tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90942667962202359992024-02-19T04:38:28.540-08:00NTAPNorth Texas Area professionals is a business networking group designed to build business relationships and strengthen our community. Feel free to post anything business related to our blog. Website links, job postings, networking events, ect. We are looking for blog authors now just email myntap@yahoo.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-7893322025933707072013-04-01T01:00:00.000-07:002013-04-01T01:00:02.499-07:00Using Social Media for Customer Serviceby <a href="http://www.afterinteractive.com/">After Interactive</a><br />
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Finding new customers for any business is always a good way to grow your company. However, a good business professional can't forget to keep their current customers. These customers can serve as ambassadors for your company and also buy additional services/products. Social media is a great platform to use for offering great customer service to keep your current customers happy. What are some ways social media can be used for customer service?<br />
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<li><b>Real Time Help</b> - People use social media at all times of the day whether its the middle of the day or the middle of the afternoon. In addition, people expect a prompt response through social media. For example, a customer may post on a coffee shop's Facebook what time they open in the morning. Leaving this question unanswered may cause this individual to take their business elsewhere. </li>
<li><b>Rewards</b> - If someone decides to follow your company on social media, that means they're interested in what you have to say. However, don't just end the relationship by just giving them great content to engage with on social media. Reward these individuals. If you have a restaurant, offer them a coupon for a free appetizer since this will drive them to your business and buy more during that visit than just the appetizer. What about an IT services company? Offer a free white paper to executives who sign up to learn how to lower IT costs which your sales team can use to identify sales leads.</li>
<li><b>Evangelize</b> - The people that follow your company on social media want to hear from you and spread your message to others. Show them they made the right decision by creating engaging content that they will want to engage with in the form of a like, comment, or share. Each time they do that then the people in the social media network will see this which will give your company greater visibility. </li>
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Keeping your current customers through great customer service will help grow your company because they will tell others about your business and buy more from you. <a href="http://www.afterinteractive.com/">Social media marketing</a> is the best way to use to keep your customers happy. If done right, social media can be the most the effective way to grow your business by keeping your current customers happy.<br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-37593921517667908492013-03-01T01:00:00.000-08:002013-03-01T01:00:03.243-08:00Why Your Business Needs A Social Media Strategyby <a href="http://www.afterinteractive.com/">After Interactive</a><br />
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When was the last time you made the decision to go on vacation? You probably had a specific location you wanted to visit, knew how to get there, and how long you were going to be there. In essence, you had developed a strategy in order for this vacation to actually happen. However, many companies seem to think operating without a strategy is the way to go. Why does it make sense for a company to have a social media strategy in place? Here are a few reasons:<br />
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<li><b>Goals</b> - Just like going on vacation, if you don't know where you're going how do you know when you've gotten there? What are your companies goals? Perhaps its having people sign up for free trial offers or fill out a survey your sales team can use to follow up as a lead. Determining what your company's goals will lay the foundation for how you get there as well as how you know you've gotten there.</li>
<li><b>Resources</b> - If you're planning a trip to Europe from the US you know you can either fly or take a ship whereas driving is not an option. When planning your company's social media strategy, you'll need to determine how you're going to achieve them. If your company targets CFOs of banks, <a href="http://www.afterinteractive.com/linkedin-its-not-just-for-finding-a-job/">LinkedIn is the ideal platform to target these business professionals</a>. Perhaps your company makes wedding dresses for soon to be brides. This means Instagram may be the best platform to focus your company's efforts on.</li>
<li><b>Measurement</b> - If you can't measure it, don't do it. Since social media marketing is essentially Internet marketing, tracking metrics for success is relatively easy to do. If your company is an ecommerce business, tracking online traffic from social media and tracking sales can be used to determine success. How about a commercial real estate services company? Perhaps having your receptionist keep track of incoming calls and how they heard about your company is one way to measure success. </li>
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Just like you plan an upcoming vacation, developing a strategy for your company's social media efforts will be the only way to achieve success. Without a strategy, it would be like if you got in your car trying to drive to Europe. You wouldn't do something as irrational as this in your personal life. Why would your company do something similar?<br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-19095883496984319542013-02-01T01:00:00.000-08:002013-02-01T01:00:08.372-08:00The Difference Between B2B & B2C Social Media Strategyby <a href="http://www.afterinteractive.com/">After Interactive </a><br />
