How to Network the Biznik Way - Eastside

The Biznik way of networking is a powerful combination of online social networking technology paired with face-to-face events. Learn from co-founders Lara Feltin and Dan McComb how to grow your business faster and become more profitable by using the tools at your disposal.

We'll walk you through the five main areas of the site, elaborate on the features as we designed them, and how to use them:

• Your Profile: self promotion & visibility on the site
• Events: hosting & attending
• Membership: using the directory & your Biznik network
• Biz Talk: online socializing & discussions
• Articles & Tips: writing, rating & commenting

This workshop will be focused on questions YOU bring to the table - so come prepared to ask a lot of them.

What members say about the event

Just when you think you have Biznik figured out, they add a few more nuggets. I recommend this to anyone who wants to get the most our of their membership. --Bob Dunn

I was already excited about Biznik and had been spreading the word, but now I'm even more amped up about it. This is an incredible resource you've created and I have no idea why a small business owner would be part of any other networking service (online or in person). You have them all beat, hands down. Thank you!" --Debbie Lacy

I attended the tutorial about how to plug into all the benefits of Biznik last nite. I highly recommend everyone go to this event in the future. The site is amazing and continues to get better with all the plans you have in the works. It was a good use of my time and I am going to send my mktg partner to the next one. --Bill Hoffer

Thinkspace, owned and operated by fellow Biznik member, Peter Chee, provides private offices, shared coworking space, virtual offices, and meeting rooms in a Class A, LEED-CI certified green-interior building. Full service professional administrative staff, next generation VOIP unified communications (phone, fax, Internet, email, fax), hosted software, and technology support.

This is Biznik's first event at Thinkspace and we're excited to able to introduce this wonderful new space to all of you.

www.thinkspace.com

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  Mike Schwagler

  Direct Response Copywriter

  Redmond, Washington
• 
  mike young

  Printing in Greenwood

  seattle, Washington
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  Pamela Ziemann

  Presentation Skills Trainer & Coach

  Bellevue, Washington
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  Patrick Welch

  Exercise, Nutrition and Stress Management...

  Kirkland, Washington
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  Paul Anderson

  Business Psychology Consultant

  Bellevue, Washington
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  Paul Hanken

  Realtor, Real Estate Agent

  Bellevue, Washington
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  Peter Chee

  Green sustainable shared office space...

  Redmond, Washington
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  Seth Myers

  401k Plan Specialist and Fiduciary...

  Seattle, Washington
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  Todd Hymel

  Acupuncturist Herbalist Redmond

  Redmond, Washington
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  Tom Todd

  Website Design & Development

  Sammamish, Washington
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  Ty Reed

  Business Equipment Financing and Leasing

  Seattle, Washington

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  Posted by Paul Anderson, Bellevue, Washington | 3 weeks ago

  I am looking forward to utilizing this community to meet great people. Happy connecting!

  Business Psychology Consultant - Sales Trainer
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  Posted by Pamela Ziemann, Bellevue, Washington | 3 weeks ago

  Thanks for finding all these great spaces Dan and Lara. As our biznik events grow, it's nice to know places like this are available. I'm happy to finally be getting to a Networking the Biznik way event!

  Presentation Skills Coaching in Bellevue & Seattle
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  Posted by Todd Hymel, Redmond, Washington | 2 weeks ago

  This will be my first event. Looking forward to it.
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  Posted by Mike Schwagler, Redmond, Washington | 2 weeks ago

  This is fabulous!
  Biznik - by all appearances - is on the cutting edge of internet and face-to-face social/business networking. I'm looking forward to seeing how it all works.
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  Posted by Allen Cooper, Bothell, Washington | 1 week ago

  Hi Dan and Lara, This sounds like an awesome event. I have a previous commitment just before this. Is it possible to be just a few minutes late or should I just skip it and go to the next event? Thanks for hosting this and putting Biznik together. This is great! Allen
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  Posted by Lara Eve Feltin, Seattle, Washington | 1 week ago

  The first 30 minutes will be introductions, so being a few minutes late is fine.

  Biznik Business Networking, Co-founder
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  Posted by Allen Cooper, Bothell, Washington | 1 week ago

  Thanks Lara, I will be there as early as possible. Have an awesome day, Allen
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  Posted by Peg Emmons, Redmond, Washington | 1 week ago

  I'm looking forward to attending an Eastside event and to see the space at Thinkspace.
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  Posted by Troy McVicker, Kirkland, Washington | 1 week ago

  1st timer... Be gentle.
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  Posted by Dan McComb, Seattle, Washington | 1 week ago

  Lara and I have been perfecting this workshop over the past several months, and I have to say we're getting pretty good at sharing a ton of information in a short period of time. So fasten your seatbelts - we're going to be covering a lot of territory very quickly tomorrow. Tip: bring a notebook.

  Dan

  Biznik Business Networking
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  Posted by Tom Todd, Sammamish, Washington | 1 week ago

  Website Design & Development
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  Posted by Howard Howell, Seattle, Washington | 1 week ago

  Thank you Dan and Lara again for presenting ways for us to use Biznik more effectively. Based on my notes, I learned at least 6 new things that will improve my Biznik experience. See, you really can teach us "old dogs, new tricks". ...Howard

  YOUR expert sales trainer and consultant
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  Posted by Leta Laborde, DC, Bothell, Washington | 1 week ago

  I was the one in the corner last night going "Wow!", "Ah Ha!" , "So that's where the bookmarks show up!" and oooohing over a dozen other things - I encourage anyone who has not done this event in awhile to check back in for the latest and greatest reveal of the new Biznik Bells and Whistles - Thanks you two - Leta

  Stress-less Strategies for Businesses & Individuals
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  Posted by Jenny Zappala, Kirkland, Washington | 1 week ago

  And here I thought I found every bell and whistle in this Web site and the organization. Never mind. Thanks for an insightful seminar. Although I left with a sense that there was still more that we didn't get to.

