Enjoy the short video! I know as an entrepreneur the stacks and stacks of business cards you collect might become a bit overwhelming. Above is a quick tip so it doesn’t get out of hand.

Here are some more tips:

1. Always follow up within 24 hours. No, you aren’t a stalker just poignant.

2. Connect on Social Media sites. This is a no brainer especially since you have established face-to-face.

3. Help promote them online: “I just met George Smith, he is a master of tissue paper.”

4. Don’t SPAM: We have all been guilty of this one, myself included. Don’t just add everyone you meet to your newsletter or list. ASK permission.

5. Have a follow up system. I like using Send Out Cards to send “Nice To Meet You” and “Thank You” which is a great online system which sends REAL greeting cards (yes to the mail…old fashioned style). When is the last time you got a “hand written” note? We help promote it a bit too because we use it and love it. You can check it out right here.

PS:

This weekend on the show I’m joined by Keith Ferrazzi, master networker/relationship builder and New York Times Best-Selling Author of “Never Eat Alone” and “Who’s Got Your Back”

You can check it out online beginning at 11 AM CST on Sunday (Nov 1st) and on KDNL ABC at 9:30 AM (NOTE: Time change from our regular 11 AM spot due to NASCAR)

Also, our FINAL event of 2009: The Rise To The Top LIVE is November 11th where we will be discussing with the experts “How To Outsource Your Life” with the when/how of getting rid of all the things in your business you hate doing (bookeeping…yuck!) plus a four-course dinner, speed networking and more. Details are right here and you can nab one of the limited tickets.

So, David what do you do when you aren’t working on The Rise To The Top? Good question. Thanks for asking.

The answer? Helping entrepreneurs, brands, businesses and some other clients to become interactive and social to increase the heck out of their business.  It has been something I’ve kept under the table for awhile as I’ve somewhat been consulting, speaking, and training “underground” but I’m currently booking a few select clients and events for the end of this year and planning for 2010.

Are you an entrepreneur, business or brand looking to REALLY maximize social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn? How about create killer content for your audience and customers?  And I’m not just talking about setting up a profile or writing a blog post…

I’m talking about:

-Creating a game plan to attract more customers and clients
-Spreading your influence on the web
-Finding and creating a passionate community around you and your business
-Building more meaningful relationships (aka networking on steroids)
-Understanding how to time manage, measure ROI, and more

I’ve been in the trenches for several years now building businesses by leveraging online relationships and teaching others to do the same. From bringing in fans to hockey events to building The Rise To The Top, I’ve been fortunate to witness the good, bad and ugly. Is social media a fad? The tools might change but the social web and power of these tools are here to stay.

Feel free to shoot me an email to David AT DSGagency.com and lets see if we can work together.

Hope you enjoy the short, quick, to the point tips. What else would you like to see? Note: Special offer below.

Want to get your business questions answered by Gary Vaynerchuk and myself? Check out the David and Gary Experience? Click the graphic below for details:

Watch The Uncensored Complete Interview:

Watch The Full Episode Also featuring Blogging For Bucks with the Nametag Guy Scott Ginsberg, a unique Cupcake company rocking Twitter and much more:

Want to get your business questions answered by Gary and myself? Check out the David and Gary Experience? Click the graphic below for details:

If I had a man crush on one person it would probably be Gary Vaynerchuk (shhh don’t tell anyone) and he is bringing his business advice to you during our exclusive interview at Wine Library in New Jersey this Sunday on The Rise To The Top. See the above video of the story behind the interview and why I’ve hung onto it in secret for so long.

For those that DON’T know Gary: His story is going to get you fired up. From a wine shack to 50 million dollar plus company, 7 figure book deal, and a daily wine video blog that gets over 80,000 viewers…all while putting family and community first. He doesn’t take no for an answer. He does what he wants. He breaks the rules. He loves life (and the Jets) and has 850,000+ Twitter followers (now, of course we don’t measure coolness on Twitter followers, but hey that is pretty nifty). Oh, and you may be living under a rock.

For those that DO know Gary: You have seen Gary on numerous shows before, but this is going to be a bit different. We really get in depth on how you can build community around your business, make it more social, and how business is being done in 2009 all while not losing perspective on what is really important (that is long sentence).

Here is what you will learn:

-The story behind Wine Library and Wine Library TV
-How Gary built community and viewers (plus some tips he normally doesn’t share)
-How he would build a brand in 2009
-How to evaluate opportunities when they come flying at you
-Legacy, The Book Deal, Tips For Entrepreneurs, Vaynermedia and much more…

PLUS: Pay attention for a REALLY cool way to interact with both Gary and I. Surprise revealed on Sunday.

Here is where you can tune in:

Online: (released at 11 AM CST this Sunday): Right here on therisetothetop.com for the full episode and a COMPLETE uncensored interview with the man, myth and legend.

TV Premier: On ABC (KDNL-ABC30) at 11 AM (CST) on Sunday, October 25th following “This Week With Stephanopoulos”
Replays: On ABC (KDNL-ABC30) at 1 AM (CST) on Tuesday (27th), Wednesday (28th), Thursday (29th) following “Jimmy Kimmel Live”

Localize or go worldwide?
500 really amazing high paying customers or 5,000,000 mediocre ones?
Dominate locally? Try to expand nationally?
Who is my niche? Are they passionate (such as Cardinals fans) or passive (like people that like a certain toothpaste..unless you tell everyone about your favorite toothpaste…in that case rock on, but you are weird.)?