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The way a retail store and an IT services company markets and ultimately acquires customers are completely different. The same things carries over to social media marketing. However, just like in marketing their are significant differences in marketing and finding customers if you sell to consumers as a business-to-consumer (B2C) company versus selling to businesses as a business-to-business (B2B) company. What are these differences when it comes to social media marketing?<br />
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<li><b>Focus on Platform</b> - For a B2B company, marketing takes a spray and pray approach. As a result, Facebook serves as the best platform for this. However, since B2B companies have specific industries, companies, and decision makers they target, LinkedIn serves as the best platform to achieve this type of targeted marketing.</li>
<li><b>Positioning</b> - For a restaurant, it's important to be considered as a location that has a great atmosphere for you to come to after work to have a couple of beers. However, for a B2B company the focus is to be positioned as a thought leader in your industry. Why? Because at the end of the day your customers want to know you have the answers they need.</li>
<li><b>ROI</b> - Sales are an ultimate indicator of success for any marketing initiative. However, for a retail store it can take a lot of immediate sales to recoup the expense for social media marketing. Therefore, PR & branding becomes the primary focus of social media ROI for a B2C company. However, for a B2B company the ultimate ROI is measured in terms of sales leads which can be converted to actual sales. </li>
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Many <a href="http://www.afterinteractive.com/whats-the-difference-between-b2b-and-b2c-social-media-marketing/">B2C and B2B companies</a> recognize the inherent differences in marketing and customer acquisition. However, when it comes to social media marketing many companies seem to think what works for a retail store will work for a commercial real estate company. Know the differences and start using social media to grow your business. <br /></div>
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-35599432148120300092013-01-22T19:25:00.000-08:002013-01-22T19:25:52.001-08:00Insurance Blog Of The FutureAs founder of the NTAP group I try to shy away from any self promotion and let this blog be used for our members and other great companies that have information to share. I have spent the last few months working on a new blog for my insurance business and I wanted to share it with you. <br />
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Let's be honest insurance is a BORING topic for the general public. I mean really when was the last time you took enjoyment in having a good insurance conversation? I be the answer is NEVER!!!! It's okay I get it. I am weird and find insurance awesome, which is why I do it and I'm good at it. <br />
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I created a blog that I hoped would be informative, entertaining, and engaging all at the same time. I think I have been able to accomplish that with the new blog I call Insurance With Sean. Okay I can't take all the credit...Ryan Stewman of <a href="http://www.hardcorecloser.com/">www.hardcorecloser.com</a> helped me with the concept, design, and well pretty much everything but HEY that's what he does. He can't sell insurance any more than I can be a marketing guru. That's why I hire him for marketing and he hires me for insurance. <br />
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<a href="http://www.insurancewithsean.com/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO SEE MY NEW BLOG!!</a><br />
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I hope you will take a few minutes and share the site with those that you know. My goal is to have this be a place for people to go to get a good laugh, see top producers, and learn a thing or two about insurance in Texas. <br />
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Sean Matheis<br />
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<a href="http://www.insurancewithsean.com/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO SEE MY NEW BLOG!!</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-61195801534644553472013-01-06T18:38:00.001-08:002013-01-06T18:38:12.586-08:00Madison Hildebrand Networks With NTAPWe have grown so much in the past 12 months. Our membership is up over 400% since our inception. I am so thankful for the past 12 months and all those who have so generously supported our events. We have been able to close over 500 referrals and support a number of non-profits with our donations. We had 331 professionals attend the year end event with Madison Hildebrand (Star of the hit tv series Million Dollar Listing LA). Madison wasn't the only celebrity that hit the red carpets with us we also had Tara Harper (star of the hit tv series Most Eligible Dallas), SaraBeth Swagerty (Country Music Star), Detective Gomez (from the hit tv series Cheeters), Ron Corning (WFAA Day Break), Mrs. Texas 2012 Kayla Wharton, Mrs. Texas United Belinda Ramsey, and many more. <br />
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We had a number of CEO's top income earners, sales professionals, the best of the best in real estate that DFW has to offer were also there. We are dedicated to brining out the most elite guest list that networking has to offer. You never know who you may just run into at our events so make sure you are at all of them that you can. you can find us at:<br />
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<a href="http://www.ntap.biz/" target="_blank">www.ntap.biz</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.ntapevetns.com/" target="_blank">www.ntapevetns.com</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/myntap" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/myntap</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/ntaptv" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/ntaptv</a><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-68178821223608660352013-01-01T01:00:00.000-08:002013-01-01T01:00:01.437-08:00Measuring Social Media ROI<div>
by <a href="http://www.afterinteractive.com/">After Interactive</a> </div>