  Based on how much information was flying past and the types of questions people were asking --- I think this presentation has grown into two presentations.

  First Workshop) Welcome to Biznik. Who we are, how we work, the Web site basics, event basics, what you can expect and how to add to the happy Biznik atmosphere. In short, welcome, welcome, feel the love. Here's the guided tour. Questions?

  Second Workshop) Biznik Supercharge. Ok Biznik Members, now that you're here, let's put this into overdrive. In short, this is how to get the most out of everything, especially paying members. Also, it's an opportunity for Biznik members to talk peer-to-peer about what they've discovered and really shine. Here are some wild ideas for Part Two: Search Engine Optimization, getting Google's attention, driving traffic to your Web site, attracting contacts, attracting clients without ticking people off, case studies, key words that work, polishing your profile, finding stuff you need, using forums effectively, getting the most out of events, hosting successful events, etc.

  Just an idea.
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  Posted by Julie Varon, Bellevue, Washington | 1 week ago

  What an informative evening. It charged me to want to get more involved. We're lucky to have Lara and Dan in our own backyard. Nothing like getting your questions answered by the founders. It was fun watching them take feedback and hearing them answer that they could make the changes. Clearly, they have a lot of new things planned for all of us...stay tuned! I highly reccommend taking advantage of a workshop like this when the opportunity arises.
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  Posted by Patrick Welch, Kirkland, Washington | 1 week ago

  One of the comments I heard in our small group introduction at the start of the workshop was, "do you know a system that can help me be more organized."

  I have that same concern when it comes to my time on Biznik and what I learned last evening will easily double my productivity in the social networking area.

  And I'm really looking forward to the new changes!

  Thanks again to you both.

  Train Smarter, Not Harder!
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  Posted by mike young, seattle, Washington | 1 week ago

  How to Network the Biznik Way is very informative.

  The class gave me more appreciation for the site and a good understanding of how to use the site more effectively.

  I also really enjoyed learning more about the history and the philosophy behind Biznik.

  Thank you Lara and Dan.

  Mike

  Printing, seatttle, greenwood, Sustainable
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  Posted by Lara Eve Feltin, Seattle, Washington | 1 week ago

  Great comments, guys, thanks! I'm so glad you're all getting so much out of this presentation. Thank you, Jenny, for the suggestion of breaking this into two workshops - I'm going to look into how we could swing that.

  Biznik Business Networking, Co-founder
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  Posted by Mike Pritchard, Kirkland, Washington | 1 week ago

  Not only was this event very informative, but it was also perfect timing for me as I am just starting to make better use of the Biznik online capabilities. What I learned last night will stop me wandering too far off the track and encourages me to try even more - both online and offline

  I'm now working on an article, and also trying to create an event around market research. Any thoughts - let me know. But I suspect some time in Biztalk might pay off.

  Finally (and I know this is less of a "move the conversation forward" comment) I want to echo the appreciation for Dan and Lara. It was great to learn the philosophy behind some of the decisions and learning about your willingness to move forward based on member input was very valuable too.

  Mike

  Effective, Understandable, Affordable Market Research
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  Posted by Michael Weir, Bellevue, Washington | 1 week ago

  An earlier poster commented that we are lucky to have Dan and Laura in our own back yard! I whole heartedly agree! What an amazing asset for entrepreneurs and small business's to be able to be able to do networking that doesn't suck! Thank you for your time and energy last night, it lit a couple light bulbs and gave me some great insight how to utilize Biznik optimally!
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  Posted by Teri Johnson, Redmond, Washington | 1 week ago

  Wow, it sounds like you all got such value out of the event I'm disappointed I was called away after the tour of ThinkSpace. I'm looking forward to the next eastside event and meeting some of you online. It would be useful to hear specifically what tool or insight people found valuable in learning so those coming after would benefit from that.
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  Posted by Lara Eve Feltin, Seattle, Washington | 1 week ago

  I hope you can attend a future "Biznik Way" event, Teri. From what I hear the biggest a-ha moments range from how optimized individual Biznik profiles are on Google and how to optimize your profile even more, to small features that they didn't know existed, like: bookmarking people, events, articles and posts; blocking & flagging another member for poor behavior; getting the most out of spending just 10 minutes a day on Biznik; and how to use the site before and after an event to get the most out the meeting you attended.

  Hope this is enough to entice you...

  Biznik Business Networking, Co-founder
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  Posted by Paul Hanken, Bellevue, Washington | 7 days ago

  I was told by another Biznik member that this was a very informative event and that I should attend the next available class. I would recommend this event to anyone who joins Biznik to understand how to maximize their use of the website, particularly navigating through the site. There are many benefits members can take advantage of that I was unaware of until last night.

  Have you considered offering this class in more of a hands on environment? Maybe a small class that is lead by an instructor while members learn on computers; their own or others. I would expect that this would require a significant fee but it may appeal to people who thrive in that type of learning environment.

  Just a thought.

  Thanks Lara and Dan for your time last night.

  Paul
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  Posted by Tom Todd, Sammamish, Washington | 7 days ago

  I just joined and came to the first meeting last night. I am so impressed with all the work Dan & Lara have done with this community. Dan even took the time to immediately reply to a technical question the next day...don't know how he keeps up with everything!

  Can't wait to become fully involved with this community!

  Tom