Brian's Cognigen Blog

Agloco toolbar is now available

2007-06-09T13:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.agloco.com/r/BBBN4458

Agloco just released their toolbar and it can now be installed on your computer. I've been using it for a few days and had not problems what so ever. This is the easiest thing ever. It just sits on the bottom of your desk top and doesn't interfere with anything.

Check out the site and see how easy it is.

Namaste,
Brian Baldwin

Using Misspelled Words

2007-05-27T14:20:00.000-07:00

I just ran across this story on Yahoo and realized that it can be used for search engine optimization (SEO) As you make posts in forums, and create blog posts etc, misspell a few words and most likely you'll rise through the ranks.

Namaste,
Brian Baldwin
Southern Tech Services

The Most Misspelled
By Erik Gunther
Wed, May 23, 2007, 2:06 pm PDT
Everyone has certain words they struggle to spell correctly. When it comes to spelling, we're not perfect—you can count on us to occasionally botch recieve (sic), accomodations (sic), and relavant (sic). With the Scripps National Spelling Bee on the horizon, we figured it was a perfect time to come clean about our erroneous ways.

The superb spellers at the Bee will rake in even more Buzz this year with the finals being televised in prime time on ABC. Searches on "spelling bee" have doubled over the last week and we've seen related search spikes on "national spelling bee," "spelling words," and "commonly misspelled words."

What are the common words that vex our searchers? We applied our best spell checking skills to the data and came up with this list of the top 20 misspelled words in Search...

Wallmart (Wal-Mart)
Rachel Ray (Rachael Ray)
Amtrack (Amtrak)
Hillary Duff (Hilary Duff)
Katherine McPhee (Katharine McPhee)
Britany Spears (Britney Spears)
Geneology (Genealogy)
Jaime Pressley (Jaime Pressly)
Volkswagon (Volkswagen)
Wikepedia (Wikipedia)
William Sonoma (Williams-Sonoma)
Tatoo (Tattoo)
Travelosity (Travelocity)
Elliot Yamin (Elliott Yamin)
Kiera Knightley (Keira Knightley)
Kelly Pickler (Kellie Pickler)
Brittney Spears (Britney Spears)
Avril Lavinge (Avril Lavigne)
Rianna (Rihanna)
Jordan Sparks (Jordin Sparks)

Article Distribution. Complete. Extensive. Quick. Article Marketer

2006-12-28T19:25:00.000-08:00

Article Distribution. Complete. Extensive. Quick. Article Marketer

It's almost the New Year and I've made a resolution.This year, I'm going to reveal every tool and trick I use to grow my business. I plan on making at least a few members of my team a lot of money, if they use the tools I do.

I've been using Article Marketer for almost a year and the cool thing is that every time a new article site comes on line and get's added to the list, they take all of my old articles and submit them. I've written a few articles and linked them to my profile site brianbaldwin.com and have over 1700 links in Google to that site, here's the results and this isn't even counting the other articles that were directed at other domains.

I'll be sharing other tricks later. It's going to be a stellar year.

Namaste,
Brian

New Ultimate Rep Splash Page

2006-11-28T13:35:00.000-08:00

: Turn Your Traffic Into Income!
I've been using this new splash page and getting several sign ups to Ultimate Rep and Cognigen. One of the cool things about all the Ultimate rep spash pages is that when you see them on traffic exchanges, they say your name. This really catches your attention and results in more sign ups. It also captures the prospects info and e-mails them more info.

Take a look and let me know what you think.

Namaste,
Brian

Ultimate Rep Update

2006-08-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

: Turn Your Traffic Into Income!
Recently, Empowerism stopped offering autoresponders as part of their very good package so it's no longer a required program. This makes Ultimate Rep free to join at the moment. You can start building downlines in several companies and generating a lot of traffic without spending any money to start. Of couse, you'll want to join as many as you can but for now, it isn't required.

Namaste,
Brian

Ultimate Rep

2006-07-23T14:10:00.000-07:00

I've been a member of Ultimate Rep for a few months now and have to say it's smokin. I was expecting it to be good when Kevin told me about it, but I really underestimated the power of it. I've watched my income go up every month and usually several times during the month. As a matter of fact, If you're new or been around for a while, you owe it to yourself to join.

Namaste,
Brian

Traffic Exchange Blog

2006-04-03T09:16:00.000-07:00

Traffic Exchange Blog
I realize that traffic exchanges aren't for everyone so I created another blog that will be dedicated to traffic exchanges and how to use them. That way, I can keep this blog focused on Cognigen.