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The goal of a business is to make a profit. Therefore the strategies, tactics, and tools it uses should be used to help achieve that goal. The question a good business owner asks is how do you measure the Return On Investment? The same should be said when it comes to social media marketing. Many so called "gurus" speak about brand engagement, gamification, and engagement as if they were a snake oil salesman. However, you're running a business and not a social media frat house. So how is social media ROI measured? Below are a few social media metrics to go by:<br />
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<li><b>Website Traffic</b> - Your company's website serves as the online storefront for your business. The quantity and quality of traffic that social media sends to your website is an indicator of sales opportunities being sent to your company. </li>
<li><b>Market Reach</b> - The more people that follow your business on social media signifies your business is getting more visibility. In essence, these are sales potential sales opportunities that need to be cultivated and converted. </li>
<li><b>Sales</b> - This is typically the ultimate metric of success for any business using social media. Depending on the type of business you're in, there are a few ways to track sales. Either by asking customers how they heard about you, tracking form fills on your website, or asking your customers when they come into your business how they heard about you, tracking revenue from social media is highly dependent on the type of business you are operating. </li>
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Determining the ROI of any initiative is crucial to determine if a company's dollars are being spent properly. <a href="http://www.afterinteractive.com/">Social media marketing</a> should be approached the same way to determine if it's actually effective for your company. If you can't measure it, why do it?<br /><br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-63795487127329742372012-12-01T01:00:00.000-08:002012-12-01T01:00:10.646-08:00Using Social Media to Boost SEOby <a href="http://www.afterinteractive.com/">After Interactive</a><br />
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Many potential customers use search engines like Google to find services / products they may need. Therefore it becomes important that your website is optimized for search engines like Google. By focusing your website's content and architecture around keyphrases your customers are looking for, you can ensure your business is as visible as possible online. In addition, it will also be able to get customers from these search queries. However, social media can actually be used to boost a company's website searchability. How?<br />
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<li><b>Keyphrases</b> - Search engines are programmed to determine what content on a webpage is about. By focusing on keywords and embedding keywords in your company's social media efforts you will make it easier for search engines to determine what your content is about. This means it will be easier for search engines to deliver your content in the search results of your potential customers.</li>
<li><b>Shareability</b> - Make your content as helpful as possible to your target audience. By doing this you increase the possibility of your potential customers sharing your content with others. This increases visibility and builds a spider web of links that search engines like to crawl.</li>
<li><b>Blogs</b> - Platforms like this are a great opportunity for a few reasons. First, it gives your opportunity to create shareable content. Second, you have the ability to link back to your website which search engines will give increased value to versus the websites of your competitors. Finally, by focusing on keywords your <a href="http://www.afterinteractive.com/5-b2b-blogging-tips/">blogs</a> will make it easier for search engines to figure out what and to whom to deliver your content to in search results. </li>
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By using social media to deliver more search traffic to your website, your business will gain more visibility. Through more visibility your company will gain new customers which is what it's all about. Isn't it?<br /><br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-86931235666371213022012-11-01T18:15:00.000-07:002012-11-22T18:51:33.034-08:00What Social Media Strategy Is Suppose to Deliver<br />
by <a href="http://www.afterinteractive.com/">After Interactive</a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I9ZGlJf-hZg/UKr1uMvwukI/AAAAAAAAAAM/V5D-C96DDDQ/s1600/MP910220759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I9ZGlJf-hZg/UKr1uMvwukI/AAAAAAAAAAM/V5D-C96DDDQ/s200/MP910220759.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Many business professionals are pitched to by social media "gurus" talking about abstract principles that may not make any sense but still fall to the spell of fancy new age words. When being pitched by these so called "gurus", business owners have to remember one thing: they are running a business not a social media frat house. Any marketing effort has to grow the business and have a <a href="http://www.afterinteractive.com/b2b-social-media-metrics/">metric based ROI</a>. So when it comes to social media marketing, what should the results actually look like? Below is an email we recently sent to a satisfied client showing the results we delivered to them in a short amount of time.<br />
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<i>Dear Client,</i><br />
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<i>As promised, here are a few facts to cover how social media has affected your marketing and website results over the last 3 months:</i><br />
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<i><b>Website:</b></i><br />
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<i>Last 3 months compared to last year:</i><br />
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<i>Visits 1,459.65% increase</i><br />
<i>Unique Visitors 1,365.00% increase Pageviews 889.90% increase</i><br />
<i>New Visitor 62.65% increase Returning Visitor 37.35% increase</i><br />
