Ten Simple Steps to More Customers with Better Networking
Networking is a great way to meet people in a "non-selling" setting. So, don't sell. Meet and greet. Ask people about their businesses. Be friendly and relaxed. Enjoy yourself. Get to know people. Above all, do not sell.
If and when someone appears to meet your target criteria, ask for their business card. Then follow up with them later to see if there might be a fit.
Here are some ideas to help you get the most from your networking:
1. Set a time budget each week or month for your networking. Plan to attend a specific number of meetings or events at which you can network. Make sure your other tasks and responsibilities fit around these meetings. It's best to balance networking with your other lead generating activities. This way you can measure the value of your networking leads against the time spent acquiring them.
2. Pick networking opportunities that put you face to face with people most likely to need what you offer. Or try to meet people who can connect you with people who need what you offer. Both are good prospects.
3. Understand why you're there - to begin relationships - not to sell. Networking is the first step in a long dance. Don't rush.
4. Don't give your cards to everyone. Save your money and some trees. Hand out your card only to people who ask for it.
5. Ask people questions. Learn about them and their business. This is how you pre-qualify them. If they meet your target criteria ask for their card. If not, don't.
6. Don't sell yourself. It's okay to tell people what you do. Give your "30 second commercial" but stop after that. You're there to gather information and to meet people, not to sell.
7. People love people who are interested in them. Ask questions, listen and engage people. This is the fastest way to develop rapport with someone. It's also the best way to determine quickly if they're someone you should be doing business with.
8. Have fun, relax and enjoy yourself. People like being around people who are relaxed and having fun.
9. Don't corner people and don't get cornered. Manage your time and conversation so you can meet enough people to justify your time spent networking.
10. Offer referrals. The best way to begin a relationship is by giving someone something - like a referral. It doesn't cost you anything. If they're the kind of person you want to do business with, they'll reciprocate and a valuable, long-tem business relationship could develop.
Networking is a time-honored way of developing business relationships. It can be done in networking groups or clubs. It can be done through Chambers of Commerce. It can be done anywhere you meet people. If you are active in your community or industry, you can easily network. Some people "network" while shopping for groceries!
It all depends on your attitude and your focus. The more people you meet who might need your product or service, the more potential customers you can have.
Kevin Stirtz is a successful entrepreneur, writer, trainer, speaker and mentor. He is a published author of over 150 business articles and he has been featured in local, regional, national and international business publications. He currently writes a marketing column for AllBusiness.com and he is writing his first book, which is due to be published in March of 2006. He can be reached at 1-952-212-4681 or http://www.KevinStirtz.com
Latest News
MeetingWave Files Geo-Location Social Networking Patent Application MarketWatch - MeetingWave.com, announced that it has filed a patent application entitled "Computer-Based Networking Service and Method and System for Performing the Same" ... |
Experts Connection Offers Executives Tips to Maximize Professional ... MarketWatch - "Understanding how to harness social networking tools like LinkedIn and Facebook demonstrates the kind of new media savvy that discriminating companies are ... |
 NewsOXY | Facebook Migrates Social Networking With New Connect Platform NewsOXY, FL - By John Lester The new Facebook Connect platform will migrate to multiple social networking profiles into one. The new service is similar to Microsoft's ... Facebook Connect Expands, Aims To Shrinking The Web Facebook Connects to the Rest of the Web Networking News |
How to Use Social Networking Sites for Marketing and PR New York Times, United States - By AllBusiness.com Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace have become the party lines of this young century. They are inviting and intriguing ... |
 eFluxMedia | Power.com: For Social Networking Power Users Washington Post, United States - They're calling what they do "social inter-networking" because it allows users to view and interact with all of their social networks at once. ... SMBs Get Social Networking Bridges from Power.com Power.com Offers One-Stop Shop for Social Networking Power.com to Become Social Networking Sites Aggregator |
Cisco introduces wireless CCIE pinnacle for aspiring networking gurus Search Networking - Cisco's less advanced wireless certifications, the CCNA and CCNP, have certified networking pros to support and troubleshoot wireless networks, ... |
FindMyAudition.com Proves It's Not What You Know, But Who MarketWatch - "Through FMA's unique networking events, we're providing qualified participants with first-hand insight on how to get their big break. ... |
Fibre Channel Switch Market Propelled by New Products, According ... MarketWatch - As the trusted source for market information about the networking and telecommunications industries, Dell'Oro Group provides in-depth, objective research ... |
ADVA OPTICAL NETWORKING LEADS WITH QUALIFICATION FOR NEW VERSION ... FOXBusiness - ADVA Optical Networking successfully completed interoperability testing and qualification of its FSP 3000 platform for a new version of IBM's mainframe ... |
Elite social networking site Total Prestige to raise $1M VentureBeat, CA - Total Prestige, another social network that aims to cater to elite users, plans to raise $1 million from angel investor Frank DeRose. ... |
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