Namaste,
Brian

Money for nothing??? Probably not.

2006-03-24T13:36:00.000-08:00

I've been using the traffic exchanges a lot since Kevin introduced me to Ultimate Rep and the thing I keep seeing is these sites that promise to pay you extreme returns on money. Some have been shut down recently but the fact that they keep springing up bothers me.

It's true that you can make a great living working on line but it takes work and these sites are promising that you can spend a few minutes a day and get guaranteed returns. If you're planning on joining a group, ask yourself where the money is coming from. If there is no sales, it probably won't last. A lot of people have already found this out the hard way.

GET Active TODAY!

2006-03-22T10:29:00.000-08:00

I ran across this article today and it points out that you never know where your next star is going to come from. I hope it helps you as much as it helped me.
I just received this months leads from Traffic Oasis which are the best leads I've used and will be calling them over the next few days.

Namaste,
Brian

GET Active TODAY!
Mike Lemire
________________________________________

At a seminar I heard a great statement.....
"Just DO something"
I remember being frustrated when I started and when I first complained to my Father...he made me sit down and asked me a simple question...."Do you want to know the SECRET to success?" I said "Absolutely" He then TOLD me to stand up and look under MY chair. SO I did and found a $100 bill taped to it. He said...the secret is to "Get off your (you know what) and go make some money!
So I started to get ACTIVE...and found that....
Even if it's not the BEST activity it's better than what I call "PERFECT InAction" in which some of us may be categorized at one point in time or another!
It's amazing when you STOP idling, and take yourself out of "neutral" that something happens! I can tell you many stories WHY activity is important but here are a few to prove a point....
"The MORE activity you have, the luckier you GET!"
ACTION: Making Phone Calls
One day I was making local cold calls. At one point I tried to reach a marketing company and called the wrong phone number....a gentleman answered the phone. I was very "edgy" that day and really didn't feel like having any of my time wasted. He was very nice and proceeded to TRY and help me...I became irritated UNTIL he started to become interested in what I did for a living. SO, I invited him to a local seminar the NEXT day and what do you know, he shows up and SIGNS up! I then helped him recruit a few of his "centers of influence" and found an ACE. One of his buddies signed up and became one of the TOP recruiters in our state that year.
THE RESULT: Over 20,000 a year!
This gentleman and his team have put over $20,000 in my pocket every year and growing because I made an incorrect phone call! What if I decided to NOT make ANY calls that day? Ouch!
ACTION: Sending Emails
One day I was sending just TONS of emails to build up a presence on the internet. I sent specific emails to companies searching for help on the Internet with my business opportunity.
An extremely successful Internet Marketer in Colorado happen to reply and then asked for an info packet. I had SO many replies that I FORGOT to send the information until he so kindly reminded me! Once I sent the info...I forgot to follow up! (Don't you hate that?) I thought he would not be interested...I pre-judged him...
Thank god he didn't and once he called me...his objective was clear...he wanted to sign up and meet my wife and I at a major event in Dallas, TX.
THE RESULT: Downline in 34 States!
We worked together day in and day out to build his business and became great friends! The income from this "Not-So- Perfect" scenario is closing in on $30,000 a year....growing and growing. I am like many of you on the internet...still learning...but the key is to always TRY something...and this takes ACTION!
ACTION: "Running Ads"
I have and always will love long-distance recruiting from ads. One day we received an inquiry from someone that was trying to HELP us reach more prospects. They were responding to SELL us and we...by accident, SOLD them! Because we were "open minded", we ended up bringing a major marketing company into our business. (In the past I would have NOT called them back. I wanted prospects, not to be prospected!) Always be networking..no matter what you are doing....
THE RESULT: "Almost $100,000 in 4 months!"
Once again, we worked with this new business partner and they had a few special gifts....a few magical business connections and their first four months...they earned close to $100,000! We were happy too! )
It's amazing what happens when you have an an open mind...listening is another key to success!
THE most important KEY is just getting ACTIVE in the game.
"You don't have to be the "sharpest" TOOL in the shed, BUT...you have to be IN the shed!"
UNDERSTAND that these "imperfect activities" led to great results BUT we had to WORK! The fact that we were doing something is what LED to these GREAT prospects BUT you then have to put the TIME in.
I am certainly NOT encouraging poor activities but suggesting ACTION and the fact that when you just DO something; you have good, bad, and even lucky results!
"LUCK seems to have a peculiar attachment to WORK"
SO...get ACTIVE...no matter what, DO NOT sit by and wait...go out and GET...everyday...because you never KNOW who is out there and WHEN they will BE there. Just DO something...you will see good, bad and even lucky results....everyday!
The cold call you make today...
The emails you send today...
The ads you run today....
Could it be that ONE of your activities will change you life? Today? Tomorrow? Next week?
The only way you will ever KNOW is to get ACTIVE!