<i>Visits via Social Referral 8,900.00% increase</i><br />
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<i><b>Facebook:</b></i><br />
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<i>458 Fans (we took over when you had about 150)</i><br />
<i>98% of of Fans are female and located in or around the Metroplex!</i><br />
<i>Reached over 60,000 people</i><br />
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<i><b>Twitter:</b></i><br />
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<i>167 Followers (we took over when you had about 25)</i><br />
<i>48 Direct Interactions with Posts</i><br />
<i>Lots of PR and Exposure through groups like: Grapevine COC, City of Grapevine, CEO of Stroller Strides, and many others.</i><br />
<i>Since you have chosen to educate your audience through social media, your competition is following you as well!</i><br />
<i>Ads:</i><br />
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<i>1,526,019 Impressions</i><br />
<i>415 Clicks on Ads</i><br />
<i>148 Actions (Shares, Likes, or Clicks on Ads)</i><br />
<i>147 Page Likes (Liked your Facebook page)</i><br />
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<i><b>Leads:</b></i><br />
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<i>If each new lead is valued around an average of $72 (varies based on number of visits, etc..), then we have generated a value of $51,264 for your practice in a 3 month period….of which, one month was set up and event promotion…not lead generation.</i><br />
<i>These numbers speak volumes and we look forward to continue helping you grow your practice!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Sincerely,</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>After Interactive</i><br />
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The results above show what social media based on strategy and measured with metrics can produce. If your company's social media guru isn't producing results growing your business it may be time to show him/her the door.<br /><br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-9492562982534228822012-09-19T07:31:00.001-07:002012-09-19T07:31:18.558-07:00Ivan Misner Says " Great Referrals Aren't Accidents"<div class="banner printbody">
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Great Referrals Aren't Accidents</h1>
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Make networking part of your relationship-building strategy, and you'll see real results. </div>
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URL: <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/205378">http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/205378</a></h6>
Just like casting for fish, the process of meeting people, staying in touch, and then asking for their business is something that requires patience and practice.<br />
A few years ago, a long-standing member of a business networking organization was talking about canceling his membership--not because he wasn't getting enough referrals, but because his referrals were coincidental.<br />
That's right. Despite a full year of getting great referrals, Mike (names have been changed to protect the foolhardy) didn't feel the results proved that networking was a viable business strategy for getting more referrals. He felt that the business he got was based on "chance occurrences"--one person knowing another, who happened to know him--and despite the fact that he kept getting these referrals as a result of his networking contacts, it couldn't possibly last. So he left the group.<br />
Even though Mike's misguided reasoning led him down the wrong road, it raises a good question, and understanding the answer could help your business. The question is: Despite its chance nature, is networking something you can count on as a consistent means of getting more business? Of course it is.<br />
Mike's situation boiled down to two things--repeatability and understanding. His training told him that the way to get more business was to target a niche customer by calling people from a demographics-based list. If he didn't have enough business, he needed to make more calls. Exactly how many more? He could figure that out, too, because the amount of business he got was directly proportional to the number of people he talked to. It was a repeatable process that he fully understood.<br />
On the other hand, clients he got from referrals always had a story that he couldn't see being easily repeated. Sally knew Jim, who ran into Sue, who happened to be in his group and referred Mike the business. This understanding led Mike to conclude that the results were coincidental and couldn't possibly be repeated.<br />
Mike's reasoning wasn't entirely off-track, just flawed. If you focus on the specific people who gave you the referral, rather than the process and relationships that allowed it to happen, then it's unlikely you will consistently get more business from networking.<br />
But if you step back and ask, "Is it possible that somebody will know someone else who's looking for my services and will give me that referral?" Well, there's that repeatability--especially if you focus on building relationships--because there's always a "somebody."<br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Networking Is a Long and Winding Road</span></span><br />When it comes to networking and passing referrals, it's not about who's giving what to whom, and it's hardly a straight line. If you're thinking, "For every referral I give, I can expect one in return," it's time to put that idea to rest. Reciprocity is nice, but networking just doesn't work that way.<br />
Think of referral-giving in the context of the Abundance Mindset, which is the awareness that there's more than enough business to go around. If you hear of a business opportunity that would be well-suited for a referral partner--in other words, not your kind of business--think of it as "excess business." When you pass this kind of excess business to others in the form of a referral, you'll wind up attracting more prospects who want to work with you.<br />
