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Scott Allen

Web 2.0 - blogs, social networking, web conferencing and podcasting - has transformed e-business. Are you ready to make a "virtual handshake" with your customers, partners and employees?

The Internet offers powerful tools to help you find the right people, connect with them, and close deals quickly and cost-effectively. And while the simplicity of these "social software" tools is much of their appeal, trying to actually figure out how to use them to grow your business, find partners and employees and enhance your career is a bit more of a challenge.

Scott explains in plain English how to use the new tools that have emerged in the last few years: blogs, social networking, relationship capital management and biography analysis software, as well as how to make best use of familiar technologies like e-mail lists, contact management software, personal web sites, instant messaging and web conferencing to build better business relationships. Whilemany are familiar with some of this technology, most people are only using a small fraction of the power of these tools.

The Virtual Handshake is more than just a guide to the new technology, however - it offers both a framework and dozens of practical tips for creating, building and maintaining business relationships virtually, with a strong focus on the human element and creating real business results from those virtual relationships.

Because relationships cut across every aspect of a company's business, Scott can provide a multi-functional overview or tailor his message to entrepreneurs building their team, marketers wanting to generate buzz and leads, business development professionals looking for partners, researchers or consultants seeking to better share knowledge both internally and with customers or recruiters trying to find great candidates. He can also cover a broad range of tools or focus on specifics, such as blogs, podcasting, MySpace, LinkedIn (the most popular business networking site with 10 million members) or communicating effectively via e-mail.

Buzz About The Book

The Virtual Handshake is a down-to-earth explanation of how people really connect on the 'net, and how to make that happen for yourself. David and Scott turn the abstract theory into practical action you can use successfully.
- Craig Newmark, Founder of Craigslist

An outstanding book, full of great ideas for growing your business. The authors take an innovative but practical look at how best to leverage technology to build business relationships.
Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder, Business Network International (BNI); Co-author, Masters of Networking

David and Scott present a compelling idea — while networking is often seen as a numbers game, quality connections are the real key to career and business success. Everyone already has a network of strong connections, whether or not they ever attended a networking event. The Virtual Handshake provides excellent suggestions for how to better leverage the network you already have, including the hidden network comprised of the people your contacts know.
Reid Hoffman, CEO and Chairman, LinkedIn

The Virtual Handshake has received rave reviews and coverage in Harvard Working Knowledge, BusinessWeek, Monster.com, Kirkus Reviews, CNN.com, Fast Company and many other leading publications. The authors also write a monthly column for FastCompany.com and are contributing authors to several other books.

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