Trusted Advisor Community

The Trusted Advisor Community is a business networking training and accountability program.

Each month we hold two webinars that focus on different aspects of business networking.

In our 3 Ideas in 37 Minutes webinar we share three practical ideas you can use immediately to expand your referral network and grow your business.

Then in our Office Hours webinar we open up the phone line to answer any questions, strategize about upcoming events, spot opportunities in the connections we already have, and do our accountability round table.

Call me to sign up for the program or with any questions (781) 646-9543.

Here’s the schedule for this quarter plus some more information about Becoming a Trusted Advisor:

January 2015 – Follow Up

Webinar – How to Follow Up Without Being Annoying

If you call me every hour, on the hour, with a legitimate lead for my business, I’ll take your call every hour. In fact, I’ll clear my schedule for you. Follow up is only annoying when you follow up about you. It’s welcome (and encouraged) when you follow up about them. Join us for three ideas you can use immediately that will make people eager to take your calls.

Office Hours – Holding People Accountable

How do you get people you met networking to return your calls? How can you make your networking group more effective? How can you bring more members into your group. I’ll answer these tough questions (and any more you can think up).

February 2015 – The Elevator Pitch

Webinar – Nail Your Elevator Pitch

This month is a different format. It’s our Elevator Pitch Workshop. 90 minutes to a 30-Second Elevator Pitch. Whether you are starting from scratch or have been using an Elevator Pitch for years, you’ll develop the 3 Elements of an Effective Elevator Pitch and learn how to put it all together in a way that inspires people to run up to you with leads.

Office Hours – Conversation Starters

I’ll show you how to restart stopped conversations, end conversations that have gone on for too long, approach a group of people, approach people standing by themselves, and any other scenario you can think up.

March 2015 – Networking Groups

Webinar – Improve Networking Group Results

You joined that networking group, let’s see, years ago? Is it worth it? What can you do to get better results? Join us for three ideas you can use immediately to get better results from your current networking groups.

Office Hours – How to increase attendance

Whether you run a networking group, a volunteer organization, or just got put on a membership committee, I’ll share best practices for growing membership (or any other tough networking questions you want to tackle).

To join us just call our Trusted Advisor Hotline (781) 646-9543 and we’ll get you enrolled in the program.

Now, why do I call my furniture salesman to set up an interview on business radio?

Because people return his calls.

Why are people so eager to return his calls?

Because even though he has contacts at all the major radio stations, he doesn’t just hand me a list of names and numbers and wish me good luck.

He talks to his contacts, figures out which radio station would be interested in talking to someone like me, then introduces me directly to the right person at the right station.

Wow!

See what happens there?

He saves me hours of cold calling into radio stations that aren’t interested in hearing from me by giving me a warm introduction to someone who’s looking forward to my call.

That’s business networking.

And if you’re thinking “Can you introduce me to your furniture salesman?”

Then this program is definitely not for you.

But if you want to become like my furniture salesman.

If you want to be the go-to person.

The person with a rolodex full of quality people.

The person whose calls get returned immediately.

Then keep on reading…

Because there’s more to this story.

A lot more.

For example:

How did I know to call my furniture salesman with this seemingly strange request?
Why was he willing to share his top contacts with me?
What specifically does he do to make sure his contacts always return his calls?

The Trusted Advisor Community is for busy people like you who want to meet more people, expand their referral network, and (most importantly) increase their client base and revenue.

It’s all about developing trust.

Because, let’s face it.

There’s nothing quick about developing trust.

At least not the way most people go about it.

I know.

Because I’ve made all the mistakes.

