paul Wilson and many others that I’ve had the fortune to meet and rubbing shoulders with them will last forever.
Some of them will become your friends and quite likely joint venture partners.
I’ll never forget my first live internet marketing event and the lasting friendships it brought. I wrote about it in Marketing With Alex Las Vegas Workshop 2010.
I don’t remember much from the workshop lectures anymore (I shall review my notes soon) but I very clearly remember all the people I met there and there are several I became friends with and we keep in touch and help one another.
You can never meet enough people who are involved in internet marketing.
It’s my goal to keep on going to as many events as I possibly can.
Of course the more people you meet the better chance you’ll have to meet others through their network of friends.
Sometimes you can first become aware of outstanding internet marketers like Dr David Klein through your current friends blogs and look to meet them at the earliest opportunity.
I exchanged comments with Dr David Klein on John Chow’s blog and you can bet that I’ll be looking to meet Dr DK at an event as soon as possible.
He is said to be the most connected person on the internet.
It may seem that internet marketing is a lonely affair of a person sitting behind a computer without any direct non virtual involvement with other people.
While sitting and working behind a computer is one of the necessary activities, networking with others at live events is, in addition to email list building, the most vital and indispensable activity that every internet marketer who is successful or hoping to succeed must engage in.
I will be posting about internet marketing live events and networking from time to time and taking you there through my narration and reports.
Nobody can be everywhere and I think that reading those posts will be helpful to you.
It will also serve as a reminder and an encouragement to you to go out and participate in any internet marketing event that you can.
Please comment about what you liked about this post and about anything that came into your mind while reading it.
Let me know which events you have attended and how they impacted you and your online business.
How important to you is networking at live internet marketing events? Is it at the top or where would you put it on a scale 1 to 10 with 1 being the most important?
Make sure you bookmark and tweet this post to let others know about it and to enable them to comment about it.
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Authored by Vance Sova
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Filed under: Net Marketing Events, Networking
Vance:
I have been involved with Internet Marketing since February. I have not been to an event yet but it is one of my goals for 2010. I joined the Alex Jeffreys coaching program, which we just finished, and I looking to go to his event. I can’t wait to meet Alex plus all the other students I have communicated with via the forums and blogs.
– Rick
Rick Byrd´s last blog post ..Secret Weapon To Help You Succeed Online!
Vance Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 7:58 am
Hi Rick,
Thank you for the comment. I’m sure that you’ll enjoy the live event and meeting Alex the students and the guest speakers thoroughly.
It really is great to go to live events and besides the fun you’ll have the networking part is priceless. It’s important not to be shy and to be outgoing right from the start because the time there goes very quickly.
All the best and be sure to visit my blog and comment again.
Vance
Hi Vance,
Great post! I have been to super Saturdays and conferences and I had a blast. There was so much to learn and so many people to meet. The great thing about it is that everyone is shooting for the same goal which makes it great for sharing ideas on how we all can grow our businesses.
Take Care
Sherman
Sherman Smith´s last blog post ..A SLEIGHT OF HAND MOVE TO MARKETING YOUR PRODUCTS
Vance Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Hi Sherman,
Welcome to my blog and thanks for the comment. I’m glad that you are confirming the fact about the value of live events attendance from your own experience. It’s both having a blast and a boost to our business at the same that can’t be replaced by any other activity. Not to mention the possible joint ventures and friendships that can develop out of it.
I’ll be looking forward to reading more of your comments on my blog.
Vance
There’s something about attending live events that really get you pumped and motivated and I would definitely like to attend the event that Alex Jeffreys will be holding as I am one of his students and would like to meet the others as well.
It is a bit difficult for me to attend though as I am all the way in the Philippines but hopefully when I make a stable income I’ll be able to afford to really go to these events!
Anna
Anna Haller´s last blog post ..List building with Rodger Hyatt
Vance Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Hi Anna,
I hope you can make it to an event soon. I can see that it’s not easy to go to Vegas from the Philippines. Perhaps there are some events closer to home. Try to find out. Sometimes there are bloggers and internet marketers nearby. In the meantime keep at what you are doing. Commenting on other peoples blogs and keeping in touch with other students is the next best thing next to events and if you do enough of it it will serve you very well.
Thank you for the comment,
Vance
I couldn’t agree with you more. I have learned so much about how to succeed online by visiting a wide variety of other blogs within a host of niches. I blog about Event Planning but I enjoy visiting websites that have nothing to do with event planning because it gives me an opportunity to grow my knowledge base.