Traffic Syndicate 25

2006-03-18T09:57:00.000-08:00

Traffic Syndicate 25

I've been using this to promote the Ultimate Rep site and have to say that the sign ups are pretty good. I really like the whole syndicate thing where you get credits for the whole groups surfing efforts.

You can also find a list of the other Traffic Exchanges I use at the Recommended Traffic Exchange page.

Namaste,
Brian

Brian Baldwin welcomes you...

2006-03-02T19:48:00.000-08:00

Ultimate Rep

Kevin just updated the Ultimate Rep web site and it looks great. I'm happy I joined and it's turning out to really work. If you're serious about generating multiple streams of income, you need to check this out.

Namaste,
Brian

Free Traffic and Search Bar for Internet Explorer and Firefox

2006-02-27T22:24:00.000-08:00

Free Traffic and Search Bar for Internet Explorer and Firefox

I've been using this surf bar for over a month and it really rocks. I joined for free and tested it and then upgraded to pro.
One of the things I really like (besides the fact that it's spyware free) is all the tools it contains.

By the way, I made several sales from this little toolbar.

Namaste,
Brian

PS if you have a site, you can earn extra credit just by installing their ads on your site. At least for the moment, they're down below, but as soon as I get this template edited, they'll be up higher.

Ultimate Rep

2006-02-27T16:33:00.000-08:00

Ultimate Cognigen Recruiting Site

I've been working on learning this killer site that Kevin Anderson created and he keeps making the training better. He's also working on having the appearance tweeked so it'll look even better. All I know is that it's working.

If you're serious about building a downline, then you owe it to yourself to at least check it out.

The Comfort Zone

2006-02-21T09:46:00.000-08:00

While reading blogs I found this poem and thought it was great. It really hits the nail on the head.

Namaste,
Brian

I used to have a comfort zone where I knew I wouldn’t fail.

The same four walls and busywork were really more like jail.
I longed so much to do the things I’d never done before,
But stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.

I said it didn‘t matter that I wasn’t doing much.
I said I didn’t care for things like commission checks and such.
I claimed to be so busy with the things inside the zone,
But deep inside I longed for something special of my own.

I couldn’t let my life go by just watching others win.
I held my breath; I stepped outside and let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength I’d never felt before,
I kissed my comfort zone goodbye and closed and locked the door.

If you’re in a comfort zone, afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true.
Reach for your future with a smile; Success is there for you!

Author: Unknown

Recommended Traffic Exchanges

2006-02-16T11:49:00.000-08:00

Recommended Traffic Exchanges

I just put together a list of traffic exchanges and how to use them to send traffic to your site. If you want a lot of traffic and your site can handle it, sign up for a few or all of these. There is more than 400 hits just for signing up and most have bonus credits for games and random bonuses.

Enjoy.

Namaste,
Brian

Ultimate Rep

2006-02-10T11:05:00.000-08:00

Ultimate Rep Cognigen Site
Here is a web site that Kevin Anderson created for Cognigen reps. It takes several programs and makes them work together. If you really want to create multiple income streams, you need to get this.

Ecommerce Executive Joins Cognigen Board of Directors

2006-01-31T09:36:00.000-08:00

Ecommerce Executive Joins Cognigen Board of Directors

This sounds like a good move for all agents in that it should improve products and most likely, marketing training.

Namaste,
Brian

Turning recruiting into a game.

2006-01-30T14:21:00.000-08:00

Today we're going to look at an easy way to grow your business. This is so easy; you'll probably be surprised at how well it works and it's so easy that I tend to think of it as a game.

You'll need business cards and belief that it will work.

Here's how I play the game.
When I get up each morning and when I'm out running errands, I set an intention to meet at least one person that I need to meet. I usually say to myself while driving to the store that I intend to meet at least one person that I need to meet and then I keep an eye open for those people. Some times, they are people who are looking for a home based business, some times they are people who are looking for the products I sell and some times they are people who need my help lifting a heavy object into their shopping cart. The point is that every time I expect to meet someone, I do.

