As the 2008 year flies past us we invite you once again to attend the next Sydney ZaaBiz Infusion Networking Night which will feature guest speaker Andy Jamieson.

Undeniably the words ‘online marketing’ appear in just about every company’s marketing strategy today. Getting your head around what’s on offer, what it costs and how it will work for your business can sometimes be a headache. How did it all come about? This month we’re giving our guests the opportunity to hear from one of Australia’s most talented online marketing minds speak about ‘Online Marketing and the Search Revolution’.

Andy Jamieson is the founder and director of Switched On Media, a growing boutique search marketing agency based in Sydney, Australia. Working with blue chip clients such as Canon, ABC Broadcasting, Procter & Gamble along with a host of SMEs such as ZaaBiz, Mozo and Niseko Power Connection, Andy Jamieson is an industry recognized speaker who has featured at events like CeBIT, AIMIA and B&T Digital Marketing.

Andy’s talent with the online marketing and SEO industry has seen him through various roles within Fairfax Digital and later becoming the Online Marketing of eBay Australia. With so much to tell and share, ZaaBiz and Infusion invite you, your colleagues and friends to attend this month’s Networking Night. An informally relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, complimented with a great speaker you won’t want to miss this one!

Date: Thursday 28th August, 2008
Time: Doors open 6:30pm for networking with speaker action from 7:15pm, networking resumes from 7:45 – 9:30pm
Venue: Angel Hotel, Level 2, 125 Pitt Street, SYDNEY 02 9240 3000
Cost: $15 when you pre-register your attendance, otherwise $20 door charge applies. Payment is made in cash on the night.

We are making news again! 

Find out what Seth Yates of TechNation Australia has to say about ZaaBiz

after his interview with our CEO, Michael Brecht.

Read it here!

Remember: the key to networking is to be prepared!

You cannot just turn up to a networking event without a purpose and without a bit of preparation.

For those who are unsure, your purpose is to make new business connections and your preparation is your “15 second info-mercial” and a pocketful of business cards!

Even when you are going to a social gathering, always have some cards in your pocket! This is exactly what happened to me the other day. I was at a birthday party and met a great contact and we wanted to swap details; however they did not have any business cards on them. Luckily, I had mine!

The best thing to do is put a few cards in your wallet, next to your driver’s license or creditcards (they are 2 things that we always have on us!) and then you won’t be fumbling for a pen to write your details on the back of a napkin.

Take YOUR pocketful of business cards to the ZaaBiz & Infusion networking event in Sydney tonight and make some new connections!

6.30pm at the Mint Bar, Intercontinental Hotel, CBD

More details here

Who has it?…and how do you get it?

You will know if you’ve got it, that’s for sure!

If you wake up before your alarm goes off every morning, filled with energy and enthusiasm about your day, then I would suggest that you’ve GOT IT!

If, on the other hand, you are struggling to get up and start your day, and you feel that things aren’t “fair”, and you feel pangs of “jealousy” when you hear of others going out to lunch with friends, or booking a holiday, or even just going to the gym; then quite possibly your work-life balance is out of whack!

Here are a few things you can do to get yourself back on track & in balance.

1. write a list of all the things you would like to do during the day that you are not achieving at the moment

2. number them in order of what would make you feel great

3. decide to do the first thing on your list this week. Make a note in your diary & plan your whole week around it. It could be as simple as grabbing a coffee before work with a friend. Call your friend and organise it & then do it!

4. Once you have done this, make a time each week to repeat it. For example, every Tuesday morning meet your for coffee. Put it in your diary and stick to it.

5. Now consult your list again and see what you would like to achieve next week to get the balance back. This time for example, it could be health & fitness related. In your next lunch break, do some local research and find out what gyms are near your work. Then make an appointment to talk to someone at the gym to discuss your needs. You will need to do a fast workout (in your lunch break) or something straight after work or even before work. They will work with you to achieve your goals. Alternatively, take your sneakers to work and walk for 30 minutes during your lunch break.

When our work-life balance is out of balance, it’s usually because the scales are tipped too much towards work and not life!

The main things we miss are daily socialising & networking (outside of the workplace) and time for self. So getting these 2 things back into our life is the key to better balance.

Others can achieve it, and with a bit of thought and planning, YOU CAN TOO.

More Tips to come from the ZaaBiz “Women in Business” Group

What do women want? This is an “age-old” question!

I’m sure many books have been written about it and even movies made; however I believe this is an evolving answer!

More and more often we see women as the “bread-winner”, “mortgage-payer”, “wife, mother & nurse” and the overall “glue” keeping life together! But what is it we really want?

Because we are all of the above, we are also known as the great communicators, which is why we make great networkers. There is always someone who knows another someone who knows another someone who can help, and women are great at remembering these connections.

Join our “Women in Business” group and make connections with other like-minded women.

Wow! What a great crowd at Infusion’s networking event last Thursday night!

Guest Speaker Michael Brecht, CEO of ZaaBiz, enjoyed meeting everyone and having the opportunity to talk to them about “How to be an effective business networker”. Michael gave an update of the latest developments in the social networking industry. he then focussed on giving concrete recommendations on how to utilise networking sites on a daily business scale.

The event was well organised and fun. After the speech there was plenty of time to chat and expand each others networks. Michael says, “Business networking is not only a trend, it is here to stay. The successful professional will understand how to utilise and increase his own business network through networking sites and networking events. 2008 is the year of effective business networking and more integrated networkers.”

Smiling faces, suits & ties;
handshakes and business cards,
with hellos & goodbyes.

It’s called speed networking;
it’s cool and it’s neat,
wear comfy shoes ‘coz you’ll get sore feet!

Well, that’s kind of how it goes!

Our CEO, Michael Brecht, had a great time the other night at a Speed Networking event in Sydney.
So what did he get out of the event other than sore feet after 3 hours of standing???

He took home a desktop “wheelie bin” from the Sponsor of the event, and a stack of business cards from new contacts.
Not bad!
“Gift with Networking” definitely gets the thumbs up. Anything that gives people a interesting reminder of the event is a fantastic promotional tool. I love it! And check out the wad of business cards!!!

And now for the verdict:

Q: Did Michael think it was a successful event?
A: Absolutely. He thought it was great! Lots of new business contacts were made.

Q: Would he go to one again?
A: Most definitely.

So there you have it, speed networking in a nutshell - or should I say “wheelie-bin”?

Stay tuned for the ZaaBiz Sydney Networking event in March.

Roland Tellzen, editor at The Australian, recently had an interview with Michael on the latest developments at LinkYa.

In today’s Australian IT Roland publishes the interview and gives his thoughts on what LinkYa is all about.

Read here about LinkYa means business in networks!

That’s great news!
Your LinkYa Team

ZDNet is one of Australia’s most respected online mags for the advanced IT user here downunder and beyond. Today, ZDNet features LinkYa as the business social networking for Australia, please read yourself here.

As we are currently running a promotion of offering our Premium Membership for free until the end of the year, why don’t you come and have a look on LinkYa and start to network with Australia’s business community.

Enjoy
Michael