Shirley Kelly´s last blog post ..Planning A Honeymoon on a Cruise
Vance Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Hi Shirley,
Welcome to my blog and thanks for commenting. I’m glad that you found your way to my blog and hopefully you can learn something too as you have before on other blogs you visited. I look forward to seeing you here again and reading your comments.
Vance
this is a killer tip for bloggers planning to blog fulltime…good that you met great bloggers like john chow
Vance Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Hi Aroopam,
Glad you liked it and I do appreciate having met John Chow and other internet marketers and bloggers who are great.
Vance
Hey Vance,
I have just finished Alex Jeffreys coaching program, Lots of the students in his forum have talked about live events and the great times they had. I would really love to attend some live events this year, Most of the events are either in the UK or US so it will be harder for me to get to them. I look forward to some of your reports about the events, and maybe some pictures too!
Cheers man
Adam
Adam sandford´s last blog post ..Internet Traffic Coaching With Alex Jeffreys
Vance Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 9:32 am
Hey Adam,
Congrats on finishing the coaching program by Alex Jeffreys and thanks for commenting. I hope that you’ll manage to make it to an event soon. In the meantime I’ll be happy to have you read about some events on my blog. I’ll have some pictures too I hope. The funny thing is that my camera that broke down more than year ago for no reason – it lost the blue color and gave greenish pictures with pink sky- seems to be working properly again. After doing everything I could to bring it back with no success last year I just took the batteries out and let it sit for at least a year.
A couple of days ago I thought of checking it out one more time before throwing it out and lo a and behold it worked. One of the technological mysteries that nobody can explain.
Anyway, that camera is now again my favorite after trying a new one and not being too happy with it. So I hope to use the old camera to document some of the events I’ll be going to.
Cheers,
Vance
Hi Vance,
Networking is the way to go to make progress, indeed.
For those of us who can’t afford attending live events, one other way of getting to know people beyond blog commenting is through Skype. I’ve learned a good deal from the chances we’ve chatted before.
Cheers,
Jose
Jose@Notes on Blogging´s last blog post ..Can a free favicon be good
Vance Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Hi Jose,
Yes, definitely, chatting on Skype is great and I’ve benefited from our chats too. Going to events adds more dimensions to making a connection but chatting over the phone or Skype is the next best thing. I mean speaking, using voice. Text chatting doesn’t have the same impact and should be used only sparingly like in a case of it being really late and not wanting to disturb anybody.
We should do another voice chat soon.
Thanks for commenting,
Cheers,
Vance
That’s the good thing about the Internet, that although you may live on the other side of the world you can still network with others, be it via blogs, forums, FaceBook or whatever. All that’s needed is to find the person who can help, read what they have to say and not to be scared to contact them through their contact form or by simply sending out a Tweet. Most of them are very approachable and are willing to help.
Sire@Blogging To The Bank´s last blog post ..Saving Money So You Can Host Your Own Blog
Vance Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Yes, Sire,
The internet is great for getting to know and keeping in touch with people. Once you get to know about them through their blog or their comments you can get into conversations with them just like we are doing now. That is really fantastic when you think about it.
And you’ve helped me already. That would have been nearly impossible just a decade and a half ago or so.
Speaking to people over Skype or other means that involve voice ads another dimension to it. And meeting people that you’ve first got to know over the internet at a live event, and I don’t mean just big conferences either though they are the most likely places to meet with other bloggers and internet marketers.
Sometimes a small group of bloggers can meet locally at a cafe or a restaurant and sometimes what comes out of it can be remarkable. Sometimes it’s just chatting and getting to know one another better which has a good value as well.
You are right that most internet marketers and bloggers help without giving it another thought. That is a great thing.
Thanks for the comment.
Vance
Sire@Blogging To The Bank Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Not a problem Vance. I only regret that I can’t pop over as often as I would like but things have been a little crazy in my non blogging world.
BTW, I worked out why the link in the email never works, it’s adding a period (.) at the end of the link.
Sire@Blogging To The Bank´s last blog post ..Taking Off Your Clothes For The Greater Good
Vance Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Sire, I’ve noticed that something must be preoccupying you. I hope it will soon pass and you’ll be back to normal. Life takes strange turns sometimes.
Thanks for letting me know about the period at the end of the link. How did you figure that out? I wonder how I could have a look at it myself and what is causing it and how I can remove it.
Vance
Sire@Blogging To The Bank Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 10:39 pm
I reckon it has something to do with the plugin you’re using. More than that I don’t have the expertise to help you out, sorry Vance.
Sire@Blogging To The Bank´s last blog post ..Blog Save The Akismet- Long Live The Akismet
Vance Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 11:54 pm
No problem Sire, you helped already. At least I have a clue about what’s going on and can be aware of it in case somebody else points out a solution. That’s half of the battle. Without you I wouldn’t have known that there’s something the matter with it.