Now, you may not believe me, but give it a try. When you go out today or tomorrow, expect to meet someone and keep an open mind. If it doesn't work for you, then try again the next day and actually expect to meet at least one person.

Since I started playing this game, I've recruited several people into my downline, made several sales, made a contact that may prove very valuable in the future and helped an elderly lady put a heavy object into her cart. But, more importantly, I've had fun.

By the way, this idea came to me while reading the book, "Ask And It Is Given" by Jerry and Esther Hicks.

If you need a logical explanation for how this works instead of whatever you ask for, the universe will give, then it's simple. You pass by dozens of people each day that want a home based business or your products and you don't notice them. This game will cause you to change your focus and actually see those people. How many times have you had a clerk that was tired of her job and it showed? I used to get slightly irritated about it until I started seeing these people as needing a better life. Now I hand them a card and ask if they've ever thought of having their own business. You'd be surprised to know how many call me or e-mail me to ask more.

Now, go out and play. If people see you having fun, they'll want to know how you do it.

Namaste,
Brian Baldwin

For a list of recommended resources as well as tools to grow your business.

Roundup Some Free Traffic to Your Website. Free Advertising with TrafficRoundup.com

2006-01-27T09:54:00.000-08:00

Roundup Some Free Traffic to Your Website. Free Advertising with TrafficRoundup.com

I had just about given up on Traffic Exchanges until Kevin Anderson the founder of Cognigen recommended one recently. I figured if he was recommending a site that I should go back to my dusty bookmark folder and start testing them again. Traffic Roundup was one of my favorites back in the day so it was on my list to try. I've been using it (again)for a few weeks and the results are pretty good.
Here's the reason I recommend it.
Free
15 second timer instead of 30 like most.
Trade credits for banner impressions 1 credit equals 60 banners.

A bit of advice if you're going to use a Traffic Exchange.
Use Firefox or Mozilla instead of Internet Explorer. It's just safer.
Advertise a newsletter sign up or products. Most people on exchanges already have a primary business.

A side benefit of surfing is that you get to read other sites and learn what they are writing. If you figure out good web design, your success rate will go up.

Happy Surfing

Brian

PS if you happen to so my Proven MLM Training newsletter in your surfing, let me know what you think.

Best MLM Resources

2006-01-10T13:39:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine and fellow Cognigen agent has a blog that has some really good info on it. I really like the article on using articles to grow your business. I guess I'm partial since Jeff is a friend of mine and I'm really into writing articles right now. Anyway, take a look and let me know what you think.
Best MLM Resources

Namaste,
Brian

Happy New Year

2005-12-31T17:09:00.000-08:00

Another year is almost over and it's time to review the previous year and think about the next. This is a great time to plan for where you want to be in the coming months. After all, time will pass regardless of whether or not we have a plan. I suggest you take a little time and set some goals and resolutions for 2006, if you haven't already.

I'll give you a small look into mine. I didn't want just another list of goals to accomplish this year so I made my list with the following categories.

Body

Mind/Spirit

Finance

Home

I then wrote down everything I wanted to accomplish under each category, made sub goals and made each goal as detailed and achievable as possible and set up a reminder to read it every 2 weeks and keep working toward my goals. I believe this is where most people go wrong. If you just make a list and don't figure out how to make it work and read it often, then it turns into just another forgotten list and 365 days from now, we all wonder where the year went.

Here's a little trick that works for me. I added a few goals that were so easy that I can't help but achieve them. I learned a long time ago that it helps me stay motivated as the year goes by.

If you didn't achieve everything you wanted in 2005, don't dwell on what you didn't achieve but focus on what you did and build upon that. You can't change the past but you can learn from it and change the future.

Namaste,

Brian Baldwin

www.BrianBaldwin.com

PS I’ve started working on a list of all the tools that I use to grow my business. The only tools on the list are ones I use and know to work.

http://stservices.powerfulintentions.com/library/view/2617

Happy Holidays

2005-12-24T11:49:00.000-08:00

Brian's Blog

As the year comes to an end and we stop to spend time with our family and friends, I just want to wish everyone a very happy holidays.
There's been a lot of media about the use of Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas by groups that are very passionate about it from both sides. The season is about family and faith, regardless of the title or what your faith is.
If they want to fight something, there're many more important things to expend energy on.
They can:
1. help the homeless
2. visit the elderly
3. raise money for their favorite charity
4. clean up the environment
5. call for truth in government
or a million other things.

