Secrets. The best ones are those that are shared, such as secrets of success.
Sharing secrets is what made the round table discussions for Public Relations Individuals in Southern Maryland (PRISM) August meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn, Solomons such a resounding success. Public relations and marketing colleagues spilled their finest as they shared best secrets to successful networking, a successful PR/marketing activity in the past year and favorite resources for tapping into ideas.
To love what you are doing so you can promote it well is a top secret ingredient to success offered by Eileen Miller, marketing manager of Sotterley. As she shared insight on “Building Events in a Down Economy” to open the round table discussions, Miller credited much of the success of Sotterley’s building its attendance over the past year to the faces and voices of the historic landmark. Those elements include the unshakeable enthusiasm and knowledge of a strong executive director, a committed board of trustees, the power of strong committees, partnering with other organizations, working the plan, and making the effort for achieving a “Human Touch” at all events which translates into genuinely speaking with as many visitors as possible.
Other secrets flowed freely at the round tables. Terry Ressler, corporate communications manager at SMECO, came away with, “talk to people in similar organizations from different parts of the country. You can get ideas on what works, but you won’t be competing with them.” She also appreciated the recommendation to register with industry-specific listservs as they are favorite sources for inspiration as well as for advice and assistance.
On the topic of networking, the round table discussions included secrets such as to be a resource, talk to everyone, ask for referrals, and combine face-to-face networking with electronic media efforts. Overwhelmingly, the participants shared that their secrets to successful networking are to be genuine, and don’t focus on selling services but rather concentrate on really meeting people.
While this gathering was a power lunch to share secrets, another networking event also demonstrated the power of sharing knowledge. The eighth annual women’s equality day event, “Excelling in this Economy,” hosted by Congressman Steny Hoyer in Waldorf on Tuesday had as an opening activity women speed-networking to exchange as many business cards as possible within 20 minutes. Watching the women go to task, loaded with stacks of cards, Hoyer told them, “Networking is about exchanging information and empowering each other through that exchange.”
By the end, most had connected with 10 individuals, some 20 and others upwards to 30. The winner, Candice Carter, community outreach liaison for Visiting Angels, Senior Homecare by Angels, won with 40 business cards in-hand. When she left at the end of the breakfast, still networking, she had 44. What is her secret to successful networking? “An outgoing personality helps,” she smiled.
Why this emphasis on networking? Sue Apple, facilitator of the speed activity and president of Great Coupons!, explained, “When someone from today calls and says, ‘I met you briefly at Congressman Hoyer’s Equality Day Event, may I tell you more about my organization?’, I would encourage us to be kind and take a moment to talk with them. Think about the ripple effect if each one of us would just help one other person; think of the incredible effect we can have on our community. We need to use our circle of influence to help one another in this economy.”
PR Tip of the Month
It’s not just what you know. It’s not just who you know. It’s how you combine the two and share both that breeds success for you and others. If knowledge is power, then exchanging information and resources within your networks will be empowering for all of us.
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