Call it a gift from the referral gods, but when you do good things for others, those good things have a way of making their way back to you--often from a different person or group of people. Even if it seems that you're not directly benefiting from the referrals you're giving others, take note of all the other business that just happens to come your way.<br />
<ul>
<li>The guy who stumbles across your website and gives you a call.</li>
<li>The old prospect you haven't heard from in months who suddenly wants to get together for lunch.</li>
<li>The inactive client who wants to renew his contract with you.</li>
</ul>
Even though it seems happenstance, some or all of these occurrences are likely to be new business you attracted by giving away excess business (in the form of referrals) to people you know.<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Network With a Net</span><br />Referral networking is a lot like catching fish by casting a net. Each fish comes to the net by a different path--each has a unique "story" that is not repeated. You don't focus on a particular fish and then try to get it to come to the net--in fact, you probably don't even see the fish until you pull in the net. Instead, you focus on the action of setting the net. You know that if you set your net correctly and consistently, fish will eventually come, no matter what path they take to get there.<br />
The same is true for getting referrals. You don't have to worry about how a specific referral got to you because you understand the process of setting your net.<br />
And the best part is your net can be working for you all the time. You don't have to be there whenever someone you know runs into someone else who could use your services--this means you can be "fishing" in many different ponds simultaneously and reaping tons of new business. This is especially true when you've become a referral gatekeeper and begin to get referrals not only from your own network of contacts but from the networks of others as well.<br />
When it comes to networking, there is no coincidence about referrals. They are the inevitable cumulative result of the day-to-day activities of relationship-building. And even though those efforts can't be measured as easily as cold calls, the results are far more powerful.<br /> <br />
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<a href="http://www.ivanmisner.com/" target="_blank">Ivan Misner</a> is founder and chairman of <a href="http://www.bni.com/" target="_blank">BNI</a>, a professional business networking organization headquartered in Upland, Calif. He is co-author, with Hazel Walker and Frank De Raffele, of <a href="http://bookstore.entrepreneur.com/Business-Networking-and-Sex-p/9781599184241.htm" target="_blank"><em>Business Networking and Sex: Not What You Think </em></a>(Entrepreneur Press, 2012).</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-7334273480278138512012-08-17T18:08:00.001-07:002012-08-17T18:08:21.302-07:00Selling Social Functions with Sean Matheis 07/25 by Ryan Stewman | Blog Talk Radio<a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/salesfinesse/2012/07/25/sales-finesse-radio#.UC7q1KY6Fsw.blogger">Selling Social Functions with Sean Matheis 07/25 by Ryan Stewman | Blog Talk Radio</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-68232273065942555952012-05-04T05:46:00.000-07:002012-05-04T05:46:16.262-07:00N.T.A.P. - Elite Power Mixer (May) ALoft - Frisco<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRZHZVYAjInFzFBGxcArVUeeKvsfH5g3l7BQoPQb1LnCtH9rRFbkmp0u7H4434b9TVo4RaJjrbGI4iIBPKxmU2W-5y3gSOUuUyNBaL5Y7gwLjfTfv8Vtuv5BNY_jM-aIQRatJv3Y0dPZ4/s1600/kickoff+bw+candid+good+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRZHZVYAjInFzFBGxcArVUeeKvsfH5g3l7BQoPQb1LnCtH9rRFbkmp0u7H4434b9TVo4RaJjrbGI4iIBPKxmU2W-5y3gSOUuUyNBaL5Y7gwLjfTfv8Vtuv5BNY_jM-aIQRatJv3Y0dPZ4/s320/kickoff+bw+candid+good+shot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is a dynamic group of professionals that meet monthly in an effort to build better relationships. You involvement in NTAP puts you among the elite in networking and in business. Our group consist of a diverse member base representing dozens of business catagories.</div>
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Banking<br />Finance<br />Insurance<br />Real Esate<br />Title<br />Attorney's<br />Accounting<br />M&A Firms<br />Contractors<br />IT Solutions<br />and many more</div>
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If you could use a few more contacts in your roladex this is hands down the largest mixer in the area. We regularly host over 100 professionals a month so make sure you bring PLENTY of business cards. Once you get plugged into NTAP you will make lasting and profitable referral alliances. Bring a friend...they will thank you.</div>
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*** THIS IS OUR VERY FIRST FREE MIXER!!!! SPREAD THE WORD.</div>
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For sponsorship / Vendors inquire email MYNTAP@YAHOO.COM</div>
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This month will be held at the upscale Aloft Hotel in Frisco. A brand new venue for NTAP.</div>
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<br />SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PLATINUM PARTNER:<br />RELIANT MORTGAGE (JIM LOUGHBOROUGH)<br />www.reliantmortgage.com</div>
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PHOTOS @<br />www.ntap.biz<br />www.facebook.com/myntap<br />www.youtube.com/ntaptv</div>
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Chapter Directors:</div>
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DJ Jones - Commercial Banking<br />Philip Hooks- Insurance<br />Matt Herleman - Financial Advisor</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-15559118509779437012012-04-28T20:56:00.000-07:002012-04-28T20:56:14.235-07:00American Marketing Association Dallas - North Texas Area Professionals<br />
<div class="headEvents">
<h1>
DFW American Marketing Association Dallas Meet & Greet</h1>
</div>
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Join us at Sambuca 360 in Plano for an evening of great marketing
conversations. Sambuca 360 is an American grill that features moderately priced
comfort food and live music nightly. Enjoy appetizers and register for the
chance to win a door prize of "dinner for two." Valet parking is complimentary.