I’ve been selling when I should have been networking
I’ve been networking when I should have been selling
I’ve complained about poor attendance at my leads groups because I hadn’t yet learned that you can’t network with people who don’t show up.
I’ve acted like an outsider at networking events because I hadn’t yet figured out how to be an insider.
I’ve squandered big opportunities because they didn’t look like what I thought I was looking for.
I’ve relentlessly pursued dead-end opportunities because to my untrained eye they looked real.
I’ve said whatever came to mind as an Elevator Pitch because I thought that keeping it fresh was more important than getting better leads.
I’ve procrastinated following up because I didn’t know a better way than cold calling off the business cards I’d collected.
I’ve created awkward situations because I didn’t know how to start natural conversations.
I’ve walked away from valuable contacts because I couldn’t think of a way to keep a conversation going.
I’ve wasted hundreds of hours (and thousands of dollars) at leads group meetings because I didn’t understand that the real work of networking happens outside those meetings.
I’ve tailored my Elevator Pitch to my audience because I didn’t realize how quickly that destroys trust
I’ve stopped attending events because I didn’t know how to turn a bad event into a great networking opportunity.

My name is Andrew Winig

Over the past seven years I’ve helped thousands of people drastically improve their business networking results. There’s no doubt about it, business networking is a remarkably effective way to expand your referral network and grow your business.

The problem is that it only works if you do it (and do it well). And that, I’m willing to bet, is what’s been in your way all this time.

So Close…

I work with so many people who believe that they are wasting their time at “disappointing” networking events.

Yet when we take a closer look at the event, any event they attend, we quickly spot several good opportunities that they overlooked.

It turns out that business networking success doesn’t look like what people expect it to look like.

And once you know what to expect, it’s much easier (and faster) to attract qualified leads.

Two Types of People

The people I’ve worked with since 2007 fall into one of two categories:

Some know they should network more, but can’t seem to find the time or motivation to locate and attend the right types of events
Some are very active networkers, who participate in multiple chambers and leads groups, yet their results never seem to justify their time and energy

A New Insight

Recently, I’ve realized that both groups of people face exactly the same challenge in terms of becoming more effective at business networking.

These are the people who, while they believe that there should be huge benefits from networking on a regular basis, have never seen those kinds of results from a single event, so they erroneously conclude that business networking is a waste of time.

I used to think that way too.

See, the thing that no one had ever taken the time to fully teach me is that business networking is a process, and the first step in that process is attending an event. Becoming a Trusted Advisor is the series of strategies to apply next, to move the process forward, developing trust and communication to expand your referral network and generate better leads.

People who participate in this hands on program will learn how to

Get better results from the events they already attend
Get better leads from the people they already know
Develop and nurture trust with the right people
Start natural conversations with anyone, anywhere
Follow up so that the right people respond to your calls and emails

In a community where they…

Move through the Business Networking process in a structured, “class” format
Receive supporting materials and examples to help them along the way
Have an opportunity to learn from and interact with other people
Have some access to me, but without having to commit either the time or money involved in a more traditional consulting arrangement
Benefit from the group energy, focus and set timeline that working in a group provides

If this sounds like you, keep reading. (If it sounds like someone else, send them this link already!)

“I also felt relief – relief to know that it’s ok to network by talking to people the way I do when I want to get to know them versus having to adopt a more impersonal ‘business’ persona.”
Jan Whitted
owner
ArtBeat Creativity Stores

Finding Clients is the Hard Part

You’re good at what you do — in fact you LOVE what you do — but you don’t know a lot about marketing, and you hate cold calling.

Whether you’re a financial planner, attorney, consultant, coach, recruiter, writer or other professional, you want to spend your time doing the work you love and know how to do.

But in order to do that you need an ongoing stream of prospects and clients — and you haven’t yet figured out how to make that happen consistently.

Business Networking can solve this problem for you.

Since I launched my own business in 2007, I’ve never made a cold call, never sent a piece of direct mail and never spent a cent on advertising.

And it’s all because I have an effective approach to Business Networking (something which you can have too).

My group coaching program – Trusted Advisor Community – provides the ongoing support and training to keep you motivated and productive in your business networking efforts.