Life is too short to fight over the use of a title. If you must fight, then fight for something big. Be the change you want to see. Improve the world. Do something huge and do it 365 days a year and not just during the holidays.

Peace and joy to everyone and my wish for you is for you to find your dream and live like a child with all the wonder and joy that most adults have forgotten.

Namaste,
Brian

New tool

2005-12-22T16:24:00.000-08:00

I've been trying out a new free tool that is pretty cool. It's a tool bar that shows text ads and in return, every 4 ads you show, yours show once. It also has a boat load of tools that are included and works with IE and Firefox. I'm a little disappointed that it doesn't work for Mozilla but maybe I'll switch to Firefox since it has more plug ins available and is supposed to be faster.

Any way, take a look and give it a try. Since it has no spyware or crap inside, it's worth trying out.

Free Traffic Bar

Namaste,
Brian

Best MLM Leads

Trainer - Instant Messaging and the new 3 Foot Rule

2005-11-26T20:40:00.000-08:00

The one thing this article didn't make clear was that you should make friends with them before offering your opportunity unless they ask. Other than that it's an excellent article and should be used.

Namaste,
Brian

Instant Messaging and the new 3 Foot Rule
By Max Steingart
Finding someone to talk to about your business is a lot simpler than you think when you know how to use Instant Messaging on the Internet.

If, like most veteran network marketers, you've blown through your warm market and now depend on talking to anyone within three feet of you who might be interested in your business, you're going to fall in love with Instant Messaging.

If you're brand new to network marketing, and you're struggling with your first assignment - make a list of all the people you know (your warm market list) so you can tell them about your business - your worries are over. Instant Messaging solves your problem by giving you direct access to millions of new people.

You can roll up your sleeves and get to work building your network marketing business with a smile. Instant Messaging will put you in direct contact with people every where in the world. You can use it to talk to all the people that you know. And you can use it to talk to strangers.

You'll make the Internet your warm market when you use Instant Messaging. The new Three-Foot Rule in network marketing is, "When you're sitting in front of your computer, you're within three feet of the entire online world. You can talk to anyone when you know where to find them and how to use Instant Messaging."

The Internet and Instant Messaging made all the difference in Melanie Rogers' success.

Melanie was a young woman living in central Canada. She didn't have a warm market to talk to. Her chiropractor sponsor suggested she send out promotional audio tapes to a mailing list she purchased. Each week for an entire year, she mailed out ten tapes to different people on the list. Melanie developed a lottery ticket mentality toward each mailing. Every week she thought, "One of these people is going to listen to the tape and call me." But no one ever did.

Melanie heard that other people in her company were using Instant Messaging to meet people online to talk about their business. She asked her sponsor if he knew how people were using the Internet, but he didn't have a clue. So she traveled to an event sponsored by her company in Chicago to meet other distributors and to learn how other people were using the Internet.

Melanie met Angela waiting for an elevator at her hotel. Angela knew all about Internet prospecting. "I'm meeting 6 people at this hotel later today that I met online that are considering getting into my business," she told Melanie. "Come up to my room during lunch and I'll show you how easy it is to send an Instant Message to a total stranger and establish a relationship."

Later in Angela's room, Melanie watched in amazement as her new friend used a laptop to search the Member Directory in Yahoo and ICQ, two of the world's largest free Instant Messaging systems. Before her eyes she watched Angela pick from hundreds of people that were online and start an Instant Message conversation with someone that lived close to the hotel. Before the online conversation ended, Angela's new friend made a commitment to stop by the hotel later to meet her and learn more about the business.

When Melanie returned home from Chicago, she immediately began her Internet adventure. She created the screen name MarvelousMelanie along with posting a fabulous profile in the Member Directory on Yahoo. She wanted to use the Internet to meet people in the cities where her company held promotional events. The company's next event was in Orlando, Florida, and Melanie planned to attend that event too.

Melanie learned a lot about her business and company products in Chicago. She made many new friends and had fun. She learned many new things that she would apply to her business, but the biggest thing she learned was how to use the Internet and Instant Messaging.

Melanie searched the Member Directory looking for people to contact in Orlando. She started every Instant Message conversation with:

"Hello, my name is Melanie. I'm coming to Orlando at the end of January for a convention. Do you know what the temperature will be there then? I'm in Canada and expect it will be 5 or 10 below zero here."

