SolNet: SOLution Based NETworking

Meeting Notes--Jonathon Fishman of Ben's Ranch

September 26, 2007 Meeting Minutes for

I. Introduction

Beginning at 9:30am, attendees registered, had a bite to eat and began to meet-and-greet. Revi Mendelsohn, Dana Ehrlich and Elizabeth Rodgers greeted a full house at the Beverly Hills Country Club at 10am.

II. Speaker

Jonathon Fishman, CEO and Founder of Ben's Ranch Inc. gave a very well received discussion where he focused on growing your business and making better use of your technology.

Give your business an audit. Look at three things:

Look at your business from the outside in. Everyone is a customer. There are easy-to-implement technology essentials to make your business more efficient, enhance communication and act more professional. Look and act like a big company, even if it's just you behind the website.

Do you have a professional looking website?

Do you have activity on your website?

Does your email appear professional?

Does you incoming communication give the right impression?

Look at your business from inside out.

Do you value your client contact management?

Do you back up?

What is the financial health of your business?

Look at yourself.

Is your workspace efficient and conducive to productivity?

Does your technology work efficiently?

III. Speednetworking

There was another high energy round of Speednetworking. Similar to Speed Dating and probably more fun and with better results. Starting with the table you were seated at, each person stated their name and business, and then asked the group for something they needed to improve their business or fill a void (i.e.: I need a good web designer). Anyone at the table that knew a resource who could fulfill the need wrote it on their business card and gave it to the person in need to follow-up with after the meeting. Each person was allowed approximately one minute. After the table was finished everyone made an organized switch to their next table to do one more round.

IV. Closing Comments

Dana excitedly announced the next meeting on October 22, 2007. The speaker, Michael Port, called a “marketing guru” by the Wall Street Journal and author of the national bestselling “Book Yourself Solid” will be in Los Angeles to speak exclusively to SolNet! Don’t miss out on this event that would normally cost hundreds of dollars per person. December will be a holiday mixer. In January, Solnet will present Constant Contact to discuss Emarketing.

Carol Hungerford was the winner of this month's raffle prize:
One Annual Small Business Membership to Ben's Ranch (Value $150)

Thank you to the following people who made this networking event possible.

Revi Mendelsohn, Realtor, Coldwell Banker. Your "go-to" agent for anything real estate.
Dana Ehrlich, Groovy Paper ~ Modern Stylish Stationery, www.groovypaper.com

Elizabeth Rodgers, Ben's Ranch, www.bensranch.com

Michelle Burry-Harwood, Stationery/Logo Design, www.bumpercards.com

Jeannine Channin, The Treehouse Social Club,www.thetreehousesocialclub.com

Kara Frans, Kara Frans Photography, www.karafrans.com

Laurel Green, GreenBooks Bookkeeping, www.laurelgreenbooks.com

Kim Hamer, Get Into Private School, www.getintoprivateschool.com

Hybrid Mom Magazine

Elisha Lenders, La Bella Vita Interior Design, www.labellavita.us

Stephanie Maloney,Financial Solutions for Divorce, www.financialsolutionsfordivorce.com

Eve Newhart, Wicati Boutique, www.wicati.com
Linda Perry, Peachhead Families, www.peachheadfamilies.com

V. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned about 11:45 am with great enthusiasm for the event and the future of SolNet.