<br />
<ul class="eventsPaidCosts" sizcache="804" sizset="0">
<li>Free for members, pre-registered nonmembers pay $10, $15 at the door</li>
</ul>
<div class="paidInfo">
Victor Su<br />www.dfwama.com<br /><a href="mailto:Vick233j@gmail.com">Vick233j@gmail.com</a> </div>
</div>
<div class="eventsLogo_paidColumn" sizcache="4" sizset="0">
<dl>
<dt>When:
</dt>
<dd>
Thursday, May 03, 2012 <br />
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.<br />
</dd>
<dt>Where:
</dt>
<dd>
Sambuca 360 <br />7200 Bishop Road <br />Plano TX </dd></dl>
</div>
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<dl>
<dt>Website:
</dt>
<dd>
<a href="http://www.dfwama.eventbrite.com/" target="_blank">www.dfwama.eventbrite.com</a><br />
<br />
**This is not an NTAP meeting however you want to make sure you can find other good events that we endorse as a place for you to build your connections in DFW. </dd></dl>
</div>
</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-54253173110023247702012-04-09T18:48:00.000-07:002012-04-09T18:48:30.824-07:00BETSY ALLEN- Characteristics of Top Producers (North Texas Area Professionals)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">BETSY ALLEN Joins Nort Texas Area Professionals </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Get MOTIVATED WITH NTAP! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ntap.biz/">http://www.ntap.biz/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/2o2wB44U-Cg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-56201056399319679182012-03-20T05:29:00.000-07:002012-03-20T05:29:45.289-07:00March Mixer Video Promo (N.T.A.P)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/-ENvIIQLLoQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-41927592682854542952012-02-04T22:02:00.000-08:002012-02-04T22:02:14.125-08:00Sean Matheis - Dallas Biz Journal<a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/potmsearch/detail/submission/276561/Sean_Matheis" target="_blank">Executive People On The Move - Dallas Business Journal </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-25852107160494953242011-12-21T09:27:00.001-08:002011-12-21T09:27:39.173-08:00NTAP MEMBERS HAVE WINGMEN! JOIN US....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/6ugDLjaT8WY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-46665246491798611382011-12-01T20:04:00.000-08:002011-12-01T20:06:56.144-08:00IT MANAGED SERVICES- MOLLY ADAIR<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUoCbd35zDyUZVtaxYMcyUP9lFStr0wLvqXbEjHqJPOSVVHmeG0McdjPskFAq7Pn3hSXUfJyceMQv3CANA2SvhT5tZjmuGaN2a5_-B6rOBUxK7OaxKkydmWkOsYCozoS0PygAbQPXcwc7/s1600/westmorelad.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUoCbd35zDyUZVtaxYMcyUP9lFStr0wLvqXbEjHqJPOSVVHmeG0McdjPskFAq7Pn3hSXUfJyceMQv3CANA2SvhT5tZjmuGaN2a5_-B6rOBUxK7OaxKkydmWkOsYCozoS0PygAbQPXcwc7/s1600/westmorelad.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="color: yellow;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><u><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.5pt;">Here's a few facts from The Sacramento Bee and Insight Research Corp., November 30, 2011…</span></u></b></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">-Buying a suite of <b>Managed Services</b> can get the enterprise around the complexity – the local IT manager can outsource the most </span></i></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">difficult tasks to a service provider, and probably get the <u>job done faster and at a lower cost</u>. </span></i></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">-Market research report notes, that in this period of slow economic growth and reduced spending on basic telecommunications and IT services, many enterprises will find that purchasing <b>Managed Services</b> is a cost-effective alternative to increasing annual staffing. The study predicts that revenues associated with the <b>Managed Services</b> market will nearly double from nearly $140 billion in 2012 to $266 billion in 2016.</span></i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Stay connected with Westland Bunker for more facts and news on the future of your office IT. Please feel free to contact me for more information and have a Happy Holiday!</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: orange;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><shape alt="" id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 38.25pt; width: 169.