Business Networking, Professional Branding, LinkedIn Training, Career and Business Strategy Consulting

SF Headshot Days: Check out these results!

sandyjk — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:00:06 +0000

The first San Francisco Headshot Day(s) was deemed a success and, boy, did we learn a lot! I’d like to thank our talented photographer, Nathan, venue hostess, Lindsay, and make-up maven, Lia, for all their contributions. You guys were great to work with and can’t wait to collaborate again in the not-too-distant future.

Check out a few of the awesome new headshots below and, if you’re in the SF Bay Area, I hope to see you at the next event! Be sure to sign up for our event updates to be invited to the next one. (Which will most likely be in the East Bay).

www.linkedin.com/in/emilywrites

www.linkedin.com/in/craigschmeizer

www.linkedin.com/in/sandyjk

Click image to sign-up for our event invites!

www.linkedin.com/pub/carlos-chang/30/623/7b3

www.linkedin.com/pub/lindsay-burstedt/29/60/80

Bonus photo of Kyle at NsUS

LinkedIn Usage: Researching, Reconnecting and Networking [INFOGRAPHIC]

sandyjk — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:16:17 +0000

Like most things, it’s not surprising to learn that women utilize social media differently than men do, but what I like about this infographic is that it shares some interesting insights on how men use LinkedIn and the average amount of time people spend on each platform in any given month.

How do you use social media differently than this infographic indicates? Would you rate your LinkedIn usage in the same order as above?

Please Include Attribution to InternetServiceProviders.org With This Graphic

If you’d like to learn why you might want to spend a bit more time on LinkedIn each month, read this post and/or please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions!

SF Headshot Days Are Coming! May 2013

sandyjk — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 22:06:05 +0000

Headshot Days May 2013: San Francisco

Welcome to the Headshot Days information page!

With social networking sites like LinkedIn being such an important part of how we connect with one another, having a professional headshot is simply no longer optional. Your headshot is your online “first impression” and tells the world that you mean business.

Our photographer’s fees for a professional studio sitting begin at $450, but not during Headshot Days! Reserve your spot today and pay the deeply discounted rate of just $195.

To claim your space, visit the registration page, read through all the pricing and cancellation clauses (also below), then select your preferred time slot. Please note that prepayment is required to lock in your slot. You will then be directed to the Headshot Days Payment page to complete your order. That’s it! You’ll get a confirmation and further instructions as the event draws near.

We hope you can take part in this very special event and get a professional headshot for all your social networking, professional branding and horn-tooting needs. Here’s everything you need to know to sign up today:

DATES & AVAILABILITY

Friday, May 10, 2013: 10:30am to 6pm, last appt at 5:30pm
~~Saturday, May 11, 2013: 10am to 1:30pm, last appt at 1:00pm~~

You can see the remaining time slots on our Sign-up Genius page – lock yours in today! And then pay for your session via our PayPal cart here. (Reminder: Your slot will not be secured until payment is received.)

FEES We’re excited to be able to offer you a professional headshot session which includes one retouched 8×10 JPEG at 300ppi delivered via e-mail for just $195 (regularly $450 and up.) This includes minor retouching such as softening under the eyes, smoothing wrinkle lines, eliminating lens glare and hiding minor stray hairs.

OPTIONAL UPGRADES

Wardrobe change – $50. Pre-purchase required. Does not apply to a change of jacket or tie but is intended for those clients who want to have an entirely new look (for example, corporate attire or casual wear.)
Additional images – $35 each including minor retouching. It may be hard to choose just one! You can select this option before or after your session.
Make-Up – see below
Deluxe retouching is available at flat rate of $40 for up to 3 images.

MAKE-UP Professional make-up application is highly recommended for both men and women who want a first-rate photo. As beautiful as you naturally are, professional make-up helps conceal any blemishes, minimize dark circles under eyes, eliminate five o’clock shadow, catch flyaway strands of hair, and prep your face for the lighting required in a professional shoot. Many of the headshots you see featured on Nathan’s site have had professional make-up, and some of the women are wearing false eyelashes to give their eyes depth and “pop.” If you select this option, you will need to arrive 45 minutes prior to your session time so block your calendar accordingly.

Women $80*
Men $60
Eyelashes $15 and they’re yours to keep!

Advance purchase is required to ensure we have enough time, talent and product on hand. If you’re waffling, consider this: if I had to choose between a night out on the town and having my make-up done for this shoot, I’d gladly stay in all weekend to get the best shot possible.

*Ladies, please come with nothing on your face except your foundation. The make-up artist will adjust the shade as needed. And please trust us when we say make plans for a girls’ night out or a hot date that evening – it’s amazing what professional make-up can do to lift your spirits!

PRE-PAYMENT REQUIRED Payment in full is required to secure your space. If we have not received your payment by May 1st, your space will be released. Visit the Headshot Days Payment page to complete your transaction and lock in your spot.

