I’d like to believe that after the skank post in April, we don’t have to have a lengthy conversation about what’s appropriate to wear to work. But APPARENTLY your good common sense doesn’t carry over to your online image, because sweetheart, you look like a ho on your LinkedIn profile.
I’m only saying this because we’re friends, and I would be a bad friend if I didn’t tell you. And, you know, BECAUSE we’re friends, I feel like I can be totally honest with you about this: You need to put up a new photo or have no photo at …read more

In the comments on my post on networking tips last week, Ren asked how to deal with the inevitable lull in conversation after the initial introduction in a networking situation.

Ren GarciaMay 7, 2008 at 11:00 pmGreat pick-up lines, Kristen. Could lead to something heavier than networking.
My problem is the dead silence that comes after the entree. I always end up making up an excuse for a graceful exit.

Based on the tips we’ve already talked about, I’ll work with the assumption that you’ve got the "Hi, what’s your name? What do you do?" part covered. (If not, you should review.) …read more

For some reason, networking has this really bad reputation as being something only used car salesmen or cutthroat politicians do to get what they want. But people, there is nothing nefarious about networking. It’s all about getting to know people with whom you have a common interest, and that, my friends, is a heck of a lot of fun.
Unless you literally never leave your house, you already have all of the skills you need to be a successful networker because you use them every day when you interact with coworkers, service providers, people standing in like at the dry …read more

I’m very pleased to announce that I’ll be doing my first live radio interview this Sunday evening at 5 p.m. EST (GMT-5) on KFNX News-Talk Radio’s IMI TechTalk program. My favorite speaking partner, Gabe Goldberg, and I will be talking with TechTalk host Tom D’Auria about professional networking.
Tune in to www.1100KFNX.com to listen live on Sunday. Listeners can call in or e-mail with questions, and I hope you will take advantage of the opportunity! If you miss it, recordings are available online in an archive. Comments on my brilliance and stunning beauty are welcome and encouraged. Or, you know, you …read more

Quick announcement: I was recently interviewed by networking expert and speaking partner Gabe Goldberg for an article on, you guessed it, networking. It appears on the front page of today’s Washington Post Jobs section, and can be found online right here.
Gabe and I will be speaking on networking in at the DC chapter of 40plus on Monday, January 28, 2008. Here’s the info.
Contents © Copyright 2008 Kristen King
Tags: kristen king, gabe goldberg, networking, 40plus, washington post, freelance writing

off with their heads!
Ridiculous, isn’t it? That’s about how ridiculous it would be to hold social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace responsible for the action(s) of their members. When people join these forums, become members and active participants, they take on certain inherent risks that they are responsible for:
1. Disclosing personal information
2. Other users/visitors accessing and viewing their personal information
3. Chatting with complete strangers. Yes, they’re strangers even if they are online.
Laura from Business and Blogging and I were paired up to discuss this “problem” that is being fought and debated in the online world. You can read Laura’s …read more

Starting your business year off right requires that you have a firm grasp on one important tool: Networking. Whether you desire to be active in either online or offline networking circles, it’s important to take the time to grow and cultivate working relationships that can turn into productive business relationships down the line. Here are some networking tips that I have used in my speaking business to build relationships with existing and potential clients:
1. Contact the client at least once a week to once every two weeks with an email, article or news clipping story that is relevant to their industry. Write …read more

When is the last time you Googled yourself? It sounds a little silly, but try it. Google your name. I’ll wait here.
Okay, I can see that you’re back now. What did you find? Are you listed at previous places of employment? Do you see activities and affliations from college? Maybe a few professional organizations? These are all good things.
But what else came up? One writing colleage confessed to me that she shares a name with an erotic writer whose website borders on pornographic. A design colleague revealed on his blog that someone with his same name was attemtping to piggyback …read more

Let’s see…what business New Year’s Resolutions do I have? LOTS! Beginning in January 2008, I have lots and lots of ideas and plans I want to implement to make my blogs grow and create stronger networking connections. Celine over at pimpyourwork.com is holding a New Year’s Resolution contest with some cool prizes for contestants. Since I’m a BIG believer in goal-setting and resolutions for the New Year’s, I’m going to enter and make this my ‘official’ entering post.
For 2008, the main thing I want to accomplish with my blog at Biz Chicks Rule is to increase the readership by at least …read more

What tasks do you deem important when starting a business? Getting startup capital? Establishing a clientele? Finding office space?
We’re drawing closer to the end of the year and there are many business start-ups that will be forming in 2008. Will you be one of them?
Check out this great article I found on tasks to consider when starting your own business. Let me know how things go for you. Any questions? Let me know that too!
Bridget