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:href="cid:6FDF52A4-6AB5-4122-AA39-AD1C7E3DC5B7" src="file:///C:\Users\n0208479\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png"></imagedata></shape><span style="color: orange;"></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="color: yellow; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Molly Adair</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="color: yellow; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Account Executive – Managed Services</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Westland Bunker</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Office: 936-582-5900</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="mailto:Molly@westlandbunker.com">Molly@westlandbunker.com</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://www.westlandbunker.com/">http://www.westlandbunker.com/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/adairmolly">http://www.linkedin.com/in/adairmolly</a></span></div><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><shape alt="Description: cid:image001.png@01CC6D4F.00F1C3B0" id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" style="height: 31.5pt; width: 216.75pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:href="cid:2036ECD6-08BB-4D41-861F-27B35E836E33" src="file:///C:\Users\n0208479\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.png"></imagedata></shape></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-68035973576154178682011-11-28T17:08:00.000-08:002012-10-10T11:04:20.559-07:00NTAP LINKS (north texas area professionals)We have made it easy for you to connect with NTAP, the leader in business networking. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ntap.biz/">www.ntap.biz</a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/myntap">www.facebook.com/myntap</a><br />
<a href="http://www.meetup.com/myntap">www.meetup.com/myntap</a><br />
<a href="http://www.meetup.com/ntap-dallas">www.meetup.com/ntap-dallas</a><br />
<a href="http://www.meetup.com/ntap-planoeast">www.meetup.com/ntap-planoeast</a><br />
<a href="http://www.meetup.com/ntap-plano-west">www.meetup.com/ntap-plano-west</a><br />
<a href="http://www.meetup.com/ntap-addison">www.meetup.com/ntap-addison</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Twitter @MYNTAP<br />
<a href="mailto:myntap@yahoo.com">myntap@yahoo.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-79757732335518339232011-11-11T06:56:00.001-08:002011-11-11T06:56:24.979-08:00Stocks To Watch This FridayWASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Among the stocks that could see active trading in Friday’s session are E-Trade Financial Corp., Nordstrom Inc. and Walt Disney Co.<br />
<br />
It’s a decidedly slow day for earnings for a change, with D.R. Horton Inc. (XNYS:DHI - News) likely to get the most scrutiny. Atlantic Power Corp. (XNYS:AT - News) and Box Ships Inc.(XNYS:TEU - News) also are on Friday’s calendar.<br />
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E-Trade Financial (XNAS:ETFC - News) culminated a months-long process of evaluating strategic options for the online broker, saying it wouldn’t put itself up for sale despite the urging of hedge fund Citadel LLC, the New York-based company’s largest shareholder. In a statement late Thursday, E-Trade gave no reason why its board “unanimously determined that the continued execution of the company’s business plan is currently the best alternative for increasing stockholder value.” Goldman Sachs & Co., the company’s financial advisor, made the recommendation to the E-Trade board. Said Steven Freiberg, chief executive and interim chairman: “We will remain focused on delivering the best investing experience to our customers, strengthening our brokerage business, continuing to improve the performance of our loan portfolio and enhancing our franchise.”<br />
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Along with reporting results for the third quarter ended October 29, high-end retailer Nordstrom (XNYS:JWN - News) narrowed its full-year earnings outlook to a range of $3.05 to $3.10 a share, as opposed to $2.95 to $3.10 a share previously, with growth in same-store sales pegged at about 6%. The consensus of analysts surveyed by FactSet Research had been for the Seattle-based company to earn $3.14 a share for the year ending in January, however.<br />
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Confirming earlier media reports, Caterpillar Inc. (XNYS:CAT - News) made a pre-conditional voluntary offer to acquire ERA Mining Machinery Ltd. (XHKG:8043.HK - News), a manufacturer of equipment used to mine coal underground in China. Peoria, Ill.-based Caterpillar and ERA Mining jointly announced the acquisition bid in a statement to the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. It reportedly carries a value of about $887 million. Caterpillar’s management is on record as having identified doing more in the mining industry as a key business objective for the Dow Jones Industrial Average component.<br />