The Ambassador level program is for individuals who want to learn these skills in a group coaching format, and includes:

Live access to a monthly, interactive webinar. In our 3 Ideas in 37 Minutes format, you’ll learn and practice practical techniques you can use immediately to get better results from your current networking efforts. As part of each program I’ll stay on the line as long as it takes to answer all questions.
Office Hours. Each month I offer up to two hours of open phone time for questions, comments, observations, and encouragement. I find that the most common reason people’s results lag is because they’re not sure of the next step. We expand on what we learn and make sure you have all the information you need to keep moving forward.
A private, group bulletin board and online community just for session participants (and me) share ideas, samples, exercises, best practices, and questions.
A copy of all the slides, all the recorded sessions, and all the session transcripts. That way, if you need to miss a session or simply want to review after the fact, you’ll be all set.

The Executive Program is for people who lead a networking group or sales team and also includes:

Full access to everything in the Ambassador program for everyone on their team. When everyone’s got the same business networking skills, that improves the results for everyone in the group and makes the group more attractive to new members. It’s a great selling point for any group that it provides skills training so people can be successful at growing their business.
One, 30-minute, one-on-one phone session with me each quarter. You can use this at your convenience at any time during the calendar quarter. Save up your questions and, when you’re ready, we’ll schedule time together to talk specifically about you and your business networking strategy.
Private webinars just for your group. Get everyone involved and excited by scheduling a semi-annual private training session just for group participants. In the Boston area? I can come visit your group in person!

The Premier program is for people who want in intensive, immersion program in business networking and includes:

Full access to everything in the Ambassador program.
Unlimited phone coaching sessions with me. We clean up your Elevator Pitch, then devise and implement a business networking strategy.

Call (781) 646-9543 now to register.

A Tested Approach

This program is based on the same approach I use one-on-one with clients and that I’ve fine-tuned for hundreds of clients.

It works, simple as that. It’s filled with tested exercises and assignments, real world examples, and plenty of do’s and don’ts, all intended to help you create an effective business networking strategy for your business.

This is an ongoing program that teaches the 5 Skills of the Trusted Advisor in an online, interactive, monthly format.

5 Skills of the Trusted Advisor

Skill 1 – Elevator Pitch
Most business networking fails because people don’t understand the big picture – they attend a random event, and describe their work in whatever way comes to mind, and then are so frustrated that no one signed up for their services that they don’t take the next steps to develop the really big opportunities that do exist at any of these kinds of events. The first skill is to fully understand the two kinds of Elevator Pitch, which will make it much easier to answer business networking questions in a way that starts productive business conversations. People who master this skill know how to

Personalize authentic, engaging answers to the only three questions they’ll ever be asked at any networking event.
Introduce themselves effectively in front of any crowd
Start conversations with anyone, anywhere
Avoid awkward pauses to keep the conversation going
Focus on the what instead of the how
And more…

Skill 2 – Effective Follow Up
For many people, their lack of results isn’t from lack of effort, or intelligence, or competence. It’s from a lack of following up consistently and effectively. Trusted Advisors know how to follow up in a way that makes people eager to return their call. People who master this skill know how to:

Follow up without annoying people
Collect (or hand out) business cards the right way
Use an strong Call to Action
Respond productively when people don’t return their emails
Get better leads out of fewer events
Send emails (and leave voice messages) that guarantee a response
And more…

Skill 3 – One-on-One’s
The single best thing you can do to improve your business networking results? Schedule a one-on-one. Trusted Advisors know who to approach, when to schedule it, where to meet, and how to make it productive. People who master this skill know how to:

Approach the right people in the right way to schedule a one-on-one
Avoid the three most common pitfalls
Ask the right questions in the right way
Have a productive 1-on-1 with people who will never buy from them
Know when to schedule a one-on-one, and when to schedule a sales call
Meet with people who are skeptical of one-on-one’s
Get the most value from their 1-on-1’s
And more…

Skill 4 – Professional Referrals
The worst kind of referral you’ll ever hear? “I gave someone your contact information.” Trusted Advisors make introductions. They leave nothing to chance. When a Trusted Advisor connects you with someone, you usually talk to them within the hour. People who master this skill know how to:

Develop Trust in their referral network
Write effective co-introductory emails
Know when someone wants a referral to solve a problem, versus when they just want to complain about it
Weed out the people who don’t reciprocate
Spot the people who are referrable
And more…

Skill 5 – Opportunity Spotting
There are opportunities everywhere, and at every event. Those opportunities are not generally sales opportunities themselves, but they do lead to bigger and easier sales. Trusted Advisors know exactly what sorts of opportunities to pursue, and which to avoid. People who master this skill know how to:

Expanding their referral network
Leverage social media
Join the right networking group
Choose and attend the right networking events
How to give (and get) better referrals
Track success
How to leverage their Elevator Pitch in other ways and in other media
And more…

“I really enjoyed the Effective Follow Up program. It is amazing how simple your process is.”
Dave Gardner
Owner
Boyds Direct

OKAY, I’M INTERESTED! HOW DO I ENROLL?

Here’s a summary of the Trusted Advisor Community program:

Ambassador

Live access to monthly group webinar
Live access to me for two hours of open question and answer
A private, group bulletin board and online community just for session participants
A copy of all the slides, all the recorded sessions and all the session transcripts

Executive

Full access to Ambassador program for everyone on your team
One 30-minute phone / skype coaching session with me each quarter
Private training webinar for your group semi-annually

Premier

Full enrollment in Ambassador program
Unlimited phone and email access to me

The entire program is for a low monthly fee.

Call (781) 646-9543 to ask about current pricing. I talk to everyone who enrolls in the program, and I raise the price occasionally. Once you join, your price never goes up.

Still thinking about it?

I understand. But here’s the thing. One way or another, in order to gain visibility, establish yourself as a trusted advisor, generate web site traffic and attract the clients and income you want, you’ve got to get going meeting people.

Business Networking does all that (and more).

And if what’s been keeping you from moving forward is fear or confusion or just good old fashioned inertia, this monthly program is what you need to get (and keep) moving.

I’ll address your concerns, explain away your confusion, and introduce you to a terrific group of fellow business development professionals struggling with (and solving) many of the same problems as you.

“I just wanted to let you know that I’ve been going to a couple of BNI meetings and applying your ‘telling the story’ technique and it has given me a completely different mindset for these sort of things. I’m actually a lot more at ease in these environments than I used to be. In other words I don’t feel kind of awkward at first. I’m just behaving like myself and telling stories like I do. So anyway I just wanted to let you know that I feel a real difference in that and I appreciate your help…”
Dave Backus
Owner
Fish Window Cleaning / Leominster

“But what if I can’t attend all the sessions?”

Chances are you can’t — life tends to get in the way. That’s why we record everything. We’ll send you all the audio and all the slides. We’ll even transcribe the sessions and send them to you so you can read them, highlight them and take notes WHENEVER IT’S CONVENIENT FOR YOU.

“OK, but what if I don’t like working in a group?”

That’s fine. You can participate as much or as little as you like (it’s a benefit, not a requirement). There are homework assignments between modules that will help you learn and internalize the material, but you decide the extent to which you do the work and/or share it with others in the program.

“How do I know this is worth what I’m paying?”

You don’t. At least not for sure. That’s why I offer a full-price, money back guarantee. If you enroll in the program and at any point over the next 60 days, you don’t think it’s worth what you paid for it, I’ll refund the entire thing.

But think about it this way. In terms of investing in your business, you’ll very likely earn back the monthly program fee (at least) the first time your business networking brings you just one new client.

“Are there any bonus materials you can include that will make this even more worthwhile?”

You drive a hard bargain. But I understand; here’s what else you’ll get when you enroll in this program:

BONUS #1
“The Goal of the Elevator Pitch”

Recorded live, this 15-minute downloadable audio is entirely focused on helping you get started with your Elevator Pitch. Download it to your computer or transfer it to your portable MP3 player and listen to the ideas again and again as you work through the program.

