Author Archive

Our next meeting is on Friday, November 19, 2010 at 9:30 am at the Hampton’s Restaurant. Take a look at our members directory to see which business category is open, and then open your address book to see if you could bring a client, friend or supplier who might be interested in joining us.

See you all there!

Linkedin is one of the most important online networking sites for professionals, with 80 million members worldwide*. If you’re not a member yet, please check out my Linkedin profile and join today.

I’ve been actively using this networking site for just over two years now. Today I can safely say that my business would be significantly different without it, as I use Linkedin to generate about 20% of my business income. About half of that is comes from existing clients, and the other half represents new business coming from new clients.

Although Linkedin can be used for job search, or simply to join alumni networks and groups, I will share some of my tips and strategies on how to use Linkedin to boost your business, especially if you’re a self-employed service professional.

Part of my business here at the iBizAcademy is teaching and coaching and as many who have attended my live workshops and seminars testify, I teach social networking in plain English, so that even technophobes can apply the new skills immediately.

How To Use Linkedin Polls to Help You Make Better Business Decisions

There are many ways to use Linkedin to grow your client base, but today I will focus on one, lesser-known “application” called Linkedin Polls.

As I always do in my workshops, I will use a real-life example of how I used Linkedin Polls to leverage the collective wisdom and experience business professionals to help me make my own business decisions.

When I started hosting my live training seminars, I thought that weekdays would probably work best, and I picked the 10am-1pm time slot. I figured by 10am people can finish their morning chores, such as driving kids to school, and be ready for business. However, when I started promoting my seminars, occasionally I’d get a reply from someone who is interested in attending but the time didn’t work for them, so they asked if I did any evening classes.

Well, this got me thinking that perhaps my own preferences may not be the same as other peoples’. So how can you figure out what other people think? Ask them! I used the Linkedin Poll application and asked them one simple question: If you have 3 hours to invest in a training seminar to help you boost your business, WHEN would you be most likely to attend? I then sent the link to this poll to my connections and received 58 responses (20% of my connections responded). I was relieved to learn that 48% of respondents did in fact prefer the weekday 10am-1pm time!

So next time you need to make a business decision tap into the collective wisdom of Linkedin members.

To learn more about how to use Linkedin to get more clients subscribe to my blog, or join me at the next Linkedin to the Max! workshop.

*As of Oct. 2010

Our next meeting is on Friday, October 8, 2010 at 9:30 am at the Hampton’s Restaurant. Take a look at our members directory to see which business category is open, and then open your address book to see if you could bring a client, friend or supplier who might be interested in joining us.

See you all there!

Boris Mahovac R.G.D.

iBizAcademy - Social Media & Online Marketing For Small Business

Sign up for one of my upcoming business workshops

Our next meeting is on Friday, September 10, 2010 at 9:30 am at the Hampton’s Restaurant. Take a look at our members directory to see which business category is open, and then open your address book to see if you could bring a client, friend or supplier who might be interested in joining us.

See you all there!

In this video Eric Laffoley of Creative Discovery, shares a testimonial:

I came to this seminar with very little information on social networking — I thought it was something very confusing, and I’ve really have been avoiding it!

After completing the seminar, I understand the concept, I understand the value, and we’ll definitely move in this direction as far as expanding my business, expanding my client base, and ultimately, expanding the level of business I am going to do this year.

Learn more about what you can learn about generating leads and closing more sales! And remember, as a member of my networking circle you can save 15% off tuition — just use the discount code “net15″ in the shopping cart.

Boris Mahovac R.G.D.

iBizAcademy - Social Media & Online Marketing For Small Business

Sign up for one of my upcoming business workshops

Our next meeting is on Friday, May 21, 2010 at 9:30 am at Hampton’s Restaurant.

Make sure you invite a client, friend or supplier to join us.

See you all there!

Boris Mahovac R.G.D.

iBizAcademy - Social Media & Online Marketing For Small Business

Sign up for one of my upcoming business workshops

As if you needed any more reasons to attend one of my highly acclaimed business training seminars, I am adding another one: attend any Contacts2Clients business seminar in April, May or June, and you will be entered into a draw for a chance to win an Apple iPod Nano with video, a value of $190 (with tax included).

My 3-hour seminar will give you tools and knowledge to use the internet to generate leads, build relationships and close more deals using simple online marketing strategies: business blogging, social media networking and opt-in email marketing.

Click here to learn more about the seminar, see testimonials and to register

Contest rules are simple: attend one of my paid training seminars and each time you attend you will be entered to win the grand prize. The grand prize is one Apple iPod Nano in orange. Only one grand prize will be awarded at the final seminar in June when all attendees’ names will be entered into the draw. Your chances of winning the grand prize will depend on: how many times you attend a Contacts2Clients seminar, and on the total number of attendees. The prize will be drawn by computer at Random.org

Boris Mahovac R.G.D.

iBizAcademy - Social Media & Online Marketing For Small Business

Sign up for one of my upcoming business workshops

In this video Cheryl Scoffield of Executive Sales Support, shares a testimonial:

I’m here today at Boris Mahovac’s Contacts 2 Clients, how to use social networking and blogging — awesome! Every time I come to Boris’s event I always learn something I can apply right away in my business to help me drive traffic to my web site. So, it’s awesome, and I’d recommend that you come.

Learn more about what you can learn about generating leads and closing more sales! And remember, as a member of my networking circle you can save 20% off tuition — ask me how.

Boris Mahovac R.G.D.

iBizAcademy - Social Media & Online Marketing For Small Business

Sign up for one of my upcoming business workshops

Did you know that 80% of all sales now start as research on the Internet – are you doing your best so that your next ideal client can find you?

Join me and a small group of local business owners for an intensive 3-hour training session in Oakville.

After the seminar you will have learnt the A-B-C of my Contacts 2 Clients™ Integrated Marketing System. The A-B-C doesn’t mean “the basics”, but rather, you will be equipped with the knowledge and systems to:

• Attract Contacts by creating an effective online presence, using your blog site as your home base. I will show you how to create traffic to your site, how to make Google your new best friend, and how to use places like Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter to create followers and leads.
• Build Relationships by following up with your contacts, using automated email marketing messages; engaging in a conversation on social media sites; by unselfishly sharing your expertise and resources with the people who are interested in hearing what you have to say.
• Close More Deals By using email marketing strategies, and simple, but effective online ecommerce systems to sell your knowledge, services and products.

The training event is scheduled for March 23, 10am-1pm. Visit this page to learn more about my live business training event in Oakville today!

See the comments from the last seminar.

At the end of the seminar I will draw one lucky winner of a personal web site design and hosting package worth $110!

As a member of my networking circle you can save 20% by using this promo code in the shopping cart: network20

Boris Mahovac R.G.D.

iBizAcademy - Social Media & Online Marketing For Small Business

Sign up for one of my upcoming business workshops

This meeting will be closed to the public. Only members are allowed to attend this 90-minute training session on business blogging and online marketing.

Members, please make sure you mark your calendars to attend this important free seminar.

Boris Mahovac R.G.D.

iBizAcademy - Social Media & Online Marketing For Small Business

Sign up for one of my upcoming business workshops