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Here are five ways to successfully tap into the women's market: 1. Provide good quality information. Producing a newsletter and Web site are excellent ways to demonstrate your expertise and to keep your image in front of clients and prospects. Include plenty of strategies and tips that will help guide women to be more successful in running or growing their businesses. Conducting free seminars or workshops is another good strategy for imparting your knowledge and has the added benefit of serving as a networking forum. 2. Build relationship marketing strategies. Develop and sustain relationships with women and cultivate a sense of community. 3. Host networking events. Historically, women have not had the same opportunities to network as their male counterparts. You can create your own networking events for women clients and prospects. Featuring a guest speaker in your industry can be an excellent addition. Just be sure to build in enough time for networking as well. 4. Sponsor women's business associations or events. If you are looking to target this market and build awareness, consider sponsoring one of the many women's business associations and events. These range from something as specific as mentoring programs (such as the Step Ahead One-on-One Mentoring Program - www.stepaheadonline.com ) to associations for women exporters (such as the Organization of Women in International Trade - www.owit-toronto.ca ). Most hold regular meetings and special functions. Some provide opportunities for sponsors to speak and showcase their expertise. Contributing material to their newsletters, publications and Web sites is another good way to build your identity among members, as these associations often welcome good quality, educational submissions of interest to members. 5. Share core information on a regular basis. Email or mail information that is considered to be "in our mutual interest." News clippings, industry data, notes from indus

article by Jennifer Knickerbocker, new Deloitte partner, talking about the importance of sponsors/mentors to moving into greater leadership positions, communicating authentically, and holding to their beliefs/recommendations, Fortune, February 2016

Blog post by Kerry Hannon, November 7, 2012, Next Avenue--where grown-ups keep growing, a PBS sponsored site. Raises issues that WLS is concerned with. 3 Tips 1. Set up a free LinkedIn account. Create a winning LinkedIn profile. 2. Open a Twitter account. "Follow people or companies who interest you and ones you might want to interview for someday." 3. Share, ask, and engage. "Identify an online community of 'thought leaders' who discuss your field...

Interesting and vast website, Next Avenue, sponsored by PBS, that has loads of resources under Technology, Reinvention & Inspiration, Style, Travel, Arts & Entertainment, Passions & Pursuits, etc. Relevant to WLS.

This Events page shows a wide range of f2f and online events such as Jam Session, Book Club, Introduction to Social Media webinar, sponsored by 85 organization and by individual members. It displays a lot of information in very little space. It might give the presenter's name but does not give the facilitator's name. Time of day is probably reserved for members.

Although written in 2011, it forecasts nicely how LMSs are being revamped/enhanced/integrated with business performance & business transformation. Really it's about boundary management, too, in terms of formal employer led/sponsored training/learning and what employees may learn and apply on their own.

Very interesting blog post at Meetingsnet.com on how to create a viral spread of ideas/content/connections at meetings. Written by Alison Hall, August 5, 2013. Stresses that millenials, the focus of many women's organizations recruiting efforts rely on social media and technology to get through each day. They are completely connected, which has implications for how organizations need to use content generated in f2f meetings to attract engagement by people well outside the event itself. Excerpt: 12 Tips for Share-worthiness 1. Think from your audience's POV: What will they find interesting? What will help them prove the value of their industry, or their position? 2. Entertain. Infographics, photos, and (appropriate) humor have great pass-along value. 3. Feel good. What will make the world better? Emotional content spreads because it moves people. Find a way to make your content connect on a deeper level. 4. Plan your meeting with the idea that all content (with the exception of content at proprietary meetings) will be shared. 5. Loop in your presenters. Get their key insights ahead of time so you can "lock and load" content that's ready to go in real time. 6. Remember that real-time marketing only works if your audience can connect. Work diligently with your venue to ensure Wi-Fi is accessible and bandwidth is sufficient. Consider (sponsored!) charging stations to keep attendees powered up throughout the meeting. 7. Lead the way. Sharing will be (and should be) organic, but you need to be the guide. Start promoting hashtags and social channels at your event Web site and in your online registration process. On site, brand all event signage with the hashtags and channels. 8. Talk back. Hear what your audience is saying and participate in conversations. Deliver social value back to them by retweeting or sharing their content. 9. Make it easy. All content should have a one-click sharing option. Don't rely on the audience to cut and paste. Videos and phot

Jenn Deering Davis, 2012 Recommends: using an official conference hashtag 1. unique tag 2. communicate official tag 3. Track mention of the official and unofficial hashtags Surfacing interesting conference topics 4. Follow conversation as it unfolds 5. Pay attention to retweets 6. Use official handle to ask questions 7. Find problems quickly Sharing important conference content 8. Use official handle to post announcements and schedule changes 9. Distribute speaker slides 10. Answer attendee questions Tracking audience engagement 11. Measure total Twitter audience size 12. Determine popular speakers and presentations 13. Share metrics with sponsors Gathering feedback or your next conference 14. Tweet links to conference feedback survey 15. Compare this conference to other events 16. Analyze qualitative tweet content

great article in the Atlantic on how employee training has evolved to include much more self-directed, outside-in kinds of learning

excellent report by IFTF and University of Phoenix Research Lab on six drivers of ten work skills needed in 2020, from 2011.

recording of tech platforms for volunteering--NTEN sponsored in San Francisco,

Taproots sponsors three kinds of events for pro bono volunteers--pro bono marathon, ScopeAthon, speed consulting

From the Open: The SmallBusiness Network on how networking is actually about getting to know people whom you can help and can help you. Tips for networking: Give and get information; Evaluate the value of the contact; form a strategic alliance - know what the people in your network do; Maintenance - continue to re-evaluate the people in your info loop.

Using video chat. Google hangouts, new technology to have virtual happy hours to create a feeling of connection, personal relationships in business settings.

Something for us to sponsor?