Thanks,
Vance
Hi Vance,
There’s something about live events that can really change your views or add more information to your pretty occupied brain. The best thing I like about live events is the opportunity to make new friends or even get joint ventures!
Felicia @ No deposit poker´s last blog post ..HighStakes- Swede takes home 40k pot with royal flush
Vance Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 9:37 pm
Hi Felicia,
That’s right. Changing views is possible only when you interact with others and get input that would be impossible to get on your own.
Thanks for the comment.
Vance
Hi Vance,
I LOVE Internet Marketing Seminars!!!!
Every event I have been fortunate to go to I have met some amazing people, however what is more is that I have learned so much.
I find these events motivating, inspiring and energetic. Every time I leave I am over whelmed at my notes and ideas and my zest for wanting to learn more. Not only that, going to these events confirms I am on the right path with what I am doing even if I am traveling at a snails pace around my little 3 year old!
Speaking of events I am actually attending one in 2 weeks!
Hope everything is going well for you and YES YES YES please write about your experiences at the events you go to.
See you back here soon! 😎
Cheers
Jacinta 😀
Jacinta @ Creating My Business Online´s last blog post ..Just A Quick Update!
Vance Reply:
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:35 am
Hi Jacinta,
I wonder which event you’re going to in two weeks. It’s great you love live events and all the reasons you give are valid. The way you put it is also very enthusiastic and it makes me want to go even more. I’m not planning to go to any big event right now but there are small local events that I go to quite frequently. And I’ll write about them once in a while to keep it special.
I think that you are definitely on the right track and will have a lot of success within a relatively short time.
Enjoy your coming event.
Thank you for visiting and commenting.
I look forward to your next visit and comment.
Cheers,
Vance
Jacinta @ Creating A Business Online Reply:
July 25th, 2010 at 5:23 am
Hi Vance,
The event I am going to is a one day workshop here in Melbourne. An Australian couple Andrew and Daryl Grant that have been involved in Internet Marketing and creating info products are running it.
As far as I know they will be the only speakers so it will be more like a workshop. I have been fortunate enough to get a free ticket, that is another reason why I am jumping at the chance of going.
Awesome learning for the cost of my parking and babysitter for the day. I can not argue with that!
Once I have finished writing about JT’s training and The Challenge training I am going to start writing about the seminars so it should be fun.
Hope all is going well for you. See you back here soon! 😎
Cheers
Jacinta 😀
P.S We have started a 100 blog comment challenge over at JT’s. Are you up for it? 😛
Jacinta @ Creating A Business Online´s last blog post ..The 100 Blog Comment Challenge Is On!
Vance Reply:
July 25th, 2010 at 10:43 am
Hi Jacinta,
Thank you for the update. It’s great to go to a one day seminar and if you got a free ticket that’s even better. It sounds like a workshop but there’ll be breaks and chances to meet other like minded people you can network with.
It’ll be interesting to read your posts about the seminars you attended. You have been doing such a good job writing about the JT’s training.
Are you up to date with the Challenge? I’m behind and hope to catch up somewhat today and completely by the end of next week.
Things kept coming up last week and the week before but it was good to spend a lot of time outside and away from the computer.
Everything else is going well with a hick up here and there.
I can’t wait for your next visit and comment.
Take care for now,
Vance
Hey Vance,
Networking at live events is one of the coolest things you can do.
Totally agree with you man.
It’ll be awesome to read your posts about the future events you go to.
Peace,
Mitch
Mitch@Marketing With Alex 3 Review´s last blog post ..Marketing With Alex 30 Review- Gurus Nightmare- Bonus Surprise
Vance Reply:
July 25th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Hey Mitch,
Nice to hear from you, see you visit and comment. Networking at events is indeed a good way to create contacts and deepen relationships with those you already know from the virtual online communication.
It’s funny how some people are exactly the way you pictured them and others are so different than the image you created of them from their blogs, comments and emails.
It’s good to know that you’ll be reading the coming posts about events I’ll go to. They may not be frequent but hopefully interesting.
Take care,
Vance
Agree that networking is important. You scratch my back I scratch your back:) Win win
Vance Reply:
July 26th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
Yes, John it’s nice you agree that networking is important and a win win. I hope hat when you come back to my blog that you’ll try to give a more substantive comment. I do appreciate your visit, thank you.