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Chesapeake Granite Wash Trust (XNYS:CHKR) priced an initial public offering of 20 million common units at a price of $19 each, Chesapeake Energy Corp. (XNYS:CHK - News) said late Thursday. Completion of the IPO is anticipated on Nov. 16, with underwriters having the option to buy up to 3 million additional units of Chesapeake Granite Wash Trust if investor demand warrants. Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy will own a beneficial interest in the trust of about 57% it there is no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units.<br />
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Kennedy-Wilson Holdings Inc. (XNYS:KW - News) priced a public offering of 6 million common shares at $11 each, yielding the real estate investment and services company net proceeds of about $62.3 million. The Beverly Hills, Calif.-based company said it expects to use the proceeds to repay borrowings under its revolving credit facility and for working capital and general corporate purposes, including future acquisitions and investments. Terms of the offering, expected to close Nov. 16, including granting underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 900,000 additional shares if demand warrants.<br />
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Amerigroup Corp. (XNYS:AGP - News) priced $400 million of senior notes due 2019 and said it expects to realize net proceeds of about $394 million. The company plans to apply the proceeds toward repaying the outstanding aggregate principal amount of its 2% convertible senior notes due May 15, 2012, with the remainder going for general corporate purposes. The 2019 notes will pay interest twice a year at a rate of 7.5% annually effective May 15, 2012. The offering is expected to close on or about Nov. 16, the Virginia Beach, Va.-based company said.<br />
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Thursday earnings recap<br />
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Burbank, Calif.-based Dow component Disney (XNYS:DIS - News) reported a profit of $1.09 billion, or 58 cents a share, for the fourth quarter ended Oct. 1, up from $835 million, or 45 cents, earned in the final three months of fiscal 2010. Quarterly revenue reached nearly $10.43 billion from $9.74 billion. Excluding one-time items, the company would have earned 59 cents a share in the latest quarter. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had, on average, been expecting a profit of 54 cents a share on revenue of $10.36 billion. Read more on Walt Disney Co.’s results.<br />
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Nvidia Corp. (XNAS:NVDA - News) reported third-quarter earnings of 35 cents a share on an adjusted basis, on revenue of $1.07 billion. The results came in ahead of the average estimates of analysts who follow the chip maker — 27 cents a share and $1.06 billion, respectively. Net earnings generated by Santa Clara, Calif.-based Nvidia were $178.3 million, or 29 cents a share, up from $84.9 million or 15 cents, earned in the 2010 third quarter. For the current quarter, Nvidia said it expects revenue to be “relatively flat, plus or minus 2% from the third quarter,” which would imply a range of roughly $1.05 billion to $1.09 billion; the FactSet-compiled analyst consensus stand at $1.06 billion.<br />
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Third-quarter results showed Molycorp Inc. (XNYS:MCP - News) swinging to a third-quarter profit of $48.4 million, or 52 cents a share, from a loss of $10.1 million or 15 cents a share, in the same period a year earlier. Excluding items, the miner of rare-earth minerals would have earned 67 cents, as quarterly revenue rose to $138.1 million from $8.5 million. On average, analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had been looking for an adjusted profit of 70 cents a share on revenue of $162 million. The Greenwood village, Colo.-based company also said modernization and expansion at its Mountain Pass, Calif., facility has been accelerated, with a Phase 1 production run rate of 19,050 metric tons per year now projected for Sept. 30, 2012, three months earlier than previously foreseen.<br />
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*published by AP yahoo financeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094266796220235999.post-55418353509694905252011-11-08T21:56:00.001-08:002011-11-08T21:56:54.891-08:00North Texas Area Professionals (NTAP)North Texas Area Professionals (NTAP) Is a professional networking group that is dedicated to helping professionals and busienss owners grow their market share. We cater to professionals between 25-40yrs of age but welcome all. We understand that relationships are the best way to grow your client base and we strive to provide a relaxed forum to foster these relationships and create new ones at the same time.<br />
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