Seth Godin often talks about dominating a specific niche. How specific is up to debate. For example, lets say you are trying to define your niche. Is your niche:
1. People (yes, that is pretty darn broad)
2. Business People (ummm..broad)
3. Business Owners (Broad, darn it. Broad!)
4. Female Business Owners (Hmmm…still broad..but getting there)
5. Female Small Business Owners (Getting there….)
6. Female Small Business Owners in St. Louis (Pretty specific!)
7. Female Small Business Owners in St. Louis under-35 (uh oh maybe too specific..how many are there??)
8. Female Small Business Owners in St. Louis under-35 with 2 kids (Ummm…uh oh)
9. Female Small Business Owners in St. Louis under-35 with 2 kids and cocker spaniel (game over)

The example above illustrates a niche spectrum. How specific does your business have to be to be successful? I’m all about niches. Every business I’ve started has a pretty specific niche. For example, when I was in the hockey world, I was aiming after people that enjoyed inline hockey in St. Louis (believe it or not at that time…it was quite a few people). For The Rise To The Top, we are bit more broad but aim after young and young-at-entrepreneurs. For our events it is a little more specific and that is young and young-at-heart entrepreneurs in St. Louis. Stop. Pause. Wait.

St. Louis, eh? Isn’t that pretty specific? My answer is YES. Think about your business:

Can you serve your local community?
Dominate locally?
Try something in your city that has NEVER been done before?
Become laser focused where you are the local expert on *something*?

Going worldwide, biggest, best may seem like a good idea; however, have you considered the growing pains and infrastructure needed?

Below is a video about some companies in St. Louis that are doing some pretty cool things right now. Some are reinventing the wheel, some are dominating locally, others are going worldwide.
The point is there is no “right” way to be an entrepreneur, but it will be much harder to fail if you find a passionate niche.

Where this is passion (whether it is fashion, business, or more), there are niches. Where there are passionate niches, there are business opportunities. Where there are business opportunities, there is money to be made.

Links mentioned in the video:
St. Louis Fashion Week
Unbeatable Musical
Abstrakt Art Gallery
Virtual Nerd
Off Campus Media
Widget Realm
Lockerdome
Yurbuds

Who do you know who to listen to when starting, growing and maybe even selling your business?
It seems everyone has some advice, but who do you REALLY need to listen to?

From my experience it falls into two categories:
A: Those that have already walked the walk (and not just talk the talk).
B: Really, really, really smart people with lots of big idea.

So alas, here are (over) 15 videos of expert entrepreneurial advice from those that really understand the game. Some are short and to the point. Some are more detailed and a bit longer. The bottom line is the advice is worth oh I don’t know…zillions?

In random order:

Business Advice:

How To Create A Killer Personal Brand with Dan Schawbel

Find out more about Dan on his website.

How To Sell Your Business With Cliff Holekamp

Find out more about Cliff right here.

How To Turn Your Expertise Into Millions With The Millionaire Matchmaker Patti Stanger

Find out more about Patti on her website.

How To Create A Billion Dollar Company With The Founder of World Wide Technology Dave Steward

Find out more about Dave here.

How To Learn From Your Mistakes and The Top Entrepreneurial Advice from Neil Patel

Visit Neil’s website here.

How To Take An Idea And Think Big With Build-A-Bear’s Chief Executive Bear Maxine Clark

Make sure to check out Maxine’s page on The Rise To The Top right here.

How To Gain Trust in Business with The Author of Trust Agents Chris Brogan

Check out Chris’ site

How To Blend Marketing and Sales With Scott Scully

See more about Scott right here

How To Create A Killer Advertising Campaign with Former Chief Creative Officer at Anheuser Busch Bob Lachky

How To Turn Your Creativity Into Business With Joe Edwards

Find out more about Joe right here.

Social Media Advice:

How To Utilize Social Media To Build Buzz For Your Biz with Sarah Evans

Find out more about Sarah on her website.

How To Rock The World Of Linked In with Lewis Howes

Find out more about Lewis on his website.

How To Be A Twitastic Tweeter on Twitter With Ria Sharon

Find out more about Ria on her website.

How To Maximize Facebook With Shama Kabani

Check out her great website right here.

How To Avoid Big Mistakes On Social Media with Bradley Will

Check out Brad’s site right here.

Enjoy! You can find out more about all of these great folks and more on the Guests and Experts page.

Oh and one bonus one - How To Make Decisions With Your Gut with Anna Kournikova

When you stick yourself out there, every so often the good ole negabot rears his or her ugly head.

By definition, the negabot is the person that when it is 85 and sunny, they are complaining it isn’t 86.

By habitat, a negabot may appear:

-On your blog (writing a nasty comment)
-In your email (with something negative of course)
-On your social networks (A social media negabot!)
-Occasionally in person (With a snide remark…this type of negabot is much rarer).

Online, with the ability for many to remain anonomyous still in 2009, you will most likely face a little non-love.
And you probably won’t like it. If you receive 99/100 positive comments, it is human nature still to dwell on the negative one.

I occasionally (I mean VERY occasionally) encounter a negabot who usually emails me with something like:

“Your hair is stupid. You need to grow up and you have it all wrong” (that was last season and very impressive).
“I didn’t like when you said _______ or ______”
And one…was pretty bad and said “Get off the air Jew”.

So…..what did I do?

Did I get really upset? Cry home to mama? Quit my business? Lash back with obscenities?

Nope. Never.

Instead, I respond with a simple message:

“Thank you for your feedback. We appreciate ALL feedback. Thanks for watching!”
-David

Now, on a side note I didn’t send that one to the obviously ignorant person (because he or she left a fake email).
But, I’ve noticed the killing with kindness and respect is the by far the best method.

It isn’t worth getting upset about. And perhaps if something comes at you repeatedly from numerous people their may be some truth to it and maybe you need to change as well.

Welcome all commentary. Don’t let the negabots get you down and remember no matter what, you are you at the end of every day.

What about you? How do you deal with negative comments and people? Let’s discuss below!