CANCELLATION CLAUSE Should you need to cancel, we will refund your fee less a $25 handling charge through May 4th; after May 5th we will refund 50% of your payment, but if it’s within 48 hrs of your scheduled session, no refund will be possible. Questions? Contact Program Manager, Sandy Jones-Kaminski (moi), and she’ll get back to you within two business days, if not sooner.

LOCATION NextSpace Union Square at 1 Hallidie Plaza, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA near the Powell BART stop and in the building above the Carl’s Junior. Look for the silver doors to the right of Payless Shoes.

TIPS FROM OUR PHOTOGRAPHER We are thrilled to have Nathan Phillips participating in this event! He’s a talented local photographer and has photographed Gavin (yes, that one!), Michael Phelps, Dana Carvey, MC Hammer, Vida Blue, the CEO of NetApp and everyday legends-in-the-making just like you. He knows a thing or two about getting the best shot, so please take note of his tips:

Dress as you want to be perceived. If you have a casual look or want to look creative, dress accordingly. If you are gunning for the corner office, wear corporate attire.
Stay away from plaids, prints, and checks; solids work best. Regardless of physique, most people look better with garments that cover upper arms.
Ladies, if you are not purchasing the professional make-up upgrade, apply your own as if you are going out for an evening function. Consider false eyelashes to bring your eyes forward. Don’t laugh – all the models featured on most photographer’s websites have them!
Gentlemen, off-white or light blue shirts work a bit better with a jacket and tie, if you’re going for the corporate look.
RELAX! This is going to be fun.

We can’t wait to see your new headshot online soon.

Click here to receive invites to future events like this one.

LinkedIn Brings You the Best of Facebook: Mentions

sandyjk — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 22:18:02 +0000

So happy to see that LinkedIn has finally incorporated one of the best features of Facebook!

Being able to tag your post (they’re calling them “mentions”) with a colleague, client or connection’s name is a great way to increase your (and their) social capital within your network and beyond. Basically, instead of posting things and hoping people in your network see it, they have made it even easier for you to start an actual conversations and share knowledge with one another.

Here’s the link to their blog post announcing the new feature and here’s how it works:

Begin by typing the name of a connection or a company in your status update box or a comment field on the Homepage.
Select someone from the list of your connections that appear in the drop-down, complete your status or comment and post it.
The person or company you mentioned will receive a notification alerting them that they have been mentioned.

I also thought I’d share a few of the ways I plan on using it to pay it forward:

Give a shout out to a business partner that just got a mention in a Inc.com article
Congratulate a former colleague on launching her Iphone app
Write a brief thank you update to a vendor company that just supplied you with great service
Share that great blog post from a new colleague or biz partner
Mention and share your CEOs appearance in a SXSW video

What other ways will you use this new feature from LinkedIn?

Like Google Alerts? LinkedIn Now Has Automated Alerts Too!

sandyjk — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:34:33 +0000

Search on LinkedIn has become even smarter and more streamlined. They’ve unified the search experience so you no longer need to search for people, companies, or jobs separately. And the’ve also added Automated alerts – which will save you time by saving your searches and then they’ll alert you when the results change. How cool is that? Being a big fan of Google Alerts, and a daily user of LinkedIn, I can’t wait to set up some searches!

Here’s a SlideShare explaining how the enhancements work.

Original post from LinkedIn’s blog.

How will you likely use these alerts from LinkedIn? How will this enhanced search save you time?

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Boost Your Brand and Generate Leads Via Your Profile and Presence on LinkedIn®

sandyjk — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 23:09:31 +0000

Did you know I offer a personalized, 2 hr one-on-one learning session for job seekers, career climbers or business owners looking to elevate their use of LinkedIn® for career management or business growth? Were you aware that what you do or don’t do, and what you have to say or share on LinkedIn are equally important? Yes, both are true!

During our session, I’ll take you on a deep dive into your LinkedIn profile as well as your current footprint on LinkedIn in general. I’ll show you ways to capitalize on LinkedIn’s functionality to demonstrate your expertise on your LinkedIn profile. And then we’ll review the many ways you can generate leads, exposure and interest via your overall presence on this powerful social networking tool (including groups). The session will be fun and relevant to your industry or specific goals. For example, maybe you want to move into a different industry or switch your target market? Well, I can help you polish and shift your brand on LinkedIn to support that.

You can easily submit your session PAYMENT INFO HERE and then use this link to schedule your session via my auto-scheduler. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions!

Need a nudge? Please read these:

“My session with Sandy was invaluable at improving and completing my LinkedIn profile. She showed me how to tailor LinkedIn to my personal preferences and professional goals. I really enjoyed her hands-on approach and we worked on updates and edits during the session as she taught me about all the services LinkedIn provides. She has a wealth of knowledge in how to optimize LinkedIn!”

- Jean Santullo, Adjunct Faculty, College of Graduate and Professional Studies at John F. Kennedy University

“The two hours I spent with Sandy discussing my objectives and reviewing my LinkedIn profile were the best, most cost-effective two hours I’ve spent in a long time! Not only is Sandy an expert at virtually every aspect of LinkedIn, but also she makes the entire process fun and enjoyable. What’s more, since I’ve made the changes Sandy suggested, I have seen an increase in both the quality and quantity of my business leads. That’s ROI defined.”