Vance
Hi Vance,
Wicked Post! I have tried to get several Marketing events and seminars in the UK this year but something has always got in the way. I hope to attend a few before the year is out to make some crucial business contacts as well as mix and socialie with other like minded individuals, it can only take my online business forward. Thanks for sharing mate!
Steve Wilkins.
http://www.flipwebsitesforcash.net/
Steve Wilkins´s last blog post ..Technology Is Changing And So Should Your Business
Vance Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Hi Steve,
I hope that by wicked you mean good. Nice way to put it he, he. I know how things keep coming up and interfere with whatever one plans to do. The best thing is just to dig in and say I’ll make this event no matter what. I’m sure you’ll make it to one soon.
Tonight I’ll be going to another small event locally where a famous blogger will be giving a speech so it should be good.
Thanks for the visit and for commenting. I hope to see you here soon and perhaps one day at an event.
Vance
Vance, I’m not sure if the problem is with my computer, but your link to “Get Blog Traffic with Comments” has enormous text. I wanted to read the post as I’m currently in the ‘100 Comment Challenge’, started by your friend Jacinta.
Until reading this post I had never considered going to a Internet Marketing Event. I had always thought they were just 24 hour sales pitches, but I hadn’t realised the impact face-to-face meetings could have on a business.
I might go to a Marketing event now. Thanks Vance. 8)
John
Vance Reply:
July 28th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Hi John,
Thank you for alerting me to this. I wonder what has happened to the post Get Blog Traffic With Comments because when I was linking to it it looked fine.
It’s not your computer. There is some problem which I’ll look into. I’ll let you know when I fix it.
I’m glad that what I wrote was of help to you. Live events are indeed of value mainly because of the networking you can do with the people who attend them.
There are local events which may be free too. I went to one yesterday and it was great.
Thanks for commenting and visiting my blog.
Vance
Vance Reply:
July 28th, 2010 at 11:49 pm
John,
It’s fixed now, you can read the post Get Blog Traffic With Comments. I’m not at all sure how the fonts got so inflated and everything else but I was lucky you told me about it and that I stumbled on the way to rectify it very quickly by trying something that came to me out of the blue. I just tried what came to my mind and it worked. I had no idea that it would.
Happy reading and thanks again. It will be great if you leave a comment on that post after reading it.
Vance
Hi Vance, I haven’t been to any Marketing events as yet due to health issues, which have been trying to stop me working all together. But i won’t give in to it!!
There was an event in Bristol earlier this year that i was hoping to get to but couldn’t. Maybe next year, health permitting. I do realise how important it is to get in the mix and rub shoulders with people who know the game inside out. 10 minutes with a top marketer could be a god send.
I tried using your bookmark function for twitter and it came out to long to tweet, but i used the button at the top successfully. Thought i should mention that.
Barry
Vance Reply:
July 30th, 2010 at 9:04 am
Hi Barry,
Thank you for the comment and for not giving up on going to live events and on tweeting my post. I really appreciate your telling me about the twitter bookmark causing some problems. I hope that your health will improve very soon and nothing will be hindering you from meeting top marketers and people who’ve been around for a while and are achieving success with internet marketing and blogging.
It’s also good to meet people who are at your own level or complete beginners because networking with them is valuable as well and they are usually more accessible. If you can get some attention from the big guns that of course is incredibly useful.
Knowing how they made it is not only a great inspiration but it can save you a lot of trial and error.
I hope to see you here soon and perhaps at one of the live events sooner or later.
Vance
It is a little funny that the best place to meet people in the internet field is not on the internet, but at a live in person event. That is how it should be, people need human contact.
Vance Reply:
July 30th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Hi Frank,
Yes, people need human contact after all. The fear of people ending up indoors all the time and never meeting face to face because of the virtual online world never materialized. Isn’t it a great thing? We can have the best of both worlds. The initial contact can be made online which in a lot of cases is the only way a contact can be initialized because of distance etc.
And then the face to face contact can happen sometime later at an event. Of course while at an event one can meet new people directly.
Thanks for commenting.
Vance
Great article. It’s funny how us computer people can so easily forget how important it is to leave our desks and go out amoing other people and connect. I myself have been victim of this many times. And yet every time I attend a conference or meet up I always make some great connections.
Vance Reply:
July 30th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Hi Scott,
I’m glad you liked the post. Computer people need to get out and connect with others at live events. It’s so easy to keep busy behind the computer and think there’s no time to go anywhere. Productivity goes way up after a walk outside. But meeting with other people and networking can give a boost to everything.
Thank you for your comment.