Here is what it covers:

The three biggest mistakes people make with the Elevator Pitch
What the Elevator Pitch is (and isn’t)
Choosing your target audience
The single best approach for answering “What do you do?”
The best length for an Elevator Pitch
How to measure the success of your Elevator Pitch
Why limiting the scope of your Elevator Pitch works to your advantage

BONUS #2
“Master Your LinkedIn Profile”

Recorded live, this practical, powerful, 65 minute AUDIO AND VISUAL webinar focuses on adapting your Elevator Pitch for social media. It provides fresh ideas and a host of new ways to think about your online profile. This webinar sells as a standalone program for $197.00 – but it’s included at no additional charge as part of this program.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

How to create a profile that’s easy for your prospects to find
Two ways to write an attention-grabbing headline
Why your home page is like the morning newspaper, and how that helps grow your business
The single biggest reason people don’t contact you through LinkedIn
Four strong calls to action for your LinkedIn summary
Striking the right balance between “promotional” and “informational” content
Finding your authentic voice (and why it matters)
The trick to making your profile come alive

TO SUM UP, HERE’S EVERYTHING THAT’S

INCLUDED IN THIS PROGRAM:

Live access to monthly interactive group webinar
Live access to monthly Open Office Hours
A private, group bulletin board and online community just for session participants
A copy of all the slides, all the recorded sessions and all the session transcripts
(Executive) One 30-minute phone / skype coaching call each quarter
(Executive) Private training webinar for your group
(Premier) Unlimited phone and email coaching with me
Bonus #1: “The Goal of the Elevator Pitch” ($29.00 value)
Bonus #2: “Mastering Your LinkedIn Profile” ($97.00 value)
A 60-DAY, Money Back Guarantee if you’re not completely satisfied with the materials

All for just one low monthly fee.

Call (781) 646-9543 to enroll

Time To Get Started

One last thing. Business Networking has been around for a loooong time and at this point, there’s no shortage of information available regarding the particulars. So yes, you could probably spend a couple of weeks searching the web and, assuming you knew whose advice to follow and whose to disregard, figure out what needs to be done.

I’m guessing though, that if you’ve read this far, that’s not really what’s stopping you.

The real challenge is in moving forward and having a system in place that will help you network month after month. It’s in having a framework and an approach that works (not to mention a group of other professionals working alongside of you to offer their own thoughts, examples and encouragement).

That’s my hope for this program and for you. That I can help you create something that you’re proud of, that reflects who you are and what you do, and that brings you the stature and clients you want and deserve.

I hope you’ll enroll and join me for this month’s programs

All the best in networking success,

Andrew Winig
Your Elevator Pitch Coach

P.S. I’ve offered a 60-day, no questions asked, money back guarantee, to make this as risk-free as possible.

Try it out and see for yourself!

Here is the monthly schedule for the next two quarters (exact dates and times provided to members of the Trusted Advisor Community).

October 2014 – Developing Trust

Webinar – 3 Steps to Developing Trust

Trust develops one day, one conversation, one interaction at a time. Join us for three ideas you can use immediately to figure out who’s trustworthy, understand how trustworthy you appear to others, and how to develop more trust more quickly.

Office Hours – Who can you trust?

We all wasted time and effort chasing prospects. How do you know when to follow up one more time? When’s the right time frame to cut them loose? How can you get people to return your calls? Bring your toughest questions and I’ll answer them.

November 2014 – Bad Events

Webinar – Great Results from Bad Events

Even the worst events have great opportunities. If you know where (and how) to look for them. Join us for three ideas you can use immediately to spot better opportunities at any kind of networking event.

Office Hours – Engaging Distracted Prospects

Whether you publish an email newsletter, attend chamber events, do social media, how do you get (and keep) people’s attention. Bring me your toughest questions! I’ll answer them.

December 2014 – Networking and Chambers of Commerce

Webinar – Maximizing Your Chamber Membership

Chambers of Commerce are a great place to network once you understand how to use the membership effectively. Join us for three ideas you can use immediately to choose a good chamber and get great value out of your membership dues.