Melanie made twenty new contacts that turned into friends in the Orlando area with these initial Instant Messages. Six of these friends became customers prior to the convention and attended it with her. Two of the six were Chiropractors. Before she left town, she signed up an additional six people from her new contact list.

A year and a half later, when Melanie's company expanded into the United Kingdom, she immediately started making new friends in London. She started each Instant Message with a compliment and a reference to the contents of the person's profile.

"Hello, I like your profile. I'm coming to London at the end of July for a five day convention. My company is expanding our business there. How difficult is it to get a tour of Buckingham Palace? I'd really appreciate your help. "

Melanie made six good friends in London and made plans to meet them when she was there.

On her first day in London, Melanie met all of her new Internet friends. All of them signed up in her business. The first person she enrolled was the head coach of a professional soccer team who was a local celebrity. The coach convinced everyone connected with his team that they needed to be taking the company's products and signed them all up as customers.

As a result, Melanie became her company's first national marketing rep in the United Kingdom. A woman with zero sales activity the first year she was in business found incredible success on the Internet.

Effective use of Instant Messaging solves the biggest problem facing everyone in network marketing. It gives you access to millions of people!

CareerJournal | Finding Time: Blending Networking Into Your Life

2005-11-18T13:29:00.000-08:00

Even though this article is about finding a job it can easily be used by network marketers. The same principle applies.
I'm not saying to use the three foot rule since most people hate to do it but I am saying to make friends and be open about what you do.

Namaste,
Brian

CareerJournal | Finding Time: Blending Networking Into Your Life

Finding Time: Blending
Networking Into Your Life

By Perri Capell

If you're doing it right, networking isn't something that takes lots of extra time in your life.

It easily blends into your life, and your approach to life.

You may think of networking -- making new contacts and spreading the word about yourself or your company -- as slogging to trade shows or meet-and-greet cocktail parties to shake hands and exchange business cards.

But tending to your career doesn't require spending long days in hotel ballrooms or long nights in smoke-filled bars. If you see everyone as a potential contact, you can network during any mundane daily activity, from waiting in line for a latte to peddling at the gym to commuting.

Some conversations will be fleeting, while other times, the people you meet will become part of your circle. Being open to -- and staying in touch with -- those who cross your path is how you make your own luck. At some point, you'll learn about something that can benefit you professionally before the rest of the world finds out.

"People think of networking as going to a function," says Karen Susman, a Denver-based coach and speaker on networking. "You need to realize you are building your network everywhere all the time."

While working as an executive recruiter in Austin, Texas, Becky Gates joined a book club. A referral from someone in the club led her to a job as senior development director for the Girl Scouts Lone Star Council.

"I told her I was interested in working for a nonprofit because I liked what I was doing as a volunteer," says Ms. Gates, 55 years old. "She said she knew the CEO of the girl scouts' council. She introduced us, and I found out they needed someone."

Five months ago, Ms. Gates moved to Boise, Idaho, where she's vice president and general manager for Organizational Consultants to Management, a Salt Lake City-based career transitions firm. Ms. Gates and her husband relocated to Boise to be closer to family. She learned of the opening before the move through another networking contact.

Some traditional networking tactics do take time, but shouldn't take much. Busy executives who excel at career management say they set aside only a few extra minutes a day -- but at least a few minutes a day -- to touch base with professional contacts.

Tim Ayers, director of global services marketing for Tellabs, a communications company in Naperville, Ill., devotes about five minutes daily to call or email some of the approximately 900 people in his computerized database. They include colleagues, vendors and others he's worked with in the past.

He squeezes in the calls or emails first thing in the morning, which he says is best for talking to people overseas, or between meetings, or makes them from home in the evenings. "My schedule may have no more than a few open blocks and even then, people might be queued up waiting to talk with me," he says, "but I just make the time."

Mr. Ayers notes the benefits: When he lost his job in Chicago during the telecommunications meltdown in 2002, he found a new position through a networking contact. Talking with others regularly also helps him do his job better because it keeps him informed about trends and potential candidates for Tellabs openings, he says.

If you aren't making the time to network, ask yourself: Are you really so busy that you can't spare five minutes on something that's so beneficial?

Perhaps it's not just lack of time that's holding you back, but lack of confidence. It's unnerving to make calls when you doubt the person you're about to contact wants to hear from you. But when that nice email comes back, the anxiety melts away. Take some time and try it.

-- Ms. Capell is a senior correspondent for CareerJournal.com. Email her at frances.capell@dowjones.com.

Email your comments to cjeditor@dowjones.com.