-Emily C, Communications pro, small biz owner

“Sandy’s in-depth knowledge and perspective of LinkedIn is outstanding! As a consultant, Sandy helped me improve my LinkedIn profile in a thoughtful, appealing and SEO-friendly way. Sandy excels in leading you to fresh insights regarding your real goals, interests, and skills, and how to best present them using LinkedIn’s tools. Thank you, Sandy for all your knowledge and expertise!”

-Leslie Nathan, job seeker

Appointments became available starting Mon, March 11, 2013 and continue to fill up fast, so don’t wait! Why not jumpstart your spring and get serious about achieving your goals this year by maximizing your presence on LinkedIn this month?

Submit your session PAYMENT INFO HERE and then use this link to schedule your session via my auto-scheduler. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions!

Note: All sessions are typically conducted via Skype, Google+ Hangout or in Emeryville, CA. (Non-refundable if less than 48 hours notice of cancellation, otherwise, 50% refund.) This training is offered in a mutually convenient location to those in the SF Bay Area or as a phone or Skype/Google+ hangout session for only $249.

Create an Engaging About Us Page With Some Help From LinkedIn

sandyjk — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:55:22 +0000

Here’s another, little known thing you can do with help from LinkedIn: create an engaging About Us page for your company, bio or your job search/resume site.

LinkedIn’s timeline app is cool and something with which many of us could find lots of other interesting uses. To see a timeline that’s already been generated, you can view mine from ~~2012~~ 2013 below (Quicktime needed and check your browser — definitely Safari friendly):

~~LinkedIn_timeline_video_Sandyjk_2012~~

SandyJK_LinkedIn_Timeline_2013

Here’s a screen grab of what you’ll see in case you have browser trouble playing mine:

Is being a TED speaker on your bucket list? Please take my poll!

sandyjk — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:40:40 +0000

A very helpful and motivating post about TED Talks was getting shared quite a bit this past week on LinkedIn Today. And after attending a TEDxSan Jose event last year, and being inspired to give my own Talk then, I just had to see what all the fuss was about. I now understand why.

Many of us aspire to give a TED Talk someday and Nilofer Merchant’s post can serve as your jumping-off point to start preparing for one of your own. It definitely got me seeing what might be possible!

Please take my poll on LinkedIn and share on which topic you’d like to give a TED Talk to motivate and inspire others. Here’s the link or just vote below. Thank you!

For reference, here are a few titles for some of the most popular TED Talks:

Steve Jobs: How to live before you die
Ric Elias: 3 things I learned while my plane crashed
Elizabeth Gilbert: Your elusive creative genius
Jill Bolte Taylor’s stroke of insight
Sir Ken Robinson: Bring on the learning revolution!
Brené Brown: The power of vulnerability
Neil Pasricha: The 3 A’s of awesome
William Kamkwamba: How I harnessed the wind
Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action

10 of My Favorite Quotes About Networking

sandyjk — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:29:39 +0000

Sometimes even the most seasoned networkers need to psych themselves up before heading out to a networking event or 2 day conference full of strangers. Here are some of my favorite quotes to help inspire and motivate us all:

1) To be successful, you have to be able to relate to people; they have to be satisfied with your personality to be able to do business with you and to build a relationship with mutual trust. - George Ross

2) You take people as far as they will go, not as far as you would like them to go. - Jeanette Rankin

3) The mark of a good conversationalist is not that you can talk a lot. The mark is that you can get others to talk a lot. Thus, good schmoozer’s are good listeners, not good talkers. - Guy Kawasaki

4) Pulling a good network together takes effort, sincerity and time. - Alan Collins, author of “Unwritten HR Rules”

5) ….relationships take time, getting to know folks requires patience, and people are generally cautious – if not fearful – of Johnny come lately that is asking, rather than giving. - Jeremiah Owyang, Sr. Analyst at Forrester

6) Giving connects two people, the giver and the receiver, and this connection gives birth to a new sense of belonging. - Deepak Chopra

7) Nothing liberates your greatness like the desire to help, the desire to serve. - Marianne Williamson

8) You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you. - Dale Carnegie

9) Networking is marketing. Marketing yourself, marketing your uniqueness, marketing what you stand for. - Christine Comaford-Lynch

10) The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity. - Keith Ferrazzi

Which of these are your favorite? Do you have a favorite quote about networking that I’ve missed?

Video: How to Network Like a Pro (G+ Hangout 1/17/13)

sandyjk — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 02:14:06 +0000

In case you missed last week’s (30 min) Networking Like a Pro G+ Hangout sponsored by PayScale, you can now check it out at your convenience here on the BDM Blog.

Hope this provides some inspiration and gives you a few new approaches you can take to further develop your networking skills. Do you have any experience practicing your small talk with strangers (1 of my tips)? Please tell us all about it via Comments.

Networking Like a Pro G+ Hangout sponsored by PayScale (Jan ’13)

And, if you want to share this advice with others, here is the link: http://bit.ly/UoEAdT
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