Office Hours – How to Stand Out in a Crowd

Financial planner? Lawyer? Coach? How do you differentiate yourselves? That’s what we’ll be talking about this month. Bring your toughest questions. I’ll show you what makes you unique!

January 2015 – Follow Up

Webinar – How to Follow Up Without Being Annoying

Office Hours – Holding People Accountable

February 2015 – The Elevator Pitch

Webinar – Nail Your Elevator Pitch

Office Hours – Conversation Starters

March 2015 – Networking Groups

Webinar – Improve Networking Group Results

Office Hours – How to increase attendance

April 2015 – The Truth About Prospects

Webinar – Go Where Your Prospects Aren’t

What do we call networking with prospects? Sales. That’s right. You network with non-prospects. Join us for three ideas you can use immediately to find the non-prospects that are the direct line to your prospects.

Office Hours – Circle of Trust

There’s a really fast way of developing trust. And it’s nothing you can do yourself while standing in front of someone. You need help. We’ll show you where and how to get that help (or any other tough business networking question you want to tackle.

May 2015 – It’s About Time: Networking on a Tight Schedule

Webinar – Am I Wasting My Time?

It’s time to get out and meet people! But when? Where? How? Join us for three ideas you can use immediately to network effectively even when you have no time to network.

Office Hours – Measuring Networking Results

You can’t measure networking success in sales or dollars. So how do you know if you’re on the right track? We’ll show you a great way of measuring results, plus tackle any of your other tough business networking questions.

June 2015 – Professional Referrals

Webinar – Giving Professional Referrals

“I gave them your contact info…” is the worst referral ever. It’s a waste of time because it never generates a call. Join us for three ideas you can use immediately to give professional referrals that develop trust with both parties and lead to connections and results.

Office Hours – Givers Gain is a Myth

Givers Gain is a trap that’s designed to keep you networking for other people even as you’re not getting any results for yourself. We’ll bust this myth wide open and show you how to create a mutually beneficial business network, plus tackle your toughest business networking questions.

July 2015 – LinkedIn

Webinar – Networking on LinkedIn

Creating a profile on LinkedIn is a good first step towards meeting people and expanding your referral network. Join us for three ideas you can use immediately to improve your profile, become more searchable, and use LinkedIn to generate more leads.

Office Hours – How to Use Social Media

Should you be on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, …? I’ll share what I’ve learned about social media and answer any questions you have about social media or any other aspect of business networking.

August 2015 – Advanced Conversational Techniques

Webinar – Advanced Conversational Techniques

How do you get rid of a boor? How do you approach people already in a conversation? How do you restart a stopped conversation? Join us for three ideas you can use immediately to become more confident in any networking situation.

Office Hours – Kicking People Out of Your Network

On rare occasions you’ll run into someone who brings your network down. And it can be hard to shake them. We’ll show you how to get out gracefully with your reputation still intact, plus answer any other business networking questions you may have.

September 2015 – Developing Relationships

Webinar – 3 Steps to Developing Strong Relationships

You don’t get to a strong relationships overnight. So how do you keep relationships moving forward? Join us for three ideas you can use immediately to develop stronger relationships with people both in and outside your network.

Office Hours – Relationship Secret Sauce

It’s easy to mess up relationships, and equally easy to keep them going strong. We’ll talk about the biggest mistakes people make in relationships so we can avoid them (and spot them in others), plus tackle your toughest business networking questions.

October 2015 – Business Consultants

Webinar – How Do I Differentiate?

Business Coaches, Marketing Experts, Career Coaches, Lawyers, … Aren’t they all the same? NO! Join us for three ideas you can use immediately to differentiate yourself from everyone else who shares your title.

Office Hours – What Makes You Unique

You are unique and memorable. To your family, your friends, anyone who knows you well. Now about the people who don’t know you yet… We’ll show you how to talk about what you do in a way that’s interesting and inspiring to other people.

November 2015… Coming Soon!

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EMAIL

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Trusted Advisor Community