Vance
Hi Vance, I have not managed any seminars, despite trying! Same as most, life gets in the way. I wanted to go to the Bristol event but it was the week I was in Malta. I did weigh up the options – seminar, Malta, seminar, Malta…Malta won. Only just though!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Vance Reply:
July 31st, 2010 at 8:15 am
Hi Mandy,
It’s good that you are trying to make it to a seminar. I hear that they are quite frequent in Bristol so I’m sure you’ll manage to be present in one quite soon.
Having to choose between going to Malta and going to a live local IM event I think I’d go to Malta.
Thanks for the visit and comment. I look forward to your future visits and comments.
Vance
Hi Vance, i see that Jacinta mentioned the 100 Blog Comment Challenge. I’m taking part in it and thought that you may like to climb aboard.
I know that many people will be able to learn from you as they come and read your post. All you have to do is write a blog post, then try and generate 100 comments and make it a sticky until you’ve reached 100 blog comments.
If you or any of your readers would like to take part please let me know, it would be great if you could Vance, a lot of people could learn from you. So far we have 21 people that are taking part and some of us have created pages on our blogs where we have listed all those taking part.
Catch up soon, Barry
Vance Reply:
July 31st, 2010 at 4:33 pm
Hi Barry,
I’ve indicated on Jacinta’s blog that I’ll be taking part. My post should be up by August 02.
I’m glad that you are inviting me to this and that you think people will learn from me. I’ll be learning from them as well. This a kind of networking without a live event but it’s still very valuable.
Talk soon,
Vance
Barry@The Newbies Guide Reply:
August 1st, 2010 at 2:44 am
That’s excellent Vance, catch up soon, Barry
Barry@The Newbies Guide´s last blog post ..Bloggers- Need A Little Lift
Vance Reply:
August 1st, 2010 at 9:24 am
Hey Barry,
I’ve managed to have a friend submit a post already. He had a post almost ready when I contacted him. Now it’s my turn to produce a post and submit it.
I’ll be working on it now
Vance
Hi Vance
This is my 1st visit to your Blog…. and what a post to read.
One telling me that my Online Business should be Networking Offline.
I can’t agree more, that’s why my Score for importance would be 10/10. Look at the evidence around us and in our Market Place.
I am so disappointed with myself for missing these sort of opportunities whilst attend Lee McIntyre’s Event in the UK.
Great Post
James
Vance Reply:
August 5th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Hi James,
Welcome to my blog and thank you for commenting on your first visit. I’m glad that you like my blog and this post. I think that networking offline with other marketers is crucial for building lasting business relationships and for learning as well.
It’s quite normal to be kind of shy at first few events that you go to. You’ll make more of it each coming event and pretty soon you’ll take every opportunity to meet as many people as you can and to get to know them.
And don’t hesitate to come up to the top guys as well. More often than not you’ll find that they are far more approachable than you could imagine and will be happy to talk to you more than people just starting out.
I could have made more out of my first event too but I still met enough people to make it more than worthwhile the expense of time and money.
These things can have a great impact for the rest of our lives.
I look forward to your next visit and comment.
Take care,
Vance
James Radley Reply:
August 6th, 2010 at 6:01 am
Thank you for the kind words of advice.
I am also looking forward to the next MWA live event. I will be sure to come up to you and introduce myself.
Like Alex says “we must combat our fears” I was maybe like a rabbit in headlights at the last event.
You can be sure I won’t be at the next event, thanks to you Vance.
Cheers
James
Vance Reply:
August 6th, 2010 at 7:50 am
Hey James,
You’re most welcome. If I make it to MWA next event I’ll be looking forward to meeting you. In the meantime you can practice being more outgoing at your local events.
I used to be very shy as a boy and had to overcome that. But even now I sometimes have to force myself to be more outgoing. Most times though I don’t have to struggle anymore and approach people first without hesitation.
When I’m on occasion in a shy mood I know that people can sense it and aren’t too inclined to approach me. On the other hand if I’m open and receptive on the inside people sense my approachability and introduce themselves or greet me spontaneously.
I’m sure that you’ll do just fine the next time at an event.
Cheers,
Vance
Hi Vance,
I am a student of Mark Terrell’s coaching and even though I have not been to any live events I have met some pretty nice and helpful people on skype and other areas due to networking. Good post liked it very much
I would like it if you could stop by my blog and check it out and leave comment
Thanks
Karen
Vance Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 10:56 am
Hi Karen,
Meeting people on Skype is of course very good too. It’s even better if you meet the people you already know from the internet and Skype chats in person.
I’m glad you liked my post. I’ll check your blog. As for commenting I have a long list for doing comments on different blogs so I can’t promise that I’ll comment on yours very soon.
Thank you for the visit and comment.
Vance