Networking to Win in 2010
As an business person, one of your primary goals is to continue to fill your pipeline with new business. One of the most cost-effective ways to do this–particularly for a smaller business–is through networking. Before you can begin to be an effective networker, it’s important to identify some of the strengths and skill sets that you bring to the table as a business professional. Are you a people person? Do you enjoy public speaking? What kind of professional background did you have before starting your business? How long have you lived in the area where you do business? What other natural skills do you have (such as time management, organizational skills or keeping clients focused) that may not fall directly into your business expertise but are valued by people? One of the biggest roadblocks to networking is the fear that being more of an introvert impedes any successful attempts at networking. In fact, it’s a question I get quite frequently: “How do I network if I’m not a naturally outgoing person?” Go ahead and breathe a sigh of relief, you don’t have to become Mr. Man-About-Town, to be a successful networker. Most business people, over time, naturally develop a certain level of comfort from dealings with customers, vendors and others in their day-to-day transactions. So even people who aren’t gregarious or outgoing can form meaningful relationships and communicate with a little practice..
Become a trusted source for quality referrals and contacts.
Another way to ease into networking is to provide a referral or contact. This could be a direct referral (someone you know who’s in the market for another person’s services) or a solid contact (someone who might be helpful down the road).Let’s say you’re networking, and you run into a person who owns a printing shop. You talk for a while, you hit it off, and even though you don’t know of anyone who’s looking for this person’s selection of print services right now, you’d like to help him out. So you say: Jim, I don’t know of anyone who’s actively in the market for printing services right now, but I do have someone who I think could be a big help to your business. Her name is Jane Smith, and she’s a marketing consultant. I know a lot of her clients need business cards, flyers and things like that printed, and while I don’t know if she has a deal on the table right now, I think you both would really hit it off if you got together. You see how easy that was? You stated right up front you don’t know what will come of the contact. But you then followed up by saying you do think this person could help and briefly described how. Chances are this will sound like a good idea to your new contact.
Business 400 will be hosting the monthly networking events at the beautiful Metropolitan Club in Alpharetta, Georgia on the first Tuesday of each month from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. There will be hundreds of dollars in cash prizes and hundreds of new people to meet. Please visit our website at www.Business400.com to learn more about Business 400 and all the exciting events that have already been planned. Our next monthly networking event will be on February 2nd. We are networking together to win in 2010!
