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Helping Others Helps You

Written by: Don Doman

Article Overview: Make a list of your clients to keep at your desk. Also, keep directories of organizations you belong to. Review these lists frequently so you know what people do. These people are your contacts. They need your help. By helping them you also help yourself.

Helping Others Helps You

Everyone in business needs information. A business owner only has so much time, so it would be easy to miss industry news that affects them, or even more devastating, they could miss an opportunity to make a profit. You can help.

Make a list of your clients to keep at your desk. Also, keep directories of organizations you belong to. Review these lists frequently so you know what people do. These people are your contacts. They need your help. By helping them you also help yourself.

For yourself, you should already be reading the local papers every day. In addition you should read USA Today and the Wall Street Journal. Read headlines on internet news services for breaking news as well. As you find something that affects a contact, copy or print out the information. Then you simply mail the information to your friend or client. You mail this so there is a hard copy that reaches their desk. Add a line like, “I thought you might find this useful.” Be sure to sign it. You find the information to help them. You send the copy to help you.

Okay, now what are you looking for? Nothing in particular, everything in relation. Be selective.

Here are some examples of what I’ve done:

I’ve sent notices of job bids for new school windows to a client that sells and installs commercial glass
I’ve sent notes to real estate developers on property they may have missed
I’ve sent articles about new businesses to insurance agents
I’ve sent comments about community action to clients who sit on various boards of directors
I’ve sent a book review on unions to a friend in HR who works on contracts with several unions

As you can see, what you send out varies by what you find. Now, you are not your own clipping service. Don’t spend a ton of time on this, but as you read be thinking about others.

What you don’t want to do is send a whole bunch of mail to the same people. You’ll look like you’re doing this for a living OR worse, yet; you’ll look like this is advertising yourself. Keep in mind, that all you’re really doing is finding valuable information for people whom you think will benefit and then sending that information to them. You are sharing.

By helping others do better in business and the community, you will be rewarded as well. Individuals appreciate and remember people that look out for them.

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Related Forum Posts
Re: Quote of the Day - "No man can become rich without himself e - I wholeheartedly agree! Helping others is a great way to help yourself, by bringing more meaning to your life.
Re: What to do at the first roadblock? - GT said, I think seeing that the glass (i.e. market or opportunity) is only half full is a good mindset to have rather than looking at the sheer number of competitors. I would have to agree. I think this is a great thing to think about in almost any situation, whether home or business. As I mentioned, attitude is 95% of the battle. Keeping it positive is the only way to get the things you really want in life. Helping others helps, too. See the quote in my signature.
Social Media Marketing Category... - I agree that a social media marketing category would be useful and added my vote. I would include "bookmarking" sites in the mix as well. Such a category would be useful for several reasons: 1. Talking about SMM, its purpose and networking strategies and tips. 2. Discussion of the various SMM sites. 3. New about new sites and developments. 4. Helping to build each others SMM networks.
Re: Auto-DM's on Twitter - Auto DM's can be bad if you include links in them. If you want to utilize the auto DM feature I would suggest only sending "automatic" message to new followers. You want to keep it short and to the point and absolutely no links. If you send links to people right off the hop they are more likely just delete the message rather than read it. You have to build trust in your followers before you start trying to get them to navigate to another page through links even if your offering them something "free". Your message should look something like, "Thanks for the follow, Look forward to your tweets" or something like that. If you want to give away your e-book just Tweet it or you can start conversations with people, build their trust then offer them the e-book. Hope this Helps. Dallas.
7 words or less for Structogram - Some "7 words or less" (more or less) for Structogram for your comments: Training to get your message across(6) Secrets to get your message across (6) Training so people will listen to you (7) Helping you get your message across (6) Training to learn to get your message across (8) Communications training for yourself and your team (7)


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